Indigenous languages don’t just describe the world around us – they actively shape it. And they, in turn, are shaped by the world.
These languages carry knowledge systems, ethical frameworks and spiritual understandings that have existed and evolved over thousands of years.
In Australia, there are over 250 such languages. One of them is Gumbaynggirr, spoken by the Gumbaynggirr people, whose Country stretches along the Mid North Coast of New South Wales (roughly from the Clarence River to the Nambucca River).
For Gumbaynggirr people, their language is far more than a communication tool. It’s a living force – an active conduit between them and Country.
And for Dylan Berger, a Gumbaynggirr, Dhanggati, Yuin and Birpai man, this dynamic and living language is the core of his PhD research.
Indigenous metaphysics and Indigenous language are the two main domains of my research. My multidisciplinary supervisory team cover these domains at depth, and together they helped me actualise a research project I can take pride in.
Mixing Indigenous metaphysics with linguistics
Dylan’s research sits at the intersection of Indigenous metaphysics and language revitalisation. Through his PhD, he is exploring the mutually beneficial and deeply reciprocal relationship between Gumbaynggirr language and Gumbaynggirr people – and how that relationship exists within Gumbaynggirr Country.
“I'm looking at this through a lens that assumes Gumbaynggirr language is alive and it does impact the world in a very real sense,” he says.
“I'm trying to unearth how this relationship benefits both Gumbaynggirr people and Gumbaynggirr language.”
To do this, Dylan speaks with Gumbaynggirr individuals and communities about their unique connections with the language and how it enriches their connection to Country. Because while these links are intrinsically felt and understood by the people living with them, they’re not so simple to explain to the wider public.
“I hope my thesis will aid Gumbaynggirr people in communicating the nature of this relationship to broader audiences. This would lead to improving connections to Country, culture and community, and being better able to conserve, revitalise and promote Gumbaynggirr language.”
Yellow Rock is associated with Dylan’s family heritage and is just down the road from his family home in Urunga
Dylan’s collaborative PhD experience
For Dylan, pursuing a PhD with the UQ School of Languages and Cultures wasn’t just about personal growth or academic curiosity – it was about contributing to something bigger, with the right people around him.
“Supervision and support were key,” he says.
“I trusted in the knowledge and experience of my supervisory team. With their support, and the support of the broader network of staff, undertaking a PhD felt a lot more achievable.”
Dylan was the first recipient of UQ’s Indigenous Languages Scholarship.
Dylan’s research has been guided by a pair of supervisors:
- his principal supervisor, Professor Felicity Meakins, a linguistics expert known for her work with Indigenous languages across Australia
- his associate supervisor, Professor Norm Sheehan, a Wiradjuri man born in Mudgee, who brings deep knowledge of Indigenous metaphysics to the project.
With their complementary perspectives, this team has helped Dylan shape a project that bridges theory and lived experience, drawing from both Western research methods and Indigenous ways of knowing.
His PhD program has also helped Dylan discover other chances to work with researchers – both locally and across the globe.
“I had opportunities to travel to Canada and Aotearoa for collaborative experiences,” he says.
“It has also provided an opportunity to speak with many Gumbaynggirr community members who I don’t get to spend a lot of time with.”
“That idea of ‘finding joy in your work’ is real during your PhD.”
What led Dylan to his PhD?
Dylan’s community is what first inspired him to pursue research.
Gumbaynggirr Country has already made great strides in revitalising their language. While it’s still technically classified as critically endangered, many in the community believe it would be almost impossible to lose the language due to the progress that’s been made.
But there’s still work to be done.
“Gumbaynggirr Country is lacking in researchers who focus on the language space,” says Dylan.
“With this in mind, research appeared to be an ideal way to contribute to Gumbaynggirr language revitalisation in my own way.”
During his undergraduate studies, Dylan met one of his future supervisors, Norm Sheehan – a connection that encouraged him to explore this research area further.
“I was exposed to the domain of Indigenous metaphysics during my Bachelor of Indigenous Knowledge, and I was curious to explore how Gumbaynggirr language fits in that conversation.”
Dylan’s advice for future PhD candidates
Dylan encourages anyone considering a PhD to take that first step, because it’s not as impossible as it might seem.
“If you’re seriously thinking about a PhD, there’s a strong chance you already have the tools to undertake one,” he says.
“It’s not challenging because it’s difficult – it’s challenging because it’s long.”
“Let your passion be the engine in your journey. Take it one day at a time, and don’t be too hard on yourself for not feeling like you’re changing the world every day. You’re doing work that matters to someone, and that’s an accomplishment by itself.”
Ready to embark on your own research journey?
