Why Do So Few Aussies Speak an Australian Language?

Click for other census statistics pn 239

Linguistically speaking, Australia is special. With around 250 languages spoken when Australia was first colonised, Australia was one of the most Reqaaaalinguistically diverse places in the READ MORE ...world.

But few people speak its Indigenous languages. As of 2016, only 10% of Australia’s Indigenous population spoke an Indigenous language at home. (This link shows census info on the aboriginal population.) 

Most Indigenous languages are now “asleep”, waiting to be woken up by language revivalists.

Australian languages did not simply fade away; they were actively silenced by governments, schools and missions.   READ MORE ....

Weekend Reading 19-20th January 2019: the Pacific in 2018: the Social Progress Index Explained, Maori Education, Few Aussies Can Speak Aussie Languages

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• The Pacific in 2018: a political round-up by Johnny Blades and Jamie Tahana pn220

• Exciting new statistical tool to measure wellbeing: the Social Progress Index. With a video link to SPI executive Michael Green who explains it all. pn235

• Maori education: "We have got a lot of work to do" by John Boynton, Te Manu Korihi reporter. pn238

• Why do so few Aussies speak an Australian language? The state of Austalia's Te Reo (Whoops! Nga Reo) pn239

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