The echidna rolls itself into a tight ball of spines when it is frightened and buries itself down into the hard ground faster than a person can dig, and the old woman told the children it is the wisest of the small creatures, for it never fights and never flees in panic, it simply becomes a thing that cannot be taken, and lives a long slow life because of it.

Ngangkin nyulu-nyulu junkurr-manil buban-buban jalngkun-yalbay nyulu yinilnya bubu junkurr-mundu bakan warri bamamuny, wulbumanangka karrkay-karrkay balkan nyulu binal yukil minya buban-bubanmuny, nyulu kariku kunin kari warri yinil-bu, nyulu nganga yamba manil-kari-manda, wawu kalbay bada kirrajin yinyamu.

ngangkin nyulu-nyulu junkurr-ma-ni-l buban-buban jalngkun-yalbay nyulu yinil-nya bubu junkurr-mundu baka-ny warri bama-muny, wulbuman-angka karrkay-karrkay balka-ny nyulu binal yukil minya buban-buban-muny, nyulu kariku kuni-ny kari warri yinil-bu, nyulu nganga yamba mani-l-kari-ma-nda, wawu kalbay bada kirraji-ny yinya-mu | echidna itself hardens ball-big spine-big it frightened-SUB ground hard-into digs fast person-ABL, old.woman children said it wise best creatures small-of, it never fights NEG flees fear-INST, it just thing take-not-becomes, life long slow lives that-POSS

ngangkin junkurr jiran yinil bakal warri binal kunil


The bandicoot digs its little cone-shaped holes all through the soft ground at night hunting for grubs and roots, and in the morning you can read the whole story of its night in the fresh diggings, and the old man used this to teach the boys to read tracks, for every creature writes its night on the ground and a good tracker reads it like talk.

Kulngu janku buban-buban jalngkun-mabi bakan bubu jinbal wubulku wujurr jambun ngara baja balbinka, muduwajungu yundu binalka nyungu wujurr wubulku jina-jirakalba, mukulungku dingkarangka yinya kirrajin warru-warru milbin jina nyajinka, minya nyubun wubulku nyungu wujurr bubungu jarral bama jina-binal ngaral kuku yala.

kulngu janku buban-buban jalngkun-mabi baka-ny bubu jinbal wubul-ku wujurr jambun ngara baja balbi-nka, muduwaju-ngu yundu binal-ka nyungu wujurr wubul-ku jina-jirakal-ba, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka yinya kirraji-ny warru-warru milbi-ny jina nyaji-nka, minya nyubun wubul-ku nyungu wujurr bubu-ngu jarra-l bama jina-binal ngara-l kuku yala | bandicoot holes small cone-like dug ground soft all night grub root too hunt-for, dawn-LOC you read-DAT its night all track-fresh-LOC, old man that used young.men taught track read-DAT, creature each its night ground-LOC writes person track-reader reads word like

kulngu janku bakal bubu jambun balbil jina ngaral

kulngu 'bandicoot'; bubu-nga LOC(a); every-creature-writes-its-night-on-the-ground


The dingo hunts in a family the way people do, the old man said, and its long call in the night is how the scattered ones find each other again across the dark country, and though we do not hunt beside it, we watch it and learn from it, for it reads the wallaby and the country as well as any hunter and wastes nothing that it takes.

Murramu balbil jawun-karra yala bama bungal, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, nyungu kuku kalbay wujurr jana yindu-yindu nyaji-wanmu baja bubu wujurr-bu, ngana kari nyunji balbil, ngana nyajil binalman nyungumuny, nyulu darrba bubu baja ngaral ngulkurr balbi-bama yala kari kudamundu manilmuny.

murramu balbi-l jawun-karra yala bama bunga-l, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny, nyungu kuku kalbay wujurr jana yindu-yindu nyaji-wa-ny-mu baja bubu wujurr-bu, ngana kari nyun-ji balbi-l, ngana nyaji-l binal-ma-ny nyungu-muny, nyulu darrba bubu baja ngara-l ngulkurr balbi-bama yala kari kudamundu mani-l-muny | dingo hunts family like people does, old man said, its call long night they scattered find.each.other-for too country dark-inside, we NEG it-with hunt, we watch learn it-from, it wallaby country too reads well hunter like NEG wastes takes-ABL

murramu balbil jawun nyaji-way bubu wujurr darrba ngaral

wujurr-bu LOC; nyaji-wan RECIP; murramu 'dingo'; the-dingo-hunts-like-a-family


The flying foxes camp in their thousands in the big trees by the river and fly out at dusk in a great dark river across the sky to the fruiting country, and the old people read their flight to know where the fruit was ripening, for the flying foxes always find the sweet trees first and lead the watching people straight to them.

Kambi jana bayan wubul-yalbay juku yalbay wawubaja ngunduku marra-warrin kunarangkal wawubaja wujurr yalbay jiri naka-naka mayi-bubu-mundu, bama mukul jana marra-warri ngaran binalka wanja mayi kulbul-mandanya, kambi yabarrka juku jiba-wulay ngadiku manil bama nyaji-bama murni jana-mundu jilbaman.

kambi jana bayan wubul-yalbay juku yalbay wawubaja ngundu-ku marra-warri-ny kunarangkal wawubaja wujurr yalbay jiri naka-naka mayi-bubu-mundu, bama mukul jana marra-warri ngara-ny binal-ka wanja mayi kulbul-ma-nda-nya, kambi yabarrka juku jiba-wulay ngadiku mani-l bama nyaji-bama murni jana-mundu jilba-ma-ny | flying.foxes they camp thousands tree big river near flew dusk river dark big sky across fruit-country-toward, people old their flight read know-DAT where fruit ripens-SUB, flying.foxes always tree sweet first find people watching straight them-toward led

kambi bayan juku wawubaja marra-warri kunarangkal jiri kulbul

kambi 'flying fox'; jiri 'sky'; the-flying-foxes-lead-to-the-ripe-fruit


To find honey the old man watched a single bee drink at the water then followed the straight line of its heavy flight home to the tree, and he said the bee cannot lie about the way to its own nest, so a patient watcher is always led true, and this is the oldest kind of tracking, following the small one to the sweetness it guards.

Wunba maninka mukulungku dingkarangka dabu nyubun nyajin janga bananga yalada wukurrin nyungu marra-warri junkurr murni bayan-mundu juku-mundu, nyulu balkan dabu kariku balka-kari-bungal baral nyungu janku-mundu, bama maku-janal yabarrka murni jilbaman, yinya jina-binal ngadiku, minya buban wukurril jiba-wulay nyulu karrbalmuny.

wunba mani-nka mukul-ungku dingkar-angka dabu nyubun nyaji-ny janga bana-nga yala-da wukurri-ny nyungu marra-warri junkurr murni bayan-mundu juku-mundu, nyulu balka-ny dabu kariku balka-kari-bunga-l baral nyungu janku-mundu, bama maku-jana-l yabarrka murni jilba-ma-ny, yinya jina-binal ngadiku, minya buban wukurri-l jiba-wulay nyulu karrba-l-muny | honey get-DAT old man bee one watched drink water-LOC then followed its flight heavy straight home-toward tree-toward, he said bee never lies road its nest-toward, person patient always straight led, that tracking oldest, creature small follows sweetness it guards-ABL

wunba dabu nyajil bana wukurril marra-warri jina jiba-wulay

bana-nga LOC(a); dabu 'bee'; following-the-bee-to-the-honey


The green ants build their leaf-nests high in the trees and defend them fiercely, and their bodies are sharp and sour on the tongue but good for a sick person's throat, and the old woman showed the girl to take a nest quickly and get away fast, and to thank the ants for the medicine, for even the smallest biting thing has its gift to give.

Munjurr jana birra-bayan wangkar juku bungal jana kunin junkurr-bu, jana janka jalngkun ngambuy nganja-mundu yambada yukil bama buyun manu-nka, wulbumanangka karrkay-jalbu milbin birra-bayan warri mani warri dungay, munjurrnka wawu-mini kalbalmu, minya baykal buban-buban baja nyungu daji dayalmu.

munjurr jana birra-bayan wangkar juku bunga-l jana kuni-ny junkurr-bu, jana janka jalngkun ngambuy nganja-mundu yambada yukil bama buyun manu-nka, wulbuman-angka karrkay-jalbu milbi-ny birra-bayan warri mani warri dunga-y, munjurr-nka wawu-mini kalbal-mu, minya bayka-l buban-buban baja nyungu daji daya-l-mu | green.ants they leaf-nest above tree make they defend strong-INST, their body sharp sour tongue-toward but good person sick throat-for, old.woman girl showed leaf-nest fast take fast go, green.ants-for thanks medicine-POSS, creature biting small too its gift gives-POSS

munjurr bina juku kunil ngambuy nganja buyun kalbal

munjurr 'green ant'; the-green-ants'-medicine-gift


When the biting sandflies and the march flies come thick in their season the camp burns green leaves to make a smoke that keeps them off, and the old people knew exactly which plants made the best insect-smoke, and they moved the camp to the breezy points away from the still swampy ground where the biting things breed in their millions.

Diri-diri baykal waja baja jana wungar nyungunga junkurr kadanya bayan juku jinbal kubu-manin bungan jana kala-kalbay karrbal, bama mukul binal juku wanyu kubu yukil bajaku bungal, jana bayan muyar-a murni-manin bubu-yaral janka-muny wanja minya-baykal wubul-yalbay jiwarril.

diri-diri bayka-l waja baja jana wungar nyungu-nga junkurr kada-nya bayan juku jinbal kubu-ma-ni-ny bunga-ny jana kala-kalbay karrba-l, bama mukul binal juku wanyu kubu yukil bajaku bunga-l, jana bayan muyar-a murni-ma-ni-ny bubu-yaral janka-muny wanja minya-bayka-l wubul-yalbay jiwarri-l | sandflies biting march.fly too they season its-LOC thick come-SUB camp leaves green smoke made made them far.away keeps, people old know plants which smoke best make, they camp breezy-point-toward moved swamp still-from where biting-creatures thousands breed

diri-diri baykal waja wungar kubu kala-kalbay muyar jiwarril

nyungu-nga LOC(a); diri-diri 'sandfly'; smoking-out-the-biting-flies


The fat white grub that lives deep in the rotting wood is one of the sweetest foods in the country, eaten alive and fresh or lightly warmed on the coals, and the old woman taught the children which trees hold them and how to split the wood along the grain to find the tunnel, and it was always the little ones who got the first taste, laughing.

Jambun wandul-jaji bana juku-kilba bada bajaku wunay nyulu mayi jiba-wulay ngadiku bubu wubulku, nukal jirakal yambada buban-buban wumbul-manin ngunjilba, wulbumanangka karrkay-karrkay milbin juku wanyu karrbal yala juku kakanka wukurr-mundu janku maninka, yabarrka karrkay buban jana nganja ngadiku manin, yajarrinya.

jambun wandul-jaji bana juku-kilba bada bajaku wuna-y nyulu mayi jiba-wulay ngadiku bubu wubul-ku, nuka-l jirakal yambada buban-buban wumbul-ma-ni-ny ngunjil-ba, wulbuman-angka karrkay-karrkay milbi-ny juku wanyu karrba-l yala juku kaka-nka wukurr-mundu janku mani-nka, yabarrka karrkay buban jana nganja ngadiku mani-ny, yajarri-nya | grub fat-white rotting.wood deep most lives it food sweet best country all, eaten alive but lightly warmed coals-LOC, old.woman children showed trees which hold how wood split-DAT grain-toward tunnel find-DAT, always children small they taste first got, laughing-SUB

jambun wandul juku wunay mayi jiba-wulay ngunjil milbil

ngunjil-ba LOC(l); jambun 'grub'; the-sweet-wood-grub


The dragonfly hovering over a dry gully means there is water somewhere near, the old man taught, for it never strays far from the pools where its young grow, so a thirsty traveller who sees one should follow the direction it keeps returning to, and this small bright creature has saved the lives of people lost in the dry country more than once.

Wurarr-wurarr murninya bubu-jandu kiway-kiway ngunduku yala bana wanja ngundu, mukulungku dingkarangka milbin, nyulu kariku kala-kalbay dungay bana ngundumuny wanja nyungu buban jarray, jilba-bama bana-dakwuy nyulu nyajinya nyulu wukurri wanja-mundu nyulu nyunban-nyunban, minya buban yilbay yinya bama wula-manin kiway-kiway bubu-mundu jambulmuny baja.

wurarr-wurarr murni-nya bubu-jandu kiway-kiway ngundu-ku yala bana wanja ngundu, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka milbi-ny, nyulu kariku kala-kalbay dunga-y bana ngundu-muny wanja nyungu buban jarra-y, jilba-bama bana-dakwuy nyulu nyaji-nya nyulu wukurri wanja-mundu nyulu nyunba-ny-nyunba-ny, minya buban yilbay yinya bama wula-ma-ni-ny kiway-kiway bubu-mundu jambul-muny baja | dragonfly hovers gully dry near-LOC as water where near, old man taught, it never far.away goes water near-from where its young grow, traveller water-hungry he sees-SUB he follow where-toward it returns-returns, creature small bright that people saved dry country-toward twice-ABL too

wurarr-wurarr bubu bana milbil jilbay dakwuy wukurril nyunbay

ngundu-ku LOC; wurarr-wurarr 'dragonfly'; the-dragonfly-marks-water


The frill-necked lizard spreads its great collar wide and rises up on its back legs and hisses to look big and fierce, but it is all show and cannot hurt you, and the old man laughed and said it was just like a certain kind of man he had known, all frill and noise and running away the moment you stand your ground and do not blink.

Binanjal nyungu jarrba yalbay naka-naka kajal dakan muku-jina-nga janan kuku junkurr balkan yalbay yinil nyaji-manilka, yambada nganga janka nyulu yundu kari mumbu-bungal, mukulungku dingkarangka yajarrin balkan nyulu dingkar nyubun yala nyulu binalmuny, jarrba kuku-yalbay baja warri dungay yundu bubu karra miyil kari wujurr-mandanya.

binanjal nyungu jarrba yalbay naka-naka kaja-l daka-ny muku-jina-nga jana-ny kuku junkurr balka-ny yalbay yinil nyaji-ma-ni-nka, yambada nganga janka nyulu yundu kari mumbu-bunga-l, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka yajarri-ny balka-ny nyulu dingkar nyubun yala nyulu binal-muny, jarrba kuku-yalbay baja warri dunga-y yundu bubu karra miyil kari wujurr-ma-nda-nya | frill-neck its collar big wide spreads climbs back-leg-LOC stands sound fierce makes big fierce look-DAT, but just show it you NEG harms, old man laughed said it man one like he knew-ABL, frill loud too fast goes you ground stand eye NEG closes-SUB

binanjal jarrba naka-naka dakal yinil nyajil dingkar warri

muku-jina-nga LOC(a); binanjal 'frill-neck'; all-frill-and-noise


The old woman knew every bird by its call alone, even in the thick scrub where you could not see them, and she taught the children to close their eyes and name each voice, the friarbird's harsh chatter, the whistler's sweet falling note, the pigeon's soft coo, for she said a person who knows the voices of the country is never truly alone in it.

Wulbumanangka buyi wubulku binal nyungu kuku nganga, majaji junkurr-bu baja wanja yundu kariku nyajil, nyulu karrkay-karrkay milbin miyil kajanka buyi wubulku kuku kunjanka, jaka nyungu kuku dandi, dukunjulu jiba-wulay bada-mabi, bakamu nyungu kuku kima, nyulu balkan bama nyulu bubu kuku binal nyulu kariku nganga bajaku ngunduka.

wulbuman-angka buyi wubul-ku binal nyungu kuku nganga, majaji junkurr-bu baja wanja yundu kariku nyaji-l, nyulu karrkay-karrkay milbi-ny miyil kaja-nka buyi wubul-ku kuku kunja-nka, jaka nyungu kuku dandi, dukunjulu jiba-wulay bada-mabi, bakamu nyungu kuku kima, nyulu balka-ny bama nyulu bubu kuku binal nyulu kariku nganga bajaku ngundu-ka | old.woman birds all knew their call alone, scrub thick-inside too where you never see, she children taught eyes close-DAT birds all voice name-DAT, friarbird its call harsh, whistler sweet falling-like, pigeon its call soft, she said person he country voices knows he never alone very in-LOC

buyi binal majaji dukurr karrkay milbil jaka dukunjulu

junkurr-bu LOC; ngundu-ka LOC; knowing-the-country-by-its-voices


The old people read the animals for the weather better than any sign in the sky: when the ants carry their eggs to high ground and the fish stop biting and the birds fly low and restless and the frogs begin to call in the dry gullies, the big rain is a day or two away, and a wise camp moves its gear up under good cover before it comes.

Bama mukul minya ngaral bana-wungarnka ngulkurr-baja yamba jiri-mabimuny: munjurr jana jamal wangkar-mundu jarrakulbal kuyu baykal dumbal buyi bada janka-kari marra-warril diburr-kaya badi bubu-jandu kiwaymba, bana yalbay wungar jambul baja kala-kalbay, bayan binal nyungu yamba wangkar birra bada murni-manil ngadiku kadanya.

bama mukul minya ngara-l bana-wungar-nka ngulkurr-baja yamba jiri-mabi-muny: munjurr jana jamal wangkar-mundu jarrakulba-l kuyu bayka-l dumba-l buyi bada janka-kari marra-warri-l diburr-kaya badi bubu-jandu kiway-mba, bana yalbay wungar jambul baja kala-kalbay, bayan binal nyungu yamba wangkar birra bada murni-ma-ni-l ngadiku kada-nya | people old animals read weather-for better thing sky-sign-from: green.ants they eggs high-toward carry fish biting stop birds low restless fly frog-croak cry gully dry-LOC, rain big day two too far.away, camp wise its gear up cover under moves before comes-SUB

minya ngaral bana-wungar munjurr kuyu buyi marra-warri badi


There were bird calls the old people listened for with particular care, for certain ones were said to carry news of a visitor coming, or of a death somewhere far off, and though the young might laugh, the old man would only say quietly that he had heard these things prove true too many times across a long life to dismiss them.

Buyi-kuku nyubun-nyubun bama mukul ngaran milka-yukilbu, buyi nyubun-nyubun balkan bama-yindu kadalmuny kuku jarrakulbal, yambada wula-bama kala-kalbay ngunduku, warru jana yajarrinya baja, mukulungku dingkarangka nganga balkan dandi-bu nyulu ngaran yinya yamba yukil-manda wubul-baja wawu kalbaymuny kari bawanka.

buyi-kuku nyubun-nyubun bama mukul ngara-ny milka-yukil-bu, buyi nyubun-nyubun balka-ny bama-yindu kada-l-muny kuku jarrakulba-l, yambada wula-bama kala-kalbay ngundu-ku, warru jana yajarri-nya baja, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka nganga balka-ny dandi-bu nyulu ngara-ny yinya yamba yukil-ma-nda wubul-baja wawu kalbay-muny kari bawa-nka | bird-calls certain people old heard carefully, birds certain said visitor coming-about news carry, or dead-person far.away near-LOC, young they laugh-SUB too, old man just said quietly he heard those thing true-become many.times life long-ABL NEG dismiss-DAT

buyi ngaral milka balkal kada warru yajarril wawu


The old man divided all the creatures for the boy into those you take for food, those you never touch, and those you only watch and learn from: the wallaby and the fish and the turtle feed the camp, certain birds and the small quiet ones are left alone, and the dingo and the eagle and the python are teachers, hunters to study, never rivals to kill.

Mukulungku dingkarangka minya wubulku buban buban-manin jananka nukal-minyanka, jananka kariku karrbal, jananka nyaji binalman nganga: darrba kuyu ngawuya baja bayan dayal, buyi nyubun-nyubun minya buban dandi baja bawal, murramu yalngkurr bajalji baja milbi-bama, balbi-bama binalka, kariku kunin.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka minya wubul-ku buban buban-ma-ni-ny jana-nka nuka-l-minya-nka, jana-nka kariku karrba-l, jana-nka nyaji binal-ma-ny nganga: darrba kuyu ngawuya baja bayan daya-l, buyi nyubun-nyubun minya buban dandi baja bawa-l, murramu yalngkurr bajalji baja milbi-bama, balbi-bama binal-ka, kariku kuni-ny | old man creatures all boy divided them-for food-creatures-for, them-for never touch, them-for watch learn only: wallaby fish turtle too camp feed, birds certain creatures small quiet too left, dingo eagle python too teachers, hunters learn-DAT, never kill

minya darrba kuyu ngawuya dayal murramu bajalji balbil

kawul 'eagle'; three-kinds-of-creature: food/left/teacher


Every animal's foot writes a different mark, and the old man made a game of it with the boys, drawing each track in the sand and asking whose it was: the wallaby's two long marks and the drag of the tail, the goanna's clawed hand and sweeping tail, the bird's little forked star, the dingo's neat round pad, until they could read the whole camp of animals from the ground alone.

Minya wubulku nyungu jina yindu-yindu jarral, mukulungku dingkarangka yajarr-yajarr bungan warru-warrunji, jina wubulku jukara jarran babajin wanyumuny: darrba nyungu jina kalbay jambul junkan-jarral, jadi nyungu mara-jalan jina-nga, buyi nyungu jina buban jiri-mabi, murramu jina murru yukil, dukul jana ngaral minya-bayan wubulku bubu nganga.

minya wubul-ku nyungu jina yindu-yindu jarra-l, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka yajarr-yajarr bunga-ny warru-warru-nji, jina wubul-ku jukar-a jarra-ny babaji-ny wanyu-muny: darrba nyungu jina kalbay jambul junkan-jarra-l, jadi nyungu mara-jalan jina-nga, buyi nyungu jina buban jiri-mabi, murramu jina murru yukil, dukul jana ngara-l minya-bayan wubul-ku bubu nganga | animals all their foot different writes, old man game made young.men-with, tracks all sand-LOC drew asked whose: wallaby its foot long two tail-drag, goanna its hand-claw tail-sweep, bird its foot small star-like, dingo foot round neat, at.last they read animal-camp all ground alone

minya jina jarral janyul darrba jadi buyi murramu


The old woman was strict about the mothers with young: never take a female bird from the nest in the laying season, never take a wallaby with a joey in the pouch, never dig out a burrow full of small ones, for the country stays full only if the mothers are let live, and a hunter who cannot wait for the right season is no hunter at all but a robber of the future.

Wulbumanangka junkurr ngamu buban-buban baja: kariku jalbu-buyi birra-bayanmuny mani dalkay-wungara, kari darrba jarrakay karrbal baja mani, kari janku buban wubulku bakan, bubu nyulu buwan nganga kaki ngamu wula-manda, balbi-bama nyulu kari maku-janal wungar yukilka nyulu balbi-bama-kari yambada bama-kulun wungar-kadalmuny.

wulbuman-angka junkurr ngamu buban-buban baja: kariku jalbu-buyi birra-bayan-muny mani dalkay-wungar-a, kari darrba jarrakay karrba-l baja mani, kari janku buban wubul-ku baka-ny, bubu nyulu buwa-ny nganga kaki ngamu wula-ma-nda, balbi-bama nyulu kari maku-jana-l wungar yukil-ka nyulu balbi-bama-kari yambada bama-kulun wungar-kada-l-muny | old.woman strict mother young too: never female-bird nest-from take hatch-season-LOC, NEG wallaby joey holding too take, NEG burrow small all dig, country it full only if mother lives, hunter he NEG wait season right-DAT he hunter-not but robber future-POSS

ngamu jalbu buyi dalkay darrba janku kaki balbil

kaki; dalkay-wungar-nga LOC(a); bidi 'pouch'; protect-the-mothers-with-young


At night the whole country talks, the old man said, and if you lie still and listen you can hear the possum moving in the branches, the bandicoot digging, the frogs in the gully, the dingo far off calling its family, the night birds passing over, and a person who learns to read all these voices in the dark is never lost and never truly afraid of the night.

Wujurr bubu wubulku balkan, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, kaki yundu janka wuna ngara yundu ngaral yawa juku-mara murninya, kulngu bakanya, diburr-kaya bubu-jandu, murramu kala-kalbay nyungu jawun-karra balkanya, buyi-wujurr wangkar dunganya, bama nyulu binalman kuku wubulku wujurr-bu nyulu kariku wulal kari wujurr yinilman bajaku.

wujurr bubu wubul-ku balka-ny, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny, kaki yundu janka wuna ngara yundu ngara-l yawa juku-mara murni-nya, kulngu baka-nya, diburr-kaya bubu-jandu, murramu kala-kalbay nyungu jawun-karra balka-nya, buyi-wujurr wangkar dunga-nya, bama nyulu binal-ma-ny kuku wubul-ku wujurr-bu nyulu kariku wula-l kari wujurr yinil-ma-ny bajaku | night country all talks, old man said, if you still lie listen you hear possum branches moves-SUB, bandicoot digs-SUB, frog-croak gully, dingo far.away its family calls-SUB, night-birds over goes-SUB, person he learned voices all dark-inside he never lost NEG night fears very

kunya bubu balkal kaki ngaral yawa kulngu murramu

kaki; wujurr-bu LOC; at-night-the-whole-country-talks


The seasons themselves are told by the creatures, the old woman taught: when the certain bird first calls, the yams are ready; when the flying foxes come to a particular tree, that fruit is ripe; when the fish move up the river, the wet is turning; and a person who ties each creature's sign to the right work will always be gathering the right food at the right time.

Wungar nyulu-nyulu minya balkan, wulbumanangka milbin: buyi nyubun ngadiku balkanya, juwal yukil; kambi juku nyubun-mundu kadanya, mayi yinya kulbul; kuyu wawubaja wangkar marra-warrinya, bana-wungar murninya; bama nyulu minya nyubun wari kirraji yukilbu kajal nyulu yabarrka mayi yukil wungar yukilba bangkal.

wungar nyulu-nyulu minya balka-ny, wulbuman-angka milbi-ny: buyi nyubun ngadiku balka-nya, juwal yukil; kambi juku nyubun-mundu kada-nya, mayi yinya kulbul; kuyu wawubaja wangkar marra-warri-nya, bana-wungar murni-nya; bama nyulu minya nyubun wari kirraji yukil-bu kaja-l nyulu yabarrka mayi yukil wungar yukil-ba bangka-l | seasons themselves creatures tell, old.woman taught: bird one first calls-SUB, yams ready; flying.fox tree one-toward comes-SUB, fruit that ripe; fish river up move-SUB, wet turns-SUB; person he creature each sign work right-INST ties he always food right time right-LOC gathers

wungar minya balkal buyi juwal kambi kuyu bangkal


The old man kept a special respect for the eagle, the great hunter of the high air, and he would stop and watch it ride the wind in wide circles for as long as it stayed in sight, and he told the boy that the eagle wastes no motion and misses nothing below, and that a person could spend a whole life and not learn to see the country as completely as that bird did in one high circling glance.

