Original Texts. Collections of Language in Central Australia 1890-1910

Abstract

The collection of Australian Aboriginal language texts was one of the most important achievements of missionary linguists in the early twentieth century. The Urtext (which I translate as “Original text”), that is, the text spoken in the original vernacular language, was the central component of Carl Strehlow’s research. The strength of such missionaries was their training in translation, which ensured that, despite the limitations of handwritten dictation and limitations of recording texts, their translations provide a rich understanding of Aranda language and life. Enriched by developing the capacity to listen and record Aranda myths accurately, Strehlow contributed to future research and publication, and a more adequate and respectful understanding of Central Australian peoples and their languages.