Project Title: Linguistics in indigenous adult education and its effects on endangered languages

Personal Details Research's Name: Josephine Caffery Level of Study: Doctor of Philosophy Contact details:  sscaffery@ozemail.com.au Supervisor: Dr. Paul Black Associate Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Brian Devlin

 
This thesis explores the historic and current delivery of linguistics in Australian indigenous adult education, and the internal and external factors that enhance or constrain a trained indigenous language worker/linguist documenting or maintaining their traditional languages. The research question:

            “to what extent, and in what ways, does linguistic training assist in the
       documentation or maintenance of endangered languages?”
is assessed through a triangular method of data collection consisting of case study groups, focus groups and surveys. The effects of linguistic training on Australia’s endangered languages are assessed in several Australian remote and urban language communities through interviews with the case and focus groups, and through the surveys completed by linguists and language organisations associated with these language communities. This research also looks at the types of language/linguistic programs graduates work on after completing their training to assess whether or not these graduates initiate new language programs that assist in the documentation or maintenance of their language or whether they act as assistants to other linguists, and what effects these language programs have had on their community. The findings of this research will provide an understanding of why indigenous people train in linguistics, the types of training they do and why they use or do not use these skills to maintain or document their endangered languages, and will assist educators, curriculum developers and the wider education and linguistic industry in developing appropriate and effective training for those wanting to maintain or document endangered languages.

Keywords

Endangered languages, lingusitics, education, language documentation, language maintenance, training, culture, community status, linguistic fluency

Professional biography

      After completeing a BA (Hons) in linguistics at La Trobe University in 1992 I went to live in a remote Central Australian aboriginal community for 3 years to do linguistic research.  From 1995 to 2004 I worked with Batchelor Institute for Indigenous Teritary Education.  I worked with the Centre for Australian Languages and Linguistics as a lecturer then Senior lecturer/Co ordinator writing and teaching curriculum from VET level to Advanced Diploma level. The main focus of the courses was to teach indigenous poeple the linguistic skills to document and maintain their own languages. Writing and teaching this curriculum lead me to begin my doctorate investigating the effects of such teachings in remote indigenous communities.

Competitive Grant Funding

• Northern Territory Research and Innovation Board Funding, 2005
• CDU Postgraduate Research Scholarship, 2004 - 2006
• La Trobe University Humanities Research Scholarship, 1992
• La Trobe University Honours year Scholarship, 1991

Publications