Arabana Language Recording Project

In the late 1990s, Commonwealth funds were allocated to a number of specified programs nationally. One of these was an Indigenous Languages Project, which is now completed and has produced three print resources for schools: Arabana for years R-10, Adnyamathanha for years R-10, and the generic Ecological Issues in Language Revival.

In relation to the Arabana R-10 resource, a follow-up project is now underway through the Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS) Policy and Program Officer Aboriginal Languages; Mr Greg Wilson.

Greg has been working with Arabana Elders to voice record the published Arabana curriculum resource. He has been using one of the small, sound-proofed studios within the Open Access College School of the Air facility to do the recordings. Mr Laurie Stuart, Ms Jean Wood, Ms Millie Warren and Ms Pauline Thompson have been talking the Arabana language content of the print material onto a digital recording program called “Audacity”. The results are spectacular.

Augusta Park Primary School is hosting the Arabana project, and the soon-to-commence Adnyamathanha equivalent. For a Map of Aboriginal Australia click here.

The product will be a great asset to schools wanting to offer Arabana programs. “While nothing can completely take the place of face-to-face contact with speakers of languages in school programs, these new and extensive Arabana voice recordings will provide valuable support and models of language use in classrooms,” Greg said.

The voice recordings offer a strengthened future to school and community Arabana programs.

Examples of audio recordings in the Arabana language.

Maltya wangka karpa-karpa yanhirnda (52Kb mp3 file).......Don't talk gibberish

Names of creatures

kungarra ..kangaroo, kalta ..sleepy lizard, kadni ..frill neck lizard, kapirri ..goanna, wabma ..snake, marangkarra .. spider, wurru .. crane, madla ..dog, karlathura .. bush turkey, kidlangkidla... galah ( 148Kb mp3 file)

karrara ..eaglehawk, yurilya .. wren, thipa-pardi .. witchetty grub, katarungka .. white cockatoo, irranta .. black cockatoo, parru .. bony bream, marrkara .. yellow belly, kurulyuru .. cockatiel, yatyaparra .. zebra finch, katatharra .. budgie. (158Kb mp3 file)