Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages in Queensland
The preservation of the original languages of Queensland is the preservation of ancient cultural treasure - not just for Indigenous people, not just for Queenslanders, but for all of mankind in the future.
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Indigenous languages represent a very important part of the heritage of Queensland and all of Australia. Languages are storehouses of cultural knowledge and tradition, but sadly these languages are endangered to the point that all of them may disappear in the next few decades. The worldwide concern with language endangerment has singled out Australia as the continent where languages are disappearing the fastest (eg. Nettle, Daniel and Romaine 2000, Vanishing Voices - The Extinction of the World's Languages, Pg 4-5).
In Queensland, over 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and dialects were once spoken. Today around 50 of these remain spoken (in varying degrees), with less than 20 being used as first languages, predominantly in the north of the state (Wik Munkan) and in the Torres Strait Islands (Kalaw Kawaw Ya and Kalaw Lagaw Ya).
There are now active community groups and language centres in Queensland working to revive and maintain their languages, trying to ensure that no more of this knowledge is lost. Language centres develop teaching resources for children and adults, research their languages and record the remaining fluent speakers. Their efforts also serve to offer the wider community a greater appreciation of this rich cultural heritage. Hear Ethel Munn, a Gungarri Elder speak of the importance of caring for language.
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Map of Indigenous Languages in Queensland [new window |
If you have knowledge of other language groups or areas to add to our map please feel free to email us |
Resources
Aboriginal languages school / community programs [new window 
31 kb]: contact details for school / community based language programs in South-West Queensland and North-West New South Wales.
Ideas for language activities [new window 38 kb]: list of ideas and resources for language based activities.
Languages and resources in Toowoomba region [new window 35 kb]: list of languages and resources in the Toowoomba region.
More information
If you have an enquiry, you can contact us in any of the following ways:
Last updated: 8th May 2009
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