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Borrowing words, such as “yarning”, from First Nations languages, especially when using them in a context that is directly addressing First Nations people

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Yarning about Respect | Respect.gov.au - Violence against women. Let’s stop it at the start

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Having a yarn with young people about respect is an important step in stopping it at the start. Through meaningful storytelling and open conversations, we can foster positive change and promote respect in our community and beyond.

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As part of the reconciliation action plan, it was highlighted that terms such as “aborigines” were not inclusive of the diversity of First Nations culture, so terms such as “First Nations people” should be used instead.

Changes in language use over time can be to try and incorporate language that is more respectful and inclusive of the diversity of cultures in Australia.

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Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry 'Black Harry' Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal-Wallaballooa man William Lane aka 'Billy the Bull' - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

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Reconciliation Australia's vision is for a just, equitable and reconciled Australia.

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After winning gold in the olympic skateboarding, Arisa Trew commented that her coach said she was “skibidi sigma”, which highlights how language use continues to develop over time, especially with young people.

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Australia's new youngest Olympic gold medallist Arisa Trew has toasted her "insane" feat after an in-joke with her coach became a piece of magical advice.

Aged 14 years and 86 days, the skateboarder eclipses the previous record held by Sandra Morgan since 1956 when she won 4x100m freestyle relay gold at the age of 14 years and 184 days.

Fittingly, Trew's gold was Australia's 14th in Paris - and it came in stunning style.

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Sitting in the bronze position before her third and last run of the final, coach Trevor Ward pulled her aside and said two words.

"We've got some crazy things that we say to each other and I just said the crazy things that we say - skibidi sigma," he told AAP.

The message paid off when it inspired Trew to complete a series of daring tricks, highlighted by a 540 - one and a half rotations in mid-air - to thrill the sold-out crowd.

"It's like a joke that I have with all my friends because, like, it's just, like, sigma is, like, the top," she said.

"A lot of kids nowadays say that a lot."

Trew scored 93.18 to pip Japan's Cocona Kiraki (92.63) and Great Britain's Sky Brown (92.31).

"I got told by a few people that I'm Australia's youngest gold medallist, which is, like, pretty insane," the new champion said.

"And really cool, because that's, like, who I'm representing and, like, it's just amazing.

"It's just, like, super cool that I have won the gold medal because it has been like a dream. I'm just, like, so excited."

Ward said: "I'm crying like a little baby. Man, it's the most amazing thing."

Trew was stunned by her score - "I was, like, what? That's crazy," she said - even after doing her best to treat it like a normal event.

"It was just crazy and so exciting and I just, like, couldn't believe it when I, like, knew that I was the winner of the Olympics," she said.

"This being my first Olympics, it's just insane.

"I wasn't really nervous because it's just, like, I just needed to think that it's another skate comp.

"And just to have fun with all my friends and skate my best but, like, all I really wanted to do was land a solid run."

Her golden feat followed a shaky qualifying session when she ranked sixth, only safely into the medal round by two spots.

But in the final, with apt music blaring including Guns N'Roses' hit Sweet Child O' Mine, Trew triumphed to collect a precious prize.

"It's a little bit heavier than I thought. But it's, like, beautiful," she said.

Trew started skateboarding seven years ago and, three years ago, her 11-year-old self was inspired by the sport's debut at the Tokyo Olympics.

"I always knew that, like, I wanted to be here and, like, podium and just, like, win," she said.

"Because after the first Olympics, that really inspired me, like, watching all the girls, and it pushed me to just want to be here.

"And, like, I thought, like: 'Oh, maybe I could do it'.

"And, like, when I, like, did that run, I just, like, knew that I could do it."

The teen trumped a field where Brazil's Dora Varella, aged 23, was the oldest and Finland's Heili Sirvio, aged 13, the youngest.

The Finn summed up her reaction to Trew's golden run.

"Banger, banger, banger," Sirvio said.

Stream free on

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Aussie 14-year-old wins historic gold after 'crazy' two-word message

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Inspired like a true teenager, Australia's new youngest ever Olympic champion stunned the world in Paris.

