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Gumbaynggirr

Gumbaynggirr -- an Aboriginal language of northern coastal New South Wales in Australia -- has made a significant comeback in recent years. Like most indigenous languages in the southeast of Australia, it had borne the brunt of early and sustained contact with settlers. Official policies toward indigenous languages ranged from indifference to active discouragement of their use. By the early 1970s it looked like Gumbaynggirr might soon become extinct.

During the 1980s, however, the Gumbaynggirr people took steps to regain their language. They were assisted by a non-Aboriginal man with an existing background in teaching and with sufficient commitment to gain expertise in linguistics. This expertise proved necessary in first making sense of the existing materials on Gumbaynggirr and then converting them so as to be able to service the linguistic aspirations of the Gumbaynggirr.

The Gumbaynggirr people see it as essential that they retain control of the process of revitalizing their language. They have established their own language and culture cooperative which has produced a sizeable dictionary and a range of teaching materials. In the cooperative's center, adult education classes are conducted to reacquaint Gumbaynggirr people not only with their language but also with their history and culture. The center also provides resources in local school programs in the region. Through these efforts the language is now much more widely used than even a few years ago.

For the Gumbaynggirr, success has arisen from a locally-based, grassroots language planning organization operating in tandem with the right kind of resources. While it is heartening that the Gumbaynggirr language has made something of a comeback it must be remembered that the Gumbaynggirr all use Gumbaynggirr as a second language. The situation is fragile, depending on the continuing participation of certain key individuals, and, to some extent, on continuing financial support. It will be interesting to see how the language has fared in 50 years' time.

Article copyright Cultural Survival, Inc.

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