Issue Details: First known date: 2012... 2012 [Review Essay] Australia : William Blandowski's Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Life
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Despite…unifying factors, the tribes remained distinct and had their own languages. However, there is one feature they [the peoples of Sunraysia] all shared and which they shared with other languages further up the Murray such as the WembaWemba and the Wati-Wati: the reduplicated names of the tribes/languages mean ‘no-no’ (p.170).

'The above translation from the no-no or NerriNerri language of the romanticised ‘never-never land’ is at the heart of Wilhelm von Blandowski’s encyclopaedia of 1860. Blandowski’s native German and the interpretations of the NerriNerri, such as linguist Luise Hercus’ translation of the names of the tribes/languages, are translated into English and published for the first time. It is in the context of a handful of re-evaluations of Blandowski’s archives as records of this colonial explorer’s Indigenous informants that this book from Aboriginal Studies Press (ASP) makes a major contribution. From a publisher that focuses on Indigenous voices, this illustrated encyclopaedia of Australia can be seen as source material to understand many aspects of Aboriginal life, such as land management and ceremony. The Director of ASP, Rhonda Black, says she did not want the new edition to look like a quaint picture book but, instead, wanted to surround it with Indigenous voices.' (Introduction)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Australian Aboriginal Studies no. 1 2012 Z1868652 2012 periodical issue

    'Welcome to the first volume of Australian Aboriginal Studies for 2012. The new editorial team is Dr Jakelin Troy, Editor, and Sally McNicol, Assistant Editor, with Dr Lawrence Bamblett continuing as Book Review Editor. We are very pleased to bring you a broad range of papers in this non-thematic edition, including discussions on aspects of education, language, history, anthropology, employment and poverty. This diverse range reflects the breadth of research that is relevant to Indigenous Australians today. Our next edition is planned as a themed special volume focusing on Indigenous scholarship in the Australian tertiary sector.'   (Editorial introduction)

    2012
    pg. 105-108
Last amended 5 Oct 2017 06:21:43
105-108 [Review Essay] Australia : William Blandowski's Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Lifesmall AustLit logo Australian Aboriginal Studies
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