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Highlights the symbolic nature of Australia’s culture and additionally incorporates language features that are uniquely Australian.

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This is Footy Country (Extended Cut) - Telstra x AFL

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The 2021 Australian Census statistics found that 27.6% of the Australian population were born overseas, which displays how culturally diverse modern Australia is and how this reflects on our identity as a nation.

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Key statistics

27.6 per cent of the population were born overseas.

61,860 international visitors were in Australia during the Census collection period.

Top 5 languages used at home, other than English, were Mandarin (2.7 per cent), Arabic (1.4 per cent), Vietnamese (1.3 per cent), Cantonese (1.2 per cent) and Punjabi (0.9 per cent).

Top 5 ancestries were English (33.0 per cent), Australian (29.9 per cent), Irish (9.5 per cent), Scottish (8.6 per cent) and Chinese (5.5 per cent).

Top 5 religious affiliations were No religion (38.9 per cent), Catholic (20 per cent), Anglican (9.8 per cent), Islam (3.2 per cent) and Hinduism (2.7 per cent).

Image

Description

Based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

Cultural diversity data summary

1. Country of birth of person by age

2. Country of birth of person by Australian citizenship

3. Country of birth of person by year of arrival in Australia by state and territory

4. Ancestry by state and territory

5. Language used at home by state and territory

6. Proficiency in spoken English by year of arrival in Australia

7. Religious affiliation by country of birth of person

8. Religious affiliation by age by sex by state and territory

9. Australian born and overseas born by type of long-term health condition by sex

Other Census data cubes

Please refer to other relevant Census data cubes:

Country of birth of person by state and territory of usual residence - 2016 and 2021

Selected countries of birth of person by state and territory of usual residence - 2021

Religious affiliation - 1996, 2016 and 2021

Articles

Articles providing additional information related to this topic include:

Census data tools

Search Census data provides a simple way to understand an area at a glance.

QuickStats provides a summary of an area including demographics and tables on key characteristics of the people living in the area, their families and their dwellings.

Community Profiles provide a comprehensive statistical picture of an area in an Excel spreadsheet, delivering data relating to people, families, and dwellings.

Data Explorer is an interactive web browser where you can view, query and download data.

DataPacks contain comprehensive data about people, families and dwellings for all Census geographies ranging from Australia down to Statistical Area Level 1.

This data is informed by responses to the following questions:

What is the person's ancestry?

In which country was the person born?

In what year did the person first arrive in Australia to live for one year or more?

In which country was the person's father born?

In which country was the person's mother born?

Is the person an Australian citizen?

Does the person use a language other than English at home?

How well does the person speak English?

What is the person's religion?

More information: Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary - Cultural diversity

Learn how Census data helps community groups, businesses and governments make important decisions.

The City of Casey is one of Victoria's largest and fastest growing areas. Casey Cardinia Libraries, with seven branches and a popular mobile library, provides services to the diverse community of more than 420,000 people. From Hampton Park right through to Pakenham, the libraries offer meeting places where people gather, share news and make connections. Library Information Services Coordinator, Michelle McLean, said they use Census data to help identify language needs in the local community.

"In 2016, Census data for the local government area showed a dramatic increase in Punjabi speakers," said Mrs McLean. "The data showed 6,695 people stated they spoke Punjabi at home compared to 2,531 people in 2011."

Given the number of Punjabi speakers moving into the local Cranbourne area, the team used this data, along with survey information, to source Punjabi books and materials.

"We invited Punjabi speaking locals to an event so they could recommend items from the sample collection that interested them," said Mrs McLean. A new language collection was then launched and continues to be used by this growing community.

"We use Census data about languages people speak at home to tell us which communities may benefit from library services," said Beth Luppino, General Manager Customer Experience.

"We look at the top four or five languages spoken in our communities, as well as emerging ones." The library team noticed a trend in the use of the less common Oromo language, an Afroasiatic dialect.

"While it's only a small number of library users, we added to our bilingual book collection and sourced other language support materials to cater for this group," said Ms Luppino.

