palawa kani
palawa kani means "Tasmanian Aborigines speak". It is the only Aboriginal language spoken in Lutruwita (Tasmania) today.
palawa kani is a revitalised and reconstructed Aboriginal language which now serves as a singular, unifying linguistic expression for Tasmanian Aboriginal communities.
The original languages were decimated by colonisation, leaving no single language complete enough to revive on its own.
More than two decades of dedicated linguistic research and etymological work went into retrieving, rebuilding and reviving the language. Aboriginal people of all ages now speak palawa kani, and children are learning it from their earliest years.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) is the organisation responsible for this work which began in the early 1990s. The program was one of the first in Australia where Aboriginal people learned the linguistic skills needed to undertake the retrieval and reconstruction of their own language. This ensured that palawa kani is shaped, spoken and safeguarded by their community.
Learn more about palawa kani origins and usage:
Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre
palawa kani mobile app
We also recommend the palawa kani mobile app.
It's the official interactive guide to authentic Aboriginal place names across Lutruwita (Tasmania). You can explore over 200 locations with authentic pronunciations, meanings, and historical context.
You can download it here:
The app was developed by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre.