Sand stories and sign languages from Central Australia
Sand stories and sign languages from Central Australia
Language: | Arandic |
Depositor: | Jenny Green |
Location: | Australia |
Deposit Id: | 0270 |
ELDP Id: | IPF0173 |
---|---|
Level: | Deposit |
Saved in:

Podcast
Showreel
Group represented
Arandic
Language information Arrernte, Anmatyerr, Alyawarr, and Kaytetye are languages of the Arandic sub-group. There are about 3000 speakers of the various Arandic languages in total. Warlpiri is a language of the Ngumpin-Yapa sub-group. Both sub-groups are part of the broader Pama-Nyungan language family of Australia.
Special characteristics Sand stories from the arid lands of Central Australia are a traditional form of verbal art in which speech, sign, gesture and drawing work together. Some of the stories are children's games, some are recounts of everyday events, and others more formal stories related to ancestral country and its Dreamings. These stories begin by clearing a space on the soft ground. Between ‘scenes’ the sand space is erased before the narrator begins to draw again. In these desert communities traditional sign languages also play an important part in everyday communication. Sign may be used alongside speech or instead of it, and in some cultural circumstances sign is used to show respect. Sign is important in situations where silence is essential – for example when hunting. Sign can be used in communication between people who are at some distance from each other and out of ear-shot. This collection contains examples of sand stories and of sign language documentation from the Central Australia.
Deposit contents This collection contains documentation of sand stories and of sign languages from Central Australia.
Language information Arrernte, Anmatyerr, Alyawarr, and Kaytetye are languages of the Arandic sub-group. There are about 3000 speakers of the various Arandic languages in total. Warlpiri is a language of the Ngumpin-Yapa sub-group. Both sub-groups are part of the broader Pama-Nyungan language family of Australia.
Special characteristics Sand stories from the arid lands of Central Australia are a traditional form of verbal art in which speech, sign, gesture and drawing work together. Some of the stories are children's games, some are recounts of everyday events, and others more formal stories related to ancestral country and its Dreamings. These stories begin by clearing a space on the soft ground. Between ‘scenes’ the sand space is erased before the narrator begins to draw again. In these desert communities traditional sign languages also play an important part in everyday communication. Sign may be used alongside speech or instead of it, and in some cultural circumstances sign is used to show respect. Sign is important in situations where silence is essential – for example when hunting. Sign can be used in communication between people who are at some distance from each other and out of ear-shot. This collection contains examples of sand stories and of sign language documentation from the Central Australia.
Deposit contents This collection contains documentation of sand stories and of sign languages from Central Australia.
Status
✔ Curated
Resources online and curated
Resources online and curated
Depositor
Jenny Green

Affiliation: University of Melbourne
Deposit Statistics
Data from 2018 April 24 to 2018 April 24
Deposit hits:1
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Search this deposit
Language
Genre
Participants
(75)
Jenny Green
(8)
Clarrie Kemarr
(7)
Eileen Campbell
(7)
Gail Woods
(6)
April Campbell
(6)
Margaret Carew
more ...
(4)
Mary Kemarr
(3)
Amy Ngamperle
(3)
Eileen Perrwerl Campbell
(3)
Kirsty Robertson
(3)
Violet Petyarr
(2)
Janie Long
(2)
Kathleen Wallace
(2)
Lena Pwerl
(2)
Marie Long
(2)
Mary Nangala
(2)
Molly Presley
(2)
Myfany Turpin
(1)
Clarrie Long
(1)
Dorothy Mpetyan
(1)
Eileen Long
(1)
Elisha Garawirrtja
(1)
Elizabeth Marrkilyi Ellis
(1)
Helen Long
(1)
Hilda Ngamperle
(1)
Janie Mpetyan Briscoe
(1)
Jessie Peltharr
(1)
Kiji Kemarr
(1)
Kitty Kaketew
(1)
Kitty Peltharr
(1)
Lucky Morton
(1)
Mary Cole
(1)
Monica Gawawirrtja
(1)
Nancy Petyarr
(1)
Rita Dixon
(1)
Rosie Ngwarrey Kunoth
(1)
Rosie Pwerl
(1)
Tommy Kngwarreye Thompson
(1)
Veronica Dobson
(1)
Wiji Mpetyan
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Search this deposit
Language
Genre
Participants
(75)
Jenny Green
(8)
Clarrie Kemarr
(7)
Eileen Campbell
(7)
Gail Woods
(6)
April Campbell
(6)
Margaret Carew
more ...
(4)
Mary Kemarr
(3)
Amy Ngamperle
(3)
Eileen Perrwerl Campbell
(3)
Kirsty Robertson
(3)
Violet Petyarr
(2)
Janie Long
(2)
Kathleen Wallace
(2)
Lena Pwerl
(2)
Marie Long
(2)
Mary Nangala
(2)
Molly Presley
(2)
Myfany Turpin
(1)
Clarrie Long
(1)
Dorothy Mpetyan
(1)
Eileen Long
(1)
Elisha Garawirrtja
(1)
Elizabeth Marrkilyi Ellis
(1)
Helen Long
(1)
Hilda Ngamperle
(1)
Janie Mpetyan Briscoe
(1)
Jessie Peltharr
(1)
Kiji Kemarr
(1)
Kitty Kaketew
(1)
Kitty Peltharr
(1)
Lucky Morton
(1)
Mary Cole
(1)
Monica Gawawirrtja
(1)
Nancy Petyarr
(1)
Rita Dixon
(1)
Rosie Ngwarrey Kunoth
(1)
Rosie Pwerl
(1)
Tommy Kngwarreye Thompson
(1)
Veronica Dobson
(1)
Wiji Mpetyan
less ...