"Census data helps us form a picture of the community," said Ms Luppino.

"It helps tell us who our audience is so we can plan relevant activities, programs and collections. It also encourages people who are newly arrived in Australia to get a free library membership."

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27.6 per cent of the population were born overseas. 61,860 international visitors were in Australia during the Census collection period. Top 5 languages used at home, other than English, were Mandarin (2.7 per cent), Arabic (1.4 per cent), Vietnamese (1.3 per cent), Cantonese (1.2 per cent) and Punjabi (0.9 per cent).

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The use of certain words in job descriptions, such as “confident”, “decisive”, or “ambitious”, may appeal to male applicants and deter female applicants from applying, which demonstrates how unconscious biases may affect language use, particularly in the workforce.

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The Effects of Gendered Language in Tech Job Ads | TechBrain

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The language used in a job advert can have a powerful effect on the way male and female applicants perceive the role and their suitability for it. Language in ads may be a potentially important factor in gender imbalance.

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Individual identities influencing language use

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Individual identities influencing language use

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Senator Fatima Payman uses gen-z and gen alpha language in Parliament, such as the noun “sigma” and the acronym “GOAT”.

Slang is a common marker of age, as each generation tends to develop its own set of slang terms and phrases, often to establish a unique identity and differentiate themselves from older generations, which is an example of a sociolect, as it demonstrates how language use can vary based on the generation of the speaker.

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news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site

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Senator Fatima Payman gives unhinged speech in senate on social media ban

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Western Australia senator Fatima Payman has used her platform in parliament to give a bizarre speech only generation z and alpha could understand.

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People of migrant ethnolects will Anglicise their names to make it easier for themselves to exist in Australian society.

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National identity/language use according to context

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National identity/language use according to context

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Demonstrates the laid-back and casual attitudes Australia has, especially in relation to swearing, which loses the significance swearing might have in other cultures.

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Independent senator David Pocock has expressed his frustration over continued climate scepticism in the Australian Senate. 'It seems like a pretty sad day in Australia where in 2022 we are hearing arguments about climate science after however long of the bullshit that Australians have had to ...'. He was stopped for 'unparliamentary' language. Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson chimed in with something along the lines of 'Where is the lie?' but Pocock was made to withdraw anyway

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'Bullshit': David Pocock withdraws comment after criticising climate scepticism - video

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'It seems like a pretty sad day in Australia where in 2022 we are hearing arguments about climate science', says Pocock

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Differences in language use between younger and older generations in texting, through the use of ellipses by older generations, making texts seem “ominous”.

This highlights the difference between “boomer” and “zoomer” texting etiquette, which is influenced by older generations growing up with different rules for informal communication.

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Gen Z confused why older generations use the ominous ‘Boomer ellipses’: ‘Insane at best’

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This generational texting habit might be worse than using capital letters.

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Online debates arose over Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s daughter having a “confusing” accent, due to her growing up in 2 places (America and Australia).

Demonstrates how people have expectations surrounding the Australian accent, and when someone does not meet these expectations or perceptions, arguments often occur.

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news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site

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Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s daughter’s accent starts a debate

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Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s 16-year-old daughter, Sunday Rose, made her runway debut, but no one can get over her accent.

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Migrant families use dubbed versions of the popular children’s TV show, Bluey, to help remain connected to their heritage.

Demonstrates how migrant families integrate Australian culture with their native culture, which allows them to feel connected with both their heritage and their Australian peers.

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Known as Bù lǔ yī in China, Blæja in Iceland and Bluji in Lithuania, Bluey has proven so wildly popular internationally that it's been dubbed into more than 20 languages.

After capturing the hearts of children, adults and dogs worldwide it's been deemed a "cultural ambassador" for Australia.

Back home, the cartoon series is now also helping migrant families remain connected to their heritage.

Jing, who migrated to Melbourne from China in 2019, encourages her son Yi Chen to watch Bluey dubbed into Mandarin.

