A book in Marrku with Audio CD

Six stories in Marrku, the traditional language of Croker Island. This is the first book and audio CD published in Marrku, the traditional language of Croker Island in northwestern Arnhem Land.

Nobody now speaks the language fluently; however, the descendents of the Marrku-speaking clans feel a need to raise the younger generation’s awareness of their linguistic and cultural heritage. Furthermore, they want to increase the wider public’s appreciation of the cultural and linguistic diversity in northern Australia, which is under constant threat.

This book is a first step in meeting their aspirations. It provides some introductory information about the language and makes available six traditional stories told in Marrku, with translations into English and Iwaidja. Closely related to Marrku, Iwaidja is a highly endangered language spoken mainly at Minjilang on Croker Island.

The book is published by Iwaidja Inyman, a community project funded by the Australian Government through the Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records (MILR) program.

All profit from sales of this book will go to the Iwaidja language team for recording and publishing their endangered cultural knowledge. Your support will help maintain the linguistic and cultural diversity of northwestern Arnhem Land.