Culture
is a defining feature of a person's identity, contributing to how they see
themselves and the groups with which they identify. Culture may be broadly
defined as the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings,
which is transmitted from one generation to another. Every community, cultural
group or ethnic group has its own values, beliefs and ways of living.
The observable aspects of culture
such as food, clothing, celebrations, religion and language are only part of a
person's cultural heritage. The shared values, customs and histories
characteristic of culture shape the way a person thinks, behaves and views the
world. A shared cultural heritage bonds the members of the group together and
creates a sense of belonging through community acceptance.
Language is intrinsic to the
expression of culture. As a means of communicating values, beliefs and customs,
it has an important social function and fosters feelings of group identity and
solidarity. It is the means by which culture and its traditions and shared
values may be conveyed and preserved.
Language is fundamental to cultural
identity. This is so for people everywhere. For Bininj, their unique world is
expressed in their language. For this reason, it is important that people keep
their own language alive.
Kakadu National Park, Warradjan
Aboriginal Cultural Centre, NT
Cultural and linguistic diversity is a feature of most nations today
as people from different groups live together as a consequence of
historical events and human migrations. Within multilingual societies, the
maintenance of the languages of the various ethnic and cultural groups is
critical for the preservation of cultural heritage and identity. The loss of
language means the loss of culture and identity. In many societies throughout
history, the suppression of the languages of minority groups has been used as a
deliberate policy in order to suppress those minority cultures. As a result a
large number of the world's languages have been lost with the processes of
colonisation and migration. [2]
As languages disappear, cultures
die. The world becomes inherently a less interesting place, but we also
sacrifice raw knowledge and the intellectual achievements of millennia.
Australia's
cultural and linguistic diversity
Australia is one of the most
culturally and linguistically diverse nations in the world. This diversity has
always been embedded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies and has
been broadened over the last two hundred years with the arrival of people from
over one hundred and fifty distinct cultures from around the world.
While English is the dominant
language, many people speak a language other than English as their first
language within their families and communities. Over two hundred languages
other than English are spoken in Australia today. The acquisition of
proficiency in Standard Australian English, together with the maintenance of
community languages is therefore a significant issue in Australia.
Proficiency in English is critical
for successful participation in Australian society and for exchanging
information about the values and perspectives of different cultures. Similarly,
proficiency in first language skills is essential for self-enrichment and
expression of identity.
In large parts of Australia, the
loss of a great number of Aboriginal languages [3]
means that for many Aboriginal people, Aboriginal English is their first
language and is a particular marker of identity. Aboriginal English developed
as a means of communication for Aboriginal people between people of different
language groups and with non-Aboriginal people. Torres Strait Creole is
similarly an important marker of identity for Torres Strait Islander people and
is used as a common language among speakers of different Torres Strait
languages. Both Aboriginal English and Torres Strait Creole are spoken as a
first or second language by many Indigenous Australians.
The maintenance of a community's
first language is also a significant issue for many people who belong to
diverse ethnic communities whose members, or their ancestors, have migrated to
Australia. The use of community languages is important both for individual and
group identity and for communication across generations. In an increasingly
globalised world, linguistic skills strengthen international ties and foster cultural
exchange. Linguistic diversity makes Australia more competitive in trade and
strengthens its international standing.
Identity
and community
I have... come to the conclusion
that my identity does not have to be static. Sometimes, I feel Spanish and I
like to identify with the Spanish culture while at other times I choose to
reinforce my German, Irish-Anglo background. In many ways the two identities
have become interwoven. A part of me is expressed through speaking Spanish and
singing Spanish songs which is not expressed through speaking English or
playing classical music... each language I speak and each music tradition I
engage in carries with it a different world of meanings.
A person's understanding of their
own and others' cultural identity develops from birth and is shaped by the
values and attitudes prevalent at home and in the surrounding community. This
identity becomes more complex and fluid over time as people develop allegiances
to different groups within the broader society. At the same time, cultures
themselves are not static but develop and change as the belief systems and ways
of life of different groups adapt under other cultural influences including
mass media and popular culture to create new identities. In a culturally
diverse society like Australia, individuals may have multiple identities
through identification with several different sub-cultures. These identities
may include identity based on cultural heritage, family or birthplace;
religious or social identity; and identity as members of Australian society.
The realisation that there are many
Australian identities reinforces the need for mutual understanding for
achieving a racism-free community. Reconciliation, which aims to encourage
co-operation and improve relations between Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Australians and the wider community, is critical in this process. The
understanding of how history has shaped our relationship with each other and
respect for each other's cultures are key components of the Reconciliation
process.
The policy of multiculturalism is equally vital in achieving a cohesive Australian nation.
It recognises and values Australia's cultural and linguistic diversity
and accepts and respects the right of all Australians to express and share
their individual cultural heritage within an overriding commitment to
Australia.
The mistrust and fear of difference
which often stem from isolation from other cultures can be overcome by
fostering cultural understanding and by highlighting the common interests that
all Australians share. Working together, Australians can achieve a more equal
and fairer society that respects and values its diversity.
[2] It has been estimated that approximately 10,000 spoken
languages have existed. Today, only about 6,000 languages are still spoken and
many of these are not being taught to children. More than half of these languages
are unlikely to survive the next century. See W. Davis, 'Vanishing Cultures',
in National Geographic, vol. 196, no. 2, pp. 62-89, 1999.
[3] See A. Schmidt, The Loss of Australia's Indigenous
Language Heritage, Aboriginal Studies Press, Canberra, 1990. Today,
approximately ninety Aboriginal languages are spoken but only twenty are in a
relatively healthy state, that is, they are being transmitted to and used by
children.
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