The Tasmanian Language Cafe

Daisy Allan and palawa kani

Origins: Launceston, Lutruwita/Tasmania, Australia
Residency:Launceston, Lutruwita/Tasmania
Language:palawa kani
Speakers:over 100 people
Speakers in Tasmania:over 100 people
Countries where it is spoken: Lutruwita/Tasmania, Australia
Alphabet:English alphabet
Official Status: No official status. In process of revival

More About palawa kani

The Tasmanian indigenous language 'palawa kani' is a language in process of reconstruction. It is a syncretion of words from the multiple languages which were spoken in Lutruwita/Tasmania before British colonisation.

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre has undertaken significant research into all available documentary sources of Tasmanian Aboriginal languages prior to colonisation. This process has taken place over the last 30 years. You can see one of the results of this research and reconstruction in the map of Tasmanian Aboriginal placenames