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Kelly_AboriginalMessageSticks

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  • AlexH says:

    Hi Ingrid!
    This post was a very practical (and, why not, fun) way to explain Australian message sticks and how they vary according to the context and other factors. Whenever I get an email from the clinic I am covered in back in my home country, I know it will be about: 1) updates on the services they provide or 2) latest news about COVID-19 and some health tips on how to keep oneself safe physically and mentally. In case of option 1, I just read it and that is it. If it is option 2, I will read it as well but there is a high chance I will forward it to my parents so they know the information they get from other health professionals on the news is confirmed by this other organisation (the clinic). I do this so they can feel reassured in some way. We might have a short conversation afterwards about my forwarded email which might lead to other subjects.
    Thanks for reading!

    • Thanks, Alex! Sounds like you might have a potential case study of COVID-19 related literacy practices for your assignment…

    • KINZA ABBASI says:

      Hi Ingrid. I really enjoyed listening to this interview. Its really amazing that a piece of wood could communicate the strongest message not to just one person but to whole community. Language is not just the combination of letter , I believe it is a the way humans had been using ecology to convey their messages to each other. For instance , burning fire to signal the war, lightening beacon to show the path, or creating message sticks as a symbol of belongingness. I say it belongingness as Piers declare that it was carried to show that the carrier doesn’t mean any harm and would only carrying a diplomatic mission. Beautiful! reminiscent of this type of communication still exist in linguistic practice . I do not know if I am relating it the right way, but it reminded me of the incident of recent conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque. The Cleric held the sword of the first ottoman king (1300AD) in his hands while delivering the sermon. What purpose that sword served for the turks , same purpose is served by magic sticks to Aboriginals . Although, the sword wasn’t used for linguistic purpose but it does communicate a message to the viewers.

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