Yi Chen was born in Melbourne and mostly speaks English but Jing is determined to keep him connected to his Chinese heritage by raising him bilingual and speaks to him exclusively in her mother tongue.

"When people first see him, they will recognise him as being from Asia, so this is his first identity," she said.

"It's unimaginable if he doesn't understand his parent's culture and where he's from.

"How is he supposed to accept himself and his identity otherwise?"

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows more than one-third of Australian residents like Jing and her Malaysian-Australian husband were born overseas.

And according to the 2021 census, about 5.8 million people speak a language other than English at home.

Bluey's age-appropriate themes, snack-sized episodes, and accurate Mandarin translation made it an easy choice as a program for her active five-year-old to watch.

"He doesn't like to sit down and watch something," Jing said.

But she said he was more willing to watch Bluey because it was already part of his environment.

Growing up Chinese in Australia

Although there are plenty of Mandarin television programs from China for her son to watch, Jing said she wanted Yi Chen to have shared interests with his peer group.

For many migrants Bluey is a quintessential lesson in Australian sayings, dynamics, and culture.

"It's very important for his confidence and sense of integration," Jing said.

"When [Bluey] plays games, they play similar or the same games to what my son plays."

The "cute" illustrations of Vegemite bottles in Season Three's Pavlova episode even prompted Jing to try the polarising spread which she concluded was "not bad".

When her husband is around, they switch to watching Bluey in English, which she says can also help multicultural families learn local English.

Seeing the cartoon dubbed in Mandarin makes Jing feel represented too.

"When I watch the translated version, I picture Bluey's family as a Chinese family who's migrated to and living in Australia," she said.

Sauerkraut and meat pies

Melbourne resident Lisa-Marie Hinton is another mother whose children watch a dubbed version of Bluey - in their case German.

She speaks with Australian-born sons Lenny, 4, and Henry, 2, exclusively in the language of her homeland so they can become bilingual and communicate with German relatives who don't speak English.

Along with Bluey, Lisa-Marie ensures that more than 90 per cent of the books and programs they watch and listen to are in German except for when their father, who only speaks English, is around.

Lisa-Marie said it was part of preserving their German customs, like taking off one's shoes before entering the home and the types of meals they prepare.

"[Lenny] loves sauerkraut and vinegared gherkin," she said.

"[He] is actually very proud he's German ... he loves that he's a mix."

Like Jing, Bluey's Australian references have left a mark on Lenny too.

"Lenny calls me his 'mate' sometimes, which we definitely would not choose to say in Germany," Lisa-Marie said.

"But he loves the word 'mate', and he asked me recently to make a pie which is really unique because I've never ever made a pie and I probably wouldn't choose to eat a pie myself.

"Obviously, we love Australia and accept that culture and want them to grow up with that but for me it's really important that they understand where they come from."

Lisa-Marie's goal is for her boys to flow seamlessly between speaking English and German, something Lenny has started doing.

"He can from one minute speak English to his dad, then speak to me in German," she said.

Henry has started following easy instructions too, even with her "strong south German accent".

Mental load of preserving language

Lisa-Marie encourages Lenny to practice speaking German by pretending she doesn't understand English despite having lived in Australia for 14 years.

But she sometimes slips up and catches herself speaking English mid-sentence because she thinks in English and reverting back to German is hard.

"[Speaking multiple languages is] actually a lot of effort and I can see why a lot of people give up on that," she said.

"That's why it's so important to have that option to turn on shows in German."

Lisa-Marie is currently on the waitlist for a German kindergarten and would like to see more bilingual schools open in Australia.

One day she would also like to send her sons to school in Germany for a term for language immersion.

For now she remains their teacher, which can be hard.

"Sometimes Lenny gets very frustrated, and he hates that I push him into speaking German but there's no other option," she said.

Joseph Lo Bianco, a professor of language and literacy education from the University of Melbourne, said preventing language attrition among migrant families took a lot of effort.

"Within one to two generations, there's a struggle. By three generations we see enormous language shift across many communities," he said.

