Mary Laughren Mary Laughren i(A107211 works by) (a.k.a. Napaljarri)
Gender: Female
Heritage: Australian
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.

Works By

Preview all
1 1 y separately published work icon Warlpiri Encyclopaedic Dictionary Mary Laughren , Kenneth Hale , Jeannie Egan Nungarrayi , Paddy Patrick Jangala , Robert Hoogenraad , Canberra : Aboriginal Studies Press , 2022 25106760 2022 reference

'Warlpiri is a language of the Tanami Desert area of the Northern Territory of Australia. Hundreds of Warlpiri speakers from the main Warlpiri communities of Yuendumu, Willowra, Lajamanu, Nyirrpi and Alekarenge have contributed to the Warlpiri Dictionary, which has been more than 50 years in the making.

'It contains Warlpiri words with English translations; instructive example sentences rich with Warlpiri history and cultural practices; detailed flora and fauna information; more than 500 illustrations, plus colour photographs; and maps of Warlpiri country. With an English word finder, and a guide to Warlpiri grammar and to the complex vocabulary for family relations this dictionary is essential for both beginner and advanced speakers of Warlpiri, translators and interpreters, and for anyone interested in learning more about Warlpiri language and culture.' (Publication summary)

1 Women’s Yawulyu Songs as Evidence of Connections to and Knowledge of Land : The Jardiwanpa Mary Laughren , Georgia Curran , Myfany Turpin , Nicolas Peterson , 2017 single work criticism
— Appears in: Language, Land and Song : Studies in Honour of Luise Hercus 2017; (p. 419-449)

'Luise Hercus has always had a keen interest in Australian Aboriginal songs and collaborated with musicologists both in the field and in her analysis. Her examination of lyrics and the relationship between songs and the people who sing them encompasses a vast area of Australia. Her work on songs from the ‘Corner Country’ reveal performance as a culmination of social exchange, and her examination of the lyrics reveal Aboriginal people’s detailed knowledge of country (Beckett & Hercus 2009). Her work in the Simpson Desert region documents songs with ancestral themes as well as contemporary events (Hercus & Koch 1996, 1999; Hercus 1994: 91–101; 1995). In many parts of Australia where knowledge of Aboriginal languages is scarce, Hercus’s work on songs provides vital clues to the history, language and culture of such regions (Hercus 1992, 1997). Her linguistic documentation of Wemba Wemba in Victoria (Hercus 1969) finds songs that relate to the gender based totems of this area. How songs reflect and reproduce the beliefs, cultural practices and experiences of the people who sing them is a theme of Luise Hercus’ work that is explored in this paper.' (Introduction)

1 Serial Verbs in Waanyi and Its Neighbours Mary Laughren , 2017 single work criticism
— Appears in: Language, Land and Song : Studies in Honour of Luise Hercus 2017; (p. 172-193)

'This study describes combinations of lexical verbs found within a single clause in the Waanyi language, traditionally spoken on country watered by the upper Nicholson River stretching from the Northern Territory into Queensland.' (Introduction)

1 y separately published work icon Mer Angenty-warn Alhem : Travelling to Angenty Country Mer Angenty-warn Alhem Coral Napangardi Gallagher , Peggy Nampijinpa Brown , Georgia Curran , Barbara Napanangka Martin , Mark MacLean (editor), Myfany Turpin (editor), Mary Laughren (translator), Batchelor : Batchelor Press , 2016 9582979 2016 single work prose Indigenous story

'Angenty is a sacred waterhole in Anmatyerr and Warlpiri country, to the north of Alice Springs in Central Australia. This book is about a family visit to this place. Men, women and children camped in the riverbed and the elders told stories about the ancestral spirits of this country. ' (Source: Publishers website)

1 From Linguistic Research Findings to Useful Products for Australian Aboriginal Communities Mary Laughren , 2013 single work criticism
— Appears in: Etropic : Electronic Journal of Studies in the Tropics , vol. 12 no. 1 2013;

'As a linguist investigating the Warlpiri language of central Australia since 1975 and the Waanyi language of the Gulf of Carpentaria region since 2000, my research has always had dual goals. One is to gain a better understanding of the nature of human language generally through detailed documentation and deep analysis of particular human languages, such as Warlpiri and Waanyi, and comparison with other languages; the other goal has been to produce materials of direct relevance and utility to the communities of these language speakers.

'This paper addresses the second goal. Firstly I briefly describe ways in which linguistic research findings have been "converted" into pedagogic materials to support the bilingual education programs in the Warlpiri community schools (Lajamanu, Nyirrpi, Willowra and Yuendumu) from the mid 1970s to the present, a period which has seen dramatic technical innovations that we have been able to exploit to create a wide range of products accessible to the public which have their genesis in serious linguistic research.

