Indigenous Voices of Queensland
Access selected audio recordings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples speaking First Nations languages.
The recordings can be used to assist communities with language recovery, education and to deepen knowledge of Queensland languages.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that language resources linked from this page may contain names and voices of Aboriginal and Islander people now deceased. Material and information accessed on this site may be culturally sensitive for some individuals and communities. More about using culturally sensitive collections.
Discover the Flint, Rigsby and Sommer collections
These recordings were created by three researchers: Elwyn Flint, Bruce Rigsby and Bruce Sommer. The original audiocassettes and reel-to-reel tapes are under the custodianship of the Fryer Library and have been preserved through digitisation.
- The languages are consistent with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) language codes.
- The alternative names are terms found in Fryer Library collections. See the AIATSIS AustLang database for the full list of alternative language names.
Some of the recordings are openly available in UQ eSpace. Other collections require family and community consultation and agreement before they are made accessible online. Email the Fryer Library at fryer@library.uq.edu.au, to request access to these collections.
Map of language locations
Click the map markers to examine the language recordings. The markers indicate the approximate location of the original language.
This map is not designed or suitable for Native Title research.
Table of languages
| Language and alternative spellings | AIATSIS Code | Collections and access in UQ eSpace |
|---|---|---|
|
Aghu Tharnggala |
Y65 |
Not available online |
| Atampaya | Y183 |
Atampaya audio UQFL302 Bruce Rigsby |
|
Ayapathu Also: Ayabadhu or Ajabadu |
Y60 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
|
Bidjara / Bidyara |
E37 |
Bidjara audio UQFL173 Elwyn Flint |
|
Djabugay / Tjapukai Also: Djabunganjdji |
Y106 |
Djabugay audio UQFL173 Elwyn Flint |
|
Flinders Island Also: Biyalgeyi |
Y67 |
Not available online
|
|
Garrwa Also: Garrawa, Garawa or |
N155 |
Garrwa audio UQFL173 Elwyn Flint |
|
Gugu Rarmul Also: Alwangar, Alwangara or |
Y71 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
|
Gugu Yawa Also: Anggul |
Y74 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
|
Gunggari |
D37 |
Gunggari audio UQFL173 Elwyn Flint |
|
Kaanju / Kaantju Also: Kantju, Gandju or |
Y44 |
Not available online
|
|
Kala Lagaw Ya Also: Mabuiag or |
Y1 |
Kala Lagaw Ya audio UQFL173 Elwyn Flint |
|
Koko Bera Also: Kok Kaber, Gog Gaber, |
Y85 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
|
Koko Dhawa Also: Dhawa |
Y93 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
| Kukatj | G28 |
Kukatj audio
|
| Kuku Buyunji | Y87 |
Kuku buyunji audio UQFL173 Elwyn Flint |
|
Kuku Nyungkul Also: Gugu Nyungkul, |
Y90 |
Kuku nyungkul audio UQFL173 Elwyn Flint |
|
Kuku Thaypan Also: Kuuku Taipan |
Y84 |
Kuku thaypan audio UQFL302 Bruce Rigsby |
|
Kuku Yalanji Also: Gugu Yalandji, |
Y78 |
Kuku yalanji audio UQFL173 Elwyn Flint |
|
Kuku-Warra Also: Koko Warra or Gugu Warra |
Y80 |
Koko warra audio
|
| Kunjen | Y83 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
|
Kurtjar Also: Kunggara, Kunggar or |
G33 |
Kurtjar audio
|
| Kuuk Thaayorre | Y69 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
| Kuuku Ya'u | Y22 |
Kuuku Ya'u audio UQFL302 Bruce Rigsby |
|
Mbarrumbathama Also: Lama lama, Lamalama, |
Y136 |
Mbarrumbathama audio
|
|
Meriam Mir Also: Meriam |
Y3 | Not available online UQFL302 Bruce Rigsby |
|
Morrobolam Also: Umbindhamu or |
Y55 |
Morrobolam audio
|
| Ngkoth | Y36 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
|
Pakanh Also: Bakanha |
Y64 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
| Rimanggudinhma | Y195 |
Rimanggudinhma audio UQFL302 Bruce Rigsby |
| Thaynakwith | Y24 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
| Umpila | Y45 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
|
Umpithamu Also: Umbindhamu or |
Y50 |
Umpithamu audio UQFL302 Bruce Rigsby |
|
Uw Olkola Also: Olkol, Olgolo, |
Y73 |
Olkol audio
|
|
Uw Oykangand Also: Oykangand |
Y101 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
|
Waanyi Also: Wanyi |
G23 |
Waanyi audio UQFL173 Elwyn Flint |
|
Wakka Wakka Also: Waka Waka or |
E28 |
Wakka wakka audio UQFL173 Elwyn Flint |
| Wik Mungkan | Y57 |
Wik mungkan audio
|
|
Yanyuwa Also: Yanyuwa, |
N153 |
Yanyuwa audio UQFL173 Elwyn Flint |
| Yir Yoront | Y72 | Not available online UQFL476 Bruce Sommer |
|
Yukulta / Gangalidda |
G34 |
Yukulta audio UQFL173 Elwyn Flint |
About the collections
The recordings in Indigenous Voices collections are of people speaking the language, singing songs and telling stories.
Many of these recordings, especially those from the Elwyn Flint Collection, are short segments featuring particular words or phrases. Others are much longer, with people speaking on a topic or in dialogue with the interviewer. Recordings sometimes feature multiple speakers.
Elwyn Flint Collection
In the 1960s Flint commenced a long-term research project known as the Queensland Speech Survey.
He recorded people living on reserves and missions, mostly in the North of Queensland.
Flint was a lecturer in English at The University of Queensland.
Bruce Rigsby Collection
The language recordings in this collection were made during fieldtrips to Bamaga, Coen and Port Stewart in the Eastern Cape York Peninsula in the 1970s.
Rigsby was a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Queensland’s School of Social Science.
Bruce Sommer Collection
Bruce Sommer’s language research was primarily centred on Cape York, notably Kunjen and Oykangand languages.
He obtained a doctorate from the University of Hawaii in 1970 for his research on Kunjen language.
Strengthening and reviving Indigenous languages
Queensland is home to over 100 language groups, many of which are endangered or sleeping due to colonialism. Communities and individuals across Queensland are working tirelessly to revitalise these languages. As a research institution, we are proud to contribute to the revitalisation and maintenance of Queensland languages now and into the future.
- The Library is the custodian of sizeable and unique Indigenous language collections that are regularly used in teaching, learning, and research.
- The University of Queensland's School of Languages and Cultures is doing fantastic work in Indigenous language research and through the Indigenous Language Revitalisation Program and Graduate Certificate, and their work with the Language Data Commons of Australia.
Help us make these recordings accessible online
We are open to collaboration with Indigenous communities and individuals working on Indigenous language revitalisation.
If you are from an Indigenous Knowledge Centre, a descendant of a recorded language speaker, or involved in community leadership, email fryer@library.uq.edu.au to get the process started.