Mukulungku dingkarangka yalngkurr yukil-bungal karrban, balbi-bama yalbay jiri wangkar, nyulu janan nyajin nyulu muyar naka-naka murninya dukul nyulu nyajilba janji, nyulu buban balkan yalngkurr kari murni bawal kari yamba bada bawal, bama nyulu wawu wubulku kirraji kari binalman bubu nyajinka ngulkurr yala buyi nyubun wungar nyubun wangkar murninya nyajinmu.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka yalngkurr yukil-bunga-l karrba-ny, balbi-bama yalbay jiri wangkar, nyulu jana-ny nyaji-ny nyulu muyar naka-naka murni-nya dukul nyulu nyaji-l-ba karra, nyulu buban balka-ny yalngkurr kari murni bawa-l kari yamba bada bawa-l, bama nyulu wawu wubul-ku kirraji kari binal-ma-ny bubu nyaji-nka ngulkurr yala buyi nyubun wungar nyubun wangkar murni-nya nyaji-ny-mu | old man eagle honor kept, hunter big sky high, he stood watched it wind across circles-SUB at.last it sight-LOC stays, he boy said eagle NEG motion wastes NEG thing below misses, person he life all works NEG learns country see-DAT completely as bird one time one high circling saw-ABL

kawul balbil jiri muyar naka-naka nyajil bubu binal

kawul 'eagle'; nyaji-l-nga LOC(l)->nyajilba FIX; the-eagle-sees-the-whole-country


When the small birds all suddenly go silent and fly up into the thick cover at once, the old man taught, look up, for a hawk is hunting overhead, and the same silence that saves the small birds can warn a person too, for the country is full of signals if you learn to read the sudden quiet as sharply as you read the calls and the songs.

Buyi buban wubulku warri dandi-manda marra-warri wangkar juku junkurr-mundu nyubunku, mukulungku dingkarangka milbin, wangkar nyaji, jinabiju balbil jiri wangkar, dandi nyubun nyulu buyi buban wula-manil bama baja milbil, bubu jina-mabi wubulku kaki yundu binalman dandi warri ngaral warri yala yundu kuku wulngku-badi baja ngaralmu.

buyi buban wubul-ku warri dandi-ma-nda marra-warri wangkar juku junkurr-mundu nyubun-ku, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka milbi-ny, wangkar nyaji, jinabiju balbi-l jiri wangkar, dandi nyubun nyulu buyi buban wula-ma-ni-l bama baja milbi-l, bubu jina-mabi wubul-ku kaki yundu binal-ma-ny dandi warri ngara-l warri yala yundu kuku wulngku-badi baja ngara-l-mu | birds small all fast quiet-become fly up tree thick-toward at.once, old man taught, up look, hawk hunts sky above, silence one it birds small saves person too warns, country signals all if you learn sudden quiet sharply read sharp as you calls songs too read-ABL

buyi marra-warri juku milbil jinkurr jiri kaki ngaral


The butterflies came in their clouds in a certain short season, drifting through the camp in their thousands of colors, and the old woman told the children they were the year's one useless beautiful thing, good for nothing but the joy of watching, and she said every country needs such things too, for a life that is only hunting and gathering and working is only half a life.

Walbul-walbul jana kadan ngurrban-mabi wungar buban nyubunba, bayan dukurr-bu marra-warrin nganja-jarray wubul-yalbaybu, wulbumanangka karrkay-karrkay balkan jana wungar nyungu yamba nyubun yukil-kari yilbay, yamba nyubun karika nganga wawu-mini nyajilmu, nyulu balkan bubu wubulku yamba yinya-mabi yabaku, wawu nyulu nganga balbil bangkal kirraji baja nyulu nganga wawu buban-baja.

walbul-walbul jana kada-ny ngurrban-mabi wungar buban nyubun-ba, bayan dukurr-bu marra-warri-ny nganja-jarray wubul-yalbay-bu, wulbuman-angka karrkay-karrkay balka-ny jana wungar nyungu yamba nyubun yukil-kari yilbay, yamba nyubun karika nganga wawu-mini nyaji-l-mu, nyulu balka-ny bubu wubul-ku yamba yinya-mabi yaba-ku, wawu nyulu nganga balbi-l bangka-l kirraji baja nyulu nganga wawu buban-baja | butterflies they came cloud-like season short one-LOC, camp inside flew colors thousands-INST, old.woman children said they year its thing one useless beautiful, thing one nothing-for just joy watch-POSS, she said country all thing that-like needs-DAT, life it just hunting gathering working too it just life half

walbul-walbul ngurrban wungar dukurr marra-warri nganja karrkay wawu-mini

nyubun-ba LOC(n); dukurr-bu LOC; the-useless-beautiful-butterflies


The old man said you should never mock any creature, not the ugly grub or the biting fly or the slow blue-tongue, for each one has survived in the country far longer than any person's family line, and each holds a piece of knowledge about how to live here, and the person who watches humbly and learns from even the smallest is the one who grows truly wise.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan yundu kariku minya nyubun bikirr-manil, kari jambun mumbu kari waja-baykal kari bajabaja bada, minya nyubun wubulku wula-manin bubungu kala-kalbay-baja bama nyubun nyungu jawun-karra-jinamuny, minya nyubun karrbal buban binal yala wunayka yinya, bama nyulu janka-wawu-yukilbu nyajil binalman minya buban-buban baja nyulu nyubun binal yukil bajaku janay.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny yundu kariku minya nyubun bikirr-ma-ni-l, kari jambun mumbu kari waja-bayka-l kari bajabaja bada, minya nyubun wubul-ku wula-ma-ni-ny bubu-ngu kala-kalbay-baja bama nyubun nyungu jawun-karra-jina-muny, minya nyubun karrba-l buban binal yala wuna-y-ka yinya, bama nyulu janka-wawu-yukil-bu nyaji-l binal-ma-ny minya buban-buban baja nyulu nyubun binal yukil bajaku jana-y | old man said you never creature one mock, NEG grub ugly NEG march.fly-biting NEG blue-tongue slow, creature each all lived country-LOC far-longer person one its family-line-ABL, creature each holds piece knowledge how live-DAT here, person he humbly watches learns creatures small too he one wise best becomes

minya jambun waja bajabaja bubu binal jawun nyajil


The little bird that follows the honey-hunter and calls to lead him to the wild bees is treated with great respect, the old man said, for it keeps the ancient bargain: it shows the person the nest, the person opens it and takes the honey, and always leaves a good share of the comb for the bird, and a hunter who cheats the bird is never led to honey by it again.

Buyi buban nyulu wunba-balbi-bama wukurril balkan nyulu dabu-majaji-mundu jilbamanka nyulu yukil-bungal karrban, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, nyulu kuku ngadiku karrbal: nyulu bama janku milbil, bama kajal wunba manil, yabarrka mandi-mandi yukil buyinka bawal, balbi-bama nyulu buyi kulun-manil nyulu kariku wunba-mundu jilbaman jambulku.

buyi buban nyulu wunba-balbi-bama wukurri-l balka-ny nyulu dabu-majaji-mundu jilba-ma-nka nyulu yukil-bunga-l karrba-ny, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny, nyulu kuku ngadiku karrba-l: nyulu bama janku milbi-l, bama kaja-l wunba mani-l, yabarrka mandi-mandi yukil buyi-nka bawa-l, balbi-bama nyulu buyi kulun-ma-ni-l nyulu kariku wunba-mundu jilba-ma-ny jambul-ku | bird small it honey-hunter follows calls it wild.bees-toward lead-for it honor kept, old man said, it bargain old keeps: it person nest shows, person opens honey takes, always comb good bird-for leaves, hunter he bird cheats it never honey-toward led twice-DAT

buyi wunba balbil wukurril dabu janku milbil kulun


The old woman said the frogs are the true voice of the water: when they call loud from the swamp the wet is here and the country is full, when they go silent and bury themselves the dry is coming and you must husband the waterholes, and when they call from a dry gully at night there is hidden water there that will save you, so learn the frog and you will never die of thirst.

Wulbumanangka balkan diburr-kaya bana kuku ngadiku: jana balkan junkurr bubu-yaralmuny bana-wungar yinya bubu buwan, jana dandi-manda yinil-ji bana-kiway kadanya yundu bana-janga karrbal, jana balkan bubu-jandu kiway-kiway wujurr bana buyan yinya ngundu nyulu yundu wula-manilmu, diburr-kaya binalma yundu kariku wula bana-dakwuybu.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny diburr-kaya bana kuku ngadiku: jana balka-ny junkurr bubu-yaral-muny bana-wungar yinya bubu buwa-ny, jana dandi-ma-nda yinil-ji bana-kiway kada-nya yundu bana-janga karrba-l, jana balka-ny bubu-jandu kiway-kiway wujurr bana buya-ny yinya ngundu nyulu yundu wula-ma-ni-l-mu, diburr-kaya binal-ma yundu kariku wula bana-dakwuy-bu | old.woman said frog-croak water voice true: they call loud swamp-from wet that country full, they quiet-become bury-REFL dry comes you waterhole guard, they call gully dry night water hidden that near it you saves, frog-croak learn you never die thirst-INST

diburr-kaya bana balkal bubu bana-wungar yinil kunya dakwuy


The young hunter learned that the animals watch the hunter as closely as the hunter watches them, and the old man showed him how the wallaby posts a lookout while the mob feeds, how the birds set a sentry in the tallest tree, how the whole country passes a warning faster than a person can run, so a hunter must move as though a hundred eyes are already on him, because they are.

Warru-balbi-bama binalman minya balbi-bama nyajil ngulkurr yala balbi-bama jana nyajil, mukulungku dingkarangka milbin yala darrba nyaji-bama janan minya-wubul nukalnya, buyi yala nyaji-bama juku wangkar bada bundal, bubu wubulku kuku-yinil jarrakulbal warri bama warrilmuny, balbi-bama murni yala miyil wubul-yalbay nyunguka nganga janji, jana nganga janji.

warru-balbi-bama binal-ma-ny minya balbi-bama nyaji-l ngulkurr yala balbi-bama jana nyaji-l, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka milbi-ny yala darrba nyaji-bama jana-ny minya-wubul nuka-l-nya, buyi yala nyaji-bama juku wangkar bada bunda-l, bubu wubul-ku kuku-yinil jarrakulba-l warri bama warri-l-muny, balbi-bama murni yala miyil wubul-yalbay nyungu-ka nganga karra, jana nganga karra | young-hunter learned animals hunter watch closely as hunter them watch, old man showed how wallaby lookout stands mob feeds-SUB, birds how sentry tree tall sits, country all warning carries fast person runs-ABL, hunter move as eyes hundred him-LOC already sit, they already sit

balbil minya nyajil darrba juku bunday bubu jarrakulbal


The old man said the crocodile and the shark and the stonefish are the three that will kill you at the water, and each must be respected in a different way: watch the bank for the crocodile, watch the deep for the shark, watch where you place your foot for the stonefish, and a person who learns all three fears of the water can fish and swim there safely a whole long life.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bilngkumu bububay kuyu-kulji baja kulur nyulu yundu kunil bananga, nyubun nyubun yukil-bungal yindu-yindu yala: jalkar nyaji bilngkumunka, bana-dukurr nyaji bububaynka, wanja yundu jina yijarril nyaji kuyu-kuljinka, bama nyulu kulur yinil bananmuny binalman nyulu kuyu-manil marajil yinya yukil wawu kalbay wubulku.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny bilngkumu bububay kuyu-kulji baja kulur nyulu yundu kuni-l bana-nga, nyubun nyubun yukil-bunga-l yindu-yindu yala: jalkar nyaji bilngkumu-nka, bana-dukurr nyaji bububay-nka, wanja yundu jina yijarri-l nyaji kuyu-kulji-nka, bama nyulu kulur yinil bana-ny-muny binal-ma-ny nyulu kuyu-ma-ni-l maraji-l yinya yukil wawu kalbay wubul-ku | old man said crocodile shark stonefish too three it you kill water-LOC, one one honored differently: bank watch crocodile-for, deep watch shark-for, where you foot place watch stonefish-for, person he three fears water-of learned he fishes swims there safely life long all

bilngkumu bikarr kuyu kunil bana jalkar dukurr maraji

bana-nga LOC(a); bikarr 'shark'; the-three-dangers-of-the-water


The children caught the little soldier crabs and the periwinkles and the small fish in the shallows all afternoon, and the old woman let them, for she said this is how the hand and the eye learn the water, and the child who plays at catching the small easy things by the shore grows into the hunter who can take the big hard ones out on the open reef.

