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Indicator: NCH-24 Survey of use of Indigenous languages

Data

Indigenous language speakers
Australia - 2005

Age group	15-24	15-34	35-44	45-54	55 and over	Total
Identifies with clan, tribal or language group	46.7	54.5	60.4	55.2	60.0	54.1
Attended cultural event(s) in last 12 months	65.6	68.9	72.6	65.1	67.9	68.1
Speaks an Indigenous language	18.2	22.3	21.8	19.5	26.1	21.1
Main language spoken at home
English	86.6	85.2	86.3	86.8	84.1	85.9
Aboriginal language	10.0	12.1	10.0	9.7	13.4	10.9
Torres Strait Islander language	1.1	0.8	1.6	1.0	1.3	1.2
Other	2.3	1.8	2.0	2.4	1.3	2.0

Source: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies & Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages 2005, National Indigenous Languages Survey Report 2005, Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts, Canberra.

Language endangerment - Indigenous languages
Australia - 2005

Rating	Endangerment Description	Number of Languages	Languages
5	Safe	3-6	Alyawarr, Girramay (?), Nyangumarta, Walmajarri (?), Walpiri, Yanyuwa (?)
4	Unsafe
3	Definitely endangered	2	Garrwa, Kuku Yalaji (or 2)
2	Severely endangered	9	Adnyamathanha, Kayardild, Kaytetye, Koko Bera, Mudburra, Rembarrnga, Tainikuit, Waanyi (or 1), Warlmanpa
1	Critically endangered	14	Alawa, Bardi, Kalaw Lagaw Ya, Kalaw Kawaw Ya, Lardil, Meriam Mir, Ngarlawangka, Tjungundji, Umbindhamu, Wajarri, Wambaya, Wangkatha, Wargamay, Yidiny
0	No longer fully spoken	155

Source: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies & Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages 2005, National Indigenous Languages Survey Report 2005, Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts, Canberra.

Indigenous Language Speakers by Language Endangerment Age Profile Index
Australia - Census 1996 and 2001

Age Profile Index	Endangerment status	1996	2001
1	Endangered	2 (5%)	6 (14%)
2		7 (17%)	11 (26%)
3		5 (12%)	7 (17%)
4	Not immediately in danger	10 (24%)	4 (10%)
5		18* (43%)	14 (33%)
* includes two languages which should have lesser index

Source: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies & Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages 2005, National Indigenous Languages Survey Report 2005, Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts, Canberra.

What the data mean

The proportion of Indigenous people who speak an Indigenous language has declined sharply in the 15 years to 2001. This decline is partly due to the fact that the number of Indigenous people has increased while the number of Indigenous people who speak an Indigenous language has not increased significantly. The decline in the proportion of Indigenous language speakers is more marked in the younger age groups, especially among the 5-14 year olds. The proportion in the 45+ years age group has decreased only slightly.

In 2002, while more than half (54%) the Indigenous people identified with a tribe, clan or a language group, only a fifth (21%) spoke an Indigenous language. An Indigenous language is the main language spoken at home for only 12% of Indigenous people surveyed in 2002.

The National Indigenous Languages Survey (NILS 2005) found that most of the Indigenous languages are now no longer spoken fully or fluently, and this number can be expected to grow by as much as 50% as the most severely and critically endangered languages lose their last speakers in the next 20-30 years.

Using estimated numbers of speakers of languages based on several available sources including NILS, there are 145 languages still spoken, of which 19 have more than 500 speakers, 45 between 10 and 50 speakers, and 67 less than ten speakers. Over a hundred languages are currently in a far-advanced stage of endangerment and will cease being spoken in the next 10-30 years, if no decisive action is taken.

The numbers of strong or safe languages are holding relatively stable at around 20, and some are gaining population due to high birthrates. Some of these, however, are becoming threatened.

The numbers of extremely endangered languages, with only older speakers, are much greater than the early-stage moderately endangered languages, and the strong languages.

Using the National Indigenous Language Study (NILS) data, of proficiency/use by age group, 3-6 languages are at the safe/strong stage (level 5); 2 languages are at the definitely endangered stage (level 3); 9 languages at the severely endangered stage (level 2); 14 languages at the critically endangered stage (level 1). The great majority of the languages (155) for which information was collected are in the no longer spoken (level 0) category.

Analysis of the ABS census data for 2001 in the NILS study showed that using the Age profile endangerment index 14 languages were at level 5; 4 languages at level 4; 7 languages at level 3; 11 languages at level 2 and 6 languages at level 1. Between 1996 & 2001 using the same index, the number of endangered languages (levels 1-3) increased from 14 to 23.

Eighteen languages are ‘strong’ in the sense of being spoken by all age groups but three or four are showing some signs of moving into endangerment. Many other languages are not fully spoken by anybody but words and phrases are used and there is great community support in many parts of the country for reclamation and heritage learning programs for such languages.

Issues for which this is an indicator and why

Natural and Cultural Heritage — Indigenous languages - State of indigenous languages 

Surveys of the use of such languages are currently the only available indicator for this issue.

Further Information

Source: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies & Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages 2005, National Indigenous Languages Survey Report 2005, Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts, Canberra.

• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey 
• Population Characteristics Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, Australia 2001 
• Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records Program 
• Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages 
• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies