First Nations languages: A tapestry of culture and identity

Anyone new to Australia can appreciate how important it is to keep your mother tongue alive. Language is integral to your culture and Australia's Indigenous languages are no different, connecting people to land and ancestral knowledge. They reflect the diversity of Australia’s First Nations peoples. More than 100 First Nations languages are currently spoken across Australia. Some are spoken by only a handful of people, and most are in danger of being lost forever. But many are being revitalised. In today’s episode of Australia Explained we explore the diversity and reawakening of Australia’s First languages.

AIATSIS Paper and Talk_Linguist with PKKP Aboriginal Corporation, Pinikura language group. Credit: AIATSIS

Key Points

• More than 100 languages are spoken by our First Nations peoples today.
• Many languages are in danger of being lost forever
• The latest National Indigenous Languages Survey reports that 31 communities are reawakening their languages.

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