Robert Amery

Associate Professor Robert Amery is a linguist at the University of Adelaide, affiliated with the School of Humanities under the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics. He has dedicated over three decades to the reclamation and revival of the Kaurna language, the Indigenous language of the Adelaide Plains. His work integrates academic research with community-driven initiatives.

• Position: Associate Professor and Reader
• Email: rob.amery@adelaide.edu.au

Research interests focus on endangered language preservation, particularly Australian Indigenous languages. Key areas include language reclamation, language maintenance, Indigenous education, sociolinguistics, mission linguistics, and language contact phenomena. His work extends to the languages of Pulau Simeulue and Pulau Banyak in Aceh, Indonesia.

Recent publications highlight trends in language revival, sociolinguistic challenges in post-conflict regions, and the development of educational resources for Kaurna. Collaborative projects with institutions like Tauondi College and grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC) underscore his commitment to community capacity building and sustainable language practices.

Grants and Funding: Currently holds an ARC Discovery Grant (DP190102413) for Sustainable Language Revival, working with Dr Mary-Anne Gale and Susie Greenwood. Previously collaborated on an ARC-funded analysis of Ngarrindjeri texts with Prof Jane Simpson and others.

Professional Activities: Led language surveys in Aceh, Indonesia, and contributed to the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language (CoEDL). His work spans from historical documentation to contemporary teaching strategies, including partnerships with Indigenous communities and universities.