Skip to content

First Nations languages available to all through the online 50 Words Project

Begin learning your nearest First Nations language thanks to the online-based 50 Words Project, which went live in time for NAIDOC week.

Chris Button
Chris Button
1 min read
First Nations languages available to all through the online 50 Words Project

If you've ever wanted to learn how to speak a First Nations language, a university is making it accessible through the online-based 50 Words Project.

Tracking Australia's rich Indigenous history is a huge task, with more than 250 language groups across the country according to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS).

Thanks to the University of Melbourne's Research Unit for Indigenous Language, you can visit a website to learn common phrases across many different Aboriginal languages, including helpful audio recordings to help nail pronunciation.

In an interview with NITV News, Ngalia man Kado Muir, who contributed to the project, believes the 50 Words Project is a good use of technology to introduce people to languages they previously may not have accessed before.

"Once you access that introduction, you can then take the necessary steps to identify language classes or books or other materials," Muir said. "It's all out there. It's just a question of taking action to use it."

Sure enough, I looked up the language of the Kaurna people, the original custodians of the Adelaide region, and there was a list of helpful words such as "niina marni" (hello) and "nakutha" (goodbye) that was super easy to find.

The idea behind the 50 Words Project is to create a resource for schools and organisations to learn 50 words in their local language, and for everyone to understand how diverse First Nations' languages are across Australia.

In time for NAIDOC Week, the 50 Words Project includes more than 60 different languages to learn.

If you're able to help contribute to the project, you can contact the University of Melbourne's Research Unit for Indigenous Language team at RUIL-contact@unimelb.edu.au.

IdeasArt & CultureTechnology

Chris Button

Chris is an award-nominated writer based in Adelaide who specialises in covering video games and technology. He loves Donkey Kong Country, sport, and cats. The Last Jedi is the best one, no questions


Related Posts

11 great panels to hit at PAX Aus 2024

So many panels, so little time. Here's a few highlights to fit in your schedule at this year's PAX in Melbourne.

Photo of a crowd in a large theatre, seated in a blue lit darkened room.

DJI Power 500 review: sneaky power for tech nerd camping trips

A beautifully designed power station with plenty of power to keep your devices running for extended stays away from home.

The DJI Power 500 power station sitting on grass.

Shokz OpenRun Pro: the ideal sports headphone experience

Earbuds are doing transparency modes well these days, but nothing does full awareness of the world around you better than bone conduction.

Cyclist checks a car over his shoulder. You can see he's wearing Shokz headphones.