How a language transformed a town (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

4 July, 2012 1:15PM AEST
AUS

How a language transformed a town

By Suzi Taylor (ABC Open Albury Wodonga)

One community in central west New South Wales has come up with a radical
solution to reviving the Wiradjuri language - and it's yielding some
astonishing results.

The town of Parkes is famous for the annual Elvis Festival and for its role
in helping to beam astronauts onto the moon (as seen in the movie 'The
Dish').

Something you may not know about this town is that each week over 1,000
people learn the Wiradjuri language. That's around 10 per cent of the
population. It's taught in every primary school as well as high schools and
at TAFE. As you drive into Parkes and neighbouring Forbes, you'll pass
prominent 'Welcome to Wiradjuri country' signs along the road. As you walk
into the main building at Parkes Public Primary school, you're greeted with
a bright wall filled with Wiradjuri nouns and verbs. In the prep classroom,
the colours of the rainbow are plastered around the room in language.

Access full article below:
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/07/04/3538590.htm
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