W.H. Douglas' reel-to-reel

Equipment

Recording languages

This is Wilfrid H Douglas’ reel-to-reel audio tape recorder that he used to record Aboriginal people speaking in language. Douglas was a missionary who initially taught in the South West region. He then relocated to the Wongatja (Wongatha) region near Kalgoorlie. Douglas recorded languages of the Western Desert Cultural bloc through the United Aborigines Mission Language Department. He also continued work on recording Nyoongar language and is credited with The Aboriginal Languages of the South-West of Australia (AIAS press) 1968. Linguists consider Douglas to be a contentious figure, due to his influence in language usage and preservation. Due to his teaching methods, it is believed that he may have influenced major changes to the grammar of some languages.

Available at:

Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre

Saving Goldfields Aboriginal languages for all of us

The Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre (GALC) is an Aboriginal research organisation focussed on the recording, linguistic analysis, preservation and use of the Aboriginal languages of the region...

Address:

2 Burt St
Boulder WA 6432
Australia

Tel:

(08) 9021 3788

Email:

info@wangka.com.au

Open Hours

Mon to Fri 8:30am - 4pm

Return to collection to read more

Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre Overview

Edie Ulrich painting

Language and culture go together.

Edie Ulrich is a Tjupan Elder. Her paintings adorn buildings around Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Edie painted this work for the Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre to use in its promotional materials.

Cassette Tape Adeline. 2004

Unknown language information

This is a cassette tape recording from 2004 of Adeline, speaking in a local Aboriginal language. Items like cassette tapes with an Aboriginal person speaking in a local language, are often donated to...