What’s in a place name?
Image: Joey Csunyo via Unsplash
Although many of us remain armchair travellers due to COVID-19 restrictions, the landscape of Australian language is constantly shifting. Freshly minted words are regularly coined by social media, generational preferences and industry innovation. New terms dealing with the pandemic are now in everyday use.
It’s easy to be swept up in the novelty and force of change these linguistic advances embrace, especially if the furthest you can go to ‘chillax’ is ‘glamping’ in your backyard on a ‘staycation’. But for those who’ve longingly Google-mapped Australia’s ‘big backyard’ during lockdowns, you may also have noticed a gradual repositioning in some of the nation’s oldest geographical names.
In Australia, there are over 200 Indigenous languages, including 800 dialects, according to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). Dating back millennia and belonging to one of the world’s oldest civilisations, they are uniquely linked to their locations of origin.
Nomenclature that counts
In 1993, Ayers Rock became the first official dual-named land feature in the Northern Territory, as ‘Ayers Rock/Uluru’. In 2002, this was updated to Uluru/Ayers Rock. Today, it is widely known as ‘Uluru’ rather than its colonial namesake, demonstrating a significant transition over time to acknowledge the Traditional Owners and ongoing Custodians of Country.
Anglo-Australian Overlay
Stepping through this emotive and politically sensitive process has led to each Australian state adopting different legislation to rename or recognise original place names, or the dual naming of landmarks and locations.
The Geographical Names Board of NSW recognises Indigenous place names assigned under the Geographical Names Act 1966. Since June 2001, it has supported a dual naming policy for geographical features and cultural sites. More recently it promotes reawakening Traditional Aboriginal place names.
South Australia’s Adelaide project to endorse the area’s Kaurna heritage includes dual name signage at Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga and the River Torrens/Karrawirra Parri.
Tasmania’s official Aboriginal or dual names include: kunyani/Mount Wellington, kanamaluka/River Tamar and taikayna/Tarkine.
Of course, many places already go by their Indigenous name but acknowledging First Peoples’ heritage by formally recognising or renaming places has led to other initiatives to reconcile the past and preserve Indigenous languages.
Recently, the ABC announced its increased daily use of Indigenous languages. The channel’s 7.30 program will start including Indigenous place names, while Gardening Australia has shown Indigenous place names on their map of Australia since 2020. Australia Post has also launched new packaging with a dedicated space for Indigenous place names.
On the AIATSIS website we’re reminded by Meriam linguist Bua Benjamin Mabo that ‘The land actually gave birth to our language. Language and culture are inseparable.’ The reinstatement of Indigenous place names, to whatever style each state concurs, may go some way to reconnecting those links between land and culture.