Algy Paterson
Last fluent speaker of Martuthunira
About Algy Paterson
Algy Paterson was an Australian.
Algy Paterson (died 6 August 1995) was the last fluent speaker of the Martuthunira language of Western Australia.
Algy's father was a European, which made him eligible to be removed from his family by the authorities under the policy now known as the Stolen Generation. His family avoided this by hiding in the bush, where they lived a traditional nomadic lifestyle. Algy grew up speaking Martuthunira and Kurrama, and did not learn any English until he was fifteen.
From 1980 he worked with the linguist Alan Dench to preserve the Martuthunira language in writing.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Algy Paterson?
Last fluent speaker of Martuthunira
When did Algy Paterson die?
Algy Paterson died on 6 August 1995.
What nationality was Algy Paterson?
Algy Paterson was Australian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Algy Paterson. https://biography.guide/algy-paterson/
MLA: "Algy Paterson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/algy-paterson/.
Chicago: "Algy Paterson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/algy-paterson/.
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