Issue Details: First known date: 2019... 2019 Pitjantjatjara Language Change : Some Observations and Recommendations.
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Pitjantjatjara is often regarded as a robust language with more than 3000 speakers, including children, across a range of communities. Nevertheless, the language has been affected by colonialism and many community members are concerned about language change. In this paper, Aṉangu educators from Pukatja/Ernabella work together with a non-Indigenous linguist to survey changes we have noticed in the language and to make recommendations for the future. We report changes in pronunciation, grammar and the ways the language is used. In some cases, these changes result directly from contact between languages or other changes in the cultural setting of people speaking Pitjantjatjara today. We see these as winds of change that are sweeping across the language and call for the construction of a windbreak to protect Pitjantjatjara language and culture to keep it strong for future generations.' (Author's abstract)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Australian Aboriginal Studies no. 2 2019 16848945 2019 periodical issue 'Are we nearly there? ‘Aboriginal disadvantage’ may soon become an outmoded term that represents an obsolete concept. Guided by decades of collaborative research that pointed out the consequences of pathologising identities using a discourse of deficit — and which spelled out the positives of adopting an alternative approach — the public discourse about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is finally beginning to change. The term ‘Indigenous excellence’ was created to draw thinking away from deficit towards a strengths-based approach. The new term provoked much-needed new thinking. The change is a testament to the persistence and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have for decades committed to the promise of research. The change happened because generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices focused on changing the discourse about our peoples. Policymakers and service providers are now finally changing the narrative and turning away from the concept of disadvantage to focus on strengths-based approaches.' (Editorial introduction) 2019 pg. 82-91
Last amended 24 Jun 2019 11:43:47
82-91 Pitjantjatjara Language Change : Some Observations and Recommendations.small AustLit logo Australian Aboriginal Studies
Subjects:
  • Ernabella / Pukatja, Everard Range, North West South Australia, Far North South Australia, South Australia,
  • Aboriginal Pitjantjatjara AIATSIS ref. (C6) (NT SG52-11) NT, SA language
Newspapers:
    Powered by Trove
    X