Professor Lo Bianco said children of migrant parents were under enormous pressure to stop using their home language as they learned English because of a desire to fit in.

He said most schools only offered a maximum of three hours a week of classes in a limited number of languages so it was up to parents and extra-curricular programs to make up that shortfall.

Home language policy

Professor Lo Bianco said parents could adopt a policy that designated a particular time, room, or activity where only the home language was spoken.

He also said the routine needed to be enjoyable and predictable so children knew to expect that at dinnertime, for example, only Greek could be spoken.

"Children should see [the policy] is validated by everybody around them," he said.

He said as children matured and started to expand their ability to articulate themselves with more complexity in English, it was important the parents were able to keep that level of expression up in their home language.

He said parents needed to ensure their language skills, vocabulary and expressions remained contemporary the longer they lived in a new country.

Professor Lo Bianco recommended using online streaming, apps, and books so parents could introduce new words, concepts, and activities to expand their vernacular in the home language.

"Young people prefer to sound like their peers rather than their parents," he said.

He said learning a language also involved learning new cultural norms.

Trying to focus on both aspects at the same time could be challenging so the Australian backdrop to Bluey was useful.

"If you're hearing Bluey and recognise cultural references then you can focus on language development," he said.

"Bluey is a wonderful asset because it's centred in Australia and gives children the sense that multilingualism belongs here."

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Wanting to raise bilingual children? Here's why these mums are using Bluey

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After being dubbed into more than 20 languages, Bluey is helping migrant families around Australia remain connected to their language and culture.

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Triple m reporter asks afl starb jack ginnivan ' hokball, more skibidi or sigma'

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Triple M's Sh*t Brownlow Questions 2024 | Triple M Footy

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colloquialisms such as "yeah-nah" can be strong markers of solidarity and Australian identity, Taylor swift using the phrase in her Australian concert a demonstration of the unique Australian identity denoted by using it.

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Much has been written about the power of Taylor Swift's poetic lyrics to resonate deeply with her audiences. But forget poetry and literary allusions - their influence pales in comparison to the cultural impact of a resounding "yeah-nah".

During last Friday evening's concert, Swift's dancer Kameron Saunders bellowed the cherished Australian phrase in response to Swift's line "You know that we are never getting back together" - and 96,000 Swifties at the Melbourne Cricket Ground went wild.

It was enchanting to meet you - introducing 'yeah-nah'

According to the first ever study of this little Aussie icon, "yeah-nah" arrived on the linguistic scene probably around the late 1990s. But it didn't really come to the attention of Australians until the early 2000s, much the same time as Swift and her guitar began to rise to fame in Nashville. And, just like Swift, it's not always been plain sailing for "yeah-nah" - a rocky start and a career marked by continual change and innovation.

Condemned by many in the early 2000s, "yeah-nah" was branded with disparaging labels such as "speech junk" - and lumped together with other "unnecessary words that clutter up our language". "Yeah-no" was a symptom of Australia's inarticulateness, they argued, and it should go.

Read more: Yeah, nah: Aussie slang hasn't carked it, but we do want to know more about it

But somehow "yeah-no" climbed out of the linguistic abyss - came back stronger than a nineties trend, as Swifties would put it - and won people's hearts. When ABC radio stations around the country asked their listeners to send in their favourite Aussie slang expressions, "yeah-nah" came second out of more than a thousand unique phrases ( it might even have come first had "mate" not got that unfair boost from other favourites like "g'day mate").

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Now a major protagonist in William McInnes' book Yeah, Nah!: A celebration of life and the words that make us who we are, this much loved linguistic celebrity also makes regular public appearances - popping up everywhere from car sales adverts to the branding initiatives of condom companies. It's prominently adorned on earrings, signet rings, necklaces, T-shirts and even features in beautifully intricate needlework embroideries.

What's 'yeah-nah' anyway?

"Yeah-nah" (or its more formal version "yeah-no") is one of those highly idiosyncratic expressions dotted through our speech. Its functions have to do with hedging, politeness and solidarity, but they are complex and pinning them down is tricky. As you'd expect - it is after all the fall-out of the hidden thought processes of humans interacting with other humans.

