Gangulu workshops online
Along with most of the rest of the world, Living Languages has fast figured out some new ways of working in 2020. Recently Trainer Andrew Tanner has been working with Gangulu men Thomas Watson and Murrie Kemp on coming to grips with linguistics materials published on their language - from Queensland - and beginning work on a Learner’s Guide. Despite all three of them living in Melbourne, until recently it has actually been impossible to meet up in person due to the lockdown, so they’ve been running the sessions regularly on Zoom. Thomas and Murrie had this to say about the experience so far:
Over the past few months, we have had the privilege to work alongside Andrew Tanner from Living Languages Australia to advance and reclaim our own language, the language of the Gangulu people. This topic is extremely important to us and one that we can take back to community to share and endorse.
Through these workshops we have gained a much deeper understanding of language and word structure from a linguistic point of view that we have then been able to directly apply to revitalising Gangulu language. We are very gradually reclaiming our mother tongue and are very excited to be currently coming up with an acknowledgment and welcome to country in our own language, whilst also working towards completing a complete learners guide to share with our community.
It has been a very exciting journey for us both. However, it has been confusing and even frustrating at times, particularly when some pieces of the puzzle are not documented - therefore, somewhat lost.
Nonetheless, overall, it has been an amazing experience relearning our mother tongue. We both feel that this work greatly contributes to our identity as two proud Gangulu Mari (men), it is our vision to fully reclaim our language, work with other Gangulu people and share with the wider Gangulu community. We cannot thank Andrew enough for his assistance in helping us with this important reclamation work and thank Living Languages Australia in general for this ongoing opportunity.
- Thomas Watson and Murrie Kemp