This paper analyses the antique notebooks written between 1790 and 1791 which serve as one of the earliest records of Aboriginal language in NSW. Troy discusses the significance of the notebooks and William Dawes (the author of two of the notebooks), and the historical background of the early colonial period of language exchange.

Jakelin Troy, 'The Sydney Language Notebooks and responses to language contact in early colonial NSW ' (1992) 12 Australian Journal of Linguistics 145 (modified version)

Since 1788, most places in NSW have been renamed in English. While some attempts have been made to include Aboriginal place names, this has only recently been incorporated into government regulations and policy.

Place names 

In the early 19th century, Aboriginal children were institutionalised under Governor Regulations. This broke their ties to language and culture.

Aboriginal Institutions

The King’s instructions to Governor Phillip were to ‘live in amity and kindness’ with ‘the natives’. However, from 1788 – 1790, the Governor sent several armed parties to abduct Aboriginal people to exchange language and to ‘reconcile’ them to the colonisers, and on punitive expeditions.

Document

Jakelin Troy, 'The Sydney Language Notebooks and responses to language contact in early colonial NSW ' (1992) 12 Australian Journal of Linguistics 145 (modified version)

Place names

Aboriginal Institutions

Initial confrontation and resistance