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<TITLE>New books: Aboriginal languages of NSW & ACT</TITLE>
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<FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>Dear list members,<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT SIZE="5"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'>The Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative and Many Rivers Aboriginal Language Centre publishes dictionaries, grammars and language learning materials on the languages of NSW, particularly those of the north-eastern region. We would like to announce the launch of three publications, funded by the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs and the Department of Environment Water, Heritage and the Arts, that will make a valuable contribution to Aboriginal language research and revitalisation.<BR>
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Please go to our website (</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'>www.muurrbay.org.au)</SPAN></FONT><FONT SIZE="5"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'> to download an order form (from the bottom of the publications page) or call if you have any enquiries, particularly about postage costs: +61 02 6568 5695<BR>
</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><FONT FACE="Symbol">· </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><I>A handbook of Aboriginal Languages of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory</I> by Jim Wafer, Amanda Lissarrague and Jean Harkins. <BR>
Postage fee for handbook is $10.00 (NSW), $15.00 (Vic, S.A, Qld, Tas) or $20.00 (N.T, W.A). Please note: international orders and orders of more than 1 book will incur an additional postage fee.<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT SIZE="5"><FONT FACE="Symbol"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'>· </SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><I>Gumbaynggirr Bijaarr Jandaygam, Ngaawa Gugaarrigam</I>: Gumbaynggirr Dictionary & Learner’s Grammar by Steve Morelli. <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT SIZE="5"><FONT FACE="Symbol"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'>· </SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><I>Barriyala</I>: Let’s Work. Gumbaynggirr Language Student Workbooks 1, 2 & 3 by Julie Long. <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT SIZE="5"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><B><I>Handbook of Aboriginal languages of NSW and the ACT<BR>
</I></B>New South Wales was the first part of Australia to be colonised and so the written records of the state’s Indigenous languages go back more than 200 years. The body of linguistic information that has accumulated over that period is considerable, but it is also very uneven in its quality and coverage. The<I> Handbook </I>distils this information in a way that makes it easily accessible to a broad audience.<BR>
The <I>Handbook</I> combines the functions of both a guidebook and a dictionary. It runs to just over 830 pages and is divided into two parts: the first part is a survey of the Indigenous languages of NSW and the ACT (including Aboriginal English), giving information about dialects, locations, maps, and resources available for language revitalisation; the second part provides word-lists in practical spelling for 42 distinct language varieties. There is also useful information on sign languages and kinship classification, as well as an appendix on place names.<BR>
The <I>Handbook</I> is a valuable reference and educational resource, useful to Aboriginal people who want to revitalise their languages and to those in the broader community who simply want to know more about the state’s rich linguistic heritage. It will be particularly helpful in the planning and implementation of primary, secondary and tertiary educational programs dealing with Aboriginal languages and linguistics.<BR>
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<B><I>Gumbaynggirr Bijaarr Jandaygam, Ngaawa Gugaarrigam</I>: Gumbaynggirr Dictionary & Learner’s Grammar<BR>
</B>The homelands of the Gumbaynggirr lie between the Clarence and the Nambucca rivers in northern New South Wales. The Baanbay people to the West speak the same language. As with many Aboriginal Australian languages, Gumbaynggirr had fewer and fewer speakers and was in danger of extinction. All that changed in 1986 when a small group of Elders took steps to revive it, and this book is a tribute to their efforts. <BR>
Each year more and more people relearn Gumbaynggirr. Language learning courses and books, such as this, are an important part of a revival of the language that belongs to this land. This dictionary builds on an earlier edition, with many revisions and improvements:<BR>
> There are now more than 2700 entries, with revised and expanded definitions.<BR>
> An easy-to-read grammar section has been created to help language learners.<BR>
> Semantic wordlists help learners to find words of similar things, such as birds, emotions, insects or artefacts.<BR>
> A section on new words allows modern speakers to find Gumbaynggirr equivalents for numbers, days of the week, household items and so on.<BR>
> Additional information on families shows the reader, in words and colour diagrams, the relationship words that Gumbaynggirr people traditionally used with each other.<BR>
> Two new maps depict the Gumbaynggirr world, and several pictures complement the word entries.<BR>
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<B><I>Barriyala: Let’s Work – Gumbaynggirr Language Student Workbooks 1, 2 & 3<BR>
</I></B>These workbooks have been designed to support Gumbaynggirr Language learning in primary schools. There is a separate workbook for each primary school stage, each building on students’ prior learning. It is recommended that the workbooks be used in conjunction with Junga-Ngarraangala Gumbaynggirr, the Gumbaynggirr Primary Language Program; they are not intended to be stand-alone workbooks.<BR>
These workbooks provide a range of activities that will reinforce language learnt in the classroom. The activities are divided into eight different themes based on aspects of Gumbaynggirr culture, with associated language tasks. Julie Long, with the support of Muurrbay staff, presents a series of interesting and culturally appropriate language activities that draw on her wealth of classroom experience.<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'>-- <BR>
Anna Ash<BR>
Coordinator-linguist<BR>
Many Rivers Aboriginal Language Centre<BR>
C/- Muurrbay<BR>
14 Bellwood Road<BR>
Nambucca Heads NSW 2448<BR>
Ph. (02) 65685695 Mob: 0404456992<BR>
Fax. (02) 65694295<BR>
web: www.muurrbay.org.au<BR>
</SPAN></FONT><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><BR>
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'>-- <BR>
Anna Ash<BR>
Coordinator-linguist<BR>
Many Rivers Aboriginal Language Centre<BR>
C/- Muurrbay<BR>
14 Bellwood Road<BR>
Nambucca Heads NSW 2448<BR>
Ph. (02) 65685695 Mob: 0404456992<BR>
Fax. (02) 65694295<BR>
web: www.muurrbay.org.au</SPAN></FONT><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><BR>
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