Mobile Language Team (MLT)
Mobile Langage Team website
About the MLT
A new Mobile Language Team (MLT) was established in October 2009 to support work in Aboriginal languages throughout the length and breadth of the state of South Australia. On the strength of extensive work in a range of Aboriginal languages in South Australia over the past 15 years, the University of Adelaide is taking the lead in hosting the team, but will work closely with the other universities, DECS and other interested parties.
The idea for mobile language teams was proposed in Keep That Language Going!, the report of the South Australian Language Needs Survey conducted for ATSIC in 2001. This survey, conducted by AIATSIS and local researchers from Yunggorendi at Flinders University, the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide, canvassed the views of many Aboriginal people and many language groups around the state.
This is a new pilot program, funded by the Commonwealth Government through the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA).
The team is small, but will be able to draw on additional expertise as required. As the name suggests, the MLT will be able to provide assistance and support on the ground where the languages are spoken and where the language work is being carried out.
The Mobile Language Team (MLT) will:
- Offer technical assistance and advice in writing and producing locally-based Aboriginal language resources
- Train and mentor Aboriginal language workers in specific areas of language work as needed and work towards establishing career pathways for language workers
- Run workshops on how to develop a good writing system, dictionary making, setting up a database, songwriting, language games, grammar of the language etc
- Work closely with TAFE in delivering a new Certificate 4 course for community language workers (in learning and teaching one's language in a revival / revitalisation situation)
- Assist language revival and maintenance within families and communities
- Establish a network amongst those working with and on Aboriginal languages in SA. This includes individual speakers of Aboriginal languages, interpreters, language workers, Aboriginal communities, linguists, teachers, the SA Department of Education and Children's Services (DECS), the three SA Universities, AIATSIS, TAFE SA, Umeewarra Radio and others.
- Increase the visibility of Aboriginal languages in the media, at community events and in the public sphere
- Establish a collection of materials produced in and on South Australian Aboriginal languages
- Contribute to a website providing a central compilation of materials relating to SA Aboriginal languages and a guide to useful resources
- Support networking and mutual learning among community based language projects
- Promote world's best practice in language work in SA
- Lobby for interpreting and translation services to address the needs of service providers and communities
- Lobby for language and culture programs for incarcerated Aboriginal people.
MLT Staff
Dr Paul Monaghan: Linguist
Ms Karina Lester: Aboriginal Language Worker
Links
- Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Commonwealth)
- Wilto Yerlo (University of Adelaide)
- First Nations Centre for Higher Education and Research at Flinders University
- The Unaipon School, Univerity of South Australia
The provision of any URL or link is done for the convenience of users of this Internet site. It does not constitute an endorsement by the University of Adelaide of that URL or link or the information at that Internet site.
