Bagung, Yeagak, Keeya: Renaming library spaces in local language
This week is NAIDOC Week – an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Over the past few years, the library has collaborated on many projects to support Indigenous inclusion and an understanding of Indigenous knowledges and perspectives. We are learning through listening to and engaging with First Nations Australians, including our colleagues in the University and the library industry, as well as the communities on whose lands we work.
One of the key ways libraries can be inclusive of Indigenous cultures is by incorporating local languages into their spaces, both digital and physical. Dr Spencer Lilley, a senior lecturer and specialist in Māori Knowledge at Massey University in New Zealand, put ‘use of indigenous languages’ as number one on the list of factors he considered when performing his study on how academic libraries were perceived through an indigenous lens (‘Through indigenous eyes: looking for indigenous services in Australian and New Zealand university libraries’, September 2019).
Given the importance of incorporating Indigenous languages in our libraries, over the last few years we have been working to rename rooms at each campus in local language. In collaboration with the Office of Indigenous Strategy and Innovation, and local First Nations leaders, spaces across our Burwood, Waterfront and Waurn Ponds campuses are now identified with Woi-wurrung and Wadawarrung names that suit the purpose of each space.
We’ve also developed pronunciation guides to help our university community learn how to correctly pronounce the names – a great chance to learn a little bit of local language this NAIDOC week.
Burwood Campus room names and pronunciation guide
| Room | Woi-wurrung name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
| Honours and Masters room | Yurleng Wilim | Intelligence room | Yoor-leng Will-im |
| Scholars’ room | Dhangula Yaila | Higher learning | Dung-gulla Yah-la |
| Conference room | Ngulu-bul | Many voices | New-loo bull |
| Executive room | Bagung | Gather | Bah-gunn |
| Training room orange | Yeagak | Seek | Yee-gak |
| Training room glass | Ngarrgu | Knowledge | Nah-goo |
| Staff consultation room | Loorende-gat | Guidance | Law-ren-dee-gat |
| Student tea room | Ngahna ba Ngala | Sit and rest | Nuh-guh ba Nah-la |
Waterfront Campus room names and pronunciation guide
| Room | Wadawurrung name | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| Study room | Ngal | N’yahl | Quiet |
| Training room | Ngarrwa | N’yah-wah | Go and learn |
Waurn Ponds Campus room names and pronunciation guide
| Room | Wadawurrung name | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| Study room | Nyanee | N’yay-nee | Think |
| Consulting room | Mun.gurre | Moon-guh-ree | Sit down |
| Training room | Karree | Car-ree | Tell |
| Computer lab | Yarrka | Yah-kuh | Search |
| Group study room | Getjawil | Get-chah-will | Many |
| Meeting room | Mok-borre nyal | Mock-bore-ree-n’yahl | Place of peace, quiet |
| Study room | Gupmaa | Do your work | |
| Group study room | Woordee-a | Big place | |
| Assistive technology room | Marna-a | Mar-nah | With my hand |
| Consulting room | Keeya | Key-yah | Ask |
| Small meeting room | Marren-korren | Mar-ren-core-ren | Small number/few |
Want to learn more about one of the oldest continuous living cultures on earth this NAIDOC Week?
- Visit the NAIDOC Week website to find local events and resources
- Check out what is happening across our Deakin campuses
- Explore these library resources featuring First Nations perspectives