Research Themes and Major Projects
Cultural Signs of Central Australia
Project Team: Myfany Turpin, Alison Ross
Contact: myfturpin@netspace.net.au
Funding: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait and Aboriginal Studies (AIATSIS)
The project documents cultural signs in Central Australian Aboriginal languages. These are the social and environmental indicators used by Aboriginal people in Central Australia. For example there are signs that tell people when food is available, predict the weather, warn people of bad events and signal when certain kin are coming. Much of this knowledge is in danger of being lost as Aboriginal society rapidly changes. Many Aboriginal people are concerned that such knowledge should be documented and that resources should be created to assist in the teaching of this knowledge.
In 2007 Myfany participated in the Central Australian Linguistics Circle workshop. Please visit the website for abstracts.
Intended Outputs:
- Audio recordings in Indigenous languages about cultural signs with transcripts and translations
- Database of Central Australian Signs
- Results of this project will also be delivered at seminars and workshops.
Duration: 2007-08
