Rather randomly, I’ve been at a music festival this weekend and was watching a lady sing in … I’ve forgotten the name of the language, which is rather appalling of me, but she’s from Western Australia. She was saying that only around 250 people still speak her language (and an MC said that the singer herself has only been learning it for five years).
I told her about SSIW and that you awesome people might be open to helping a language that is in such danger of dying out… and I gave her the website.
So. I don’t know if you’ll ever hear from her, as I have a suspicion that I might have come off as a crazy person, but I guess this is a heads-up for if you do.
… I’m currently feeling incredibly guilty. I’m having so much fun learning Welsh and I guess I neglected to consider that there are other languages in my own country that are in very dire risk. Never seen any language classes for Indigenous languages though, only the big ones - German, French, Japanese, etc.
(Also, I’m sorry that I’ve finally worked up the courage to post something here and it isn’t about Welsh stuff. Many apologies!)
Never heard of either band involved, but absolutely going to look them up now… I’m feeling rather wretched that I’d never considered the languages that are being lost here… if I can help even a tiny bit by following some of the indigenous language bands, then off I go to find them!
Yes, this is absolutely a thing - we’re closing in on field trials in the very near future - and as it happens, I’ve spoken previously to people involved in Australian languages - so we’re very much looking forward to being able to help as much as we can on that front
Not sure whereabouts you are in Australia, Freddus, but I’ve been in contact with and have offered assistance in a SSi way to the person who is reviving Dharug Dalang here in Sydney, so far with very limited success, but I will keep trying…
Oh, awesome, you’re way ahead of me then, which is just incredibly awesome!
I’m on the VIC/NSW border, Louis, but the lovely lady I was talking to is from WA. I suppose the language in my area is probably endangered too… I might have to start doing some research, find out what language that would be.
I’ve moved enough in the last few years that I’m not even sure which tribe was the traditional owner of this area!
