Presented by Nalini Sankar Importance of (Indian) language learning in sustaining our culture in Australia Presented by Nalini Sankar

History – know your roots 2.Relationship of language and culture 3. Sustaining culture in Australia

History - know your roots The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists 22 languages which have been referred to as scheduled languages and given recognition, status and official encouragement. In addition, the Government of India has awarded the distinction of classical language toTamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam  and Odia. The languages of India belong to several language families, the major ones being the Indo-Aryan languages spoken by 75% of Indians and the Dravidian languages spoken by 20% of Indians Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_India#cite_note-Hardgrave1965-15

Reference: https://en. wikipedia

The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, as of 1 December 2007, lists 22 languages Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_India#cite_note-Hardgrave1965-15

North Indian Brahmi found in Ashok pillar Tamil-Brahmi inscription in Jambaimalai North Indian Brahmi found in Ashok pillar The Halmidi inscription, the oldest known inscription in the Kannada script and language. The inscription is dated to the 450 CE - 500 CE period. An early Telugu inscription found in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_India#cite_note-Hardgrave1965-15

Relationship of language and culture Language is the principal means whereby one conducts ones social life. When it is used in context of communication it becomes the culture. People not only express their experience through language but they also create experience through language. Language is used as a symbol of humans social identity. Language symbolizes cultural reality Relationship of language and culture

Multiculturalism describes the cultural and ethnic diversity of contemporary Australia. The Commonwealth Government has identified three dimensions of multicultural policy cultural identity: the right of all Australians, within carefully defined limits, to express and share their individual cultural heritage, including their language and religion; social justice: the right of all Australians to equality of treatment and opportunity, and the removal of barriers of race, ethnicity, culture, religion, language, gender or place of birth; and economic efficiency: the need to maintain, develop and utilize effectively the skills and talents of all Australians, regardless of background. Reference https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs/programs-policy/a-multicultural-australia/national-agenda-for-a-multicultural-australia/what-is-multiculturalism

Multicultural Education in NSW Multicultural Education is for all students and school communities. It promotes a shared vision of Australia based on intercultural understanding and community harmony. Multicultural Education includes a wide range of strategies which aim to achieve two goals: (i) provide all students with the knowledge, skills and values needed to participate successfully in our culturally diverse society and (ii) support the specific needs of students from language backgrounds other than English including new arrivals, refugees and students learning English as an additional language/dialect (EALD). The Department's Multicultural Education Policy outlines the responsibilities of schools and department offices in meeting the needs of our culturally diverse population. Reference: http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/learning/yrk12focusareas/multiculted/