Karrkay-karrkay wuli-wuli kunkun kuyu buban baja bana-buban manin kunarangkal wubulku, wulbumanangka bawan jana, nyulu balkan yinya yala mara miyil baja bana binalman, karrkay nyulu marijil minya buban yukil jalun-ba maninka nyulu balbi-bama-manda nyulu minya yalbay junkurr manil jalun-ba yaralba.

karrkay-karrkay wuli-wuli kunkun kuyu buban baja bana-buban mani-ny kunarangkal wubul-ku, wulbuman-angka bawa-ny jana, nyulu balka-ny yinya yala mara miyil baja bana binal-ma-ny, karrkay nyulu mariji-l minya buban yukil jalun-ba mani-nka nyulu balbi-bama-ma-nda nyulu minya yalbay junkurr mani-l jalun-ba yaral-ba | children soldier.crabs periwinkles fish small too shallows caught afternoon all, old.woman let them, she said this how hand eye too water learns, child he plays creature small easy shore takes-DAT he hunter-becomes he creature big hard takes reef open-LOC

karrkay wuli-wuli kunkun kuyu bana kunarangkal maraji balbil

jalun-warral yaral-nga? 'open reef' LOC(a) -> yaral-nga is fine (yaral vowel-a? yaral ends l -> -ba) FIX yaralba; playing-at-catching-teaches-the-hunter


The old man said that of all the creatures the little ones taught the most, for the ant showed the value of working together, the bee showed that sweetness is worth guarding and worth sharing, the spider showed patience and the making of fine things, and the small quiet bird showed that you do not need to be big or loud to know the whole country and sing your own true song in it.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan minya wubulmuny buban-buban milbin ngulkurr-baja, jabarrangkul milbin nyubun-nyubunji kirrajilmu yukil, dabu milbin jiba-wulay karrbalmu yukil dayalmu yukil, malal milbin maku-janal yamba yukil bungalmu, buyi buban dandi milbin yundu kari yalbay kuku-yalbay bubu wubulku binalka nyungu wulngku-badi ngadiku ngunduka badinka.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny minya wubul-muny buban-buban milbi-ny ngulkurr-baja, jabarrangkul milbi-ny nyubun-nyubun-ji kirraji-l-mu yukil, dabu milbi-ny jiba-wulay karrba-l-mu yukil daya-l-mu yukil, malal milbi-ny maku-jana-l yamba yukil bunga-l-mu, buyi buban dandi milbi-ny yundu kari yalbay kuku-yalbay bubu wubul-ku binal-ka nyungu wulngku-badi ngadiku ngundu-ka badi-nka | old man said creatures of-all small taught most, black.ant taught together work-POSS good, bee taught sweetness guard-POSS good give-POSS good, spider taught patience thing good make-POSS, bird small quiet taught you NEG big loud country all know-DAT your song own in-LOC sing-DAT

minya milbil jabarrangkul dabu jiba-wulay dayal buyi wulngku-badi

jinkun 'spider'; ngundu-ka LOC; the-small-creatures-teach-the-most


The old woman said to truly know a creature you must watch it in every season and every hour, not just when you are hunting it: watch where it sleeps and where it drinks, what it fears and what it eats, how it raises its young and how it dies, for only then do you hold the whole creature in your mind, and only then are you fit to take its life with respect.

Wulbumanangka balkan minya nyubun binalka bajaku yundu nyaji wungar wubulku wungar wubulku, kari nganga yundu balbilnya: nyaji wanja nyulu wunay wanja janga, wanya nyulu yinilman wanya nukal, yala nyulu buban warru-manil yala nyulu wulal, yaladaku yundu minya wubulku karrbal milkanga, yaladaku yundu yukil nyungu wawu maninka yukil-bungalbu.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny minya nyubun binal-ka bajaku yundu nyaji wungar wubul-ku wungar wubul-ku, kari nganga yundu balbi-l-nya: nyaji wanja nyulu wuna-y wanja janga, wanya nyulu yinil-ma-ny wanya nuka-l, yala nyulu buban warru-ma-ni-l yala nyulu wula-l, yala-da-ku yundu minya wubul-ku karrba-l milka-nga, yala-da-ku yundu yukil nyungu wawu mani-nka yukil-bunga-l-bu | old.woman said creature one know-DAT truly you watch season all hour all, NEG just you hunt-SUB: watch where it sleeps where drinks, what it fears what eats, how it young raises how it dies, then-DAT you creature whole hold mind-LOC, then-DAT you fit its life take-DAT respect-INST

minya binal nyajil wungar balbil wunay yinil milka


The old man's last teaching about the animals was the simplest and the deepest: we are one of the creatures too, not above them and not apart, we sleep and hunt and raise our young and die as they do, we read them and they read us, and the person who forgets this and thinks himself the master of the country soon finds the country does not agree, and takes him back.

Mukul nyungu milbil bada minyamuny yamba kima ngadiku bada bajaku: ngana minya nyubun baja, kari jana wangkar kari yindu, ngana wunay balbil buban warru-manil wulal jana yala, ngana jana ngaral jana ngana ngaral, bama nyulu yinya milka-wulan nyulu nyulu-nyulu balkan bubu-mukul nyulu buban-buban nyajil bubu kari nyubun-manil, nyulu murni manil baja.

mukul nyungu milbi-l bada minya-muny yamba kima ngadiku bada bajaku: ngana minya nyubun baja, kari jana wangkar kari yindu, ngana wuna-y balbi-l buban warru-ma-ni-l wula-l jana yala, ngana jana ngara-l jana ngana ngara-l, bama nyulu yinya milka-wula-ny nyulu nyulu-nyulu balka-ny bubu-mukul nyulu buban-buban nyaji-l bubu kari nyubun-ma-ni-l, nyulu murni mani-l baja | old his teaching last creatures-about thing simplest deepest most: we creature one too, NEG them above NEG apart, we sleep hunt young raise die them like, we them read they us read, person he this forgets he himself says country-master he soon finds country NEG agrees, it back takes too

milbil minya jinbi wunay balbil wulal ngaral milka-wula


The old man said two people can walk into the same dry country, one with knowledge and one without, and the one with knowledge finds the hidden water and lives while the one without knowledge, seeing the very same ground, walks past the water and dies of thirst, for the country gives nothing to the unknowing eye.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bama jambul bubu-kiway nyubunku jilbal, nyubun binal-ji nyubun binal-kari, binal-ji bama bana buyan manil wunay yambada binal-kari bama nyulu bubu nyubun nyajil nyulu bana ngundu-mundu jilbal wulal bana-dakwuybu, bubu yamba nyubun kari dayal miyil binal-karinka.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny bama jambul bubu-kiway nyubun-ku jilba-l, nyubun binal-ji nyubun binal-kari, binal-ji bama bana buya-ny mani-l wuna-y yambada binal-kari bama nyulu bubu nyubun nyaji-l nyulu bana ngundu-mundu jilba-l wula-l bana-dakwuy-bu, bubu yamba nyubun kari daya-l miyil binal-kari-nka | old man said people two dry-country one-DAT walk, one knowledge-COMIT one knowledge-PRIV, knowledge-COMIT person water hidden gets lives but knowledge-PRIV person he ground same sees he water past walks dies thirst-INST, country thing one NEG gives eye unknowing-for

binal bubu kija bana jilbay wunay dakwuy miyil

binal-ji COMIT vs binal-kari PRIV; the-knowing-and-unknowing-eye


A country with fresh water is a mother to its people, giving them everything they need to live, but a country without water, however beautiful, is only a beautiful grave, and the old people mapped every soak and spring and rock-hole across the whole land precisely because they knew that with-water means life and without-water means death.

Bubu bana-ji nyulu ngamu bama-nka, jananka yamba wubulku dayal wunayka, yambada bubu bana-kari, yilbay yala, nyulu nganga yilbay-jandu, bama mukul bana-janku wubulku binal-manin bubu wubulku ngunduka jana binalman bana-ji wunay yala bana-kari wulal yala.

bubu bana-ji nyulu ngamu bama-nka, jana-nka yamba wubul-ku daya-l wuna-y-ka, yambada bubu bana-kari, yilbay yala, nyulu nganga yilbay-jandu, bama mukul bana-janku wubul-ku binal-ma-ni-ny bubu wubul-ku ngundu-ka jana binal-ma-ny bana-ji wuna-y yala bana-kari wula-l yala | country water-COMIT it mother people-for, them thing all gives live-DAT, but country water-PRIV, beautiful although, it just beautiful-grave, people old soak all country all in-LOC learned they knew water-COMIT lives means water-PRIV dies means

bubu bana ngamu dayal yilbay janku binal wunay

bana-ji COMIT vs bana-kari PRIV; ngundu-ka LOC; with-water-is-life-without-is-death


The hunter with a spear and the hunter without one walk the same forest, but only one comes home with meat, and the old man used this to teach that the tool in the hand decides everything, so he made sure every boy could make his own weapons, for a person with skill is never truly a person without tools, since the skilled hands make the tools they need.

Balbi-bama kalka-ji balbi-bama kalka-kari nyubun majaji jilbal, nyubun nganga minya-ji bayan-mundu kadal, mukulungku dingkarangka yinya kirrajin milbil bangkarr maranga yamba wubulku kajal, nyulu murni-manin warru wubulku nyungu kalka bunganka, bama janka-yukil-ji nyulu kariku bajaku bangkarr-kari, janka-yukil bungan bangkarr jana wanya yukilmuny.

balbi-bama kalka-ji balbi-bama kalka-kari nyubun majaji jilba-l, nyubun nganga minya-ji bayan-mundu kada-l, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka yinya kirraji-ny milbi-l bangkarr mara-nga yamba wubul-ku kaja-l, nyulu murni-ma-ni-ny warru wubul-ku nyungu kalka bunga-nka, bama janka-yukil-ji nyulu kariku bajaku bangkarr-kari, janka-yukil bunga-ny bangkarr jana wanya yukil-muny | hunter spear-COMIT hunter spear-PRIV same forest walk, one only meat-COMIT home comes, old man that used teach tool hand-LOC thing all decides, he made young.men all their weapons make-DAT, person skill-COMIT he never truly tool-PRIV, skill makes tools they what need-ABL

balbil kalka majaji minya bangkarr mara murni janka-yukil

kalka-ji COMIT vs kalka-kari PRIV; mara-nga LOC(a); skill-means-never-truly-toolless


A camp with a good fire is warm and safe and glad through the coldest night, but a camp without fire is cold and dark and full of fear, and the old people held it a serious duty never to let the fire die, so that no member of the group ever had to sleep fireless and cold in the long dangerous dark.

Bayan baya-ji wumbul yukil wawu-mini wujurr kiway-kiway bajaku, yambada bayan baya-kari kiway-kiway wujurr yinil-ji buwan, bama mukul karrban kirraji junkurr kariku baya wula bawanka, bama nyubun jawun-karra ngunduka kariku baya-kari kiway-kiway wunay wujurr kalbay yinil-jinga.

bayan baya-ji wumbul yukil wawu-mini wujurr kiway-kiway bajaku, yambada bayan baya-kari kiway-kiway wujurr yinil-ji buwa-ny, bama mukul karrba-ny kirraji junkurr kariku baya wula bawa-nka, bama nyubun jawun-karra ngundu-ka kariku baya-kari kiway-kiway wuna-y wujurr kalbay yinil-ji-nga | camp fire-COMIT warm safe glad night cold most, but camp fire-PRIV cold dark fear-COMIT full, people old kept duty serious never fire die let-DAT, person one family near-LOC never fire-PRIV cold sleeps night long danger-COMIT-LOC

bayan baya wumbul kunya kija wujurr yinil jawun

baya-ji COMIT vs baya-kari PRIV; yinil-ji-nga COMIT+LOC; a-fireless-camp-is-cold-and-afraid


The hunter with a dog and the hunter without a dog are two different hunters, the old man said, for the dog-owner reads the country through the dog's nose as well as his own eyes, while the dog-less man must do all the finding himself, and a good hunting dog is worth more to a family than almost anything else it owns.

Balbi-bama kaya-ji balbi-bama kaya-kari jambul balbi-bama yindu-yindu, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, kaya-ji bama bubu ngaral kaya nyungu nganja-bu ngulkurr nyungu miyil baja, kaya-kari dingkar nyulu-nyulu yamba wubulku manil, kaya balbil yukil ngulkurr-baja jawun-karranka yamba yindu wubulmuny nyulu karrbalmuny.

balbi-bama kaya-ji balbi-bama kaya-kari jambul balbi-bama yindu-yindu, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny, kaya-ji bama bubu ngara-l kaya nyungu nganja-bu ngulkurr nyungu miyil baja, kaya-kari dingkar nyulu-nyulu yamba wubul-ku mani-l, kaya balbi-l yukil ngulkurr-baja jawun-karra-nka yamba yindu wubul-muny nyulu karrba-l-muny | hunter dog-COMIT hunter dog-PRIV two hunters different, old man said, dog-COMIT person country reads dog its scent-INST as.well.as his eye too, dog-PRIV man himself thing all does, dog hunting good more family-for thing other all-ABL it owns-ABL

balbil kaya bubu ngaral juju miyil jawun karrbal

kaya-ji COMIT vs kaya-kari PRIV; the-dog-owner-and-the-dogless-hunter


The old woman knew every kind of ground by its comitative name: the sandy ground, the stony ground, the grassy flat, the muddy edge, the ground with vines and the ground with open woodland, and she taught the children that to name a country truly is already to half-know it, for the name holds what the place has and what it gives.

