An argument broke out at the fire, and the old woman stopped it by asking the two men one question each: to the first she said, what did you actually see with your own eyes, not what you were told; and to the second she said, what did you actually do, not what you meant to do; and by the time each had answered honestly the quarrel had already dissolved.

Kuni-way wandin baya ngunduku, wulbumanangka kajan nyulu dingkar jambul babajin kuku nyubun nyubunku: ngadiku nyulu balkan, wanyu yundu nyaji nyungu miyilbu, kari yundu balkanmuny; jambulku nyulu balkan, wanyu yundu murni, kari yundu murnilku wawu-manilmuny; jana nyubun nyubun kuku-yukil-manin ngadiku kuni-way bada-manin.

kuni-way wandi-ny baya ngundu-ku, wulbuman-angka kaja-ny nyulu dingkar jambul babaji-ny kuku nyubun nyubun-ku: ngadiku nyulu balka-ny, wanyu yundu nyaji nyungu miyil-bu, kari yundu balka-ny-muny; jambul-ku nyulu balka-ny, wanyu yundu murni, kari yundu murni-l-ku wawu-ma-ni-l-muny; jana nyubun nyubun kuku-yukil-ma-ni-ny ngadiku kuni-way bada-ma-ni-ny | fight arose fire near, old.woman stopped she man two asked question one one-DAT: first she said, what you saw your eye-INST, NEG you told-of; second she said, what you did, NEG you do-DAT meant-of; they one one answered.honestly before fight dissolved | ...

kuni-way baya janyji dingkar babaji wanyu miyil murni


The young woman came to the old healer confused and afraid, pouring out questions: what is this sickness, where did it come from, how long will it last, why did it choose me, and will I get well again? And the old woman held her hands and answered the questions she could and said honestly of the others, I do not know, and that honesty steadied the frightened girl more than any false comfort.

Karrkay-jalbu kalbal-mukulmundu kadan milka-murruji yinil-ji, kuku badan: wanyu yinya buyun, wanjamuny nyulu kadan, wanja-wanja nyulu janay, wanyurrinku nyulu ngayku manin, ngayu kalba baja? Wulbumanangka nyungu mara karrban balkan kuku nyulu balkalmuny balkan yukil yindumuny, ngayu kari binal, yinya kuku-yukil nyulu jalbu yinil-ji kajan ngulkurr-baja kuku-mumbu wubulmuny.

karrkay-jalbu kalbal-mukul-mundu kada-ny milka-murruji yinil-ji, kuku bada-ny: wanyu yinya buyun, wanjamuny nyulu kada-ny, wanja-wanja nyulu jana-y, wanyurrinku nyulu ngayku mani-ny, ngayu kalba baja? wulbuman-angka nyungu mara karrba-ny balka-ny kuku nyulu balka-l-muny balka-ny yukil yindu-muny, ngayu kari binal, yinya kuku-yukil nyulu jalbu yinil-ji kaja-ny ngulkurr-baja kuku-mumbu wubul-muny | girl healer-toward came confused fear-COMIT, questions poured: what that sickness, where-from it came, when it lasts, why it me took, I heal too? old.woman her hand held said what she answer-ABL said honestly other-of, I NEG know, that honesty it girl fear-COMIT steadied more false-comfort all-ABL | ...

kalbal yinil wanyu buyun wanjamuny wanja-wanja wanyurrinku binal


The old man taught the boys that the right first question at a strange camp is not who are you or what do you want but where is your country, for the answer places a stranger in the whole web of relations at once, telling you who their people are, how they are tied to yours, and what law holds between you, so that where is your country is really the question who are you in disguise.

Mukulungku dingkarangka warru-warru milbin kuku ngadiku yukil bayan-yindungu nyulu kari wanya yundu yambada wanyu yundu wawu-manil yambada wanja yundu bubu, kuku-yukil bama-yindu kajal jawun-karra wubulku nyubunku, balkal wanya nyungu bama, wanjarr jana yundunji kajanmuny, wanyu kuku yundu-yindu jambul karrbal, wanja yundu bubu nyulu bajaku wanya yundu jindu-mabi.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka warru-warru milbi-ny kuku ngadiku yukil bayan-yindu-ngu nyulu kari wanya yundu yambada wanyu yundu wawu-ma-ni-l yambada wanja yundu bubu, kuku-yukil bama-yindu kaja-l jawun-karra wubul-ku nyubun-ku, balka-l wanya nyungu bama, wanjarr jana yundu-nji kaja-ny-muny, wanyu kuku yundu-yindu jambul karrba-l, wanja yundu bubu nyulu bajaku wanya yundu jindu-mabi | old man young.men taught question first good strange-camp-LOC it NEG who you or what you want but where your country, answer stranger places relations all one-DAT, tells who their people, how they you-with tied-of, what law you-two between holds, where your country it truly who you disguise-like | ...

kuku bayan wanya wanyu wanja bubu jawun janyji


The old woman played a naming game with the little ones every evening: she would point at a plant, an animal, a star, a tool, and ask what is this, whose is that, where does this one live, when does that one come, which of these can you eat, until the children knew a thousand names and did not even know they had been learning the whole time.

Wulbumanangka kuku-yiku-yajarr bungan buban-buban nyubun-nyubun kunarangkal wubulku: nyulu jarra-manil mayi, minya, dawar, kalka, babajil wanyu yinya, wanya nyungu, wanja yinya nyubun wunay, wanja-wanja yinya kadan, wanjaku yinya yundu nukalmuny, dukul karrkay-karrkay binal wubul kuku kari jana binal jana binalmanmuny wungar wubulku.

wulbuman-angka kuku-yiku-yajarr bunga-ny buban-buban nyubun-nyubun kunarangkal wubul-ku: nyulu jarra-ma-ni-l mayi, minya, dawar, kalka, babaji-l wanyu yinya, wanya nyungu, wanja yinya nyubun wuna-y, wanja-wanja yinya kada-ny, wanjaku yinya yundu nuka-l-muny, dukul karrkay-karrkay binal wubul kuku kari jana binal jana binal-ma-ny-muny wungar wubul-ku | old.woman name-game made little.ones each evening: she points plant, animal, star, tool, asks what that, whose that, where that one lives, when that comes, which.one that you eat-of, at.last children know thousand names NEG they know they learning-of time all | ...

kuku mayi minya dawar babaji wanyu wanja wanjaku


The old man said a good hunter asks the country questions all day long and reads its answers in the signs: where did the wallaby feed, when did it pass, which way did it go, how many were there, is the water near, so that hunting is really a long conversation of questions and answers between the hunter and the land, and the one who asks well eats well.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan balbi-bama yukil bubu babajil wungar kalbay wubulku ngaral nyungu kuku-yukil wari-nga: wanja darrba nukan, wanja-wanja nyulu jilban, wanjaburr nyulu dungan, wanjarrinya janan, bana ngundu, balbil nyulu bajaku kuku kalbay kuku-babaji kuku-yukil baja balbi-bama bubu jambulmuny, bama nyulu yukil babajil nyulu yukil nukal.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny balbi-bama yukil bubu babaji-l wungar kalbay wubul-ku ngara-l nyungu kuku-yukil wari-nga: wanja darrba nuka-ny, wanja-wanja nyulu jilba-ny, wanjaburr nyulu dunga-ny, wanjarrinya jana-ny, bana ngundu, balbi-l nyulu bajaku kuku kalbay kuku-babaji kuku-yukil baja balbi-bama bubu jambul-muny, bama nyulu yukil babaji-l nyulu yukil nuka-l | old man said hunter good country asks day long all reads its answer sign-LOC: where wallaby fed, when it passed, which.way it went, how.many were, water near, hunting it truly conversation long question answer too hunter land between, person he well asks he well eats | ...

balbil bubu babaji wanja darrba wanjaburr wanjarrinya bana


The little boy would not stop asking why, and though the others grew tired of it the old man never did, for when the boy asked why the sun is hot, why the water flows down, why the old people died, why the baby cries, the old man saw not a nuisance but a mind waking up, and he said a people is only ever as wise as its children are free to ask.

