AUSTRALIA: Indigenous Langauges Under Threat (fwd link)

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AUSTRALIA: Indigenous Langauges Under Threat

Written by Stephen de Tarczynski
Australia

MELBOURNE, Mar 11  (IPS)  - Language in Australia revolves around the nation's
main tongue, English, and the likes of Italian, Greek, Cantonese and Arabic,
used by hundreds of thousands of Australians. There are also about 100
indigenous languages still spoken here, though most face a bleak future.

The 2005 National Indigenous Languages Survey Report found that only 18 of the
estimated 250 known indigenous languages were considered ”strong,” with
speakers across all age groups. A further 110 were listed as endangered as only
older people spoke them.

The rest have all but disappeared.

Access full article below:
http://www.australia.to/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6964:australia-indigenous-langauges-under-threat&catid=72:australian-news&Itemid=29

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