Since the inception of the Language Parties format, we have been curious about the interests and experiences of audiences. After all, storytelling and storylistening go hand in hand. What motivates storylisteners to come along to a Language Party and what does the experience evoke in them? We spoke to two storylisteners from the 2019 Darwin Language Party to find out more.

Geraldton’s first Language Party was held in September 2019. Rosie Sitorus made the show come to life, wearing many hats as co-producer, emcee, and storyteller. Here, Rosie shares with us her experience of participating in a Language Party, and how it offered healing to a grieving community.

Nicole reflects on her experience of being a storylistener at the 2019 Geraldton Language Party and how the event impacted her personally and professionally.

Bobbie Chew Bigby tells her story about performing at the 2019 Broome Language Party. Storytellers living in Australia’s remote northwest came together in a beautiful celebration of their oral traditions as part of the Corrugated Lines Festival of Words.

Language Party Canberra started out as a speck of an idea, and ended with the birth of a new community. From animal tales told in the South African language of Isixhosa, to local Aboriginal stories told in the previously dormant tongue of Ngunawal, this was a show loaded with heart and happiness.

“When I started putting the story together, I realised it has so much relevance. It’s like a bible story, in a way, because it connects to the moral sides of life. It carries a message about the way we live. It’s about protecting the environment; I realised the story gives reverence for nature. My story, of the white cockatoo, is relevant today to the climate splintering, and the chaos, and to things not being in order.”

In January, the “first-ever” treasure language storytelling event in the Philippines and Asia happened for the second time around. Still spearheaded by the English Language Studies majors of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), the event entitled “Wikang Yaman: Kuwento at Kuwenta” delivered stories of local fiction and lore from which its tagline was coined -- “Embracing Languages Through Enchanting Stories”.

Peter Salmon has been a stockman for his entire adult life. Now well into his 80s, he has earned the respect of graziers far and wide. Last week Peter took a break from mustering to drive 1200km south to Geraldton. Here, he is known for something rather different: he is the last speaker of Warriyangga.

With 185 languages swimming within its borders, the Philippines is awash with linguistic diversity. In April, a passionate collective of university students at the University of Santo Tomás (UST) in Manila banded together to champion these languages. “Celebrating International Year of Indigenous Languages will help promote and protect indigenous languages and improve the lives of those who speak them,” said the UST English Language Studies Society.

Tsholotsho in western Zimbabwe is home to a cornucopia of wildlife. All Zimbabwean animal species reside here, including the elephant. The district itself, in fact, draws its name from the San (or Tjwa) word Tsoro o tso, meaning ‘head of an elephant’ – a particularly relevant reference for the Tjwa people, who in April celebrated their endangered language Tjwao with a bush-style Language Party attended by around 200 people.