“Language Breathes Life”—Barngarla Community Perspectives on the Wellbeing Impacts of Reclaiming a Dormant Australian Aboriginal Language

Leda Sivak, Seth Westhead, Emmalene Richards, Stephen Atkinson, Jenna Richards, Harold Dare, Ghil’ad Zuckermann, Graham Gee, Michael Wright, Alan Rosen, Michael Walsh, Ngiare Brown and Alex Brown
Additional contact information
Leda Sivak: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute—PO Box 11060, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
Seth Westhead: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute—PO Box 11060, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
Emmalene Richards: University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
Stephen Atkinson: Barngarla Language Advisory Committee (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute)—PO Box 11060, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
Jenna Richards: Barngarla Language Advisory Committee (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute)—PO Box 11060, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
Harold Dare: Barngarla Language Advisory Committee (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute)—PO Box 11060, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
Ghil’ad Zuckermann: University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
Graham Gee: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute—Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
Michael Wright: Curtin University—Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
Alan Rosen: University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
Michael Walsh: University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
Ngiare Brown: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute—PO Box 11060, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
Alex Brown: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute—PO Box 11060, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-17

Abstract: Traditional languages are a key element of Indigenous peoples’ identity, cultural expression, autonomy, spiritual and intellectual sovereignty, and wellbeing. While the links between Indigenous language loss and poor mental health have been demonstrated in several settings, little research has sought to identify the potential psychological benefits that may derive from language reclamation. The revival of the Barngarla language on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, offers a unique opportunity to examine whether improvements in mental health and social and emotional wellbeing can occur during and following the language reclamation process. This paper presents findings from 16 semi-structured interviews conducted with Barngarla community members describing their own experienced or observed mental health and wellbeing impacts of language reclamation activities. Aligning with a social and emotional wellbeing framework from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective, key themes included connection to spirituality and ancestors; connection to Country; connection to culture; connection to community; connection to family and kinship; connection to mind and emotions; and impacts upon identity and cultural pride at an individual level. These themes will form the foundation of assessment of the impacts of language reclamation in future stages of the project.

Keywords: Australia; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health; social and emotional wellbeing; Indigenous language; Revivalistics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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