Prelude

National Indigenous Languages Survey Report 2005

Report submitted to the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in association with the Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages. NILS Report Letter

Worldwide knowledge and understanding of Australian Indigenous cultures, past and present

20 November 2005

Ms Helen Williams
The Secretary
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA)
38 Sydney Avenue, Forrest ACT 2603

Executive Summary

The National Indigenous Languages Survey (NILS) Report 2005 provides a summary and analysis of the results from a survey of Indigenous languages vitality status and resources that was carried out in 2004. 

Contacts for More Information on NILS

For more information on the NILS Report or for enquiries on

accessing additional NILS results raw data contact:

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)

Acronyms

ABC Australian Broadcasting Commission ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics ACT Australian Capital Territory Key NILS results and recommendations The key NILS results on the state of Australian Indigenous languages are, in summary: Most of Australia’s Indigenous languages are now no longer fully or fluently spoken. As many as 50 languages can be expected to reach this stage of endangerment in the next 20–30 years, as the most severely and critically endangered languages lose their last speakers.