Summary of Public Lecture: The genius of Australian Indigenous languages
The public lecture on the genius of Australian Indigenous languages, held in honor of the International Year of Indigenous Languages, featured special guests like Uncle Greg Sims, an Aboriginal elder, and distinguished individuals. Uncle Greg delivered a welcome to country, stressing the significance of preserving and respecting Indigenous languages. The main speaker, Rachel Nordlinger, a linguist and professor at the University of Melbourne, delved into the linguistic diversity and unique characteristics of Australian Indigenous languages. She highlighted how these languages encode kinship relations and employ complex verbs, shedding light on human cognition and language structure.
Rachel Nordlinger also discussed examples of case marking, poly synthesis, and language acquisition in children learning Australian Indigenous languages. Through research and recordings of children speaking these languages, insights were gained into language processing and learning. Children exhibited early complexity in language skills, adapting to suit the language being learned, emphasizing the uniqueness and depth of meaning in various Australian Aboriginal languages. The importance of preserving and valuing Indigenous languages, especially in the International Year of Indigenous Languages, was underscored.
The audience expressed appreciation for the talk and engaged in a Q&A session, discussing language connections and experiences. Indigenous speakers shared personal stories, highlighting the significance of language, culture, and community. The event concluded with a call to celebrate and support Indigenous languages, with a mention of a special award recognizing language teachers and the importance of language teaching in Indigenous communities. The overall message was to engage with and learn Indigenous languages, with resources available at universities, to further support the linguistic landscape and cultural richness of Australian Indigenous languages.
Notable Quotes
— 61:56 — « listening to this talk was like watching the whole country come to life with it when the monsoon arrives and everything opens up and springs into life »
— 75:56 — « as a citizen doing some of the things that we need to do to get justice and fair recognition of indigenous languages in this country and in the countries that surround us »
Category
Educational