Children's Language Input: A Study of a Remote Multilingual Indigenous Australian Community
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| Title: | Children's Language Input: A Study of a Remote Multilingual Indigenous Australian Community |
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| Authors: | Loakes, Deborah, Moses, Karin, Wigglesworth, Gillian, Simpson, Jane, Billington, Rosey |
| Source: | Multilingua: Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication. Jun 2013 32(5):683-711. |
| Availability: | De Gruyter Mouton. Available from: Walter de Gruyter. P.O. Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960. Tel: 800-208-8144; Tel: 703-661-1589; Fax: 703-661-1501; e-mail: degruytermail@presswarehouse.com; Web site: http://www.degruyter.com/browse?type_0=journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 29 |
| Publication Date: | 2013 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Multilingualism, Linguistic Input, Creoles, Standard Spoken Usage, Foreign Countries, Indigenous Populations, Language Usage, Rural Areas, Children, English (Second Language), Uncommonly Taught Languages, Caregiver Child Relationship, Parent Child Relationship, Language of Instruction, Family Environment |
| Geographic Terms: | Australia |
| DOI: | 10.1515/multi-2013-0032 |
| ISSN: | 0167-8507 |
| Abstract: | Indigenous children growing up in the remote regions of Australia live in multilingual communities which are often undergoing rapid language shift. In these communities, children are exposed to a range of language input, including the traditional language of the area, a local creole and Standard Australian English. The extent to which the different languages are used may vary by age of interlocutor as well as other factors. In this paper we examine the input to five children between the ages of two and four living in a small remote community. Recordings were made of each child interacting with caregivers of different ages to identify the range of language the children are exposed to. The majority of the input was in the local creole. This represents a rapid shift from the traditional language, Walmajarri, which was widely spoken when the community was established in the late 1980s. The majority of input in the traditional language came from the older interlocutors, suggesting that the language is severely endangered. Standard Australian English was used only minimally, although once they enter the formal school system, SAE will be the only language used for their education. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 78 |
| Entry Date: | 2014 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1045376 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Indigenous children growing up in the remote regions of Australia live in multilingual communities which are often undergoing rapid language shift. In these communities, children are exposed to a range of language input, including the traditional language of the area, a local creole and Standard Australian English. The extent to which the different languages are used may vary by age of interlocutor as well as other factors. In this paper we examine the input to five children between the ages of two and four living in a small remote community. Recordings were made of each child interacting with caregivers of different ages to identify the range of language the children are exposed to. The majority of the input was in the local creole. This represents a rapid shift from the traditional language, Walmajarri, which was widely spoken when the community was established in the late 1980s. The majority of input in the traditional language came from the older interlocutors, suggesting that the language is severely endangered. Standard Australian English was used only minimally, although once they enter the formal school system, SAE will be the only language used for their education. |
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| ISSN: | 0167-8507 |
| DOI: | 10.1515/multi-2013-0032 |