Karrkay buban kariku bawan babajinka wanyurrinku, bama yindu baja-burray-manin yambada mukulungku dingkarangka kariku, karrkay babajinnya wanyurrinku kala-kalbay wumbul, wanyurrinku bana bada dungay, wanyurrinku bama mukul wulan, wanyurrinku ngawa badil, mukulungku dingkarangka nyajin kari mumbu yambada milka wandin, nyulu balkan bama nyulu nganga binal yala karrkay nyungu yamba-kari babajinka.

karrkay buban kariku bawa-ny babaji-nka wanyurrinku, bama yindu baja-burray-ma-ni-ny yambada mukul-ungku dingkar-angka kariku, karrkay babaji-ny-nya wanyurrinku kala-kalbay wumbul, wanyurrinku bana bada dunga-y, wanyurrinku bama mukul wula-ny, wanyurrinku ngawa badi-l, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka nyaji-ny kari mumbu yambada milka wandi-ny, nyulu balka-ny bama nyulu nganga binal yala karrkay nyungu yamba-kari babaji-nka | child small never left ask-DAT why, people other tired-became but old man NEG, child asks-SUB why sun hot, why water down flows, why people old died, why baby cries, old man saw NEG nuisance but mind woke, he said people it just wise as children its free ask-DAT | ...

karrkay babaji wanyurrinku wumbul bana wula ngawa milka


At the trading ground the old man taught the young the careful questions of exchange: what is this worth to you, what will you give for it, is this a fair trade, who vouches for the quality, and what happens if the thing fails, so that a trade was never a silent grab but a spoken agreement in which every question was asked and answered before a single thing changed hands.

Daji-way-bubungu mukulungku dingkarangka warru milbin kuku wawu-karrba daji-waymuny: wanyu yinya yundunka yukil, wanyu yundu dayal yinyanka, yinya daji-way yukil, wanya kuku-junkurr yamba yukilmuny, wanyu bungal kaki yamba bawanya, daji-way nyulu kariku bajaku dandi-bungal yambada kuku-junkurr balkal wanja kuku nyubun wubulku babajin kuku-yukil-manin ngadiku yamba nyubun mara-mundu murninmuny.

daji-way-bubu-ngu mukul-ungku dingkar-angka warru milbi-ny kuku wawu-karrba daji-way-muny: wanyu yinya yundu-nka yukil, wanyu yundu daya-l yinya-nka, yinya daji-way yukil, wanya kuku-junkurr yamba yukil-muny, wanyu bunga-l kaki yamba bawa-nya, daji-way nyulu kariku bajaku dandi-bunga-l yambada kuku-junkurr balka-l wanja kuku nyubun wubul-ku babaji-ny kuku-yukil-ma-ni-ny ngadiku yamba nyubun mara-mundu murni-ny-muny | trade-ground-LOC old man young taught questions careful exchange-of: what that you-for worth, what you give it-for, that trade fair, who vouches thing good-of, what happens if thing fails-SUB, trade it never silent-grab but agreement spoken where question each all asked answered before thing one hand-toward changed | ...

daji-way dukurr babaji wanyu dayal wanya kuku-junkurr kaki

daji-way-bubu-nga LOC; kaki; the-careful-questions-of-trade


The old woman said when a person comes to you in trouble the first question is never what did you do wrong but what do you need right now, for the time for the hard questions of blame and cause comes later, and a person bleeding or starving or terrified needs help first and questions after, so she fed and warmed and calmed the troubled one before she ever asked them a single thing.

