Languages

There are approximately 230 Australian Aboriginal languages. The languages are characterized by great similarities in their sound systems and considerable agreement in grammar but often by few similarities in vocabulary. In spite of the great vocabularydifferences among the Australian languages, a number of common words are found in a great many languages all over the continent. These are believed to constitute a Common Australian element.

It was the Aboriginal custom to use as few words as possible. One Aboriginal word often translated into a quite lengthy English phrase. For instance, the word meaning animal would simply be pronounced slightly differently or given a prefix to imply that the particular animal in question was running, drinking water, up a tree оr on the alert.

Words relating to sacred issues were seldom spoken in front of the uninitiated so whole sections of some languages are missing.

The sounds s, z and h do not appear to have been used in any area.

Every tribe speaks at least one distinct dialect, but bilingualism and multilingualism are common in many areas.

Many Aborigines had to learn to speak several forms of their everyday language for use in special situations, such as when they were in the presence of someone with whom they had a taboo relationship (e.g., their mother-in-law). In the language of Dyirbal the everyday word for wallaby (кенгуру-валлаби) is bargan, while in the mother-in-law language it is yungga. Severe penalties might be imposed if a correct word was not used at the right time.

Some languages had secret versions that were used among initiated men on certain special occasions. One such language is tyiliwiri which is an " upside-down" language.

In an " upside-down" the phrase " I am sitting on the ground " would be expressed as " another is standing in the sky ". There is an " upside-down" equivalent in tyiliwiri for everything that can be communicated in the everyday language.

Sign language was a very effective and much used method of communication. One sign language was used and clearly understood by the members of most groups in all areas of Australia. This was most beneficial when different groups came together socially. It was also helpful during trading expeditions and while hunting.

No genetic link is known to exist between the Australian languages and any outside language. The Australian languages remained free from outside influence until the arrival of European settlers late in the 18th century.

In early times the new white race made little attempt to learn or record Aboriginal languages. During the second half of the nineteenth century a more serious effort was made, but overall the results were disappointing. Consequently, many of the languages have now been completely lost, and there is only a sketchy record of most others. No more than fifty Aboriginal languages are functional today; that is, being spoken by young children.

Australian languages have contributed to Australian English mainly animal and plant names and objects in nature-- kangaroo, wallaby, kookaburra, budgerigar, galah, coolibah tree, billabong.