Constructed Language Lectures at The University of Adelaide

I'm having an absolute hoot with linguistics students at The University of Adelaide lecturing about the exciting world of Constructed languages.

The two-hour lecture investigates languages created for the entertainment industry—Constructed languages (Conlangs).The lecture analyses constructed languages. It classifies them into Auxiliary Languages (Auxlangs), such as Esperanto, Ido and Volapük, and Artistically-constructed Languages (Artlangs), such as Klingon, Quenya, High Valyrian, and Dothraki, providing basic knowledge in a language such as greetings; introduction, emotion, and a farewell; a unique characteristic; the influence of the language family on global society and information about where it might be possible to continue to learn one of more than 450 Constructed languages in Australia or online.

Thanks to Dr Eve Afifa Kheir | Faculty of Arts, Business & Economics, The University of Adelaide, for including me in the program of lectures.

Up, Up, and away!

Thanks to everyone I spoke with at my expo site at the Adelaide Showgrounds on June 4!

The Mega Toy Fair attracted thousands of visitors on day one of the weekend-long pop culture event.

Special thanks to mi amiga, Noelia Carvajal from the School of Languages for visiting the expo during the cross-promotion of the fast-approaching July 'Languages Alive!' school holiday program. I look forward to presenting la bande dessinée franco-belge at the event next month!

Time to Inspire!

Appreciative thanks to Professor Ghil'ad Zuckermann of the University of Adelaide for including me as a lecturer on the topic, Revivalistics, semester one 2022.

The course explores Revivalistics, a new trans-disciplinary field of enquiry surrounding language reclamation, revitalization and reinvigoration. It studies comparatively and systematically the universal constraints and global mechanisms on the one hand, and local peculiarities and idiosyncrasies on the other hand, apparent in revival attempts across various sociological backgrounds, all over the world.

Today's lecture presented the findings of a field trip aimed at immersing a group of children learning Barngarla (an Indigenous language) as part of a trilingual linguistic program I coordinate at an Educational centre in Adelaide's Northern Suburbs. 

In an Australian first, the children travelled to Port Lincoln in the Eyre Peninsula region of South Australia to undertake a cross-cultural exchange with the Barngarla People.

STEM Ignition Series, State Library of South Australia

Happy 2022 everyone!

There was a most inquisitive audience in attendance at the State Library of South Australia.

I was one of four keynote speakers during the STEM Ignition Series that formed a panel to discuss science fiction to science fact.

Do the two intertwine and meet?

Are they contradictory?

STEM focuses on one or more of the four disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math. In an era when technical and scientific skills are increasingly important in the workforce, exposing children to STEM learning in the early years is the key.

I spoke about Artificial Languages, Universal Language Translators, and Computer-Assisted Language Learning.

With restrictions easing, I look forward to my next series of keynotes in the new year! 

Interview with ABC Radio Adelaide Morning Show July 6, 2021

Hot on the heels of the ABCs report about a recent linguistic field trip I coordinated, is the podcast of my interview discussing Indigenous Language Revival on the ABC Radio Adelaide Morning Show.

Click on the image to listen to my interview on ABC Radio Adelaide Morning Show