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Why do some Indigenous Australians prefer the terms Koori or Koorie?
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Australian Aboriginal languages
A discussion of the languages of Indigenous Australians.
Many Indigenous Australians prefer to use self-designations such as Koori (or Koorie) because these terms reflect a growing sense of ethnic and linguistic pride among Aboriginal peoples.1
The term Koori, which translates to "person," is favored as an alternative to the labels "Aborigine" and "Aboriginal." These latter terms were historically imposed upon Indigenous Australians by outsiders, and the shift toward using self-chosen names is a significant expression of cultural identity and autonomy.1