Augmentative and alternative communication for Aboriginal Australians: Developing core vocabulary for Yolŋu speakers

Figures & data

Table 1. Participant characteristics.

Participants: Individual (P) and family (FM)	Sex	Age range (years)	Stage of Machado–Joseph disease	Participated in language sample	# of group discussions attended
P1	F	40–50	Mild	Yes	6
P2	F	20–30	Mild	Yes	2
P3	F	30–40	Moderate	No	4
P4	F	50–60	Moderate	Yes	5
P5	F	50–60	Moderate	Yes	3
P6	F	18–20	Severe	No	6
P7	M	20–30	Moderate	No	4
P8	F	50–60	Moderate	No	5
P9	M	50–60	Moderate	No	6
P10	F	50–60	Moderate	No	3
FM1	M	30–40	NA	No	4
FM2	F	20–30	NA	No	5
FM3	F	18–20	NA	No	1
FM4	M	18–20	At risk	No	2
FM5	F	20–30	At risk	Yes	3

Table 2. Sample of 20 Yolŋu Words Retained as Core Vocabulary.

Frequency	Commonality score	Words and suffixes	English translation
69	5	Ga	and / continuous action
62	5	Ŋayi	he, she, it
57	5	-ny	focus
36	5	Dhuwal	this / here
30	4	Ŋunhi	that / there (unseen)
29	3	Wanha	where?
27	5	Nhä	what?
27	4	Way	hey!
26	5	Ŋarra	I
21	5	-nydja	Focus
21	5	Yol	who?
21	4	Nhe	you (singular)
19	5	-nha	object of transitive verb/focus
19	5	Bala	then / away from speaker
19	5	Dhu	future marker / probably will
19	5	Nhawi	um, er, you know
19	4	-a	Emphasis
19	4	Ŋe	Yes
19	4	Waŋa	talk, say, ask
18	4	Yaka	no / don’t

Table 3. Key Themes highlighting the main cultural and linguistic considerations in determining Yolŋu core vocabulary.

Key themes	Codes	Changes to core vocabulary and implications for AAC systems	Quotes
Keeping Relationships Central	Knowing identity	Added all items from closed classes: kinships terms, skin names, clan names, pronouns, possessive pronouns	“It’s all about connection, establishing connection. That’s always the first thing you have to know - who you are and what’s your clan” (Elah, Yolŋu researcher). “Add all gurruṯu (“kinship”), mälk (“skin names”) and bäpurru (“clan names”) as core groups. Gurruṯu, mälk and bäpurru are all connected. It’s all the information you need to know about who you are and how you are connected” (Farrah, Yolŋu researcher).
	Establishing connection
	Reinforcing relationships
	Discussing core Yolŋu categories
	Using Yolŋu definitions Ŋaraka-däl dhäruk (“structural core or foundational words”) and gali’puy dhäruk (“peripheral words”)
Being Respectful	Borrowing words	Deleted all names from core vocabulary and generic AAC systems. Communication partner’s role in AAC to dynamically modify words not in spoken use; update vocabulary in AAC systems	“At the moment we’re not saying walal (“they”), it’s close to someone’s name. We’re saying dhanal (“they”), a Gälpu (“clan nation”) word. We’re mixing Djambarrpuyŋu (“clan nation/language”) and Gälpu (“clan nation/language”) so that we don’t say that word, borrowing from other Yolŋu languages” (Farrah, Yolŋu researcher).
	Mixing languages
	Modifying core vocabulary
	Using language in dynamic oral conversations
	Producing and publishing a static wordlist and AAC systems
	Checking with family
	Knowing why and how the core list was developed
Learning Yolŋu Languages and Literacy	Choosing proper Yolŋu words	Yolŋu words (mostly Djambarrpuyŋu clan nation) were considered core vocabulary. Added suffixes and style markers to support full Yolŋu grammar. One form of verb included as core vocabulary. Less common forms considered fringe vocabulary. High frequency and relevant English words considered fringe vocabulary.	“It’s slang. We say it, but it’s not correct. It’s like baby talk… not proper words. Better to use the proper words because you’re making a communication tool (AAC system), you know” (Dikul, Yolŋu researcher). “(They’ll) think of the longer version, the straight/proper way of talking. That word is made up, it’s a short version, it’s not really a word” (Julie, Yolŋu researcher).
	Writing with correct spelling
	Limiting duplication of words
	Modifying Yolŋu language or dialect for individuals
	Changing the form of the verb