Gold Coast Bulletin, Edition GoldCoast FRI 14 AUG 2015, Page 15

 

Dying languages given a new voice

By: Kathleen Skene exclusive kathleen.skene@news.com.au

BREAKTHROUGH system developed on the Gold Coast has the potential to save ancient languages across the world from extinction and revolutionise the teaching of modern languages.

While it is believed there were up to 750 Aboriginal languages spoken 200 years ago, it is now thought that fewer than 150 are regularly spoken, with 130 of those classified highly ¥endangered.

Australian language researcher and software programmer Joe Mamone joined Griffith University and the Gold Coast-based Global Phonetics Institute in decoding the critically endangered Yugumbir language, which can be learned within weeks using the new system.

Kombumerri elder Graham Dillon, 84, is one of very few remaining speakers of the Yugumbir language which had relied on trad-itional word-of-mouth pass-ed on by elders for its preservation.

'This is a world-first that will allow our language, history and culture to be ¥analysed, decoded and preserved in perpetuity," said Dr Dillon.

'UNESCO states that a language is largely considered extinct when it's spoken by only a few elders and that one of the 7000 global languages dies every 14 days.

'At my age, I was growing increasingly concerned the Yugumbir language would ultimately be lost - I'm so thrilled our language is saved." Mr Mamone's phonetic code, used in the Yugumbir project, has possible applications for revolutionising the way people learn a new language, or markedly improve the use of their own.

Businessman Billy James, a member of the Global Phonetics Institute, said now that the Yugumbir language had been decoded it would take about three months to program it into the software.

'This means a child can learn a simple four-colour code in a matter of weeks and speak the language exactly the way it was traditionally spoken - without the assistance, knowledge or guidance of an elder," he said.

'It then follows that these languages can be easily taught in our schools.'' The project has been funded by ASF Group boss David Fang, who said he saw the importance of the software for conserving the ¥history and culture of the Gold Coast.'It is pleasing to note that the Commonwealth Games organisers are giving high priority to creating significant presence of indigenous culture and we can see great potential uses for the Yugumbir language as part of the festivities," he said.

Billy James - Dr Graham Dillon