Word Up

Will Blackley is part of a team of people working to revitalise Kalkatungu language in north-west Queensland. He's also our language legend on Word Up this month. Will shares the Kalkatungu name of a familiar constellation.

This month, Christine Anu has been sharing some of her maternal grandfather’s language – Kala Kawa Ya.  For her final time on Word Up, Christine shares a word she learned recently after her Uncle Michael Jenson Warusam-Waigana heard her on the radio. 

Christine Anu has been sharing some of her maternal grandfather’s language, Kala Kawa Ya. She's explained the significance of the 'waku' (a woven mat), and shared a word that means to roll out. This week, Christine shares a word that means to fold or roll up.

Christine Anu shares a Kala Kawa Ya word that means to roll out a woven mat.

Singer-songwriter Christine Anu shares the Kala Kawa Ya name for a woven mat: waku.

Christine Anu is a prolific Australian music icon. This month she's sharing some of her mother's language Kala Kawa Ya from the north-west region of the Torres Strait. Her first word is a welcoming word: sew ngapa.

Henry is a community broadcaster who lives and works on Nyul Nyul Country, in the Dampier Peninsula near Beagle Bay. Today, Henry is sharing a word in honour of his dad.

Henry Augustine is a community broadcaster from Nyul Nyul Country, located on the Dampier Peninsula at Beagle Bay.  Today, he shares the Nyul Nyul word for Country.

Henry Augustine is a community broadcaster based in Beagle Bay.  To kick off his stint on Word Up, Henry shares a Nyul Nyul word meaning 'I' or 'me', and explains how he came to learn Nyul Nyul. 

Join Carina Norman and Jasmine Seymour in the Sydney area where they're working to strengthen the Dharug language.  For their final time on Word Up, they share some different ways to farewell someone Dharug Country.

Carina Norman and Jasmine Seymour share the Dharug word for Country, camp or nest.

Until recently, Dharug was considered a sleeping language, but grassroots activists like Corina Norman and Jasmine Seymour have set about having the language taught in schools.  Today, they share a Dharug word which means ‘to look’ and discuss the different ways you might use that word.

Today Corina Norman and Jasmine Seymour share a Dharug word that can be used to scold, or to show love.

Head to Dharug Country in the Sydney area to meet Corina Norman and Jasmine Seymour. They share a Dharug greeting.

Word Up takes you back Ngemba Country in Far West NSW to meet Phil Sullivan who shares the word he uses to describe his home as well as some thoughts on recognising each other's humanity. 

Phil Sullivan is a Ngemba man from Bourke, and our language legend for this month. He explains the link between language and identity, and share a word he uses to address multiple people at once.

Phil Sullivan explains how he became an Aboriginal heritage officer for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and shares a Ngemba word he uses to greet people.

Phil Sullivan is our language legend this month. Phil was an Aboriginal heritage offer with the National Parks and Wildlife service for almost three decades. And he’s still doing repatriation and language revitalisation work in his community of Bourke, on Ngemba land.  Today, Phil is sharing a Ngemba word he might use to welcome you to his Country.

Join Desert Stars frontman Jay Minning in Tjunjunjana on Spinifex Country for the final time. Today, Jay is sharing a Pitjantjatjara word with a dual meaning.

Jay Minning is the frontman of the country's most remote rock band - the Desert Stars.  Today, he shares a Pitjantjatjara word you might use when things don't go to plan. 

This week, language legend Jay Minning shares a Pitjantjatjara word that helps keep him grounded.

Jay Minning isn’t just the lead singer of Desert Stars, he’s also a passionate advocate of his language — Pitjantjara. For Word Up, Jay takes you to his Country and shares a word that makes him feel good. 

Che Kelly is a Miriwoong man and he’s been Word Up's language legend for the past month, sharing his knowledge and his passion for his language. But what you probably don’t know about Che is that he’s got spectacular hair. So that’s Mirriwoong word he’s sharing this week: 'hair'. 

Che is our language legend on Awaye this month. He’s been learning and teaching Miriwoong at his local language centre in Kununurra - Mirima Dawang Woorlab-Gerring. This week, Che explains why he loves rainbows.

Che Kelly is our language legend this month. He's learning and teaching Miriwoong at Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring - the —local language centre in Kununurra. Last week, Che asked you to look up to the skies. This week, he wants you to look straight down at your feet.