Word Up: Recent Episodes
ABC Radio
Word Up shares the diverse languages of black Australia from Anmatyerre to Arrernte, from Bidjara to Bundjalung, from Nyungar to Ngaanyatjarra, from Yankunytjatjara to Yorta Yorta—one word at a time.
Trinity Clarke is a Young Language Chamption with First Languages Australia, and Word Up''s language legend this month.This week she explains that the Kuku Yanlanji word that means 'to speak', or 'language of a place' is shared across several neighbouring language groups.
David Doyle is a Barkindji/Malyangapa artist, plant knowledge holder and health worker.
For Word Up he shares the Barkindji name for Murray Cod.
James Tylor is a disciplinary artist with a passion for Kaurna language.
For Word Up this week, James shares a Kaurna word that means to prepare your mind for a challenge…
Ngarinyman is the language from the northern Victoria River region in the Northern Territory.This month, Mikayla Shaw-Friday shares some Ngarinyman words that describe the time of day.She begins this week with the Ngarinyman word for 'morning time'.
Yugambeh linguist Shaun Davies shares a word that his old people created in the early days of colonisation.
They say some babies grow into their names.Meanwhile others fully inhabit the name their parents choose, as if it was ordained to be so before they were born.That’s what Lorna Munro found when she named her son a particularly beautiful word in Gomeroi, her father’s language.
Poet and podcaster Lorna Munro explains how meaning and a particular worldview is embedded, and embodied, in the Gomeroi word 'yilaalu'.
Ray Ingrey is a Dharawal man and chairperson of the Gujaga Foundation.Based in La Perouse it was created to instil a sense of cultural belonging in the area, and for Ray learning Dharawal language is central to this mission.
Singer-songwriter Royston Sagigi-Baira (also known as Royston Noel) shares some Kala Lagaw Ya and explains why he loves being an uncle.
Stephanie Skinner is a traditional owner of Wadawurrung country and she started learning her language as a kid, before eventually building her conversational skills and becoming a passionate language advocate.
For Word Up this week, Merindi Schreiber shares some Kuku Yalanji, including a phrase that encapsulates what learning means to her.
For Word Up this week, Rulla Kelly-Mansell shares some palawa kani — a constructed language based on various languages spoken around the east of the island.
For Karuna Narangga woman Elaine Magias learning her language wasn't just something she wanted to do, it was something she needed to do.
Maya Johnson is a Wulgurukaba woman, from Magnetic Island.
For Word Up this week she shares the cultural name of the island and explains how it came to be formed.
Juanita Scott-Funaki is a Yuin and Kamilaroi woman who grew on New South Wales' south coast.
This week she shares some Yuin words that remind her of her beloved grandfather.
Central and Eastern Arrernte man Craig Tilmouth grew up in and around Mparntwe (Alice Springs).
He shares some Arrernte language, including a few phrases likely to be heard around Mparntwe.
Clark Webb has been hugely influential in bringing Gumbaynggirr back into his home community, even helping establish the Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School.
For Word Up this week, artist Gordon Hookey shares some Waanyi language, including a word that describes the sound of a boomerang spinning in the water.
Aunty Christine Stuart is a Gubbi Gubbi elder and cultural educator living and working on her country.
For Word Up this week she takes you to Queensland's sunshine coast to share some of her language, including the Gubbi Gubbi word for 'fire'.
In the heart of the southern Murray Basin, Uncle Vince Ross shares some of his language — Muthi Muthi.
For Word Up, author Debra Dank shares some Gudanji language, including the name of her favourite food.
Meriam artist Aunty Gail Mabo shares some of her language, including a song that she sings to her young ones.
Craig Quartermaine didn't start learning Noongar language until later in life, but being surrounded by a passionate community is helping him make up for lost time.
Wakka Wakka woman Brooke Prentis explains how learning the word for 'emu' highlighted the impact of colonisation for her.
Musician Stephen Pigram explains why he cherished learning Yawuru language from his grandmother.
Wadawurrung artist Deanne Gilson shares some language that has been important to her art practice.
