Mary Laughren began learning and documenting Warlpiri in 1975 when she was posted to Yuendumu as a linguist (research officer). She started compiling a dictionary of Warlpiri in 1978, working closely with Ken Hale, and with Warlpiri and non-Warlpiri co-compilers in Lajamanu, Wirliyajarrayi, Yuendumu and Nyirrpi over the following decades. Laughren holds an honorary senior research fellowship at The University of Queensland.