Linguists and Language Rebuilding: Recent Experience in Two New South Wales Languages

This paper primarily considers the role of linguists in the process of language rebuilding, or language revival, that is, the process of working with a language that is no longer spoken so that it is spoken again. The paper is largely based on experience with Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay, two closely-related languages from northern New South Wales in Australia, but also on experience with other languages. It firstly considers some general issues about language rebuilding, including the extent to which a language can be rebuilt, and then the reasons for undertaking this task. Then it considers the overall level of language resources in New South Wales (NSW), and moves on to give more detailed background information about Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay (collectively abbreviated as GY). The role of the linguist/organiser in three major NSW language programs is discussed, pointing out the role of individuals and small groups as initiators of these programs. The author's work in GY is then discussed, highlighting more of the realities of this language work.