INTRODUCTION
The Tiwi are well-known in the field of anthropology for their arrangement of polygamous matrimony “dominated by the figures of the "big men." (Robinson, 1997). Generally, the Tiwi men did not marry until their late thirties and forties and did their utmost to construct a big family unit with several wives. Typically, women were promised to marriage by their fathers even before they were born. If a female was widowed, she usually married a younger male, and, “as senior wives, became influential figures in domestic life.” (Robinson, 1997). The word “Tiwi” derives from the Aboriginal language, from people who live on the Menville and Bathurst islands of north Australia, and it means people. “The word Tiwi did not mean people in the sense of all human beings, but rather, “we, the only people,” or the chosen people.” (Hart & Pilling, 1960). The Tiwi people have a very unique language, which is not closely associated to other indigenous languages. For instance, in some parts of North Australia, where the Tiwis live, the dominant language is the Tiwi language, whereas in some parts both English and the aboriginal language are spoken, especially in schools. Almost all of the Tiwi inhabitants use both English and their indigenous language. In addition, the elders complain that the younger generations aren’t fluent in the Tiwi language, due to the frequent use of English. In the previous eras, the Tiwi put a great emphasis on the knowledge of the aboriginal language, as this proficiency permitted the inhabitants to partake in different formal pursuits of value, such as singing, and performing various rituals.
