Reconciliation and Social Justice Library
Reconciliation and Social Justice Library
6.62 The indigenous languages of Australia have been little studied at an academic level. This is not to say that excellent work has not been undertaken by some academics but rather too little has been done and the area generally lacks the prestige that it warrants. Consequently little academic support can be given to the many languages programs already underway let alone the expanded range envisioned in this report.
6.63 Given the unique nature of ATSI languages within Australian and world heritage it is appropriate that the main centre for their academic study should be within Australia. In Chapter 5 the training of linguists specialising in ATSI languages was discussed. The day-to-day work of linguists within language maintenance programs does not always lend itself to developing an academic framework of language study. The committee believes there is a need for an institute of ATSI languages and linguistics to specialise in the academic aspects of these languages at the tertiary level. The institute should be located within a university and have a predominantly ATSI board of management.
6.64 The board would oversee the functions of the institute and ensure that ATSI concerns and sensitivities are addressed. The primary focus of the institute would be to undertake research and to provide a permanent structure for the support of ATSI languages.
6.65 The committee recommends that:
· the Commonwealth find an institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages within a university. The institute should have a predominantly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander board of management. (Recommendation 32)