Language Untapped
Strengthening shared meaning, trust and collaboration in water systems through deeper insight into how language shapes perception, reasoning and behaviour.
Activating shared meaning and purpose in water systems
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Language Untapped works with water research, policy, extension and management teams to identify and understand the language patterns shaping how people make sense of water challenges, and to open up new communication possibilities for constructive, collaborative change.
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Many issues in complex water systems are not just technical problems. They are shaped by how questions of fairness, responsibility, complexity, uncertainty and possibility are talked about, and by the stories, assumptions and worldviews embedded and activated in everyday and formal communication.
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This work focuses on the deeper language patterns and structures that shape trust, collaboration and collective capacity. By helping teams notice these patterns, and their impact on perception, reasoning and behaviour, Language Untapped supports the development of communication that fosters shared understanding, constructive dialogue and long-term stewardship.
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This approach draws on research in cognitive linguistics, social neuroscience and systems thinking, translated into practical tools for real-world water contexts.
Who's it for?
Language Untapped is designed for people and teams working at the intersection of water systems, landscapes and communities, including:
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water, catchment and natural resource management authorities and networks
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water and environmental research, planning and extension teams
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riparian, riverine and wetland restoration organisations
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Landcare, Coastcare and community environment groups
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water, environmental and regional policy and planning teams
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cross-sector partnerships focused on long-term waterway and catchment health
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community and stakeholder engagement practitioners
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What's it for?
Language Untapped supports people working in water systems to understand how language framing and linguistic structures shape shared meaning, and to develop new ways of communicating that build coherence, trust and long-term capacity in complex and changing environments.
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Many water challenges are well understood technically, yet remain difficult to work through in practice. This is often not because of a lack of data, expertise or good intentions, but because people are working with different assumptions, values, framings and mental models.
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Over time, this can lead to fragmented conversations, shallow engagement, stalled initiatives and message fatigue across organisations and communities — even where there is strong commitment to stewardship and care.
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Language Untapped works at this deeper level of meaning, helping teams strengthen how people think, talk and act together in relation to water systems, so that collaboration, learning and adaptation become easier and more durable.​
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The change we seek to make
Language Untapped seeks to expand possibilities for constructive, collaborative communication across water systems by helping people recognise how language shapes perception, reasoning and behaviour, and by using this insight to open up new ways of thinking, communicating and acting together.
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By working with the hidden structures of meaning, including framing, metaphors, values, narratives and assumptions, this work helps organisations move beyond familiar patterns of response and untap more thoughtful, coherent and future-oriented approaches to engaging with complex challenges.
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Over time, this supports cultures of practice in which communication is used deliberately and ethically to build trust, deepen shared understanding and enable long-term stewardship, learning and collaboration.
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How it works
Language Untapped is a flexible program of inquiry, learning and practice that includes workshops, mentoring, analysis and content design support.
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Engagements are shaped around the needs, goals and contexts of each organisation or partnership, and may include:
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Introductory workshops
Designed to build shared awareness of how language shapes meaning in water systems, and to introduce practical tools for reframing challenges in ways that support constructive, collaborative outcomes.
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Language and narrative analysis
Careful examination of internal and public-facing materials, policy documents, engagement resources and everyday communication to identify underlying framings, metaphors and patterns of values activation.
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Computational and corpus-based language analysis
Use of computational, statistical and AI-supported methods to examine large bodies of text and communication data, revealing recurring patterns, associations and dynamics that are not always evident through close reading alone.
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Mentoring and learning partnerships
Ongoing support for leaders and teams as they integrate new language approaches into their communication, decision-making and engagement practices.
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Communication and engagement design support
Collaborative development and refinement of messages, narratives, processes and materials suited to specific contexts, communities and challenges.
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Ongoing linguistic and sensemaking support
Continuing advice and reflective support to help teams sustain language-based change as contexts, priorities and challenges evolve over time.
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