Wulbumanangka bubu wubulku binal nyungu kuku-ji: bubu jukar-iji, bubu kulji-ji, jikan-ji yaral, bada-ji, bubu kalal-ji bubu ngalkal-ji baja, nyulu karrkay-karrkay milbin bubu nyubun kuku bajaku balkanka yinya buban-binal ngadiku, kuku karrbal wanya bubu karrbal wanya nyulu dayal.

wulbuman-angka bubu wubul-ku binal nyungu kuku-ji: bubu jukar-iji, bubu kulji-ji, jikan-ji yaral, bada-ji, bubu kalal-ji bubu ngalkal-ji baja, nyulu karrkay-karrkay milbi-ny bubu nyubun kuku bajaku balka-nka yinya buban-binal ngadiku, kuku karrba-l wanya bubu karrba-l wanya nyulu daya-l | old.woman ground all knew its comitative-name: ground sand-COMIT, ground stone-COMIT, grass-COMIT flat, mud-COMIT edge, ground vine-COMIT ground woodland-COMIT too, she children taught country one truly name-DAT that half-know already, name holds what country holds what it gives

bubu binal jukar kulji jikan kalal ngalkal milbil

jukar-iji COMIT(rhotic->-iji); kulji-ji/jikan-ji/kalal-ji COMIT; naming-country-by-what-it-has


A child with a mother wants for nothing, the old woman said, but a motherless child must be a mother to itself too early, and this is why the whole camp becomes mother to an orphan, so that no child is ever truly left motherless, for a group that lets its motherless children go hungry has forgotten the first law of being people together.

Karrkay ngamu-ji yamba nyubunku kari wawu-manil, wulbumanangka balkan, yambada karrkay ngamu-kari nyulu-nyulu ngamu-manda ngadiku bajaku, yinya jawun-karra wubulku ngamu-manda karrkay-ngamu-karinka, karrkay nyubun kariku bajaku ngamu-kari bawal, jawun-karra nyulu karrkay ngamu-kari dakwuy bawal nyulu milka-wulan kuku ngadiku bama nyubunji janaymu.

karrkay ngamu-ji yamba nyubun-ku kari wawu-ma-ni-l, wulbuman-angka balka-ny, yambada karrkay ngamu-kari nyulu-nyulu ngamu-ma-nda ngadiku bajaku, yinya jawun-karra wubul-ku ngamu-ma-nda karrkay-ngamu-kari-nka, karrkay nyubun kariku bajaku ngamu-kari bawa-l, jawun-karra nyulu karrkay ngamu-kari dakwuy bawa-l nyulu milka-wula-ny kuku ngadiku bama nyubun-ji jana-y-mu | child mother-COMIT thing one-for NEG desires, old.woman said, but child mother-PRIV itself mother-becomes too early, that family all mother-becomes orphan-for, child one never truly mother-PRIV left, family it child mother-PRIV hungry lets it forgotten law first people together being-POSS

karrkay ngamu wawu jawun dakwuy bawal milka-wula kuku

ngamu-ji COMIT vs ngamu-kari PRIV; the-camp-mothers-the-motherless


The old man distinguished a man with words from a wordless man: the man with words can talk his way into peace or into war, can teach and remember and carry the law, while the wordless man, however strong, is cut off from half of what makes a person, so the old ones worked hard to fill every child with words, songs, names, and stories.

Mukulungku dingkarangka dingkar kuku-ji buban-manin dingkar kuku-karimuny: kuku-ji bama balkan nyungu baral janka-yukilku yambada kuni-wayku, milbil karrbal kuku ngadiku jarrakulbal, kuku-kari dingkar junkurr yala, nyulu karra-manda yamba jarrba bama bungalmuny, bama mukul kirraji junkurr karrkay wubulku buwan kuku-bu, wulngku-badi burri jangkar baja.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka dingkar kuku-ji buban-ma-ni-ny dingkar kuku-kari-muny: kuku-ji bama balka-ny nyungu baral janka-yukil-ku yambada kuni-way-ku, milbi-l karrba-l kuku ngadiku jarrakulba-l, kuku-kari dingkar junkurr yala, nyulu karra-ma-nda yamba jarrba bama bunga-l-muny, bama mukul kirraji junkurr karrkay wubul-ku buwa-ny kuku-bu, wulngku-badi burri jangkar baja | old man man word-COMIT distinguished man word-PRIV-from: word-COMIT person talks his road peace-DAT or fight-RECIP-DAT, teaches keeps law carries, word-PRIV man strong although, he cut.off half person makes-ABL, people old duty hard children all filled word-INST, song name story too

dingkar kuku balkal milbil kuni-way jarrakulbal karrkay wulngku-badi

kuku-ji COMIT vs kuku-kari PRIV; kuni-way RECIP; the-man-with-words-and-the-wordless


The wound with pain is the one that is healing, the old woman told the frightened boy, but the wound without pain, gone cold and numb, is the one to fear, for pain is the body speaking and a body that has gone silent about its own hurt is a body in the deepest trouble, so she was glad, not sorry, that his cut still hurt.

Buyun kaka-ji nyulu kalbal-mabi, wulbumanangka buban yinil-ji balkan, yambada buyun kaka-kari, kiway-manda, nyulu yinilmanka, kaka nyulu janka balkal janka nyulu dandi-manda nyungu buyunmuny nyulu janka dukul-yamba bada bajaku, nyulu wawu-mini, kari mumbu, nyungu janka-kaka kaka janji.

buyun kaka-ji nyulu kalbal-mabi, wulbuman-angka buban yinil-ji balka-ny, yambada buyun kaka-kari, kiway-ma-nda, nyulu yinil-ma-nka, kaka nyulu janka balka-l janka nyulu dandi-ma-nda nyungu buyun-muny nyulu janka dukul-yamba bada bajaku, nyulu wawu-mini, kari mumbu, nyungu janka-kaka kaka karra | wound pain-COMIT it healing-like, old.woman boy fear-COMIT said, but wound pain-PRIV, cold silent-become, it fear-DAT, pain it body speaks body it silent-becomes its hurt-about it body trouble deepest most, she glad, NEG sorry, his body-pain hurts stands

buyun kaka kalbal yinil janka balkal jubi wawu-mini

kaka-ji COMIT vs kaka-kari PRIV; the-painful-wound-is-the-healing-one


The old man drew a sharp line between a person with shame and a person without shame: the person with shame can be trusted, for shame is the fence that holds a person to the law even when no one watches, but the shameless person will do anything unseen, and the old people watched such a one carefully all their lives.

Mukulungku dingkarangka kuku junkurr balkan bama bikirr-ji bama bikirr-karimuny: bama bikirr-ji nyulu wawu-karrbalka, bikirr nyulu bama karrbal kuku-mundu bama nyubun kari nyajilnya, yambada bikirr-kari bama nyulu yamba wubulku bungal nyaji-karinga, bama mukul nyajin yinya nyubun buban-buban wawu kalbay wubulku.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka kuku junkurr balka-ny bama bikirr-ji bama bikirr-kari-muny: bama bikirr-ji nyulu wawu-karrba-nka, bikirr nyulu jamba nyulu bama karrba-l kuku-mundu bama nyubun kari nyaji-l-nya, yambada bikirr-kari bama nyulu yamba wubul-ku bunga-l nyaji-kari-nga, bama mukul nyaji-ny yinya nyubun buban-buban wawu kalbay wubul-ku | old man word strong said person shame-COMIT person shame-PRIV-from: person shame-COMIT he trust-DAT, shame it person holds law-to person one NEG watches-SUB, but shame-PRIV person he thing all does unseen-LOC, people old watched that one carefully life all

bikirr balkal wawu-karrba jamba karrbal kuku nyajil wawu

bikirr-ji COMIT vs bikirr-kari PRIV; nyaji-kari-nga PRIV+LOC 'unseen'; shame-is-the-fence


The old woman said a hand with skill and an empty hand are only a season apart, for every skilled maker was once a fumbling child, so she never shamed the clumsy, only kept them working, knowing that the skill-less hands of today become the skilled hands of tomorrow if only they are not driven away in shame before they learn.

Wulbumanangka balkan mara janka-yukil-ji mara nganga-kari nyubun wungar nganga karra, janka-yukil-bama wubulku ngadiku karrkay mara-kudal ngadiku, nyulu kariku bikirr-manin mara-kudal, nganga karrban kirrajilba, binal janka-yukil-kari mara nyikumuny janka-yukil-ji mara wungar-kadalmuny-manda kaki jana kari warri-mandan bikirr-bu jana binalman ngadiku.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny mara janka-yukil-ji mara nganga-kari nyubun wungar nganga karra, janka-yukil-bama wubul-ku ngadiku karrkay mara-kudal ngadiku, nyulu kariku bikirr-ma-ni-ny mara-kudal, nganga karrba-ny kirraji-l-ba, binal janka-yukil-kari mara nyiku-muny janka-yukil-ji mara wungar-kada-l-muny-ma-nda kaki jana kari warri-ma-nda-ny bikirr-bu jana binal-ma-ny ngadiku | old.woman said hand skill-COMIT hand empty-PRIV one season only apart, skill-person all once child hand-clumsy once, she never shamed hand-clumsy, just kept working-LOC, knew skill-PRIV hand today-from skill-COMIT hand tomorrow-from-becomes if they NEG driven.away shame-INST they learn before

mara janka-yukil wungar karrkay bikirr karrbal binal kaki

janka-yukil-ji COMIT vs janka-yukil-kari PRIV; kaki; the-skilless-hands-become-skilled


The old man said the difference between a country with law and a country without law is the difference between a home and a battlefield, for law is what lets many people share one small good place without tearing each other apart, and a people without law is not free but doomed, each turned against each in an endless fight.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bubu kuku-ji bubu kuku-karimuny yindu-yindu yala bayan kuni-way-bubumuny, kuku nyulu bama wubulku bubu nyubun buban yukil daji-way kari nyubun-nyubunji baji-wayka, bama kuku-kari nyulu kari yamba-kari yambada wula-mabi, nyubun nyubunku kuni-way kuni-way kari bada bajaku.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny bubu kuku-ji bubu kuku-kari-muny yindu-yindu yala bayan kuni-way-bubu-muny, kuku nyulu bama wubul-ku bubu nyubun buban yukil daji-way kari nyubun-nyubun-ji baji-way-ka, bama kuku-kari nyulu kari yamba-kari yambada wula-mabi, nyubun nyubun-ku kuni-way kuni-way kari bada bajaku | old man said country law-COMIT country law-PRIV-from different as home battlefield-from, law it people all place one small good share NEG each.other tear.apart-RECIP-DAT, people law-PRIV it NEG free but doomed-like, one one-DAT fight.each.other fight.each.other NEG end most

bubu kuku bayan kuni-way daji-way yamba-kari wula baji-way

kuku-ji COMIT vs kuku-kari PRIV; kuni-way/daji-way/baji-way RECIP; law-vs-lawlessness


The old woman said a full belly and an empty belly teach opposite lessons: the person with a full belly forgets easily and grows careless, while the person with an empty belly remembers every kindness and wastes nothing, so a wise people makes sure the young know real hunger once, but makes just as sure that no elder ever goes to sleep belly-empty.

Wulbumanangka balkan jiba yajin-ji jiba yajin-kari yindu-yindu milbil: bama jiba yajin-ji nganga milka-wulal binal-kari-manda, yambada bama jiba yajin-kari karrbal wawu-jirray wubulku kari yamba kudamundu, bama binal karrkay dakwuy ngadiku binalman nyubun, yambada nganga mukul nyubun kariku jiba yajin-kari wunay.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny jiba yajin-ji jiba yajin-kari yindu-yindu milbi-l: bama jiba yajin-ji nganga milka-wula-l binal-kari-ma-nda, yambada bama jiba yajin-kari karrba-l wawu-jirray wubul-ku kari yamba kudamundu, bama binal karrkay dakwuy ngadiku binal-ma-ny nyubun, yambada nganga mukul nyubun kariku jiba yajin-kari wuna-y | old.woman said belly full-COMIT belly full-PRIV opposite teach: person belly full-COMIT easily forgets careless-becomes, but person belly full-PRIV holds kindness all NEG thing wastes, people wise child hunger real once learns, but sure elder one never belly full-PRIV sleeps

jiba yajin milbil milka-wula binal wawu-jirray dakwuy wunay

yajin-ji COMIT vs yajin-kari PRIV; the-full-and-empty-belly-teach-opposites


The old man said watch how a person treats those with nothing, for a person is truly known not by how they act toward the powerful and the well-provided but by how they act toward the landless, the foodless, the friendless and the weak, and the one who is kind to the person with nothing is the only one whose kindness can be trusted at all.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan nyaji yala bama nyubun yamba-karimuny murni, bama nyulu bajaku binal kari nyulu junkurr-bama yamba-ji-bamamuny murninya yambada nyulu bubu-kari mayi-kari jawun-kari junkurr-kari baja murninya, bama nyulu wawu-jirray yamba-kari bamamuny nyulu nyubun nganga nyungu wawu-jirray wawu-karrbalmuny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny nyaji yala bama nyubun yamba-kari-muny murni, bama nyulu bajaku binal kari nyulu junkurr-bama yamba-ji-bama-muny murni-nya yambada nyulu bubu-kari mayi-kari jawun-kari junkurr-kari baja murni-nya, bama nyulu wawu-jirray yamba-kari bama-muny nyulu nyubun nganga nyungu wawu-jirray wawu-karrba-l-muny | old man said watch how person one nothing-PRIV-toward treats, person he truly known NEG he strong-person thing-COMIT-person-toward acts but he land-PRIV food-PRIV friend-PRIV strength-PRIV too acts, person he kind nothing-PRIV person-toward he one only his kindness trust-ABL

yamba-kari murni binal junkurr bubu mayi jawun wawu-jirray

yamba-kari/bubu-kari/mayi-kari/jawun-kari PRIV; yamba-ji-bama COMIT; kindness-to-the-have-nothing


The old woman said the old ones are people with memory and the young are people without it yet, and this is the whole reason the two must stay close, for the young have the strong legs and the sharp eyes the old have lost, and the old have the long memory the young have not yet made, and only together are they a whole and complete people.