For Word Up this week we travel to the Top End to learn some Kungarakan from Dr Wendy Ludwig.
Jasmine Seymour is a Dharug writer, artist and teacher with a passion for learning and revitalising her language.
Uncle Michael has been instrumental in starting and teaching many Gumbaynggirr language programs in northern New South Wales.
Musician Jessie Lloyd shares some Kala Lagaw Ya from the Torres Strait, including a phrase that'll make you check yourself.
For Uncle Wes Marne being an Elder is no joke. For Word Up, he shares some of the Bigambul words that he learnt from the stories of his old people.
Jagera man Benny Wilson shares some of his language — including the name for a special mountain on his Country.
Maree Yoelu shares some Batjamalh words from her short story, Song of the Narwadina which is featured in Unlimited Futures.
For Word Up this week we hear some of the traditional language of South Australia's Yorke Peninsula, Narungga.
Aidan Hartshorn is a Walgalu man of the Ngurmal Nation, situated in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains region in New South Wales.
Tara Bonney shares the Bunganditj word for the turquoise blue crater inside what is now known as Mount Gambier.
Dja Dja Wurrung man Trent Nelson shares some of his language, including the word for bark.
Uncle Kutcha Edwards shares with us an important phrase in Mutti Mutti, and explains how he used music and culture to reclaim his language, and his identity.
Thiinma and Warriyangga man Peter Salmon explains the role his stepfather and maternal grandfather had in his life.
Annalee Pope is a descendant of Wakka Wakka people, and is passionate about inspiring younger generations to get involved in Indigenous language revitalisation.
Neenah shares three words from her father's language of Darumbal, including a word that has a very different meaning in her mother’s Gamilaroi language.
Don Rowlands is a Wangkangurru Elder who's spent the better part of his life caring for his desert country as a traditional ranger. For Word Up, he shares some Wangkangurru language including the meaning of the name Wangkangurru.
Donna is a Munaldjali and Nunukul woman whose language learning was inspired by her grandmother.
Neil Morris aka DRMNGNOW shares three Yort Yorta words — including one that demonstrates the connection Yorta Yorta mob have between goodness and beauty.
Paul Ah Chee shares three words from his maternal grandmother's language — Yankuntjatjara.
Learning Wiradjuri has helped Jeanine Leane process some of the things that have happened to her, and her people.
Growing up Angela Giles would often need to blend Ngarrindjeri with English, but over the years she's been building her vocabulary.
Aunty Kerry Charlton shares some words in Yuggera language, including one for an iconic Australian bird.
Angelina Karadada Boona shares some of her language — Wunambal — and explains why all her paintings are of Wandjina.
Corey Webster — or Nooky as he's known to fans of Australian hip hop — shares three of his favourite words from his language, Dhurga of the Yuin Nation.
Award winning author Marie Munkara explains some of the complexities of Rembarranga and shares a few of her words.
Gulwanyang Moran has been following in her mother's footsteps, learning and sharing their language — Gathang.
Latisha Harris says hearing elders speaking Wiradjuri with love and ease ignited her passion for learning language.
Paul Collis shares some Barkindji words that demonstrate the beauty of his country, and his culture.
Toby shares some Kullilli words that really capture his passion for language revitalisation.
There's a word in the Gamilaraay language that muso Loren Ryan loves so much, that she wrote a song about it.
Seven-year-old shares three words from her grandmother’s language, palawa kani — the reconstructed language of First Nations mob in Tasmania.
For Lou Bennett, the power of language is not so much in individual words but in the phrase.
Growing up Emily spoke four languages including Mak Mak Marranunggu — her maternal great-grandfather’s language.
Lillie Madden shares some of her grandmother’s language and explains why she’ll never be a turtle diver like her cousins.
Did you know you’re speaking an Indigenous language when you say many Australian place names?
From Gunai to Gunggandji we revisit some healing words we've learnt over the past three years.
Molly Hunt shares some important Kwini words to know if you're ever visiting her hometown of Wyndham, WA.
Yawuru country takes in the land and waters around Broome and Roebuck in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Gamilaraay singer Mitch Tambo shares some of his language, including a few words you might hear in his songs.
