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Aboriginal languages, and in fact all languages, are not simply methods of communication. Communication, of course, is their primary purpose, however in traditional Aboriginal societies languages were valued for their contribution to society on a deeper, more spiritual level. All languages are integral to the cultural heritage to which they belong as each Aboriginal language “carried within them the codes and secrets of their culture” (Lowe, K., 2002). Indigenous languages therefore, were essential for the maintenance of continuity within Aboriginal society. From their language, individuals were able to learn their place within their society, and the preservation of the language ensured the continuation of this learning process. This theory is supported by a survey of a sample of the Aboriginal community, in which one Aboriginal woman stated that the benefits of being able to speak her traditional language were to “learn about my people, feel closer to them (and) learn about the past”. This attitude was reflected in a statement by one Aboriginal person, (cited in “Walsh, M. and Yallop, C., 1993), as saying;
“…(language) its our lifeblood… You have to know your language because you’ll never be able to learn your Dreaming and if you don’t know your Dreaming you can’t identify where you belong. If you don’t identify where you belong you may as well say you’re dead.” (Walsh, M., Yallop, C., 1993, pg 12)
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