The Torres Strait region is the home of two traditional languages and six dialects:
These are all recognised as severely and critically endangered languages by UNESCO, the Australian Government and Torres Strait communities.
“Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.”
Language is the verbal expression of culture – offering a powerful medium through which culture is carried forward. Our stories and songs contain the key to understanding our world, and finding our place within it.
The richness of our cultural practices, knowledge systems and cultural expressions is a great source of great strength, resilience and pride for Torres Strait and Aboriginal people. For this reason, language and culture are deeply interconnected and core parts of one’s identity.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been praised by Aboriginal people and...
News TSRA Common Funding Round OpenThe Torres Strait Regional Authority has recently announced the opening of...
News Torres Strait Language SymposiumThe second Torres Strait Language Symposium was held at Gab Titui Cultural...
News Puliima National Indigenous Language Forum 2017Puliima National Indigenous Language Forum is the largest community focused...
Events Torres Strait Language Advisory Committee MeetingThe Language Advisory Committee is the lead body, responsible for steering...
Events Interesting Read: Why do human beings speak so many languages?People don’t speak one universal language, or even a handful. Instead, today...
News New NSW Legislation for preserving Aboriginal languagesAboriginal Languages Bill to retain spoken word of indigenous communities....
NewsMaria is from Ugar Island. She speaks English and is learning Meriam Mir.