We head to Papua New Guinea with Bangarra's Baden Hitchcock for a special international episode of Word Up.
Shari Sebbens shares some Bardi language — her grandmother's language — including a word that means "your heart, your intuition, your spirit."
Actress Sandy Greenwood shares three Dunghutti words — and their Gumbayngirr and Bundjulung counterparts.
Just two years ago there were only around 200 words in Ngunnawal language but now there’s ten times that.
Wamba Wamba country straddles both sides of the Murray River and takes in towns like Deniliquin in New South Wales and Swan Hill in Victoria.
Since 2017 Rudi Bremer has been speaking to people across the country about their languages for Word Up and it's kid sister program Little Yarns on ABC kids Listen.
From an early age Tilly began learning her Nukunu from her parents through games and walking on country.
From an early age Tilly began learning her Nukunu from her parents through games and walking on country.
Yugambeh language comes from south-east Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales — the Gold Coast, and my country - Tweed Heads.
Artist Vincent Namatjira shares some Western Arrernte connected to his journey as a painter.
Language worker Taylor Tipu Power-Smith shares some Kaurna language, including the Kaurna name for scorpian.
Nathan Sentance is Wiradjuri man working in libraries, archives, and museums — he’s been blogging for a while now about a critical, new, blak approach to museum practice that’s more inclusive.
Nathan Sentance is Wiradjuri man working in libraries, archives, and museums — he’s been blogging for a while now about a critical, new, blak approach to museum practice that’s more inclusive.
We learn some Adnyamathanha with language worker Clayton Cruse - including an extremely rare instance of the speech sound 'v' in an Aboriginal language.
Mirning country — which includes the Bunda Cliffs, the Nullabor and the Great Australian Bight — is in Bunna Lawrie's DNA.
Whether it’s through recordings or simply encouraging people to use Nyul Nyul language in everyday life, Aunty Liz and her nephew are passionate about reviving and preserving their language.
Ian Waina is a Kwini man with a passionate for bringing his knowledge and scientific ways together to answer some of the questions about the rock art of Kalumburu.
There's a word in the Gamilaraay language that muso Loren Ryan loves so much, that she wrote a song about it.
Artist, performer and Woiwurrung language specialist Mandy Nicholson tells us about the layers of Wurundjeri country
Rebecca Phillips has been involved with the revival of central Victorian language Dja Dja Wurrung for around 15 years.
There's a term for people who don't listen in the Jandai language of Stradbroke Island.
Dennis Hunter shares some Djabugay Ngirrma — Djabugay language from far north Queensland.
Kado Muir, Rhonda Collard-Spratt, and Nadine Taylor bring us some languages from around Geraldton and the mid-west of Western Australia.
There's a word in the Guugu Yimithirr language of far north Queensland that describes an infinite or unknowable number.
Brittanie Shipway shares some of her favourite words including the Gumbaynggirr name for the Milky Way.
We meet a custodian of the Gumbaynggir language which is being taught across the mid north coastal region of New South Wales.
A special episode of Word Up — featuring Elma Kris speaking Kalaw Lagaw Ya, and the word for memories, Jason O’Neil speaking Wiradjuri and Nadine Taylor speaking Wajarri — and the word for ‘little bit long time’.
In this special extended version of Word Up we feature performing artists who use language in their music - from Emily Wurramara and Lou Bennett to Apakatjah and Bunna Lawrie.
Our languages echo in the Flinders Ranges, the NSW Northern Tablelands and Victoria's high country.
There are words in our languages for the constellations and some of our creation stories are deeply connected to the night sky.
Dhunghutti man Ray Kelly Snr is passionate about studying Goori languages in the space where community knowledge and academia cross over.
Awabakal man Ray Kelly Jr is hot on the heels of his dad Ray Kelly Sr in the field of language revival.
Malgana language is from the saltwater country around Shark Bay, the westernmost point of the Australian continent.
Look back with Wesley Enoch, Anna Drummond and Rhonda Radley on the importance of listening.