Here are some examples to illustrate just some of its duties.

You might want to decline someone's kind offer of assistance: "Do want a hand?" - "Yeah-nah, I'll be fine." To simply say "no" would be blunt.

You might want to agree with a negative question: "So you didn't get the Taylor Swift tickets?" - "Yeah-nah, we were too slow." A simple "yes" or "no" would be ambiguous.

You might want to indicate enthusiastic agreement: "So you enjoyed Taylor Swift?" - "Yeah-nah, she was fantastic." The effect of "no" is to reinforce "yes" by knocking on the head any possibility of contradiction.

You start talking after a lull in the conversation: "Yeah-nah, I was hoping to go to the concert." "Yeah-nah" strengthens rapport with your conversational partner; it suggests interest or support.

You're under pressure to accept a compliment, but at the same time want to appear modest. "You played brilliantly today" - "Yeah-nah, I was lucky really." "Yeah" acknowledges the compliment (not to would seem ungrateful), and the following "nah" effectively softens its impact.

Read more: Brekkies, barbies, mozzies: why do Aussies shorten so many words?

So which one did Taylor Swift's dancer use?

The "yeah-nah" starring in the Eras tour is one of the newest functions, sometimes dubbed the "shutdown" use: an intense, sarcastic form of disagreement, which effectively shuts down the topic altogether ("Would you give me your tickets for Saturday night's concert?" "Yeah, nah".) The "yeah" sarcastically feints at an agreement that is clearly not possible, before the crystal-cold clarity of the disagreement is issued: "nah". Curiously, this use has earlier and stronger documentation in US English, and only more recently has it been found in Australian English.

"Shutdown" uses have proliferated on Twitter since at least 2018 (and, yes, that an intense form of disagreement should gain momentum on Twitter is perhaps the least surprising part of this story). The strong strand of internet language feeding the development of this function is perhaps why newer studies have found this form of "yeah-no" is used predominantly by younger people.

A little surprising, really - in most other functions, Baby Boomers have been documented to be the most prolific users of "yeah-no".

You belong with me - language binds us

Language is all about communicating (of course), but it's also about defining the gang - and never underestimate the significance of this second function. Members of Swift's fandom are known for weaving her song lyrics ("blank space, baby", "red lip classic") into their conversations. These fragments of lyrics become a kind of "clique", or in-group recognition device - "if you're quoting Taylor Swift, that connects us".

Swift is certainly aware of the power of language when it comes to creating bonds, and not just through relatable lyrics and themes. She is brilliant at acknowledging local culture and using colloquial phrases to connect with her audiences. And she nailed it with "yeah-nah".

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Are you ready for it? 'Yeah-nah' comes back stronger - with a little help from Taylor Swift

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For Australians, it's a love story, so baby just say "yeah-nah".

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Swearing (age groups, identity, national identity)

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Swearing (age groups, identity, national identity)

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Explains how swearing changes over time, and how different cultures (such as Australia) may have different cultural customs regarding swearing.

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Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Chloe Adams for Life Matters

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‘Gadzooks’, ‘sneeze’ and ‘damn’ were once swear words. So what changed?

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The evolution of swear words proves how flexible and adaptable they are. But where there do they originate? Our social taboos hold the answer.

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AAEs/contemporary language use in Australia

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AAEs/contemporary language use in Australia

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Holmwood Public School is teaching students the "Welcome to Country" in Wiradjuri, the Indigenous language of the community.

Demonstrates how Australian society has progressed over time to preserve the Aboriginal language and customs, rather than diminish or eradicate it. Also briefly mentions how many households will code-switch between Wiradjuri and English.

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In a newly constructed yarning circle, students from Holmwood public school are practising an acknowledgment of country in Wiradjuri. The relieving principal, Beatrice Murray, raises her voice to be heard above the noise.

