Language and translation services
Our linguists and Yolŋu language workers develop a range of language resources, and provide high quality translation services.
Mathapuy Djämaw Dhiyal ARDS-ŋur | Language Work at ARDS
Yindiny ŋayi gamurru ŋunhi nhäku ŋanapurr ga dhuwal gämurruw’ djäma.
There is a very important reason why we are doing this.
Bili napurr ga djälthirr ŋalimurruŋgalaŋuw mathaw malaŋuw walal dhu ga ḏäl yan dhärra.
Because we want our languages to be strong.
Yaka ŋayi dhu wiṯitjwiṯitjthirr, bakthun wo buwayakthirr.
They’re not to mix-up, break down or disappear.
Dhiyaŋuny ga maŋutji-ḻakaram bukmaknha gämurru’ mala nhä ŋanapurr ga ŋayatham ga nhaltjan ŋanapurr ŋuli djäma.
This is part of everything we do.
Romgu ŋanapurruŋgalaŋuw ga dhäwuw’ malaŋuw ŋanapurruŋgalaŋuw dhuwandja märr ga ŋayi dhu ga dhärra wuṉḏaŋarr yan.
So that our law and our stories will stand firm.
Ga bulu ŋanapurr ga dhuwal djäma märr ga ŋanapurr dhu ga ŋayatham rirrakay, wuŋuli’ wo nhä malanynha,
And also we are doing this so that we can keep recordings and images and so on,
Märr ga ŋayi dhu balayi roŋiyirr yuṯaw yolŋuw nhänharaw ga marŋgithinyaraw.
So that it can go back to the young people to see and learn.
Yaka yan ŋanapurruŋ Yolŋuw, Balandaw wiripuny marŋgithinyaraw.
This is not only for we Yolŋu, but for Balanda to learn as well.
Our language services
We can help you to communicate effectively in the following ways:
We partner with organisations and language communities to produce language resources including specialist dictionaries.
We provide thorough translation services to a wide range of clients including filmmakers, corporations and service providers, for written and audio-visual resources.
We develop Plain English versions of resources to facilitate clearer English-based communication and easier translation into multiple Indigenous languages.
We provide language learning resources for non-Indigenous people wishing to learn Indigenous languages.
Facilitating understanding
A majority of Indigenous people in the NT are multilingual, and English is rarely their first language. It is difficult for people on both sides of the language barriers to clearly communicate and understand important messages. This is especially true in the fields of health, law, economics, governance, or community services.
Our expertise
A dedicated team of professional linguists and Indigenous language workers.
We maintain and grow extensive databases of Indigenous words from numerous clan languages, largely from northeast Arnhem Land. We have decades of experience in language documentation and the preservation of endangered languages.
Partnerships with specialists from relevant fields for creating dictionaries and other language resources (e.g. health, law, etc)
Advocacy for the recognition and use of Indigenous languages in contemporary Australian society, and membership of the Western and Northern Aboriginal Languages Alliance (Wanala).
Provision of ongoing professional development Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff in linguistics and literacy through workshops and mentoring.
Asserting and attributing Indigenous ownership of Indigenous cultural and linguistic Intellectual Property in line with emerging protocols in all fields: film, music, digital data, etc.
Monitoring and participation in ongoing linguistic research to understand more about Australia’s first languages.
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Language resources
View a list of our language learning resources available for free and to purchase.
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Translation services
Our Language Services team can help you to share and understand messages more clearly, across cultural and linguistic differences.
View information and FAQs about fee-for-service translation below and please don’t hesitate to get in touch for more.
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Strong traditions
It is a priority of ARDS to continue recording and documenting traditional knowledge, stories, songs and ceremonies.
We would like to thank all our sponsors and clients for their support