The Yanyuwa people speak male and female dialects of the same language - an extremely rare phenomenon.
In the Mudburra language the word for keeper or custodian is interchangeable with tree or rock - something permanent and immovable.
There's a word in the Gamilaraay language that muso Loren Ryan loves so much, that she wrote a song about it.
Mangubadijarri Yanner shares three Gangalidda words that go to the core of his identity.
Girramay woman Seraeah shares three words that've been on her mind during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Anpanuwa Joyce Crombie shares some of her favourite Wangkangurru words from the Lake Eyre Basin region.
Artist, performer and Woiwurrung language specialist Mandy Nicholson tells us about the layers of Wurundjeri country
Artist, performer and Woiwurrung language specialist Mandy Nicholson tells us about the layers of Wurundjeri country
This week we look back at some of the botanical words we've learnt over the series including the Darumbal word for grasstree and we hear how Mbabaram mob used the geebung plant for medicine.
To mark the 150th episode of our language series we welcome one of our earliest guests back to share a little more of her language - Batjamalh.
Whether it’s through recordings or simply encouraging people to use Nyul Nyul language in everyday life, Aunty Liz and her nephew are passionate about reviving and preserving their language.
Artist Cheryl Davison tells us the meaning behind the name of a local town and shares one of her favourite phrases in Dhurga language.
Ian Waina is a Kwini man with a passionate for bringing his knowledge and scientific ways together to answer some of the questions about the rock art of Kalumburu.
Wadawurrung country spans the coastline from the Werribee River to Lorne peninsula and inland towards Ballarat.
Mirning country — which includes the Bunda Cliffs, the Nullabor and the Great Australian Bight — is in Bunna Lawrie's DNA.
Rebecca Phillips has been involved with the revival of central Victorian language Dja Dja Wurrung for around 15 years.
Summer, autumn, winter and spring just don’t cut it on this continent — we look back at some of the words we’ve learnt for the different seasons across Australia.
Uncle Richard Kennedy is a Wotjobaluk traditional owner who's been working to reawaken Wergaia language.
Rona Glynn-McDonald shares a Kaytetye phrase that was important to her while she was away at boarding school.
Ngadju man Les Schultz takes us to the southern Goldfields to share the traditional name of Lake Cowan.
Ngarinyman language is spoken in the northern Victoria River region in the Northern Territory — in communities like Yarralin, Bulla Camp and Timber Creek.
Malgana language is from the saltwater country around Shark Bay, the westernmost point of the Australian continent.
The Butchulla songman is sharing three of his favourite words — including the language name for Fraser Island.
From Gunai to Gunggandji we revisit some healing words we've learnt over the past three years.
A language warrior from Poruma in the central Torres Strait shares some Kulkalgau Ya - a dialect of Kala Lagaw Ya.
As well as being the maternal ancestors of Archie Roach, the Gunditjmara were the architects of the world's oldest aquaculture system.
Robert McLellan shares three words from the newly-reclaimed language of Taribeland from the Bundaberg region in Queensland.
Jenny Manmurulu is an assistant teacher who is helping to bring Mawng language into the classroom.
The first ever guest on Word Up is back to explain how one word in Nyungar links a river to the belly button and the umbilical cord.
Young language champions Chenica and Nayleigh Saltner share some Gurang from the Bundaberg region.
Letisha has translated one of her favourite songs into her grandmother's dialect — Wirangu.
The singer-songwriter is one of a handful of people who can speak the critically-endangered Jingili language.
Learn the lyrical word for sunrise in Anindilyakwa with Emily Wurramara and the phrase in Yorta Yorta that Lou Bennett wrote into a Tiddas song.
The Butchulla songman is sharing three of his favourite words — including the language name for Fraser Island.
Bardi country is north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula — it's saltwater country so it's important to know about the tides.
Look back with Wesley Enoch, Anna Drummond and Rhonda Radley on the importance of listening.
Ngarinyman language is spoken in the northern Victoria River region in the Northern Territory — in communities like Yarralin, Bulla Camp and Timber Creek.
It's the essence of life; everything constellates around it — up in far north Queensland we even made music with it.
