The Incorporation of Near Extinct Aboriginal Languages into the Curriculum of Jervis Bay Primary School

Extract

Comparatively few Aboriginal words remain in the speech of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal community. The words that have survived are remnants of two Aboriginal languages of the South Coast of New South Wales – the Dharawal language and the Dhurga language. Linguists consider that these were the main languages on this section of the coast. Since the turn of the century, however, it is thought the vocabularies were mixed up, so that now it is sometimes impossible to know for certain from which language particular words have come. It is on the basis of the words that have survived, a grammar of the languages compiled by Diana Eades, and her advice, that a language unit has been developed for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children who attend Jervis Bay Primary School.

The language materials have been designed for children aged eight to nine years. In the materials emphasis is placed on the human qualities of language – its day-to-dayness, enjoyment and human interaction. By means of colourful, self-corrective manipulative materials, games, songs and vocabulary built around themes, the children are encouraged to work and play with the languages. These enjoyable experiences are expected to motivate the children to undertake language learning in the future. By teaching the Aboriginal languages of the area, the school demonstrates that it values the original Australian languages and that it desires to achieve in its curriculum some cultural transmission by the Aboriginal community.