Porcher, Edwin Augustus, -1878. Pacific Ocean, a native canoe meeting strangers off the Murray Islands

Language group unconfirmed

MS 1761 - Wolfgang Laade

Specimens of the langauge of Saibai Island, Torres Strait.

Pages 1-38 includes notes on pronunciation of vowels, sentence structure and case (nominative, plural), directional (pointing towards something), movement, verbs, questions, imperatives, time. Pages 39-52 comprises word lists titled "special subjects" includes geographical terms, names of birds, insects, fish, shells, turtles, crustaceans, reptiles and parts of the human body. Pages 53-64 contain transcripts of texts from tape recordings from Biogu, Saibai and Dauan. Pages 62-64 are transcripts from a recording of a "Modern teenager secret langauge" which originated on Thursday Island. It is stated that all of the girls on Dauan know this secret langauge, but only a few girls on Saibai know it.

There are approximately 11,500 individual manuscript collections in the Library. More language material is waiting to be discovered.

Not sure where to start?

Ask a librarian

ORDERING COPIES

Videos

Check out our Video:

Can I get copies of items from the Library?

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

ENTER SITE