WiradFURY - Wiradhuri>English?

In this task, we had to take the role of a lawyer supporting the language with previously discussed in our podcasts.

For Wiradjuri:

Intrinsic: Cultural connection, dreamtime stories, historical connection, connection to the land/heritage

Extrinsic: Building bridges that were broken during colonization, respectful to speak the language of the aboriginals

Functional: Specialized to Australia, the land and heritage

Opposing English:

Intrinsic: Definition of rich/noble is subjective; ‘Rich’ to Aboriginals is focused less on societal gain and more related to their land, way that English took over was not ‘noble’

Extrusive: English taught because it was forced to be taught, believed to be superior therefor taught, belief comes from West (like the teachers employed)

Functional: Spoken by all due to that above (forced upon all cultures through hegemonic imperialism), it’s a gateway with significant limits; it cannot open gates to the Wiradjuri people but rather causes alienation

SquadCast - Wiradjuri

Over the weekend and today, Joshua Toore and I took part in a project in which we researched an endangered language and created a podcast based off of this. I've never done a podcast before, but it was enjoyable to try to take in the knowledge we had found and intertwine it into an interview that flowed. I think I did quite well, this being my first use of the informational medium, regardless of Josh's endless attempts to bombard me with immoderate vocabulary with the malevolent animus of discountenancing me to the juncture of perplex turmoil.
Here is the link to Josh's soundcloud where the podcast is located:
https://soundcloud.com/joshua-toor-457044995/back-from-the-brink

Most Meaningful Takeaway Meal

“He holds thus, on a loose thread, the whole circle of shabby-looking trees, the bushes with their hidden life, the infinitesimal coming and going among grassroots or on ant-trails between stones, the minds of small native creatures that come creeping to the edge of the scene and look in at is from their other lives.”

This single statement is one that stood out to me astoundingly. Within this text, all the focus is on the unsung relationship between the author and other man, however this sentence shifts the focus, just long enough to emphasize the eerie silence, as the man stops to recognize the amazement surrounding him, all connected to the Aboriginal man. This chilling imagery sent me back to Australia for a moment – something I wish I could do much more. I reminisce about the silence as a group with nothing needed to be said. This situation offered the silence, but a completely different tone.

In my days of camping in the Australian outback, there many times daily where everything would stop and I could take a moment to appreciate the beauty that girthed me (classic Australian anthem reference there), but the author provides a twist. He mentions the nature, but the notion that the man holds this nature “on a loose thread” delineates his natural-born connection to the land, found only through a historical relationship between man and the land, highlighting the influence of culture on others’ views of you.

The author demonstrates an amazing contradictoriness in that there is a dead silence but concurrently he is able to bring too it so much life. There truly is a sense of restlessness in the outback of Australia, and the power of language is demonstrated through the author’s ability to bring this to life and to create resonation between myself and a land that I may not have a historically deep-rooted connection with, but have adopted as my own.

Strength in Numbers... And Words

Colonial power is one that has always been longed for by superpower countries and developing countries alike. Throughout history, notable empires such as that of the British, French and German have colonized countries such as Australia, USA, Madagascar and Cameroon, creating their own settlements even in places where they may not be wanted. Although it may not be noted as more influential than violence and discrimination, language actually has had immense effects on historical colonialism, and it is without doubt that it has contributed to colonial power today and may continue to do so.

Considering it is my country of origin and as a result of my previous education on my country’s history, I will be making reference to Australian colonialism. As previously discussed both within the article ‘Back to Babel’ and in class, a language is much more than a compilation of words and punctuation; it creates more meaning than simply the words and can almost be described as a living being. I like to compare a language with a human. The language begins its life with simplicity and little behind it (like a baby), then develops with history and memories within it. These memories are like our own: special to the person who has them but is not as special to third parties because they have less meaning. There are some things that only make sense in a single language and are only special to that language. Once that language disappears, or dies (like a human), as have many, these memories are lost, or the significance of these memories are. Given this significance, people tend to develop based on their lingual background and taking their language away is equivalent to taking away a part of these people.

It is not surprising therefore that colonialism often involves stripping indigenous people of their language in order to strip part of their identity, making it psychologically easier to discriminate against them due to the dehumanization of the indigenous inhabitants. This colonization caused major controversy as a treaty was never signed when the First Fleet arrived, and following attacks back-and-forth, the British superiority in technology and numbers led to their victory. As has been the case in most colonized countries, the indigenous people are forced to speak the dominant language, thus causing the gradual integration into that colony as prior culture, traditions and beliefs are partially lost with language.

Language even has an effect on how this historical event is viewed today. Aboriginals (indigenous Australians) frequently refer to the colonization of Australia as an “invasion” rather than a celebration, and while many celebrate Australia Day which is coming in the next few weeks, it is beyond doubt that several protests will carry out from indigenous activists on the day. This simple choice of words demonstrates the opposing perspectives and ultimately demonstrates the power of language in dictating historical attitudes to events such as colonization.

Language may be overviewed as a colonial catalyst, however it has immeasurable influence and power over the success of colonization considering its ability to dehumanize and record events of colonialism.