Ngadju man Les Schultz takes us to the southern Goldfields to share the traditional name of Lake Cowan.
We learn the Darkinyung words for water, child and possum - and why they're particularly meaningful to our guest.
For the past few years Deb and Philip have been on a quest to compile a word list of Yuwibara language from multiple sources.
Take a look back with past guests John Graham, Kylie Bracknell, and David Prosser to see why language is such an important part of their lives.
Aunty Michelle Jacquelin-Furr tells us how Waawor, the famous Blue Lake in Mount Gambier, was made.
Multi-talented artist Kamahi Djordan King shares some of his grandfather's language — Gurindji.
Language is a responsibility for Gumea Dharawal man and cultural educator Jacob Morris.
From the first rays of the sun to the dance of firelight, we take a look back on some of the words we’ve learnt about light.
Multi-disciplinary artist Ghenoa Gela is bringing TSI Kriol to the stage in her one woman show My Urrwai.
Malgana language is from the saltwater country around Shark Bay, the westernmost point of the Australian continent.
Being able to speak the “vibration of the land” has become an important way for Arlene McInherny to stay connected to her country.
Rona Glynn-McDonald shares a Kaytetye phrase that was important to her while she was away at boarding school.
The terms to describe kinship and degrees of relationship are a complex domain in Indigenous languages.
Dhunghutti man Ray Kelly Snr is passionate about studying Goori languages in the space where community knowledge and academia cross over.
For the 100th episode of Word Up Sheree Blackley shares some of her favourite Kalkutungu words.
Did you know you’re speaking an Indigenous language when you say many Australian place names?
In central Australia there are five regional dialects of Arrernte. Joel Liddle speaks Ikngerripenhe or Eastern Arrernte - his grandmother's language.
From terms of endearment to a coming of age ceremony for girls - we look back on some words that celebrate the women in our communities.
From Bickerton Island in the north to Port Lincoln in the south we look back at a few words that celebrate the role women play in our communities.
There's a word in Wajarri which translates to "long time" - but it can mean two very different things depending on the context.
The AFL legend shares some Kokatha language including two very familiar cross-over words.
Ngunnawal man Paul House explains the origin of an Australian colloquialism for "sheep".
Language teacher and broadcaster Marion Cheedy loves to say the Yindjibarndi word for respect.
Some of the languages spoken along the Bundian Way - from Kosciuszko to the coast - include Monero, Ngarigu, Yuin and Dhurga.
Nukunu is a heritage language - one without fluent speakers. But that doesn't mean it's not being spoken.
Bilawara Lee hopes that one day Larrakia will be spoken fluently on the streets of Darwin.
Australia's first Children's Laureate shares the name of a sacred waterhole on Gunggandji country in far north Queensland.
As the only fluent Badimaya speaker Ollie George has been working to preserve the language for future generations.
After being removed from her family, Rhonda picked up what languages she could on the mission - including words in her father's language, Nhanda.
From terms of endearment to a coming of age ceremony for girls - we look back on some words that celebrate the women in our communities.
From Bickerton Island in the north to Port Lincoln in the south we look back at a few words that celebrate the role women play in our communities.
Awabakal man Ray Kelly Jr is hot on the heels of his dad Ray Kelly Sr in the field of language revival.
Ruth James has been relearning her grandparents' language of Yugarabul - along with her granddaughter.
Kaytej and Pintupi are just two of the languages spoken in central Australia - a linguistically diverse part of the continent.
In central Australia there are five regional dialects of Arrernte. Joel Liddle speaks Ikngerripenhe or Eastern Arrernte - his grandmother's language.
Trent White teaches us about a game Darumbal men would play using a stone axe and diamonds drawn on the trunks of trees.
His grandfather taught this Budjiti elder the language name for a medicine plant that was good for a cough - but not a boxed ear.
Teaching Gathang allows Rhonda to deepen her knowledge of language and the way culture wraps around it.
The wild flowers and sand dunes of her Walmajarri country in north-western Western Australia inspire Annette Kogolo.
It might sound Italian but the Genoa River in far East Gippsland actually gets its name from a Yuin word.
