Saving indigenous languages (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

 SAVING INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES
  Wednesday, 5 April 2006  
West Coast Sentinel (Australia)
[photo inset - WORDS ON CD: University of Adelaide language researcher Paul
Monaghan with the Wirangu Picture Dictionary aimed at helping save a
disappearing language.]
 Language experts are working with local elders to preserve the fast
disappearing indigenous languages and culture of the West Coast peoples. 

   Time is running is out as is the case with the Wirangu language, which is
now only spoken by Scottdesco woman Gladys Miller and to a lesser extent her
sister. 

   University of Adelaide language researcher Paul Monaghan has worked with Mrs
Miller to develop a talking picture dictionary, featuring around 200 common
Wirangu words. 

   Aboriginal children and older people wanting to get in touch with their
roots can look up words on the dictionary Compact Disc using a computer and
hear the correct pronounciation and sentence structure for the language. 

   Mr Monaghan travelled over to Koonibba and Ceduna this week to help launch
the Wirangu dictionary and other language programs now underway in the
district. 

   In addition to the Wirangu dictionary developed after long hours of sitting
down with Mrs Miller, linguists have also developed language cards for another
West Coast language known as Gugada. 

   The Gugada Language Cards were launched at the Koonibba School yesterday,
while the Wirangu Picture Dictionary will be launched today at 11am at the
Ceduna Arts and Culture Centre. 

   
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