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Learning an Aboriginal Language
What is the value of learning another's language?
It is said that "knowledge is power", but knowledge and information are only available to people through a language that they can understand.
If we really want to help Aboriginal people we need to impart information to them in a language that they can understand. Through learning a language we can help them gain control over their lives while we learn a lot about their world. As Mandawuy Yunupingu has said, "language is power".
There are too many languages!
Yes there are many Aboriginal languages but in each area there are usually language learning materials for at least one language and you will find that this language is normally spoken or at least understood right across that particular region. So obtain resources for the language in the area in which you will be working and start learning!
ARDS Language Resources
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But how do I learn?
Some people say, "I will just go and sit down with some Aboriginal people and they can teach me their language". This is a very slow way to learn the language and you might actually experience rejection from the people. There are two reasons for this:
The people will be starting with someone who has done no initial work on the language, like a child just starting to learn and so it is extremely hard for both parties.
Aboriginal languages have many sounds and different ways of writing those sounds. You need to learn these sounds and the way they are written.
So it is much better to get your hands on some language learning resources and start with them so that when you do go to the people you already have an ability to understand and learn. This makes it so much easier for both parties.
You will still need to learn as a child learns his/her own language. You see-hear-mimic-are corrected-mimic again -and practice.
Remember, you need to learn to hear and speak a language, not to read and write it. Don't become a print-a-holic, dependent upon the written word. That will not help you to hear and speak.
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