The Forum > Article Comments > What’s the point of teaching languages? > Comments
What’s the point of teaching languages? : Comments
By Brian Manning, published 12/5/2008A first practical step towards reconciliation in Australia would be to teach a local Aboriginal language in schools.
- Pages:
-
- 1
- Page 2
- 3
-
- All
In communities where the local language has been lost and kriol has substituted,there is merit in it’s use. At Royal Darwin Hospital, they have an accredited kriol interpreter whose services are very much in demand.
One important point that I obviously did not make clear enough was that I was not intending that Aboriginal Languages be taught to Aboriginal kids…….
I was intending to include an Aboriginal language as an option for white kids……
Such an option is not going to be any more of a set back to a students progress than having to tackle Mandarin , Bahasa, Greek ,French or German. However, the white kids would derive great benefit in being capable of at least greeting an Aboriginal person in a familiar language . I am not even suggesting they need to reach a level of competence where they can utilize the whole vocabulary, recognizing each species by it’s own genus.
I had an experience just last week in the bank where a Traditional Aboriginal woman in front of me in a queue appeared to be getting irritated at the wait. The person in front of her seemed to be intimidated by her muttering and body language to the point where he dropped back in the queue. She turned and looked at me whereupon I greeted her saying “ Ga nhamirr nhe, manymak ?” (and how are you, good ?)
To which she replied “Yo, Manymak ngarra “ (yes, I’m good) and smiled.
We had a short friendly conversation using a combination of English and Yolngu mutta in which she told me who had passed away recently , who had been sent home from hospital and that another of my Clan family was at Snake Bay. until her turn came to go to a teller.
That represents a small practical gesture of Reconciliation. I would hope that Pat Dodson might consider pursuing the issue.