Skip to main content
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this resource may contain voices of people who have died.

Radio National: The Awabakal language of the Newcastle area

Posted 
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.
Hand holds small Aboriginal flag
Radio National: The Awabakal language of the Newcastle area

SUBJECTS:  English, Languages

YEARS:  7–8


The Awabakal language, once common in the area now known as Newcastle, was almost 'lost'.

It is being brought back to life using old texts and translations left by an early missionary.

In this audio clip, listen to a discussion about the importance of reconstructing the Awabakal language and the challenges this poses.

If you like this clip, visit the Holding Our Tongues website for more information.


Things to think about

  1. 1.Imagine trying to describe the things that are important to you in another language that doesn't include all of the words you need. Think about how intricately connected language is to your ideas, beliefs and values.
  2. 2.Reconstructing the Awabakal language relies on early texts from one of the first missionaries in the area, Lancelot Threlkeld, and his work with an Awabakal man, Biraban. What was Threlkeld's motivation for learning the language? How might this influence the types of words he recorded? What are some of the challenges people face in relying on these texts to reconstruct the language?
  3. 3.Imagine if Threlkeld had not died before he finished his lexicon, or list, of Awabakal words, or if more missionaries like Threlkeld had learnt the Awabakal language and it was still spoken commonly today. What influences might the language have had on the life, perceptions and values and/or beliefs of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the Newcastle area?
  4. 4.Using the internet, investigate the (note different spelling of Awakabal) Arwarbukarl Cultural Resource Association and the Miromaa program. Are any programs operating in your area that ensure local languages continue to be spoken? The Our Languages website is one site that may help you find out if there are.



Date of broadcast: 8 Mar 2009


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Posted 
English, Language