[Xmca-l] Indigenous Australian English

[Andy Blunden]

While we have the attention of some linguists .... 
Indigenous Australians have a way of using certain specific 
words, for example, country, culture, language, community, 
which in English we usually use with a personal pronoun, as 
in "I can speak your language," or article, "is this the 
country you come from?" as if they were countable nouns, but 
which Indigenous Australians use without an article or 
personal pronoun, as in "I went to country" or "when I speak 
language ...," much like the word "home" which can be used 
without the "my" or "your."

This usage conveys a meaning which is generally understood, 
but is used only in relation to the Indigenous people. I 
understand it. But I find it hard to put into words what is 
actually being done when words are used like this. I use 
words like "science" or "religion" in the same way, I guess. 
What does it mean linguistically??

Andy

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Andy Blunden
http://www.ethicalpolitics.org/ablunden/index.htm
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