Dr Vicki Couzens and her relationship to Language and Community
A vital part of language reclamation and revitalisation is ensuring its Traditional Custodians are empowered by the process. This is why the copyright on all materials on this website, including songs, lyrics, videos, translations and these language resources remains with its Gunditjmara creators.
Language reclamation is about more than just learning language, it is about understanding culture, navigating politics and showing respect. Yoolongteeyt Dr Vicki Couzens speaks about the complexities of Gunditjmara and Language reclamation.
Dr Vicki Couzen’s translation process for Gunditjmara Bundiya
The importance of Language revitalisation
Language, permissions and politics
Language and Culture: Possum Skin Cloaks
Vicki has brought together a selection of resources to help our songwriters write in language and start to translate their songs into language. These resources are copyright to Keerray Wooroong Language & Research Centre and the Victorian Aboriginal Centre for Language and are only for use by Gunditjmara language custodians. Any other use is not permitted without authorisation.
VACL Fact Sheets (link)
A collection of fact sheets created by VACL to help you understand some of the issues associated with Aboriginal languages.
Outlines the different languages in the Gunditjmara ‘family’ of languages, the different systems used to write them using English letters and the importance of using a standardised spelling system.
This document has been developed by the Keerray Wooroong Language Learning and Research Centre.
Dictionary of Keerraywoorroong and Related Dialects (link)
This dictionary of the words of the Gunditjmara and Kirrae Whurrong people was developed by Vicki’s father, Ivan Couzens (dec), and published by the Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative in 1996. It was edited by Shanthi H. Krishna-Pillay.
Gunditjmara Language Protocols (link)
This document gives you an overview of some of the things we need to consider as arts and cultural expression practitioners when we are using our cultural knowledges in our practice and in our sharing.
Language translation will be done in collaboration with and authorised by Senior Language Knowledgeholders on the Gunditjmara Alive project are Uncle Richard Frankland and Yoolongteeyt Dr Vicki Couzens.
The project will follow the Indigenous Cultural Protocols for the Arts developed by Terri Janke in 2016.
How we make sound (link)
Speaking in Gunditjmara involves learning to use your mouth, tongue and throat in new ways. You can learn new sounds by copying other language-speakers but this document explains what is happening when you make those sounds and help you to perfect and strengthen them.
This document has been developed by the Keerray Wooroong Language Learning and Research Centre.
Barry Blake ‘The Warrnambool Language’ (link)
This dictionary was developed by Barry Blake and published by Pacific Linguistics in 2003.
Gunditjmara translation process (link)
Vicki’s step-by-step guide as to how to begin translating your song lyrics, unless of course you have your own deadly way worked out!
This document has been developed by the Keerray Wooroong Language Learning and Research Centre.
Laka-noo Gunditjmara Sound Charts (link)
This is a step-by-step guide to help you to learn, understand and practice the sounds of our Gunditjmara languages.
Spelling is based on the Keerray Woorroong Dictionary developed by Yoolongteeyt Vicki’s father Ivan Couzens (dec). You can also use the Dhauwurd Wurrong draft system or the Barry Blake system.
This document has been developed by the Keerray Wooroong Language Learning and Research Centre.
Using Blake’s ‘The Warrnambool Language’ (link)
This document provides some background to Blake’s dictionary and some tips on how to use and understand it.
This document has been developed by the Keerray Wooroong Language Learning and Research Centre.