AIATSIS Language thesaurus
Thesauri homepage | About the thesaurus | Using the thesaurus | Structure and display | Searching the catalogue from the thesaurus | Place Links
About the language thesaurus
This thesaurus has been set up in a way that allows automatic searching of Mura®, the AIATSIS catalogue. Before clicking on the links to search the catalogue, please read our sensitivity message. The AIATSIS thesaurus contains headings for language group and people, subjects relating to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, and place names. These headings are used to describe all items held in Mura®, the AIATSIS Collections Catalogue.
Currently, you are able to search for headings relating to language group and people. Headings relating to subjects and place names are planned to be added to this online version of the AIATSIS thesaurus in a few months time.
Linguistic expertise was invaluable throughout the development of the thesaurus. Spellings have changed and continue to change over time. Accordingly, alternative spellings can be added that link to the preferred heading. This does happen in response to requests from community and from researchers.
We welcome your comments on the AIATSIS thesaurus. Click on the Send Feedback link on the page for the heading that you wish to provide comments on. The AIATSIS thesaurus will be updated regularly to reflect any changes.
Important:
This thesaurus has been set up in a way that allows automatic searching of the AIATSIS catalogue. Before clicking on the links to search the catalogue, please read our sensitivity message.
Keyword Search
Default Search Option: Terms which contain this character string
Enter a specific term or text in the search criteria box then click on the search button, this will find the character string anywhere within a word. i.e. typing in Wong will find Wongaibon language as well as Innawonga language.
Search As You Type
From the search options drop-down box choose the option: Terms that start with...
Find Terms beginning with the letters you have input into the search box i.e. wi..., wir..., wira... and so on.
Display formats
Default display option: Term list
This will display a list of valid terms in alphabetical order starting with your search term.
Other Display Formats
From the display contents drop-down box choose the option: Term + Relationships
This will display the term followed by its relationships and will be followed by the next alphabetical entry with its relationships.
BT: Broader Term
NT: Narrower Term
UF: Use For
Searching the catalogue from the thesaurus
This thesaurus has been set up in a way that allows automatic searching of the AIATSIS catalogue. Once you have displayed a term you will notice a drop-down menu at the top right hand side of the page.
Description of search options
All
This option will automatically search for and retrieve records relating to all item types in the AIATSIS catalogue for the term from the thesaurus.
Books
This option will automatically search for and retrieve records relating to books, and book chapters from the AIATSIS catalogue for the term from the thesaurus.
Manuscripts
This option will automatically search for and retrieve records relating to manuscripts from the AIATSIS catalogue for the term from the thesaurus.
Microform
This option will automatically search for and retrieve records relating to microform from the AIATSIS catalogue for the term from the thesaurus.
Language collection
This option will automatically search for and retrieve records relating to items in the language collection from the AIATSIS catalogue for the term from the thesaurus.
Recorded sound collections
This option will automatically search for and retrieve records relating to the recorded sound collections held in the AIATSIS Audiovisual Archive, for the term from the thesaurus.
Film and video
This option will automatically search for and retrieve records relating to film and videos held in the AIATSIS Audiovisual Archive, for the term from the thesaurus.
Pictorial collections
This option will automatically search for and retrieve records relating to the pictorial collections held in the AIATSIS Audiovisual Archive, for the term from the thesaurus.
Rare books, pamphlets, serials
This option will automatically search for and retrieve records relating to rare books, rare pamphlets and rare serials from the AIATSIS catalogue for the term from the thesaurus.
Serial Articles and pamphlets
This option will automatically search for and retrieve records relating to serial articles and pamphlets from the AIATSIS catalogue for the term from the thesaurus.
If your catalogue search is unsuccessful you will see a browse list of headings. You can navigate through this list if you wish or return to the thesaurus and select to search the catalogue by a different item type.
Structure and display
Important:
This thesaurus has been set up in a way that allows automatic searching of the AIATSIS catalogue. Before clicking on the links to search the catalogue, please read our sensitivity message.
Hierarchical relationships
Australian Indigenous languages have been classified into language families and this structure is reflected in the thesaurus as a hierarchical structure.
The following abbreviations have been used in the thesaurus: "Broader Terms" represent more general concepts than "Narrower Terms", which are more specific terms. These are labelled as BT (broader term) and its reciprocal relationship of NT (narrower term).
Example:
Pama-Nyungan language family
NT: Wiradjuric language group
Wiradjuric language group
BT: Pama-Nyungan language family
Finding the place of a language
The majority of headings in the AIATSIS language thesaurus contain map grid references. These grid references relate to the 1: 250 000 map sheet areas for Australia. They can help with locating the place where a language originated.
Example: Wiradjuri language (D10) (NSW SI55-7)
The grid references are valuable for those engaged in native title and family history research, where items relating to a specific place is the essential.
Searching Geoscience Australia's place name index may assist in searching by place and locating the grid reference used in the language heading.
The following maps will allow you to find out where Australian Indigenous languages are located.
- Tindale Maps
- Aboriginal Australia map ("Horton Map" available from Aboriginal Studies Press)
Language codes
In the thesaurus, you will find language codes such as N156 (language code) or after a language name eg Nalawgi languages (N156) (NT SE53-4).
The language codes are useful for long term users of the AIATSIS collections. Otherwise, users of the thesaurus do not need to take notice of the codes.
Linguistic expertise was invaluable during the development of these authorities.
Updated August 2005.