Northern and Central Australia Language Hotspot
In September, 2007, National Geographic Mission Programs in partnership with Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages launched the Enduring Voices mega-project to promote to the broadest possible audience the growing global crisis of language and knowledge loss. In addition, Enduring Voices seeks to support indigenous community grassroots efforts at language revitalization and language maintenance worldwide.
Our first Enduring Voices expedition was to the Northern and Central Australian Hotspot in July and August 2007. We met with representatives from over a dozen Aboriginal communities and observed grassroots revitalization efforts at various stages and with different degrees of success.
Languages and Photos from Australia Hotspot Enduring Voices Expedition, 2007
Magati Ke (2-3 speakers; Wadeye, NT)
Yawuru (>5 speakers; Broome, WA)
Amurdak (>5 semi-speakers; Croker Island, NT)
Murrinh Patha (ca. 1000 speakers; Wadeye, NT)
Walmajarri (ca. 1000 speakers; Western Australia)
Anindilyakwa (ca. 1000 speakers; Groote Eylandt, NT)
Jawi (>3 speakers; Sunday Island, WA)
Photo credits: Chris Rainier, David Harrison, Greg Anderson, Sam Anderson.