Speaking out to save language
Half of the languages spoken today will be extinct by 2100, and that’s a conservative estimate, according to the United Nations. At the extreme, it’s anticipated that 90-95 per cent of all languages will be seriously endangered or extinct in the next 80 years. The majority are Indigenous.
Australia, home of the oldest living culture in the world made up of diverse language groups and dialects, tops the charts when it comes to Indigenous linguicide — something we should all be concerned about.
Prior to colonisation, more than 250 languages and 800 dialects were spoken across the continent. Now, 120 remain active and 95 per cent of these are endangered. The major causes of language loss are self-evident — imperialism, colonialism and globalisation. Or rather, ignorance, power and greed.
“Many of our mob have had our language oppressed,” says Mitchella Hutchins, a proud Wardandi woman from the Margaret River region. A lot of people haven’t heard our old songs in old language for a long time. Some of them are now reviving their language.”
Ms Hutchins is travelling with her mother, Wardandi elder and matriarch Vivian Brockman Webb, and artists Martine Perret and Roly Skender to attend the United Nations’ launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032 in Paris next week. It’s the first time the Wardandi women have left Australia.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to represent country and culture, and remember the wisdom passed on from our ancestors through words and language,” Ms Hutchins says.
The women, together with Ms Hutchins’ daughter, Mabenan Hutchins, and other community members feature in Ms Perret and Mr Skender’s artwork entitled, “Belong – Language connecting feeling, culture, country”, which was exhibited at the WA Museum Boola Bardip this year.
The project was initiated by Ms Perret, a Paris-born photojournalist now living in Margaret River, who has worked on UN peacekeeping missions in conflict zones in Timor-Leste, South Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and West Africa where she documented the Ebola crisis. “When I came back from all of my stints with the UN, I spent time thinking about what would matter most to me living in WA,” she says. “It was amazing to start learning about Indigenous history and culture.”
That began her journey working with Aboriginal communities. First with elders in the Goldfields producing “Ngala Wongga (Come Talk) — Cultural Significance of Languages in the Goldfields”. Then with the Wardandi community to create “Belong” and highlight the importance of First Nations’ languages.
“In WA we’re incredibly blessed with diverse culture and languages, it’s really mind-blowing. To be so close to such an ancient culture and be able to meet elders that have these amazing stories is gold. I feel incredibly lucky to call WA home,” Ms Perret says.
Ms Perret teamed up with multimedia artist Mr Skender to raise awareness about endangered languages and the deep, rich intangible heritage we have in WA.
“I wanted people to be immersed in a room and hear these languages,” she says. “They’re quite diverse, and all very different.”
The group are hoping to return from France with inspiration, ideas and creative ways for engaging with communities to re-establish language.
“In the past ignorance and intolerance blinded people to the benefits that unity can bring,” Ms Hutchins says. “So many of our kids feel shame from the past, now it’s time to be loud and proud of who we are. Country, language and culture give you strength, spirit and roots to ground into.”
Tune in, December 13, to watch the Wardandi women live on stage as they officially open the UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages singing the Kaya welcome song with the UNESCO choir. Visit, idil2022-2032.org
This article was first published in The West Australian in Renée Gardiner’s weekly column in Agenda, 10 December 2022.