Sentenced to discrimination: Language as a weapon of state

Sentenced to discrimination: Language as a weapon of state

The Griffith Review

• Author(s): Grimmer, Raelk
• Published: 2018
• Volume: 61
• ISBN: 1839-2954

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Abstract: On Australia day in 2016, artist Elizabeth Close was at an Adelaide shopping centre speaking to her young daughter in Pitjantjatjara, when a woman approached and said to her: 'It's Australia Day. We speak English.' Close was shocked, and replied, 'Pardon?' The woman slowed down her speech and repeated herself. Close retorted that as she was speaking a native Australian language, she 'could not get more Australian'. The woman walked off without another word.

• Urls: https://griffithreview.com/editions/who-we-are/
• Keywords: Discrimination--Prevention, Australian languages--Social aspects, English literature--Influence, Sentences (Criminal procedure), Citizenship--Law and legislation