VCE Indigenous Languages Revival and Reclamation study

THE INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES OF VICTORIA

The Indigenous languages of Victoria form part of the Australian Language Family. They share similar features with other Australian Indigenous languages.

Over two hundred and fifty languages and even more language varieties were spoken in Australia prior to colonisation. Many of these languages are no longer in everyday use; some are spoken only for special purposes (such as ceremonies). Some exist only in manuscripts, some are ‘sleeping’ and some exist in name only. There may even be languages of which we no longer have any knowledge and which are unlikely to ever be reclaimed. This loss of Australia’s Indigenous linguistic heritage is a direct result of contact with English, despite the remarkable inventiveness of Indigenous Australians to withstand absorption of language and culture.

Language displacement and loss have particularly affected Victoria and Tasmania where Indigenous languages are no longer spoken as the primary means of communication. Even so, most Indigenous Victorians are aware of their language heritage, although some may recall only fragments of the language passed down over several generations since English settlement. Indigenous Victorians have maintained their oral traditions when and where they can, despite continual removal and displacement. These oral traditions constitute the most important body of knowledge on the languages. Other material is available in local, state and national archives and libraries.

The history of the Victorian Indigenous people’s struggle to maintain their cultural heritage, language and identity is truly inspirational to most Australians. Their resourcefulness to withstand absorption of culture and the rebuilding of Indigenous is remarkable. With the assistance of teachers and the Victorian Indigenous community, further progress can be a reality. Despite the history of suppressed Indigenous languages, many Victorian Indigenous people celebrate their survival and advocate strongly for their maintenance.

From the nineteenth century, written information about Indigenous languages was recorded by ‘protectors’, the clergy, squatters, police officers and other interested groups who were in contact with Aboriginal people. In the 1960s, for example, Luise Hercus recorded Indigenous Victorians on tape, speaking their languages.

 THE VICTORIAN/AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES OVERVIEW

The Victorian/Australian Indigenous languages overview makes students aware of the rich variety of the Australian Family of Languages, their key characteristics, common and diverse histories since colonisation, and relevance to contemporary society. The Victorian/Australian Indigenous languages overview utilises a variety of strategies to explore issues such as the key features of the languages; their distribution; sound and writing systems; vocabulary, grammar and symbolic representations/ interpretations. This area of study enables students to apply parallels from other Indigenous languages to advance the revival and reclamation of the target language.

SKILLS FOR LANGUAGE RECLAMATION

This area of study provides students with the knowledge and skills to retrieve and reclaim the target language using appropriate strategies and tools. These include protocols for community consultation, and accessing linguistic and cultural knowledge, including vocabulary, grammar and symbolic representations/interpretations, through a variety of means such as community contacts and resources, artefacts, historical records, archival collections and electronic databases. It also enables students to process, analyse and evaluate the source material gathered.

CREATIVE USE OF THE TARGET LANGUAGE

This area of study enables students to use the target language creatively in an expanding range of contexts. It also provides students with opportunities to share their active knowledge of the target language with others through the development of focused activities.

Aboriginal students in Secondary schools across Victorian can do the VCE program developed for Aboriginal students doing their VCE years they can start this in year 10.  It is taught as an online class through the Koorie Unit at GippsTAFE  eamil Lynnette on lynnetteso@gippstafe.edu.au

http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/ausindigenous/IndigenousSD.pdf