" Yiradhu marang," she says to get their attention. It means good day, or hello. Holding a laminated sheet of paper, Murray leads the primary school students through the acknowledgment. The aim is for the children to memorise the words and pronunciation so they can offer an acknowledgment with kindness, respect and strength - the Wiradjuri concept yindyamarra.

"We talk about the importance of having sensitivity, of making sure when you speak language it's done in the right place and the right time," Murray says. "This next generation of kids coming through is beautiful, they're more accepting of different cultures. As a teacher I can say I'm hopeful that things will get better."

Wiradjuri is the most commonly spoken language in Cowra other than English, according to the 2021 census. Thirty-five households reported that Wiradjuri was the main language spoken at home but Murray believes even more speak some Wiradjuri, woven in with English.

"If Wiradjuri people sit down and list the words they already know, they'd be surprised how many were words they use in everyday conversation," she says. "It's always been part of the way we talk."

The daily noticeboard at Yalbillinga Boori day care centre. Photograph: Eliza Spencer/The Guardian

Murray grew up speaking scattered words of Wiradjuri, and joined a language course after hearing leaders including Uncle Stan Grant Sr and Letetia Harris speak confidently in Wiradjuri.

"I realised how important language is to build Wiradjuri people up, strengthen our identity, strengthen culture," she says. "The more of us that learn our language, the better off we'll be.

"What do we want for the future of our children, our grandchildren and great-grandchildren? Having knowledge of their language in their own culture and identity - that's the end goal."

Elders were 'punished for speaking their language'

Down the highway at the former Erambie mission, children at Yalbillinga Boori day care are counting to 10 in Wiradjuri. The Wiradjuri word of the month is marras (hands). It's also the Wiradjuri word for five, matching the five fingers on each hand.

Wiradjuri teacher Erin Lambshead at Yalbillinga. Photograph: Eliza Spencer/The Guardian

Erin Lambshead, a Wiradjuri language teacher who travels to schools around the region, visits the Wiradjuri-owned and operated preschool once a week. Lambshead grew up speaking "no more than five words" of Wiradjuri but latercompleted the Wiradjuri language course at Charles Sturt University.

"Being able to learn it and share it, for our ancestors, our identities and building ourselves up as Wiradjuri people has been great." she says. "I don't know everything but I'm able to confidently teach others about the systems of Wiradjuri language, how it's constructed and the multiple meanings in the one word."

The children at Yalbillinga say their favourite word today is gugubarra (kookaburra). The classroom fills with three- and four-year-olds attempting their best gugubarra call, with varying degrees of success.

The preschool lessons are part of revitalising the language which is classified as critically endangered by Unesco. Young people in Cowra are eager to learn.

"[The kids] go home and they're teaching their parents language, teaching their siblings language," Lambshead says.

A language learning sheet at Yalbillinga. Photograph: Eliza Spencer/The Guardian

"There are great opportunities for the kids teaching language, teaching their culture, teaching their heritage, when they become adults. It will make them feel more empowered and strong within themselves as Wiradjuri people."

At the Tafe campus in Dubbo, Michelle Crowe is training the next generation of Wiradjuri language teachers. As headteacher for Aboriginal languages in the western region, Crowe says she has seen "a lot more excitement" build about First Nations language courses.

"When we first started there was a lot of hesitation from our older community," she says. "They were punished for speaking their language. Now, it's available to everybody."

Part of that momentum is the formal accreditation of the course. "To have the course formalised and recognised as an actual qualification rather than a group of blackfullas learning how to talk language, people take it more seriously," she says.

Murray says that formal language learning opportunities for Wiradjuri and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are an important part of bringing communities closer to fluency.

"When you speak language, we're connecting with our spiritual ancestors, that's how important it is and why it's got to be done properly," she says. "There are still words in the different clan groups that aren't in the dictionary ... our language is a living thing."

While Wiradjuri language courses are open to any student, Murray says she'd like Wiradjuri people to learn their own language first.

"I think it's important that we have our own people learn the language, so that we're strong in our own identity first."

Crowe gently disagrees. She says she understands the desire to hold language close but warns, "If we keep it all to ourselves, we run the risk of it going back to sleep.

