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The Research Unit for Indigenous Language (RUIL) is the first of its kind in Australia. We work with Indigenous communities across Australia and the region to expand and strengthen Indigenous language research, and to support efforts by communities to maintain their linguistic and cultural heritage.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which the University of Melbourne sits, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future.

50 Words Project
This project aims to provide fifty words in every Indigenous language of Australia.
The words are provided online with community permission, and with audio provided by a language speaker. All words, audio, and video recordings are provided by language speakers and are included here with permission. We hope this will be a useful resource for schools and educational organisations, and for the general public to discover the diversity of languages around Australia.
Explore our resources
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The sounds of Australian Aboriginal languages
A video series exploring the different sounds that can be found in some Aboriginal Australian languages
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Training resources for Community Language Workers
Helpful videos and links to external sites for people using linguistic software to work on Indigenous languages
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Public lectures
Whenever possible the Research Unit for Indigenous Language record our public lectures and make them available for you to watch. Enjoy!
Grants and scholarships
See below for funding opportunities to engage with The Research Unit for Indigenous Language team

People of RUIL
- Professor Rachel Nordlinger
Director, RUIL
Professor of Linguistics
Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language
- Associate Professor
Nicholas ThiebergerDeputy Director, RUIL
Chief Investigator, ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language
- Allyra Murray
Project Officer, RUIL
Twitter @indiglang
Contact the Research Unit for Indigenous Language
Email: RUIL-contact@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 3311
Location: Babel (Building 139), the University of Melbourne VIC 3010
Project Officer location: Room 311, Level 3, Babel (Building 139)