Words to Sing the World Alive: Celebrating First Nations Languages

by Jasmin McGaughey MA (editor)

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 29, 2025

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology feels like a generous offering from its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers and poets and I hope in my recommendation of it to others, it will go some way to reciprocating that offering. In the book, its authors reflect on words in their own language that are meaningful in some way to them and I really appreciated reading each short essay or poem. I had this as a bedside table book and read a few essays each night before bed, which felt like the perfect way to read it. Highly recommended.

[Emma Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Words to Sing the World Alive" is a beautifully written anthology reflection on the power of language to shape our experiences and connections. It celebrates the ways words can inspire, challenge, and bring people together, while also acknowledging the deep cultural and historical significance of language.

One of the most moving aspects of this book is its recognition that language is more than just communication; it is identity, belonging, and a way of seeing the world. This aligns with the beauty of First Nations languages, which carry knowledge, culture, and connection to Country. Understanding and valuing these perspectives enriched my understanding of the depth and variety of First Nations languages and reminds us that words shape our world and understanding.

[Denise Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://denisenewtonwrites.com/?p=7538

What do ‘first language’ or ‘mother tongue’ mean to you? The language you were born into? The first words you learnt? The language you think in, dream in: the way you see your world?

For most people, they are all of those things, and more.

Words to Sing the World Alive is a celebration of language: specifically, some of the many hundreds of First Languages that existed in Australia before European colonisation.

[Janelle White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging and tjought provoking