ABSTRACT
Kaurna, the language of the Adelaide Plains, bore the brunt of colonisation in 1836 and earlier incursions by sealers. With a plummeting population and dispersal of those remaining, Kaurna ceased to be spoken as an everyday language within three decades. Efforts to re-introduce Kaurna began with songwriting in early 1990. With no sound recordings of the language as it was spoken in the 19th century, a 24-page missionary grammar, some 3,000 words and several hundred translated sentences is the foundation upon which the Kaurna language is being rebuilt.
Despite impressive gains over more than three decades, the Kaurna language is still fragile. The Kaurna language movement is small and dependent on a few individuals, while the loss of key Kaurna language pioneers has been devastating.
This chapter discusses substantial progress made in re-introducing Kaurna and will reflect honestly on challenges faced. With more than 80% of the population of South Australia living on Kaurna land, expectations are immense, yet programs in schools have actually regressed. The Kaurna language committees struggle to provide direction for the Kaurna language movement and respond to community requests. This chapter explores the challenges faced by the Kaurna language movement and identifies strategies for the future.