Wulbumanangka balkan mukul jana bama milka-ji warru jana bama milka-kari ngadiku, yinya kuku wubulku jambul junkurr janjilka, warru jina junkurr miyil jalngkun mukul bawanmuny, mukul milka kalbay warru kari ngadiku bunganmuny, nyubunji nganga jana bama nyubun wubulku dumban.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny mukul jana bama milka-ji warru jana bama milka-kari ngadiku, yinya kuku wubul-ku jambul junkurr kaja-nka, warru jina junkurr miyil jalngkun mukul bawa-ny-muny, mukul milka kalbay warru kari ngadiku bunga-ny-muny, nyubun-ji nganga jana bama nyubun wubul-ku dumba-ny | old.woman said old they people memory-COMIT young they people memory-PRIV yet, that reason all two close stay-DAT, young foot strong eye sharp old lost-ABL, old memory long young NEG yet made-ABL, together-with only they people one whole complete

mukul milka warru jina junkurr miyil jalngkun dumbal

milka-ji COMIT vs milka-kari PRIV; old-with-memory-young-without


The old man said a river with fish and a river without fish look exactly the same from the bank, and only the one who reads the water, the ripples, the birds, the small signs, can tell which is which before wasting a whole day, so learning to read the empty water from the full is one of the first skills a young fisher must gain.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan wawubaja kuyu-ji wawubaja kuyu-kari nyubun yala jalkarmuny nyajil, nyubun nganga nyulu bana ngaral, bana-jarrba, buyi, wari buban baja, nyulu balkan wanya wanya wungar wubulku bawal ngadiku, bana kuyu-kari bana kuyu-jimuny ngaranka nyubun kalka ngadiku warru-kuyu-bama maninka.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny wawubaja kuyu-ji wawubaja kuyu-kari nyubun yala jalkar-muny nyaji-l, nyubun nganga nyulu bana ngara-l, bana-jarrba, buyi, wari buban baja, nyulu balka-ny wanya wanya wungar wubul-ku bawa-l ngadiku, bana kuyu-kari bana kuyu-ji-muny ngara-nka nyubun kalka ngadiku warru-kuyu-bama mani-nka | old man said river fish-COMIT river fish-PRIV same as bank-from look, one only he water reads, ripple, birds, sign small too, it tells which which day all waste before, water fish-PRIV water fish-COMIT-from read-DAT one skill first young-fisher gain-DAT

wawubaja kuyu jalkar nyajil bana ngaral buyi kalka

kuyu-ji COMIT vs kuyu-kari PRIV; reading-the-empty-water-from-the-full


The old woman said a person with patience and a person without it can do the very same work, but the one with patience finishes the fine basket, the true-cooked meat, the well-made spear, while the impatient one leaves a trail of half-done, spoiled, and broken things behind them all their lives, so patience is the quiet skill that finishes every other skill.

Wulbumanangka balkan bama maku-janal-ji bama maku-janal-kari nyubun yala kirraji bungal, maku-janal-ji dumban balji yukil, minya jani, kalka yukil-bungal, maku-janal-kari nyulu bawan yamba buban-manda, mumbu, kaka baja janka nyungumuny wawu wubulmuny, maku-janal nyulu janka-yukil dandi nyulu janka-yukil yindu wubulku dumbalmu.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny bama maku-jana-l-ji bama maku-jana-l-kari nyubun yala kirraji bunga-l, maku-jana-l-ji dumba-ny balji yukil, minya jani, kalka yukil-bunga-l, maku-jana-l-kari nyulu bawa-ny yamba buban-ma-nda, mumbu, kaka baja janka nyungu-muny wawu wubul-muny, maku-jana-l nyulu janka-yukil dandi nyulu janka-yukil yindu wubul-ku dumba-l-mu | old.woman said person patience-COMIT person patience-PRIV same work do, patience-COMIT finishes basket good, meat well-cooked, spear well-made, patience-PRIV he leaves thing half-done, spoiled, broken too behind his life all-ABL, patience it skill quiet it skill other all finishes-POSS

maku-janay kirraji dumbal balji minya jani kalka janka-yukil

maku-janal-ji COMIT vs maku-janal-kari PRIV; patience-finishes-every-skill


The old man said a person with fear and a person without fear are both dangerous in the hunt, for the one full of fear freezes or flees and gets others hurt, but the one with no fear at all takes mad risks and dies young, and the good hunter is the one in the middle, who feels the fear, respects it, and acts anyway with a steady hand.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bama yinil-ji bama yinil-kari jambul mumbu-mabi balbilba, yinil-ji buwan nyulu janan yambada warri yindu buyun-bungal, yambada yinil-kari bajaku nyulu kanban junkurr manil wulal warru, balbi-bama yukil nyulu dukurr-bu, nyulu yinil milkabu baykal, wawu-karrbal, murni yambada mara junkurr-bu.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny bama yinil-ji bama yinil-kari jambul mumbu-mabi balbi-l-ba, yinil-ji buwa-ny nyulu jana-ny yambada warri yindu buyun-bunga-l, yambada yinil-kari bajaku nyulu kanban junkurr mani-l wula-l warru, balbi-bama yukil nyulu dukurr-bu, nyulu yinil milka-bu bayka-l, wawu-karrba-l, murni yambada mara junkurr-bu | old man said person fear-COMIT person fear-PRIV both danger-like hunt-LOC, fear-COMIT full he freezes but flees other hurt-makes, but fear-PRIV very he mistakenly danger takes dies young, hunter good he middle-LOC, he fear respects, trusts, acts anyway hand steady-INST | ...

yinil mumbu balbil warri buyun kanban dukurr mara

yinil-ji COMIT vs yinil-kari PRIV; dukurr-bu LOC; the-fearful-the-fearless-and-the-brave


The old woman said a name with a story behind it and a name without one are not the same at all: a person's name should carry the country, the ancestors, and the event it came from, so that to say the name is to call up all of that, and a child given a name empty of story is given only a sound, not a place in the long line of the people.

Wulbumanangka balkan kuku jangkar-ji kuku jangkar-kari nyubun kari yala: bama nyungu kuku karrbanka bubu, ngadiku-bama, yamba nyulu kadanmuny baja, yundu kuku balkanya yundu yamba wubulku kunjal, karrkay nyulu kuku jangkar-kari dayan nyulu kuku nganga dayan, kari bubu bama jina kalbay-mba.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny kuku jangkar-ji kuku jangkar-kari nyubun kari yala: bama nyungu kuku karrba-nka bubu, ngadiku-bama, yamba nyulu kada-ny-muny baja, yundu kuku balka-nya yundu yamba wubul-ku kunja-l, karrkay nyulu kuku jangkar-kari daya-ny nyulu kuku nganga daya-ny, kari bubu bama jina kalbay-mba | old.woman said name story-COMIT name story-PRIV NEG same: person his name hold-DAT country, ancestors, event it came-from too, you name say-SUB you thing all call.up, child he name story-PRIV given he sound only given, NEG place people line long-LOC

kuku-yiku jangkar bubu ngadiku-bama kada kunjal karrkay jina

jangkar-ji COMIT vs jangkar-kari PRIV; kunjal 'call up'; a-name-with-a-story-and-without


The old man said a track with fresh sign and a track with old sign both tell you an animal passed, but only the reader who can tell the wet-edged new print from the crumbling old one knows whether to follow now or turn away, so learning to read fresh-marked ground from stale-marked ground is the very heart of the whole art of tracking.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan jina jirakal-ji jina mukul-ji jambul yundunka balkan minya nyubun jilbanmuny, nyubun nganga nyaji-bama nyulu balkal jina duna-nga jirakal jina buban-manda mukulmuny nyulu binal wukurri nyikuku yambada bawa dungayku, jina jirakal-ji bubu jina mukul-ji bubumuny ngaranka nyulu jina-binal wubulku milka bada bajaku.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny jina jirakal-ji jina mukul-ji jambul yundu-nka balka-ny minya nyubun jilba-ny-muny, nyubun nganga nyaji-bama nyulu balka-l jina duna-nga jirakal jina buban-ma-nda mukul-muny nyulu binal wukurri nyiku-ku yambada bawa dunga-y-ku, jina jirakal-ji bubu jina mukul-ji bubu-muny ngara-nka nyulu jina-binal wubul-ku milka bada bajaku | old man said track fresh-COMIT track old-COMIT both you-to tell creature one passed-ABL, one only tracker he tells track wet-edge fresh track crumbling old-from he knows follow now-DAT or leave go-DAT, track fresh-COMIT ground track old-COMIT ground-from read-DAT it tracker all heart deep most

jina jirakal mukul balkal minya jilbay binal wukurril

jirakal-ji vs mukul-ji COMIT; reading-fresh-marked-from-stale


The old woman said a marriage with children and a marriage without them are both good and both hard, and she would not let the childless couple be pitied or shamed, for she said they carry the whole camp's children in a different way, as the ones with time and hands to spare, and a wise camp gives its orphans and its extra work to the childless with-love, not with-shame.

Wulbumanangka balkan dunyu karrkay-ji dunyu karrkay-kari jambul yukil jambul dandi, nyulu kari dunyu karrkay-kari mumbu-bungal bikirr-bungal baja, nyulu balkan jana bayan wubulku karrkay karrbal yindu yala, bama wungar mara-ji buban baja, bayan binal karrkay-ngamu-kari kirraji yindu baja karrkay-karinka dayal wawu-jirray-ji, kari bikirr-ji.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny dunyu karrkay-ji dunyu karrkay-kari jambul yukil jambul dandi, nyulu kari dunyu karrkay-kari mumbu-bunga-l bikirr-bunga-l baja, nyulu balka-ny jana bayan wubul-ku karrkay karrba-l yindu yala, bama wungar mara-ji buban baja, bayan binal karrkay-ngamu-kari kirraji yindu baja karrkay-kari-nka daya-l wawu-jirray-ji, kari bikirr-ji | old.woman said couple child-COMIT couple child-PRIV both good both hard, she NEG couple child-PRIV pitied shamed too, she said they camp all children hold different as, people time hand-COMIT spare too, camp wise orphan work extra too childless-for gives love-COMIT, NEG shame-COMIT | ...

dunyu karrkay mumbu bikirr bayan mara wawu-jirray dayal

karrkay-ji COMIT vs karrkay-kari PRIV; wawu-jirray-ji COMIT 'with love'; the-childless-couple-mothers-differently


The old man said a hand with generosity and a hand that is closed are known to the whole camp within a season, for nothing a person does is more closely watched than how they share food, and the open-handed one will never go without in old age because the camp remembers, while the tight-fisted one may find themselves strangely alone when they finally need help.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan mara daji-ji mara kajan-kari bayan wubulku binal wungar nyubunba, yamba nyubun bama bungal kari ngulkurr-baja nyajil yala nyulu mayi daji-way, mara-kaja-kari-bama nyulu kariku bajaku yamba-kari mukul-mandanya bayan karrbalmu, mara-kulun-bama nyulu nyaji-manda nganga bajaku nyulu bajaku kalbal wawu-manilnya.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny mara daji-ji mara kaja-ny-kari bayan wubul-ku binal wungar nyubun-ba, yamba nyubun bama bunga-l kari ngulkurr-baja nyaji-l yala nyulu mayi daji-way, mara-kaja-kari-bama nyulu kariku bajaku yamba-kari mukul-ma-nda-nya bayan karrba-l-mu, mara-kulun-bama nyulu nyaji-ma-nda nganga bajaku nyulu bajaku kalbal wawu-ma-ni-l-nya | old man said hand giving-COMIT hand closed-PRIV camp all known season one-LOC, thing one person does NEG more.closely watched how he food shares, open-hand-person he never truly nothing-PRIV old-becomes-SUB camp holds-because, tight-hand-person he finds himself alone very he finally help wants-SUB | ...

mara daji bayan binal mayi daji-way yamba-kari kalbal

daji-ji COMIT vs janyjin-kari PRIV; nyubun-ba LOC(n); the-open-hand-and-the-closed


The old woman said a country with a keeper and a country without one grow apart within a single lifetime, for the kept country has its tracks kept clear, its waters kept clean, its stories kept alive and its burning done in season, while the keeper-less country grows wild and choked and dangerous and slowly forgets the people just as the people forgot it.

