Quick Q&A with Jasmin McGaughey about the new book Words to Sing the World Alive
By Stories and Ideas | 29 October 2024
State Library of Queensland is excited to launch a new book dedicated to the power and beauty of First Nations languages. In Words to Sing the World Alive: A Celebration of First Nations Languages, published this month by University of Queensland Press, 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers and thinkers, journalists and lawyers, artists and astronomers were tasked with choosing a favourite word from a First Nations language of significance. Each wrote an essay, personal memoir, or poem about their chosen word and what it means to them. Contributors include Kim Scott, Tara June Winch, Daniel Browning, Jeanine Leane, Nardi Simpson, Bruce Pascoe, Anita Heiss, Thomas Mayo, and many more.
Jasmin McGaughey, who was part of State Library's national First Nations editing and writing project black&write! from 2019 to 2021, co-edited the beautiful hardback.
Jasmin has kindly answered some of our questions below, ahead of the launch at State Library on 6 November. You are invited to come along and learn about these stories and languages with Anita Heiss, Cheryl Leavy and Yasmin Smith. You can get your tickets here!

Jasmin McGaughey, co-editor of Words to Sing the World Alive. Unfortunately Jasmin can't make the launch but Anita Heiss, Cheryl Leavy, and Yasmin Smith (also black&write! alum) will speak about their work on the book.
Can you tell us about this beautiful, ground-breaking book? How did you come to be involved and how do you think it celebrates First Nations languages in a unique way?
Words to Sing the World Alive is a collection of contributions from 40 First Nations people exploring and sharing their languages. Some of the contributions are poems that, for me, hold multiple and complex meanings in just a few lines. Some of them are detailed explanations and personal reflections on language words or phrases. And we have some longer essays in this book which offer vital knowledge for readers.
To me, it’s not necessarily a book about language revitalisation. Instead, it’s about holding space for our languages and for our people to write and feel whatever we’d like to write and feel. But I also think this book will probably mean something different to everyone who contributed.

Join us for the launch of Words to Sing the World Alive in kuril dhagun (pictured here, with staff member and avid reader Annabelle!)
Given you were working with multiple authors and forms, how did you approach them and guide each contributor to choose a word and a genre?
It might have been a little frustrating for the authors, but I tried to go into each commission and edit with as few parameters as possible. When I’m writing, I know I like to have a clear task with a clear outline. But I wanted the contributors to feel comfortable writing in any way that suited them and their word or phrase they’d chosen to share.
For most people this was a poem or a short personal essay. But for others it was a collaboration between two writers – like Judy Watson and Otis Carmichael.
Kirli Saunders first sent me voice notes of the word she wanted to share before she sent her written piece, and this was really beautiful. Hearing her speak language made me smile.
Aunty Rose and I had a lovely long conversation where she dictated, and I typed out what she said. This was a really lucky experience for me where I was able to learn and understand her words in a deeper sort of way.

Bianca Valentino, Grace Lucas-Pennington, Jasmin McGaughey, and Allanah Hunt working on fellowship manuscripts in 2021. Entries will open soon for the 2025 Fellowship round!
You were an Editor Intern and then Junior Editor at black&write! from 2019 till 2021. How did those years at State Library influence your editing approach to projects like Words to Sing the World Alive and the terrific series Little Ash with Ash Barty?
Well black&write! is one of my most favourite topics to talk about. I learnt a lot about the mechanics of editing there but also the vital cultural side of editing First Nations work. My experience at black&write! taught me about the importance of slowing down when working on projects like these. Slowing down and understanding what you might be feeling (any red flags that might pop up or any topics that might need further unravelling) and also what the writer and broader community might feel in the creation of the work and its publication. Grace Lucas-Pennington was a fantastic First Nations mentor who I still lean on today!

Newly published by University of Queensland, this volume is informative and very moving. Hear from 2 of the authors at the launch on 6 November.
Our thanks to Jasmin for her time.
Words to Sing the World Alive: A Celebration of First Nations Languages is stunning and would make a meaningful present for a loved one at Christmas. We hope to see you at the launch in kuril dhagun, level 1, State Library, on 6 November.
Tickets are available here and you can pick up a signed copy of the book from the Library Shop pop-up on the night.
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