News
Language recordings added to the National Registry of Recorded Sound
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| Linguist Dr Luise Hercus with Mick (Irinyili) McLean (c.1888-1976). Mick was a member of the Wangkangurru people and was born near Pirlakaya Well, Simpson Desert, SA. The recordings she researched with Mick McLean included Wangkangurru, Southern Arrernte and Arabana. (ELLIS.C2.BW-N4782.12a) |
30 August 2012
An invaluable collection of recordings of more than 40 endangered Aboriginal languages - some no longer spoken - have been added to the National Registry of Recorded Sound.
The Collection, recorded by linguist Dr Luise Hercus between 1963-1999 and still being added to, features over 1,000 hours of unpublished recordings held by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in Canberra.
Ten additions to the National Registry were announced on August 27 by the Minister for the Arts, The Hon. Simon Crean MP. The Registry is a selection of sound recordings with cultural, historical and aesthetic significance and relevance, which inform or reflect life in Australia.
The collection was nominated by AIATSIS for inclusion on national registry.
Dr Hercus worked on Aboriginal languages from the early 1960s onwards in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. Languages included Arabana, Birladapa, Diyari, Kuyani, Madhi Madhi, Malyangapa, Ngarigu, Wangkangurru, Wergaia, Wirangu, Yardliyawarra, Yarluyandi, Antikirinya, Wemba Wemba, Wergaia, Kurnai and Yorta Yorta.
The Hercus Collection contains the only known recordings of some of these languages.
In welcoming the nomination to the registry, Dr Hercus noted that the collection is more than just recordings of rare and endangered Aboriginal languages.
“These are stories, songs and interpretations of traditional country - they are people’s connections with the landscapes and culture,” she said.
“I am so happy that this collection is on the National Registry but am sad that most of the people who contributed are no longer here,” she added.
AIATSIS’ Native Title Research and Access Officer, Grace Koch, noted that the collection has significant cultural and historical value to not only the Indigenous community - but also to the rest of Australian society.
“These recordings are an important part of our heritage and identity and all Australians should all celebrate their inclusion on the Registry,” she said.
Ms Koch said that Dr Hercus was one of the few linguists to record Victorian languages and over the course of the last 35 years she formed enduring relationships with many of the people she worked with .
“Luise had long and close association with amazing people like Mick McLean and she also undertook a significant amount of work on Paakantyi (Darling River Region of NSW) speaking to elders including Granny Moisey, Elsie Jones and Gertie Johnson.
Mick (Irinyili) McLean (c.1888-1976) was a member of the Wangkangurru people and was born near Pirlakaya Well, Simpson Desert, SA. His main interest lay in the songs, stories and totemic geography of the people of the northern Lake Eyre basin. With marked perseverance and against considerable odds, he acquired a vast store of traditional knowledge from the few remaining Aboriginal 'clever men'.
“The recordings she researched with Mick McLean included Wangkangurru, Southern Arrernte and Arabana,” Ms Koch added.
“Her material is still highly valued particularly by people in communities because she didn’t just focus on language, she saw it as a part of a culture and always recorded song, story, history as well, providing valuable context.”
The AIATSIS Audiovisual Archive has custodial responsibility for the world’s largest unique collection of Indigenous cultural heritage collection of audio, motion picture, video and pictorial materials.
The collection of almost a million items comprises some 47,000 hours of audio recordings. This collection consists of unique primary results of field research.