As part of State Library’s commitment to the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, we have been promoting a ‘word of the week’ from one of the 125+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and dialects from across Queensland. State Library’s final ‘word of the week’ for the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages is … Read more
As part of State Library’s commitment to the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, we will be promoting a ‘word of the week’ from one of the 125+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and dialects from across Queensland. This week’s word is puuya [pronounced boo-yah] from the Umpila language of Cape York. It means … Read more
One of the significant items in the State Library collections for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages webpages is the Archibald Meston Papers. Items from this collection are featured in the Spoken exhibition. The Australian Dictionary of Biography lists Meston as a journalist, explorer and botanist; however, Archibald Meston (1851-1924) is best known for his role … Read more
As part of State Library’s commitment to the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, we will be promoting a ‘word of the week’ from one of the 125+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and dialects from across Queensland. State Library’s ‘word of the week’ for Week Fifty is guugu [pronounced goo-goo], from the Guugu … Read more
As part of State Library’s commitment to the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, we will be promoting a ‘word of the week’ from one of the 125+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and dialects from across Queensland. This week’s word of the week is watyi [pronounced wah-chee] meaning ‘to speak’. It is from … Read more
One of the interesting facts about Aboriginal languages is that many people would not be aware that they are already saying Aboriginal words!! Captain Cook’s Journal Saturday 23 July, 1770 – One of the Men saw an Animal something less than a greyhound; it was of a Mouse Colour, very slender made, and swift of … Read more
As part of State Library’s commitment to the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, we will be promoting a ‘word of the week’ from one of the 125+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and dialects from across Queensland. This week’s word is nhani [pronounced nah-nee] from the Garaynbal language of Central Queensland. It means … Read more
Aboriginal placenames generate a lot of discussion regarding meanings, translations, etc. – in fact, over the course of the International Year of Indigenous Languages, State Library has received a steady flow of requests asking for meanings or origins of placenames across South-East Queensland. It should be acknowledged that the landscape of South-East Queensland had traditional … Read more
Last month saw the opening of the Jarjum Stories exhibition in kuril dhagun showcase. Jarjum Stories is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s books and storytelling from classics such as The Legends of Moonie Jarl, Stradbroke Dreamtime and The Rainbow Serpent to contemporary stories. One of the highlights is a children’s book … Read more
On Wednesday evening, approximately 150 guests celebrated the official opening of Spoken: celebrating Queensland languages on the Queensland Terrace. The exhibition is part of State Library’s commitment to the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages. William Barton kicked off the proceedings with an amazing display on the Yirdaki [didgeridoo] before MC Stephen Oliver came to … Read more