"Our elders say we've always had our language, she's just been sleeping. We need to be sharing it, we need to get people confident to teach and sharing it with everybody, so we don't lose her again."

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Wiradjuri taught in NSW schools: 'Our language is a living thing'

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The First Nations tongue is considered critically endangered by Unesco but it's now the second-most spoken language in Cowra

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The latest report from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) found that the number of non-binary students enrolled in schools had increased by more than 20x since 2019, which has lead to teachers being encouraged to use non gender-specific language in schools.

An example of how language use has changed in order to meet peoples' positive face needs by using gender-affirming language, such as "student" rather than "boy" or "girl".

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Outlines how the use of second-person pronouns, such as "you", are found to be less persuasive than third-pronouns, such as "we".

(Note: this would be really good to add to an example of a company/politician making a formal speech)

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Science Says People With High Emotional Intelligence Use This Word to Become Remarkably Persuasive

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A little less ‘you’ and a lot more ‘we.’

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Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli was accused of obfuscating regarding his personal views on decriminalising abortion.

demonstrates how politicians may manipulate language use in order to appeal to voters who may not share his opinions.

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In this advertisement, the second stanza from poem "My Country" by Dorothea Mackellar is verbally presented, each line accompanied with a differing scene that ironically contrasts the meaning of the original line. The ad draws on the cultural context of many Australians being familiar with the poem, prior knowledge of the poem leading to an understanding of the ad's irony, which fosters a sense of solidarity and understanding between AAMI insurance/ Australians.

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When Australia happens, lucky you’re with AAMI.

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This paper has many different applicable CMEs, such as details on how Australian Twitter (X) discourse has shaped societal understandings of COVID-19, and the paper's method of identifying online users as Australian which indicates certain linguistic features that identify individuals as belonging to Australia

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abbreviations and acronyms created by younger people 

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abbreviations and acronyms created by younger people 

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younger generations are forming and using more abbreviations and acronyms to make texting and communicating easier. This is becoming even more difficult for older generations to keep up with the latest abbreviations and or acronyms.

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When you're messaging a friend or loved one, you may have a lot to say. As much as you want to text paragraphs, sometimes it's easier to keep it short and sweet.

That's where abbreviations and slang come in to help. There are so many ways to abbreviate what you want to say: " OTP" to " ttyl." " ICYMI", USA TODAY has been breaking down text slang. We've already covered various explainers on different phrases, such as " rizz" and " lmk".

Now, it's time to learn a new one. Here is the meaning and how to use "ily".

What does 'ily' mean?

"ILY" stands for " I love you." The text slang is used in a more informal way than the full phrase. You can use "ily" while messaging friends, family or other loved ones, such as a significant other.

You can also choose to modify the abbreviation. Other variations include:

"ilysm" - "I love you so much"

"ly" - "love you"

"lysm" - "love you so much"

In general, "ily" is used to express love, gratitude and appreciation toward another person no matter the conversation.

How to use 'ily'

Here are some examples of how to use "ily":

"You're the best, ily!"

"Thank you for the present, ilysm."

"ttyl, ly!"

Just Curious for more? We've got you covered

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From " What is my love language?" to " How to start a conversation on a dating app?" to " What is popular sovereignty?", we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.

Want to learn? Catch up on more text slang explainers:

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What does 'ily' mean? Show your loved ones you care with this text abbreviation.

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Text conversation slang and acronyms got you confused? You're not alone. Here's what 'ily' means and how you can use it in conversation.

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ABC News reported  that Narungga Kaurna woman Janine Mohamed, a pioneer for Indigenous healthcare, has been named Victoria's 2024 Australian of the Year.

As this is a prestigious award for a respected individual, there is an expectation for the  ABC to assert their authority as a respected source when it comes to important events and issues  in society, which they do by employing a formal register

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Meet the Victorian winners of the Australian of the Year awards for 2024

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Narungga Kaurna woman Janine Mohamed, a pioneer for Indigenous healthcare, has been named Victoria’s 2024 Australian of the Year.