Meriam Mir is one of the languages of the far-flung islands of the eastern Torres Strait.
There's a word in Wajarri which translates to "long time" - but it can mean two very different things depending on the context.
There are wild strangers, mysterious beings and malevolent little people in the Wergaia language of north-western Victoria.
Woppaburra is the language of the people of the Kepple Islands which lay off Queensland's Capricorn Coast.
Mutthi Mutthi country lies at the heart of southern Murray Basin - and it's in both New South Wales and Victoria.
Tjapukai country stretches across the mountains and gorges of the wet tropics in far north Queensland.
In the Mudburra language the word for keeper or custodian is interchangeable with tree or rock - something permanent and immovable.
There's a term for people who don't listen in the Jandai language of Stradbroke Island.
Known for its magnificent white sand dunes, Shelburne Bay on north-eastern Cape York is Wuthathi country.
In the remote community of Warmun in the East Kimberley, the art centre has been working to strengthen Gija language among the next generation.
Gubbi Gubbi woman Eve Fesl went from failing English to being awarded a PhD in linguistics.
Durga is one of the languages of the Yuin nation which stretches along the south-east coast of Australia.
Speaking Ngarigu language is like breathing crisp mountain air, according to a senior academic from the University of Sydney.
Bunuba country has a wide spectrum of weathers - learn some of the traditional names for their seasons.
The Yanyuwa people speak male and female dialects of the same language - an extremely rare phenomenon.
Dharawal language comes from the south of Sydney and the Georges River - stretching as far down as Wreck Bay.
Wirlomin is a regional dialect of the Noongar language from the south-west corner of Western Australia.
In the Burarra language of western Arnhem Land, we learn the word for grandmother, water and fish.
Yaygirr is spoken around the lower reaches of the Clarence River on the north coast of New South Wales.
Warlpiri is one of the strongest Aboriginal languages – so strong there are Strong and Light versions spoken in the Tanami Desert.
For Uncle Vic Chapman Yuwaalaraay language is infused with memory. One word in particular takes him to the banks of a river on the border between Queensland and New South Wales.
Aunty Beryl Carmichael shares some Ngiyaampaa and explains why it's sometimes thought of as a "back-to-front" language.
Pitjantjatjara is a one of the few Aboriginal languages not to be considered endangered.
Kaurna is like poetry for the soul according to Stephen Goldsmith, a language worker from Adelaide.
Deline Briscoe takes us to Yalanji country in Far North Queensland to share three Kuku Yalanji words.
Taungurung linguist Lee Healy shares three words that encapsulate the Taungurung worldview.
In Aboriginal communities in Central Australia, English could be the fourth or fifth language people learn. One of the first is Arrernte.
Language teacher Tracey Cameron explains how stargazing - and a constellation in the night sky - helped the Gamilaraay people in the hunt for food.
The Dharug language covers much of greater and western Sydney and it gives us some distinctive place names that might be familiar: Parramatta, Yagoona and Wahroonga for example.
We meet a teacher who shares some Guugu Yimithirr - the Aboriginal language that gives us the word kangaroo.
The Boonwurrung language was once spoken from what is now Melbourne south to Wilson's Promontory.
Karina Lester shares three words in Yankunytjatjara - one even describes a deferential way of speaking that's like a language within a language.
We learn some Anindilyakwa - the language spoken on some of the islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Wiradjuri man Jason O'Neil shares three words that describe the break of day, a way of living that's like a moral code and a term of farewell.
For Lou Bennett, the power of language is not so much in individual words but in the phrase.
Language workers Dwayne Newry and Jimmy Paddy share some words from the Miriwoong language spoken around Kununurra in the east Kimberley region of Western Australia.
We meet a custodian of the Gumbaynggir language which is being taught across the mid north coastal region of New South Wales.
The Sydney language includes a single word that describes the act of warming your hands by a fire while gently holding the fingers of another. Lille Madden shares it with us for Word Up.
A former Northern Territory Young Citizen of the Year, Matthew Heffernan is the next guest for our Word Up segment.