Language Documentation, Reclamation & Maintenance

Language maintenance, i.e. keeping small and indigenous language varieties as strong as possible in the face of globalisation and invasive mainstream media, is of vital interest both in Australia and internationally. Equally, language reclamation (or 'language revival' as it is otherwise known) is becoming increasingly relevant, whether at a national, regional or local scale, as descendants of speakers of lost languages seek to reconnect with their linguistic heritage. Language maintenance and language reclamation both strongly depend on solid linguistic documentation and its distillation into effective language programs and language materials, as overseen by the relevant language communities. This course focuses on the nature and practice of language documentation for maintenance and reclamation purposes, and the theory and practice of language program development, application, evaluation and improvement, at different scales, and for a range of different community goals and aspirations.