Varieties before the law: Australian Aboriginal English Extra Reading

Question 1

Kinship terms

Name and date

Answer 1

• Arthur 1990
• Kinship terms do not necessarily refer to blood relatives
• Eg. Mother may be mother’s sister
• Can be seen to be lying if kinship terms do not fit answers or evidence in court

Question 2

Kill meaning

Name and date

Answer 2

• Kill in AAE does not necessarily mean ‘end life’
• Can mean to strike, hit or injure
• Potentially incriminating if interpreted incorrectly
• Everyday words can be misinterpreted if dialect isn’t taken into consideration

Cooke 2002