In news that absolutely rules, the University of Melbourne has revamped its 50 Words Project for NAIDOC Week 2020, which allows users to listen to exactly 50 words spoken in a plethora of Indigenous Australian languages.
50 Words Project is lead by the Research Unit for Indigenous Language at the University of Melbourne, and is headed by Associate Professor Nick Thieberger and Professor Rachel Nordlinger. The project works on a contribution-basis which lets users listen to speakers of multiple Indigenous languages across the country, and it’s still growing as we speak.
“We wanted to be working in partnership with Indigenous Australians, so we set up a framework and invited speakers of languages to contribute and that’s the way that it has grown organically,” Associate Professor Nick Thieberger told SBS News.
“We’ve also heard from Aboriginal people who don’t speak their own language anymore, that they’re really moved to hear a relative speak this language.
“So even though it’s fairly simple, you know, 50 or so words, it still has a big impact.”
The project first began in July 2019, but is now being launched with a revamped user-friendly interface as we enter NAIDOC Week 2020. The site, which you can access right HERE, aims to allow students and the general public alike to use this platform as a resource for education about the diversity of Indigenous Australian languages.
We’re excited today to mark the beginning of National @naidocweek 2020, a week that celebrates the history, culture and achievements of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia 🖤💛❤️#AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe pic.twitter.com/H5pzxZ6dWG
— University of Melbourne (@UniMelb) November 8, 2020
The resource is constantly building and adding new words so that it has a complete map of Indigenous Australian languages, and asks that speakers get in contact with them to help achieve even more representation.
Currently, there are only four completed language entries for the NSW area, including Awabakal, Gumbaynggirr, Wiradjuri and Mathi Mathi, and 66 completed entries for all of Australia. Words and phrases spoken in the ’50 Words’ include ‘Milky Way’, ‘where are you going?’, ‘what is your name?’ and the essential ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’.
It’s incredibly amazing to just sprawl across Australia through the project and see just how diverse it truly is. There’s still quite a bit of empty space left on the map, but the contributions that have already been gathered create a really awesome map for anyone to access with ease.
More of this news for the back-half of 2020 please.