Wulbumanangka balkan bubu kuji-bama-ji bubu kuji-bama-kari yindu-yindu janji wawu nyubun kalbay-mba, bubu kujin nyungu jina jirakal karrban, bana yukil karrban, jangkar wunay karrban baya wungar bungan, yambada bubu kuji-bama-kari jiwarrin karra-manda yinil-manda buban-buban milka-wulan bama yala bama nyulu milka-wulanmuny.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny bubu kuji-bama-ji bubu kuji-bama-kari yindu-yindu karra wawu nyubun kalbay-mba, bubu kuji-ny nyungu jina jirakal karrba-ny, bana yukil karrba-ny, jangkar wuna-y karrba-ny baya wungar bunga-ny, yambada bubu kuji-bama-kari jiwarri-ny karra-ma-nda yinil-ma-nda buban-buban milka-wula-ny bama yala bama nyulu milka-wula-ny-muny | old.woman said country keeper-COMIT country keeper-PRIV apart grow life one-LOC, country kept its tracks fresh kept, water good kept, story alive kept fire season made, but country keeper-PRIV wild.grows choked dangerous-becomes slowly forgets people as people it forgot-ABL | ...

bubu kujil janyji jina bana jangkar baya milka-wula

kuji-bama-ji COMIT vs kuji-bama-kari PRIV; kalbay-nga LOC(l)->kalbayba? l->-ba FIX kalbayba; kept-country-vs-abandoned


The old man said a person with anger in them and a person without it are not better and worse but simply different tools for different days, for the angry one holds the line in a fight and will not be pushed, while the anger-less one keeps the peace and mends the quarrel, and a camp needs both, but each must know which day is theirs.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bama dukul-wuri-ji bama dukul-wuri-kari kari yukil dandi yambada nganga yindu-yindu bangkarr wungar yindu-yindunka, dukul-wuri-ji nyulu janan kuni-way-mba kari nyulu wandi-manda, yambada dukul-wuri-kari nyulu janka-yukil karrbal baji murni-manil, bayan jambul wawu-manil, nyubun nyubun binal wanya wungar nyungu.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny bama dukul-wuri-ji bama dukul-wuri-kari kari yukil dandi yambada nganga yindu-yindu bangkarr wungar yindu-yindu-nka, dukul-wuri-ji nyulu jana-ny kuni-way-mba kari nyulu wandi-ma-nda, yambada dukul-wuri-kari nyulu janka-yukil karrba-l baji murni-ma-ni-l, bayan jambul wawu-ma-ni-l, nyubun nyubun binal wanya wungar nyungu | old man said person anger-COMIT person anger-PRIV NEG better worse but just different tool day different-for, anger-COMIT he stands fight-LOC NEG he pushed, but anger-PRIV he peace holds quarrel mends, camp both needs, one one knows which day his | ...

ngamba dandi bangkarr wungar kuni-way janka-yukil bayan binal

ngamba-ji COMIT vs ngamba-kari PRIV; kuni-way-nga RECIP+LOC; anger-and-anger-less-both-needed


The old woman said the sky with cloud and the sky without cloud each carry their own reading: the clear cloudless sky at the wrong season means the hard dry is deepening and the waterholes must be watched, while the sky heavy with cloud may mean the rain that saves or the storm that destroys, so a person must read not just cloud-or-none but the whole shape and color and movement of it.

Wulbumanangka balkan jiri ngurrban-ji jiri ngurrban-kari nyubun nyubun nyungu-nyungu ngaral: jiri jirakal ngurrban-kari wungar yukil-karinga jina-kiway junkurr-manda bana-janku nyajinka, yambada jiri ngurrban junkurr-ji nyulu bana wula-manil yambada jarramali murni-manil, bama nyulu ngaral kari nganga ngurrban-yamba-kari yambada jarrba nganja-jarray murni baja wubulku.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny jiri ngurrban-ji jiri ngurrban-kari nyubun nyubun nyungu-nyungu ngara-l: jiri jirakal ngurrban-kari wungar yukil-kari-nga jina-kiway junkurr-ma-nda bana-janku nyaji-nka, yambada jiri ngurrban junkurr-ji nyulu bana wula-ma-ni-l yambada jarramali murni-ma-ni-l, bama nyulu ngara-l kari nganga ngurrban-yamba-kari yambada jarrba nganja-jarray murni baja wubul-ku | old.woman said sky cloud-COMIT sky cloud-PRIV each its own reading: sky clear cloud-PRIV season wrong-LOC dry hard deepens waterhole watch-DAT, but sky cloud heavy-COMIT it water saves or storm makes, person he reads NEG just cloud-thing-PRIV but shape color movement too all | ...

jiri ngurrban ngaral jirakal wungar bana jarramali nganja

ngurrban-ji COMIT vs ngurrban-kari PRIV; junkurr-ji COMIT 'heavy-with'; reading-the-clouded-and-clear-sky


The old man said a young man with respect and a young man without it are welcomed very differently into the men's business, for the respectful one is taught freely and quickly because the teaching is safe with him, while the disrespectful one is taught slowly and little, if at all, because knowledge given to a person without respect becomes a danger to everyone.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan warru yulmbarril-ji warru yulmbarril-kari yindu-yindu yala dingkar-kuku-mundu manil, yulmbarril-ji milbin yukil warri baja milbil nyunji yukil, yambada yulmbarril-kari milbin buban-buban buban baja, yambada kariku, binal dayan bama yulmbarril-karinka nyulu mumbu-manda bama wubulkunka.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny warru yulmbarril-ji warru yulmbarril-kari yindu-yindu yala dingkar-kuku-mundu mani-l, yulmbarril-ji milbi-ny yukil warri baja milbi-l nyun-ji yukil, yambada yulmbarril-kari milbi-ny buban-buban buban baja, yambada kariku, binal daya-ny bama yulmbarril-kari-nka nyulu mumbu-ma-nda bama wubul-ku-nka | old man said young.man respect-COMIT young.man respect-PRIV differently as men-business-toward taken, respect-COMIT taught freely fast too teaching him-with safe, but respect-PRIV taught slowly little too, or never, knowledge given person respect-PRIV-for it danger-becomes people all-for | ...

warru yulmbarril milbil binal dayal mumbu dingkar kuku

yulmbarril-ji COMIT vs yulmbarril-kari PRIV; the-respectful-and-disrespectful-youth


The old woman said a woman with the plant knowledge and a woman without it live in two different worlds, for the one who knows the plants walks through the scrub seeing food and medicine and craft everywhere she looks, while the one without that knowledge sees only green sameness, so she spent whole years passing the plant lore to the girls, name by name and use by use.

Wulbumanangka balkan jalbu mayi-binal-ji jalbu mayi-binal-kari jambul bubu yindu-yindungu wunay, mayi binal-ji nyulu majaji jilbal mayi kalbal janka-yukil baja nyajil wanja nyulu nyajilnya, yambada binal-kari nyulu jinbal nyubun-baja nyajil, nyulu wungar wubulku buwan mayi-kuku jalbu-buban-mundu, kuku nyubun kuku nyubun yukil nyubun yukil nyubun.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny jalbu mayi-binal-ji jalbu mayi-binal-kari jambul bubu yindu-yindu-ngu wuna-y, mayi binal-ji nyulu majaji jilba-l mayi kalbal janka-yukil baja nyaji-l wanja nyulu nyaji-l-nya, yambada binal-kari nyulu jinbal nyubun-baja nyaji-l, nyulu wungar wubul-ku buwa-ny mayi-kuku jalbu-buban-mundu, kuku nyubun kuku nyubun yukil nyubun yukil nyubun | old.woman said woman plant-knowledge-COMIT woman plant-knowledge-PRIV two world different-LOC live, plant knowledge-COMIT she scrub walks food medicine craft too sees where she looks-SUB, but knowledge-PRIV she green sameness sees, she years all filled plant-lore girls-toward, name one name one use one use one | ...

jalbu mayi binal majaji jilbay kalbal janka-yukil wungar

mayi-binal-ji COMIT vs mayi-binal-kari PRIV; yindu-yindu-nga LOC(u); the-woman-with-and-without-plant-knowledge


The old man said a group with an agreed leader and a group without one face a crisis in opposite ways, for the led group acts as one body in the sudden danger while the leaderless group scatters into argument and delay, and though the old people had no kings, they always agreed beforehand who would speak for all in the moment when there was no time to decide.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bama-wubul kuku-bama-ji bama-wubul kuku-bama-kari dandi yindu-yindu yala murni, kuku-bama-ji bama nyubun janka yala murni jarrba yinilba yambada kuku-bama-kari jana karra baji-way dandi baja, bama mukul kuku-yalbay-kari yala, jana yabarrka ngadiku karra wanya balkal wubulmuny wungar bada bajaku binalka.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny bama-wubul kuku-bama-ji bama-wubul kuku-bama-kari dandi yindu-yindu yala murni, kuku-bama-ji bama nyubun janka yala murni jarrba yinil-ba yambada kuku-bama-kari jana karra baji-way dandi baja, bama mukul kuku-yalbay-kari yala, jana yabarrka ngadiku karra wanya balka-l wubul-muny wungar bada bajaku binal-ka | old man said group leader-COMIT group leader-PRIV crisis oppositely as act, leader-COMIT people one body as act sudden danger-LOC but leader-PRIV they scatter quarrel-RECIP delay too, people old king-PRIV as, they always beforehand agreed who speaks all-for time none most decide-DAT | ...

kuku dandi murni jarrba yinil baji-way balkal binal

kuku-bama-ji COMIT vs kuku-bama-kari PRIV; yinil-nga LOC(l)->yinilba FIX; the-led-and-leaderless-group


The old woman said the difference between a life with meaning and a life without it is not in what a person owns but in what a person gives, for she had seen rich people die empty and poor people die full, and she taught that the person with much to give and no wish to keep it is the richest of all, while the hoarder with everything is the truly poor one.

Wulbumanangka balkan wawu-ji-janay wawu-kari-janay yindu-yindu kari yamba bama karrbalmuny yambada yamba bama dayalmuny, nyulu nyajin yamba-ji-bama wulal jiba-kari yamba-kari-bama wulal jiba-ji, nyulu milbin bama daji wubul-ji karrba-wawu-kari nyulu yamba-ji bajaku wubulmuny, mara-kulun-bama yamba wubulku-ji nyulu yamba-kari bajaku.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny wawu-ji-jana-y wawu-kari-jana-y yindu-yindu kari yamba bama karrba-l-muny yambada yamba bama daya-l-muny, nyulu nyaji-ny yamba-ji-bama wula-l jiba-kari yamba-kari-bama wula-l jiba-ji, nyulu milbi-ny bama daji wubul-ji karrba-wawu-kari nyulu yamba-ji bajaku wubul-muny, mara-kulun-bama yamba wubul-ku-ji nyulu yamba-kari bajaku | old.woman said meaning-COMIT-life meaning-PRIV-life different NEG thing person owns-from but thing person gives-from, she saw thing-COMIT-person dies belly-PRIV nothing-person dies belly-COMIT, she taught person giving much-COMIT keep-desire-PRIV he thing-COMIT most all-ABL, hoarder thing all-COMIT he thing-PRIV most | ...

wawu karrbal dayal jiba milbil daji mara-kulun yamba

wawu-ji vs wawu-kari; the-giver-is-rich-the-hoarder-poor


The old man said a spear with a good balance and a spear without it look almost identical lying on the ground, but in the throw the difference is everything, and this is true of many things a person makes: the flaw is invisible to the eye and only shows itself in the using, so a maker must learn to feel the rightness with the hands, not just see it.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan kalka yukil-ji kalka yukil-kari nyubun yala bubu wangkar wunay, yilbalba yindu-yindu yamba wubulku, yinya yukil yamba wubulmuny bama bungalmuny: mumbu miyil-kari nyulu janka manil-mabinga nyubun murnil, murni-bama nyulu binalman yukil maranga jilbanka, kari nganga nyajil.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny kalka yukil-ji kalka yukil-kari nyubun yala bubu wangkar wuna-y, yilba-l-ba yindu-yindu yamba wubul-ku, yinya yukil yamba wubul-muny bama bunga-l-muny: mumbu miyil-kari nyulu janka mani-l-mabi-nga nyubun murni-l, murni-bama nyulu binal-ma-ny yukil mara-nga jilba-nka, kari nganga nyaji-l | old man said spear good-COMIT spear good-PRIV same as ground on lies, throw-LOC different thing all, that true thing all-from person makes-ABL: flaw eye-PRIV it using time-LOC only shows, maker he learn rightness hand-LOC feel-DAT, NEG just sees | ...

kalka bubu wunay yilbal yamba mumbu miyil murni

balance-ji COMIT vs balance-kari PRIV (balance loanword? use kaki-balance); the-flaw-shows-only-in-the-using


The old woman said a fire with dry wood and a fire with wet wood are the difference between a warm night and a smoky, sputtering, miserable one, and she taught the children to always gather and store the dry wood in the good weather, for the person with a dry-wood store laughs at the rain while the storeless person shivers and curses it.