'Secondly I discuss some aspects of the interdisciplinary (linguistics and anthropology) “Warlpiri Songlines” project (2005-9) for which over 100 hours of traditional Warlpiri songs were recorded and documented; older analogue recordings were digitised and ceremonial performances were video recorded.

'Thirdly, I touch upon the ongoing development of a Waanyi dictionary and language learning materials in collaboration with Waanyi people living at Doomadgee in north west Queensland who want to extend knowledge of their ancestral language within their community, since this language is no longer used as a primary language of communication.

'Finally, I cite some of the many recent innovative examples of ways in which linguists and anthropologists are drawing on contemporary technology to transmit their research findings to both the general public and to the communities in which their research is carried out.' (Author's abstract)

1 y separately published work icon Warlpiri Picture Dictionary Warlpiri yimi kuruwarri-kirli Robert Hoogenraad , Mary Laughren , Alice Springs : IAD Press , 2012 21029769 2012 reference information book
1 y separately published work icon Wiiny-wiinypa Kurlu Grey Falcon Connie Nungarrayi Walit , Jack Jakamarra Ross , George Jampijinpa Robertson (translator), Mary Laughren (translator), Yuendumu : Bilingual Resources Development Unit , 2007 Z1729894 2007 single work prose children's dreaming story
1 y separately published work icon Milpa Wijini Kijaku Sore Eyes Maisey Napaljarri , Mary Laughren , George Jampijinpa Robertson , Yuendumu : Bilingual Resources Development Unit , 2006 Z1745112 2006 single work short story children's
1 Coniston Story Tim Japangardi , George Jampijinpa Robertson , Mary Laughren (translator), 1991 extract prose (Yurrkuru-Kurlu)
— Appears in: North of the Ten Commandments : A Collection of Northern Territory Literature 1991; (p. 98-100)
Recounts events surrounding the Coniston massacre.
1 An Arrangement Tim Japangardi , Mary Laughren , Otto Jungarrayi Sims (translator), 1991 extract prose (Social History of the Northern Territory : Spoken, Written and Photographed by Those Who Took Part)
— Appears in: North of the Ten Commandments : A Collection of Northern Territory Literature 1991; (p. 97)
1 y separately published work icon Yayirriyayirri-Kirli Marna Miirnta-Kurlangu-Kurlu Janet Nakamarra Long , Andrew Lang (illustrator), Mary Laughren (translator), Yuendumu : Bilingual Resources Development Unit , 1987 7779155 1987 single work picture book Indigenous story

'Book about the medicinal plant yayirri-yayirri and how to use it to cure colds.' (Source: LAAL website)

1 y separately published work icon Nyurruwiyi Kuja Kalalu-Jana Mardarnu Pirltirrka Childbirth in the Old days Helen Napaljarri Nelson , Nancy Oldfield Napurrurla , Kay Napaljarri Ross , Mary Laughren (translator), Eula McKane (translator), Yuendumu : Bilingual Resources Development Unit , 1984 Z1725243 1984 single work prose Indigenous story
1 y separately published work icon Warumungku Watikirli A True Story About a Warumungku Man Darby Jampijinpa Ross , David Jungarrayi , Neville Japangardi , Lloyd Jungarrayi Spencer , Mary Laughren (translator), Yuendumu : Warlpiri Literature Production Centre , 1984 Z1668587 1984 single work biography
1 y separately published work icon Yankirri Wiat-kurlu The Little Emu Mary Laughren , Erica Ross Napurrurla (translator), Yuendumu : Warlpiri Literature Production Centre , 1983 Z1756634 1983 single work short story children's
1 y separately published work icon Yankirri witakurlu The Little Emu Mary Laughren , Yuendumu : Warlpiri Literature Production Centre , 1983 Z1756433 1983 single work short story children's
1 y separately published work icon Miyirnta-kujaku Maisey Napaljarri , George Jampijinpa Robertson , Mary Laughren , Yuendumu : Warlpiri Literature Production Centre , 1979 Z1749870 1979 single work short story children's
1 y separately published work icon Wati Jara Kurlu A Story About Two Men June Napanangka , Obed Raggett , Mary Laughren (translator), Yuendumu : Yuendumu School Press , 1979 Z1709947 1979 single work prose children's humour
1 y separately published work icon Laninji Patu Kurlu The Frightened Ones Ralph Gumudul (illustrator), June Napanangka , Mangiwa Madjiridju , Mary Laughren (translator), Yuendumu : Yuendumu School Press , 1979 Z1703502 1979 single work prose dreaming story
1 y separately published work icon Kurdu Wita Parnta The Abandoned Baby Maudie Petersen Nungarrayi , Janet Nakamarra Long , Mary Laughren (translator), Yuendumu : Yuendumu School Press , 1979 Z1630839 1979 single work short story Indigenous story

A story about an abandoned baby.

X