12. The language of Central Australian Aboriginal songs

Abstract

The language of Central Australian Aboriginal songs differs markedly from everyday speech. Early research on Aboriginal song texts suggested that the differences between speech and song were insurmountable. In 1886 F.J. Gillen, the postmaster at Alice Springs who was familiar with the Arrernte language, stated:‘What about the words’ etc, I have never yet been able to find out the meaning of any of their Arunta chants and I am doubtful whether they use words in their Altherta [Itharte ?ceremony?]. (Mulvaney et al. 1997:130).Difficulties in translating songs has sometimes been put down to their archaic nature (Strehlow 1947:xx). More recent research shows that interpretations of songs do relate to the identifiable words in song texts. We suggest that the multi-dialectal nature of song, the presence of metrical requirements which force phonological alteration of words, as well as the methods of song transmission and interpretation, mean that caution should be taken before assigning the category of ‘archaic form’ to unfamiliar words in song. One way to ascertain whether a form in song is archaic, is to see how it accords with Harold Koch's meticulous reconstruction of proto Arandic.In this chapter we draw primarily upon examples of women’s songs from Kaytetye (K) of the Artuya subgroup, and Arrernte (Arr), which along with Anmatyerr (An), Alyawarr (Aly) make up the Urtwa subgroup.© 2008 - John Benjamins B.V.