Identifying Putijarra speakers

Sue, Leonie, Vaso and Clarrie speak with Wiluna Elders

Wangka Maya and Irra Wangga Language Centre from the Geraldton region worked together during 2008 to identify Putijarra language speakers in the town of Wiluna.

Vaso, Leonie and Clarrie from Geraldton assisted Sue Hanson from Wangka Maya in locating Putijarra speakers. It was very exciting for everyone to locate three more speakers. Wangka Maya has worked with two speakers for some years on the language's collection, so to locate more speakers was a wonderful breakthrough.

Wangka Maya aims to add more material to the existing small Putijarra dictionary to assist family members and schools who wish to aid in the language's retention through its use. The Wangka Maya slogan 'Languages: Use them or lose them' is never more true than for this language. If Putijarra isn't used, it will be lost as a spoken language within a few years.