Read this please, and remember that with the passing of an elder, we see the destruction of a library...
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date sent: Wed, 19 May 1999 09:49:38 +1000
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: "T.Matthew Ciolek" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: COMMENTS> Peter Lister on Banjdlang language
Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 09:42:55 +1000
From: Peter Lister <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hi everyone,
I'm forwarding this to the entire list rather than just to Prof. Tsunoda,
as some of you may be able to provide some assistance in this regard.
(Hoping this isn't a breach of list protocol.)
I emailed a colleaugue in Bandjalung country regarding the Prof.'s
enquiry (here quoted), and this was her response;
___________________________________________________ _____
At 10:04 AM 5/17/99 +1000, you wrote:
>Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 20:56:27 +0900 (JST)
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Tasaku Tsunoda)
>
>Dear Colleagues,
>
>I am looking for information on the maintenance and/or
>revival programme of the Banjdlang language, NSW. Are there
>any published accounts of the Bandjalang programme ?
___________________________________________________
>Dear Peter,
>
>Thanks for passing on the inquiry. I don't know of any particular
Bundjalung maintenance and revival program - although I think that work being done in connection with Southern Cross University has linked with speakers of the better-conserved dialect of Bundjalung. I think it might be Walubal..but it might be Wiyabal (Sometimes called Wijabal). I can check if your enquirer is looking for something specific.
> >When I say "better conserved" I mean there are at least a couple of fairly fluent speakers under 60. First step achieved. In the case of our local dialect, the Bundjalung dialect of Bundjalung (the only one traditionally called Bundjalung) there are two fluent speakers and both are over 60. One is on her deathbed, with Altzeimers. The "healthy" one, Uncle Lawrence Wilson, is 64 and has asbestosis and a heart condition. When I first came up her in 1975, there were about 14 or so speakers of the older generation, so I am expecting there will ne no fluent speakers very soon unless something quite radical happens.
> >And it could happen. the next younger generation only speaks the odd word or phrase - but some have a deep passion, reinforced by optimism over native title. But this is invariably coupled with a feeling of powerlessness as they did not grow up with the language and only have snippets of phrases and words.
> >I have been chipping away at this sense of powerlessness by trying to get these younger ones to feel that it may not be so hard after all - and that we might be able to gather together with the old Uncle once a fortnight to try and increase vocabs and, particularly, the use of common phrases and culturally-distinctive use of language - e.g. disciplining children, earthy humour and more serious things like addressing the spirits correctly (It seems that, while understanding English, spirits might prefer Bundjalung.) You never know, if we can "catch" some of the mechanics of it, we might be able to do more than that. What I have learnt so far is very encouraging..and we are conversing to a very minor extent between ourselves.
> >So I have proposed to the younger members of the clan involved that we try and seek funding to pay Uncle Lawrence to teach us as a group, in his living room..once a fortnight. The response was good. And we are not going to wait for funding, as I doubt if any sources of funding exist. (If you know of anyone who can help - $2,000 per year
would cover three hours a fortnight with the group, just paying Lawrence.)
> >He is the most wonderful person, heavily involved in working on native
title claims with anthropologists - and is the senior custodian of the group who has recently been granted 5000 acres adjacent to bundjalung NP.
We all met on the land for the first time last weekend and the language
stuff was reinforced, among other things. He wants to do the language
sessions out there..in the open, around a fire. But we just could not
afford to travel out..and access is bad. No, we can do it in his living
room on cushions, or in his backyard around a fire in winter. And we
should tape the sessions if we can. Dollars would really help provide an
incentive as it would be considered a "job" to which he has a
committment..so other demainds would come second. Also, as a pensioner, he could do with the dollars to help register the family car.
> >I'm serious, if you know anyone who can help, please speak for us. So feel free to pass this message on.
> >Here's hoping the langage doesn't die out with Uncle -
as with it, would go a lot of culture,
___________________________________________________
>I would also appreciate information on any language maintenance and/or revival programme in Australia.
> >Best wishes, > >Tasaku Tsunoda >
> >Prof. Dr. Tasaku Tsunoda >Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology >University of Tokyo >Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan > >Phone: +81-3-5841-2673 >Fax: +81-3-5800-3740 >
hoping someone can help.
regards,
Peter R Lister
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
snail mail: Technical Officer (Scientific)
Horticulture (CHAPS)
UWS - Hawkesbury
Locked Bag No 1
PO Richmond NSW 2753
voice: 61 0245 701 466
fax: 61 0245 701 314
WWW - Centre for Horticulture And Plant Sciences:
http://www.hawkesbury.uws.edu.au/research/centres/CHAPS/
WWW - homepage: http://www.hawkesbury.uws.edu.au/~listerp
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