Northern Territory

The Living Archive of Aboriginal Langauges

The Living Archive of Aboriginal Languages is a digital archive of endangered literature in Australian Indigenous languages of the Northern Territory.

Amurdak / Umorrdak / Amarak language (N47)

MS 407 - Frank Clune

Adventures in Arnhem Land. The Stenog Shorthand Notebook. Diary No 2 November 1955. Contains scattered words throughout, but particularly pp. 5, 9, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26

Clune writes a narrative around the traditional language he recorded - which includes notes on ceremonial dances, body painting with ochre, basket making, hunting and people's traditional names. Secret/sacred information.

Anangu - Western Desert Language (A80)

MS 9580 - Papers of Cecil Hackett 1850-1997

Box 8, Folder 1

Description and drawing of a stone tjurunga - includes some minor language material as it relates to the object and places. Reference to Paiurultja as an “old corroborree place near Helen Station”. Secret/sacred information.

Anindilyakwa language (N151)

Acc 09.040 – Papers of Raymond Specht, 1948-2009

Box 2

Contains words of the Yirrkala Trade Song (Sung by young boys, with associated stamping). Quasi-phonetic recording by Brian Billington (July-August 1948).

Acc 09.040 – Papers of Raymond Specht, 1948-2009

Box 1

Contains ethnobotanical notes on plants including their traditional and names and uses.

Arrernte / Aranda language (C8)

MS 9868 - Papers of Dudley Fegan, 1926-1988

Box 1

Fictional story of Ilbalaraka, his wife Tjimbalail and their son.

MS 1941 – Papers of Robert Bruce Plowman, 1911-1956, 2012

Folder 2

Reference to Mt Undoolya Gap in journal and its meaning (Undoolya meaning “in the shade”)

Batjamal / Wogait language (N6)

MS 3912 – Papers of Joseph A. Murphy, circa 1929-1973

Diary, pp. 11 & 12

Diary record of an overland journey from Sydney to Darwin in search of Mica 1930. Scattered language - "Wien" (tobacco) "Coye" (long "ye" - possibly cooee). Some references to Aboriginal practices, including burning and protocols for visiting another country.

MS 8540 - Papers, 1936-1963 (bulk 1942-1963) of Bill Harney

Unpublished fictional stories written by Harney. Also includes cultural information pertaining to rituals (including Yirrkalla death ritual and the Oobar ritual of the Gunbalanya tribe), Aboriginal myths, notes on sport, food & cooking. Secret/sacred information.

Gumatj (N1410)

Acc 09.040 – Papers of Raymond Specht, 1948-2009

Box 1

Ethnobotanical notes on plants including their traditional names and uses.

Gunwinggu / Gunwinygu / Kunwinjku language (N65)

Jingulu (C22)

Luritja / Loritja language (C7.1)

MS 8540 - Papers, 1936-1963 (bulk 1942-1963) of Bill Harney

Unpublished fictional stories written by Harney. Also includes cultural information pertaining to rituals (including Yirrakalli death ritual and the Oobar ritual of the Gunbalanya tribe), Aboriginal myths, notes on sport, food & cooking. Secret/sacred information.

Ngaduk / Ngarduk language (N40)

MS 1329 - Andrew Hunter Lennox

Single page titled “catalogue of Native curios of Kaparlgoo Mission” with notes on pronunciation on rear. Lennox states that words as they are written are to be pronounced phonetically.

MS 407 - Frank Clune

The Stenog Shorthand Notebook - Adventures in Arnhem Land. Diary No 2 November 1955 - scattered words throughout, but particularly pp. 5, 9, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26.

Clune writes a narrative around the traditional language he recorded - which includes notes on ceremonial dances, body painting with ochre, hunting and people's traditional names. Secret/sacred information.