From the seas

The former Navy Language Manager reflects on the achievements of the cell in 2025 – from the creation of the First Nations Languages Capability Committee to work on linguist networking hubs, with exercises and conferences in between.

Etymology and the threads of human connection

Contranyms, cognates, and tea: explore how understanding the origins and evolutions of words pave the way towards discovering how humans across the world are connected.

Being Betawi: Preserving culture in the Indonesian city that never sleeps

For two Jakarta locals, being Betawi in a diverse and bustling city is a lifelong journey of remembering, practising, and teaching others the language, songs, and customs of their native Indonesian culture. 

Is there (translating and interpreting) life after Defence?

For many, working with languages is more than just an occupation, it’s a lifelong passion. Learn about how to translate your Defence language skills into the civilian world.

Getting Certified: The ins and outs of NAATI

Learn not only what it takes to become NAATI certified, but also the history and reasons behind the certification process, and current issues facing those seeking certification.

A life among letters: Uncovering the lost writers of Rilindja

Rona Castrioti recounts her grandfather’s acts of resistance as a journalist in post-war Kosovo trying to preserve the Albanian language, and how that legacy is being continued today.

Wikipedia: Editing the narrative

Think Wikipedia is the same everywhere in the world? On this English-tailored platform, the retelling of human history often differs depending on which language you read it in.

Exploring Angolan Portuguese

Deep dive into this beautiful dialect, the ways the surrounding national languages have influenced its development, and the impact it’s had on Portuguese speakers around the world.

Prenatal learning: Just how early do we start learning language?

Take a look into the fascinating minds of foetuses as they learn language sounds in the womb, and enjoy the reflection on what this means for language learning at all stages of life!

Divergent evolution in the Korean language

Despite a common language root, decades of division has created distinct North and South Korean dialects — highlighting the profound impact that political, cultural, and ideological separation can have on language.

Order from chaos: A brief history of Korean spelling

Discover the origins behind Korea’s written script, Hangul, and the reasons why it took hundreds of years to come into popular use after its creation.

Dictionaries and the chaos of a living speech

Language is constantly evolving – so how do modern dictionaries keep up? This article explores how slang is documented, and how sociolinguistic change shapes the living landscape of Australian English.

Shifting the landscape

Translating her grandfather Shemsi Mehmeti’s novel from Albanian to English, Rona Castrioti learns what translation can reveal about the differences between these two languages and cultures.

Yarning about World English(es)

Prof Pam Peters delves into the fluidity of English, its ability to transform in new communities, and the varieties of World Englishes we now enjoy.

Writing the uzsh-ual way: Is authenticity more important than propriety?

Dive into the role of informal language in fostering genuine connections, exploring the importance of authentic written communication in reflecting personal identity.

Text, tone & tradition: A Mazahua speaker reconnects with her heritage

Mexico’s vast linguistic landscape faces potential language losses, prompting young Mazahua speakers to revitalise their community’s heritage and ensure the preservation of their unique tonal language.

Rethinking the world’s most powerful minority language: The fairy tales and facts of Standard English

Adventure through the history of Standard English as we separate the facts from the myths that uphold this minority language as a world player.

Rediscovering purpose: A journey through the Brisbane Pasifika community

Follow the journey Vaoafi Hart took when seeking to reconnect with her Samoan heritage while living in Queensland, and learn about the incredible work of the Pasifika Women's Alliance.

Diplomacy and resistance: How Dune show us the power of language

The greatest asset in both diplomacy and resistance is an intangible one: language. Nowhere is this clearer than in the films' portrayal of sign language.

From the Outback to the Mongolian steppe

A linguist returns to his Mongolian homeland to assist with construction repairs in a remote district, becoming the conduit for both language and trust between locals and Defence personnel.

Beyond the tongue-tied: Can learners conquer second language anxiety jitters

Delve into anxiety in second language learning and unpack what can make it a motivator or a barrier.

Navy Cryptologic Linguists: Not to be confused with interpreters 

Be introduced to the world of Navy Cryptologic Linguists and the diverse linguistic skills they employ, learn about training and career trajectories, and get a glimpse of the future for this essential role.

Intelligence operations: The versatility of linguists

Take a peek at the pivotal role of linguists in intelligence operations, discovering their diverse contributions from enhanced situational awareness to the fostering of international cooperation and improved humanitarian relief efforts.

Whose 'culture' is it anyway?

Explore the tricky definition of ‘culture’, a word with parameters that are continually expanding, retracting, and adapting to reflect our ever-evolving, complex, and diverse society.

Cultural symbiosis: How to live between three cultures and thrive

Polyglot and former travel journalist Paul Hellander shares his hard-won life lessons on heritage, identity, and belonging.

Yarning’s Patron letter

Lieutenant General Natasha Fox honours language capability in her first letter as Yarning's Patron.

Language, culture, and the military: A case for joint linguists

A proposal for dedicated Defence linguists to meet the diverse and ever-expanding demands Defence has for language capability and cross-cultural engagement.

Ancient history from an ancient linguist

As a former Defence Attaché to Saudi Arabia, Colonel John Paterson draws upon his rich experiences, sharing his top five tips for linguists. A must-read for those seeking to make language part of their Defence career.

Do our identities change when we speak another language?

Exploring the relationships between communication and our authentic expression of self, our columnist delves into the reasons bilinguals may feel their identities shift when changing languages.

Building bonds, one laugh at a time

Should comedic skills be a linguistic priority? Alongside other important insights, two Indonesian linguists discuss how laughter shortens the distance between people and helped forge success during a joint Australian and Indonesian disaster relief exercise.

On the verge of extinction: Kusunda

Dive into the uniqueness of this western Nepalese ‘language isolate’. With no ancestral roots common to any known language and only a single remaining native speaker, continued preservation efforts are paramount.

How Swahili became Africa’s most spoken language

Over two millennia, Swahili has built bridges among people across Africa, evolving into the continent’s most internationally recognised language.

Why Google Translate isn’t enough: Language and culture in the military

Yuetong Zheng and Matthew Malcolm explore the importance of cultural understanding and context to translation and cross-cultural communication.

Science fiction comes alive with artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is a growing science of strategic interest with the potential to change our world, for better or worse.

Understanding the untranslatable

While definitions can be translated, sometimes meaning cannot; a look at how words can encompass concepts, culture, or a certain je ne sais quoi.

Yunupingu: A giant amongst elders

Australian Actor and Garma Ambassador, Jack Thompson AM, reflects on the life of Yolngu Elder, Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM.

Embracing Yolngu language and culture at Garma

In Northeast Arnhem Land, a celebration of practices, knowledge, and culture brings Australians together as they experience Yolngu tradition.

Rifle Company Butterworth: A linguist’s paradise

Calling all Defence Malay, Mandarin, Hokkien, Tamil, and Thai speakers – opportunity awaits you in Malaysia!