Wulbumanangka balkan baya juku-kiway-ji baya juku-duna-ji yindu-yindu yala wujurr wumbul wujurr kubu-ji, jirra-jirra, mumbu baja, nyulu karrkay-karrkay milbin yabarrka juku-kiway bangkal karrbal wungar yukilba, bama juku-kiway-karrban-ji nyulu yajarrin banamuny yambada karrban-kari bama nyulu yararrin mumbu balkanya.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny baya juku-kiway-ji baya juku-duna-ji yindu-yindu yala wujurr wumbul wujurr kubu-ji, jirra-jirra, mumbu baja, nyulu karrkay-karrkay milbi-ny yabarrka juku-kiway bangka-l karrba-l wungar yukil-ba, bama juku-kiway-karrba-ny-ji nyulu yajarri-ny bana-muny yambada karrba-ny-kari bama nyulu yararri-n mumbu balka-nya | old.woman said fire dry.wood-COMIT fire wet.wood-COMIT different as night warm night smoke-COMIT, sputtering, miserable too, she children taught always dry.wood gather store good.weather-LOC, person dry.wood-store-COMIT he laughs rain-at but store-PRIV person he shivers miserably curses-SUB | ...

baya juku kija kunya wumbul kubu karrkay bangkal

juku-kija-ji vs juku-duna-ji COMIT; yukil-nga LOC(l)->yukilba FIX; dry-wood-store-vs-none


The old man said a person with self-control and a person without it are tested most not in hardship but in plenty, for anyone can be careful when there is little, but only the person with real self-command stays measured and fair when the food is heaped high and the easy road lies open, so watch a person in their good times to know their true character.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bama nyulu-nyulu-karrba-ji bama nyulu-nyulu-karrba-kari nyaji bajaku kari dandi-ngunduka yambada wubul-ngunduka, bama wubulku murni buban-buban janji yamba buban janay-mba, nyubun nganga bama nyulu-nyulu-karrba-ji junkurr nyulu bunda yukil kaki mayi wubul-yalbay wangkar baral yukil naka-naka wunay-mba, nyaji bama nyungu wungar yukilba binalka nyungu janka bajaku.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny bama nyulu-nyulu-karrba-ji bama nyulu-nyulu-karrba-kari nyaji bajaku kari dandi-ngundu-ka yambada wubul-ngundu-ka, bama wubul-ku murni buban-buban karra yamba buban jana-y-mba, nyubun nganga bama nyulu-nyulu-karrba-ji junkurr nyulu bunda yukil kaki mayi wubul-yalbay wangkar baral yukil naka-naka wuna-y-mba, nyaji bama nyungu wungar yukil-ba binal-ka nyungu janka bajaku | old man said person self-control-COMIT person self-control-PRIV tested most NEG hardship-LOC but plenty-LOC, person all careful little thing small is-LOC, one only person self-control-COMIT strong he sits measured if food big heaped road easy across lies-SUB, watch person his time good-LOC know-DAT his character true | ...

nyulu-nyulu-karrba dandi murni bunday kaki mayi baral binal

self-control-ji vs -kari; yukil-nga LOC(l)->yukilba FIX; character-is-tested-in-plenty


The old woman said a song with the right words and a song with forgotten words are both still sung, but only the whole song carries its whole power, so when an old singer began to lose the words she would sit with them for many evenings and gather the song back word by word before it was lost, for a song gone wordless is a door to the past closed forever.

Wulbumanangka balkan wulngku kuku yukil-ji wulngku kuku milka-wulan-ji jambul badil, nyubun nganga wulngku wubulku karrbal nyungu junkurr wubulku, mukul-badi-bama nyulu kuku milka-wula ngadiku nyulu jananji bundan kunarangkal wubulku wulngku bangkan kuku nyubun kuku nyubun bawanya ngadiku, wulngku kuku-kari nyulu dukul-wuri ngadiku-mundu kajan bada bajaku.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny wulngku kuku yukil-ji wulngku kuku milka-wula-ny-ji jambul badi-l, nyubun nganga wulngku wubul-ku karrba-l nyungu junkurr wubul-ku, mukul-badi-bama nyulu kuku milka-wula ngadiku nyulu jana-nji bunda-ny kunarangkal wubul-ku wulngku bangka-ny kuku nyubun kuku nyubun bawa-nya ngadiku, wulngku kuku-kari nyulu dukul-wuri ngadiku-mundu kaja-ny bada bajaku | old.woman said song word right-COMIT song word forgotten-COMIT both sung, one only song whole carries its power all, old-singer she word forget begins she them-with sat evenings all song gathered word one word one lost-SUB before, song word-PRIV it door past-toward closed deep most | ...

wulngku kuku milka-wula badil karrbal junkurr bunday kunarangkal

yukil-ji vs kuku-kari; gathering-a-song-back-before-it-goes-wordless


The old man said a boy raised with hardship and a boy raised without any becomes a different kind of man, for the one who has known cold and hunger and effort holds a strength the soft-raised one has never built, yet too much hardship breaks a child, so the old people gave the young just enough difficulty to grow strong on, and no more.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan buban dandi-ji warru-manin buban dandi-kari warru-manin yindu-yindu dingkar-manda, nyulu kiway-kiway dakwuy kirraji baja binalmuny nyulu junkurr karrbal jinbal-ji-bama kari ngadiku bunganmuny, yambada dandi wubul-yalbay karrkay kakal, bama mukul warru dandi buban dayan junkurr-mandanka, kari wubul-baja.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny buban dandi-ji warru-ma-ni-ny buban dandi-kari warru-ma-ni-ny yindu-yindu dingkar-ma-nda, nyulu kiway-kiway dakwuy kirraji baja binal-muny nyulu junkurr karrba-l jinbal-ji-bama kari ngadiku bunga-ny-muny, yambada dandi wubul-yalbay karrkay kaka-l, bama mukul warru dandi buban daya-ny junkurr-ma-nda-nka, kari wubul-baja | old man said boy hardship-COMIT raised boy hardship-PRIV raised different man-becomes, he cold hunger effort too knew-from he strength holds soft-COMIT-person NEG once built-ABL, but hardship too.big child breaks, people old young hardship little gave strong-become-for, NEG more | ...

dandi warru dakwuy kirraji binal junkurr karrkay dayal

dandi-ji COMIT vs dandi-kari PRIV; just-enough-hardship-to-grow-strong


The old woman said a person with a home country and a person cut off from theirs carry themselves differently for the whole of their lives, for the one rooted in country stands on something that cannot be taken, while the landless one, however successful, carries a hollow that nothing else quite fills, so the old people fought hardest of all to keep every family tied to its own ground.

Wulbumanangka balkan bama bubu-ji bama bubu-nyungumuny kajan yindu-yindu karrbal wawu wubulku kalbay-mba, bubu-ji nyulu yamba nyubun kari manilmuny wangkar janan, yambada bubu-kari, ngulkurr yala, nyulu janku karrbal yamba yindu nyubun kari yukil buwal, bama mukul kuni-way junkurr bajaku jawun-karra wubulku nyungu bubu-mundu kajanka.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny bama bubu-ji bama bubu nyungu-muny kaja-ny yindu-yindu karrba-l wawu wubul-ku kalbay-mba, bubu-ji nyulu yamba nyubun kari mani-l-muny wangkar jana-ny, yambada bubu-kari, ngulkurr yala, nyulu janku karrba-l yamba yindu nyubun kari yukil buwa-l, bama mukul kuni-way junkurr bajaku jawun-karra wubul-ku nyungu bubu-mundu kaja-nka | old.woman said person country-COMIT person country his-from cut different carry life all-LOC, country-COMIT he thing one NEG taken-ABL on stands, but country-PRIV, successful although, he hollow holds thing other one NEG quite fills, people old fight strong most family all its country-toward tie-DAT | ...

bubu janyji karrbal wawu janku kuni-way jawun kalbay

bubu-ji COMIT vs bubu-kari PRIV; the-rooted-and-the-landless


The old man said a promise with intention behind it and a promise without any are opposite things wearing the same words, and he could tell them apart in a person's face, so he taught the young to make few promises and keep every one, for a person known for promises-with-keeping is trusted with everything, while a person of empty promises is soon believed in nothing at all.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan kuku-junkurr wawu-ji kuku-junkurr wawu-kari yindu-yindu yamba kuku nyubun buwan, nyulu balkal jana bama miyilba, nyulu warru milbin kuku buban bunganka nyubun wubulku karrbanka, bama binal kuku-junkurr-karrba-ji nyulu wawu-karrbal yamba wubulkubu, bama kuku-junkurr-kari nyulu nganga kariku wawu-karrbal yamba nyubunku.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny kuku-junkurr wawu-ji kuku-junkurr wawu-kari yindu-yindu yamba kuku nyubun buwa-ny, nyulu balka-l jana bama miyil-ba, nyulu warru milbi-ny kuku buban bunga-nka nyubun wubul-ku karrba-nka, bama binal kuku-junkurr-karrba-ji nyulu wawu-karrba-l yamba wubul-ku-bu, bama kuku-junkurr-kari nyulu nganga kariku wawu-karrba-l yamba nyubun-ku | old man said promise intention-COMIT promise intention-PRIV opposite thing word same wears, he tells them person face-LOC, he young taught promises few make-DAT one all keep-DAT, person known promise-keeping-COMIT he trusted thing all-INST, person promise-PRIV he soon never trusted thing one-DAT | ...

kuku-junkurr wawu miyil warru milbil karrbal binal wawu-karrba

wawu-ji COMIT vs wawu-kari PRIV; the-promise-with-intention-and-the-empty


The old woman said a garden of yams tended and a patch left untended diverge quickly, for the tended ground gives back tenfold what is put in while the neglected ground returns to scrub, and this is the deepest law she knew of all living things, people and plants and country alike: what is cared-for grows, and what is care-less withers, and there is no third way.

Wulbumanangka balkan juwal-bubu kuji-ji bubu kuji-kari warri janji, kuji-ji bubu dayal wubul-baja wanya bada yijarrinmuny yambada kuji-kari bubu majaji-mundu nyunbal, yinya kuku bada bajaku nyulu binalmuny yamba wula-mabi wubulku, bama mayi bubu baja yala: yamba kujin jarral, yamba kuji-kari yinil-manda, kari kulur baral.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny juwal-bubu kuji-ji bubu kuji-kari warri karra, kuji-ji bubu daya-l wubul-baja wanya bada yijarri-ny-muny yambada kuji-kari bubu majaji-mundu nyunba-l, yinya kuku bada bajaku nyulu binal-muny yamba wula-mabi wubul-ku, bama mayi bubu baja yala: yamba kuji-ny jarra-l, yamba kuji-kari yinil-ma-nda, kari kulur baral | old.woman said yam-garden tended-COMIT ground tended-PRIV fast diverge, tended-COMIT ground gives tenfold what down put-ABL but tended-PRIV ground scrub-toward returns, that law deep most she knew-of thing living all, people food country too as: thing cared.for grows, thing care-PRIV withers, NEG third way | ...

juwal bubu kujil warri dayal majaji nyunbay binal

kuji-ji COMIT vs kuji-kari PRIV; cared-for-grows-careless-withers


The old man said a journey with a companion and a journey walked alone are different in kind, not just in feeling, for two can share the load and the watch and the risk, and where one would fail alone, two hold each other up, so he taught the young never to travel the long dangerous roads companionless when a companion could be found, for the solitary traveller is the one the country takes.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan jilbay jawun-ji jilbay nganga jilban yindu-yindu yala, kari nganga wawungu, jambul daji-way buwal nyaji-way yinil baja, wanja nyubun bawanya nganga, jambul nyubun-nyubunji wangkar-manil, nyulu warru milbin kariku baral kalbay dandi jawun-kari jilban kaki jawun manilnya, jilba-bama nganga-bama nyulu bubu nyulu manilmuny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny jilbay jawun-ji jilbay nganga jilba-ny yindu-yindu yala, kari nganga wawu-ngu, jambul daji-way buwa-l nyaji-way yinil baja, wanja nyubun bawa-nya nganga, jambul nyubun-nyubun-ji wangkar-ma-ni-l, nyulu warru milbi-ny kariku baral kalbay dandi jawun-kari jilba-ny kaki jawun mani-l-nya, jilba-bama nganga-bama nyulu bubu nyulu mani-l-muny | old man said journey companion-COMIT journey alone walked different as, NEG just feeling-LOC, two share.each.other load watch.each.other risk too, where one fails-SUB alone, two each.other lift, he young taught never road long dangerous companion-PRIV walk if companion found-SUB, traveller alone-person he country it takes-ABL | ...

jilbay jawun daji-way nyaji-way yinil baral kaki bubu

jawun-ji COMIT vs jawun-kari PRIV; daji-way/nyaji-way RECIP; kaki; never-travel-companionless


The old woman said a story with a lesson and a story without one are both worth telling, for not every tale must teach, and she loved the pure funny stories that taught nothing at all, the ones that were only for laughing, and she said a people who had only lesson-heavy stories and no lesson-less ones had lost something as important as the law itself: the plain joy of a good tale by the fire.

Wulbumanangka balkan jangkar milbil-ji jangkar milbil-kari jambul yukil balkanka, kari jangkar wubulku milbil, nyulu wawu-jirray jangkar yajarr-yajarr yamba nyubun milbil-karimuny, jangkar yajarrilku nganga, nyulu balkan bama jangkar milbil-ji nganga wubulku milbil-kari-kari nyulu yamba wula-mabi kuku yala: wawu-mini kima jangkar yukil baya ngunduku.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny jangkar milbi-l-ji jangkar milbi-l-kari jambul yukil balka-nka, kari jangkar wubul-ku milbi-l, nyulu wawu-jirray jangkar yajarr-yajarr yamba nyubun milbi-l-kari-muny, jangkar yajarri-l-ku nganga, nyulu balka-ny bama jangkar milbi-l-ji nganga wubul-ku milbi-l-kari-kari nyulu yamba wula-mabi kuku yala: wawu-mini kima jangkar yukil baya ngundu-ku | old.woman said story lesson-COMIT story lesson-PRIV both good tell-DAT, NEG story all teaches, she loved story funny thing one lesson-PRIV-from, story laugh-for only, she said people story lesson-COMIT only all lesson-PRIV-none they thing lost law like: joy plain story good fire near | ...

jangkar milbil balkal wawu-jirray yajarril wula wawu-mini baya

milbil-ji COMIT vs milbil-kari PRIV; ngundu-ku LOC; the-lesson-story-and-the-lessonless