People in Australia are leading efforts to save a critically endangered language. At one time, an estimated 300 indigenous languages were spoken on the continent. Only about 90 are still spoken today. Language is a central part of the culture of Australia’s indigenous peoples, called Aborigines. Language helps Aboriginal communities understand their tribal roots, history and customs. It also gives them a strong sense of identity. European settlers arrived in Australia in the late 1700s. Experts say that colonization had a harmful effect on indigenous languages. Now, only about 60 of those languages are considered alive and in daily use. As older members of tribes die, other languages are likely to pass away. In the central Australian desert near Alice Springs, only 20 people are fluent in Pertame, a language native to the area. But now, children are being taught its ancient words in hopes that it will not die out.
Title: Saving a Critically Endangered Language in Australia
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/473d751f-13b5-4b22-a997-4bb08ece0f79_hq.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Saving a Critically Endangered Language in Australia' data-article-id='3240'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='9500'>People in Australia are leading efforts to save a critically endangered language.</span> <span data-start-time='9500' data-end-time='18813'>At one time, an estimated 300 indigenous languages were spoken on the continent.</span> <span data-start-time='18813' data-end-time='23542'>Only about 90 are still spoken today.</span> <span data-start-time='23542' data-end-time='32042'>Language is a central part of the culture of Australia’s indigenous peoples, called Aborigines.</span> <span data-start-time='32042' data-end-time='40667'>Language helps Aboriginal communities understand their tribal roots, history and customs.</span> <span data-start-time='40667' data-end-time='45438'>It also gives them a strong sense of identity.</span> <span data-start-time='45438' data-end-time='52125'>European settlers arrived in Australia in the late 1700s.</span> <span data-start-time='52125' data-end-time='59125'>Experts say that colonization had a harmful effect on indigenous languages.</span> <span data-start-time='59125' data-end-time='68313'>Now, only about 60 of those languages are considered alive and in daily use.</span> <span data-start-time='68313' data-end-time='75771'>As older members of tribes die, other languages are likely to pass away.</span> <span data-start-time='75771' data-end-time='87854'>In the central Australian desert near Alice Springs, only 20 people are fluent in Pertame, a language native to the area.</span> <span data-start-time='87854' data-end-time='95125'>But now, children are being taught its ancient words in hopes that it will not die out.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/E4358849-4B72-4A76-BCE1-3ED1C80293BC_cx0_cy7_cw0_w1023_r1_s.jpg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=11140 data-hint-location='0' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/what_does_critically_mean.wav'>What does critically mean?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='relating to or involving a serious condition'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/feeling_sick.wav'><span>feeling sick</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/driving_fast.wav'><span>driving fast</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/relating_to_or_involving_a_serious_condition.wav'><span>relating to or involving a serious condition</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/adopting_a_child.wav'><span>adopting a child</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=11141 data-hint-location='40667' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/language_gives_aboriginal_communities_a_strong_sense_of_what.wav'>Language gives Aboriginal communities a strong sense of what?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='identity'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/location.wav'><span>location</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/political_party.wav'><span>political party</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/identity.wav'><span>identity</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/hunger.wav'><span>hunger</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=11142 data-hint-location='23542' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/_blank__is_a_central_part_of_the_culture_of_australias_indigenous_peoples.wav'><span class='blank'>language</span> is a central part of the culture of Australia's indigenous peoples.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='language'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/dancing.wav'><span>dancing</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/driving.wav'><span>driving</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2682/food.wav'><span>food</span></div><div 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