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 Enduring
Voices Project
In September,
2007, National Geographic Mission Programs in partnership
with Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages
launched the Enduring Voices mega-project to promote to the
broadest possible audience the growing global crisis of
language and knowledge loss. In addition, Enduring Voices
seeks to support indigenous community grassroots efforts at
language revitalization and language maintenance worldwide.
Our first Enduring Voices expedition was to the
Northern and Central Australia Language Hotspot in
July and August 2007. We met with representatives from over
a dozen Aboriginal communities and observed grassroots
revitalization efforts at various stages and with different
degrees of success.
Photos from Australia Hotspot Enduring Voices Expedition
2007
Magati Ke (2-3 speakers; Wadeye, NT)
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Greg Anderson working with Aloysius Kungul (left) and
Isaac Kungul to help record Old Man Patrick Nanudjul,
one of the last speakers of Magati Ke |
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Magati Ke elders |
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| Old Man Patrick
Nanudjul and Mona Nanudjul, among the last speakers of
Magati Ke |
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Yawuru (<5 speakers; Broome, WA)
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Susan Edgar, Yawuru Language Activist
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Yawuru Language Program, Cable Beach Primary School |
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Elsie
Edgar, speaker, and Neil Mckenzie semi-speaker of
Yawuru |
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Anindilyakwa (ca. 1000 speakers; Groote Eylandt, NT)
| Nancy Lalara
(center), speaker of Anindilyakwa |
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Amurdak (< 5 semi-speakers; Croker Island, NT)
One of the last confirmed [semi-]speakers Charlie
Mangulda
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Jawi (< 3 speakers; Sunday Island, WA)
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Patricia Ahchoo, one of the last speakers of Bardi and
perhaps of Jawi
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Murrinh Patha (ca. 1000 speakers; Wadeye, NT)
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Murrinh Patha elders of Wadeye, Northern Territory
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The youngest generation of Murrinh-Patha speakers
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Walmajarri (ca. 1000 speakers; Western Australia)
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Clifton Bieundurry and Annette Kogolo Walmajarri
Translators, Kimberley Interpreting Services
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Photo credits: Chris Rainier, David Harrison, Greg Anderson,
Sam Anderson
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DONATIONS TO LIVING TONGUES INSTITUTE
Your 100% tax deductible contribution can help us preserve
valuable information for future generations in the specialized
knowledge contained in endangered languages. Please consider
Living
Tongues
Institute for Endangered Languages, a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization, when planning your charitable giving. We rely
solely on the generosity of donors and grants to fund our field
expeditions, publications, and assistance to indigenous
communities struggling for cultural survival. |
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