Jaky Troy On Indigenous Languages

The Royal Australian Mint has launched a new 50 cent coin into circulation, designed to mark the United Nations General Assembly’s proclamation that 2019 is the International Year of Indigenous Languages and including the word for “coin” in 14 Australian languages.

Professor Jakelyn Troy said at the launch of the coin the situation for Australian languages is “pretty dire” and that that we stand to lose half of the world’s Indigenous languages within the next 50 years. Professor Troy is Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research at the University of Sydney. Her community is Ngarigu of the Snowy Mountains in south eastern Australia. She spoke to Lucy Kingston.  Listen here:

Image above: (l to r): Professor Jaky Troy;AIATSIS CEO Craig Ritchie; Kaurna man Jack Buckskin with his children and Royal Australian Mint CEO, Ross MacDiarmid at launch of new 50c coin