Wulbumanangka balkan bama yundunka mumbu-mundu kadanya kuku ngadiku nyulu kari wanyu yundu mumbu murni yambada wanyu yundu wawu-manil ngadiku-baja, wungar kuku dandi mumbu-daji kadalmuny ngadiku-mundu, bama mula-badanya dakwuy yinil-ji baja kalbal ngadiku babaji ngadiku-mundu, nyulu dayan wumbul-manin kajan mumbu-bama ngadiku nyulu jananka kuku nyubun babajinmuny.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny bama yundu-nka mumbu-mundu kada-nya kuku ngadiku nyulu kari wanyu yundu mumbu murni yambada wanyu yundu wawu-ma-ni-l ngadiku-baja, wungar kuku dandi mumbu-daji kada-l-muny ngadiku-mundu, bama mula-bada-nya dakwuy yinil-ji baja kalbal ngadiku babaji ngadiku-mundu, nyulu daya-ny wumbul-ma-ni-ny kaja-ny mumbu-bama ngadiku nyulu jana-nka kuku nyubun babaji-ny-muny | old.woman said person you-for trouble-toward comes-SUB question first it NEG what you wrong did but what you need now, time question hard blame-cause comes-of later, person blood-falls-SUB starving fear-COMIT too help first question after, she fed warmed calmed troubled-person before she them-for question one asked-of | ...

mumbu babaji wanyu wawu dandi dakwuy yinil kalbal


The old man asked the boy a riddle that had no single answer: if you could ask the very first ancestor one question, and only one, what would you ask, and why that one above all the others? And the boy thought for three days, and the answer he finally gave, and the way he had wrestled with the choosing, told the old man more about the boy than any test of strength or skill ever could.

Mukulungku dingkarangka buban babajin kuku-kuda nyubun-kuku-daji-kari: kaki yundu babaji ngadiku-bama ngadiku bajaku kuku nyubun, nyubun nganga, wanyu yundu babajil, wanyurrinku yinya wubulmuny? Buban milkabu baykan kulur wungar, kuku-yukil nyulu ngadiku dayan, yala nyulu jarra-manin manilmuny, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan ngulkurr-baja bubanmuny yamba nyubun junkurr janka-yukil baja nyajilmuny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka buban babaji-ny kuku-kuda nyubun-kuku-daji-kari: kaki yundu babaji ngadiku-bama ngadiku bajaku kuku nyubun, nyubun nganga, wanyu yundu babaji-l, wanyurrinku yinya wubul-muny? buban milka-bu bayka-ny kulur wungar, kuku-yukil nyulu ngadiku daya-ny, yala nyulu jarra-ma-ni-ny mani-l-muny, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny ngulkurr-baja buban-muny yamba nyubun junkurr janka-yukil baja nyaji-l-muny | old man boy asked riddle answer-single-less: if you ask ancestor first very question one, one only, what you ask, why that all-ABL? boy thought three days, answer he finally gave, how he wrestled choosing-of, old man said more boy-of thing one strength skill too see-ABL | ...

babaji kuku wanyu wanyurrinku milka kulur wungar nyajil


The old woman said there are questions you must never ask aloud and questions you must never fail to ask, and the wisdom of a whole life is learning which is which: never ask a grieving person why so soon, never ask a proud person whether they failed, but always ask a departing traveller whether they have water and food, and always ask a silent child what is wrong.

Wulbumanangka balkan kuku nyubun-nyubun yundu kariku babaji kuku-mundu kuku nyubun-nyubun yundu kariku babajil-kari, wawu kalbay wubulku binalman wanyu wanya: kariku wawu-mumbu-bama babaji wanyurrinku warri, kariku wawu-junkurr-bama babaji nyulu kaka-manin, yambada yabarrka jilba-bama babaji nyulu bana mayi karrbalmuny, yabarrka karrkay dandi babaji wanyu mumbu.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny kuku nyubun-nyubun yundu kariku babaji kuku-mundu kuku nyubun-nyubun yundu kariku babaji-l-kari, wawu kalbay wubul-ku binal-ma-ny wanyu wanya: kariku wawu-mumbu-bama babaji wanyurrinku warri, kariku wawu-junkurr-bama babaji nyulu kaka-ma-ni-ny, yambada yabarrka jilba-bama babaji nyulu bana mayi karrba-l-muny, yabarrka karrkay dandi babaji wanyu mumbu | old.woman said question certain you never ask aloud question certain you never fail-ask, wisdom life long all learns which which: never grieving-person ask why so.soon, never proud-person ask he failed, but always traveller ask he water food holds-of, always child silent ask what wrong | ...

kuku babaji wawu binal wanyurrinku warri jilbay mayi


When the strangers arrived the old man greeted them and asked the old questions of hospitality in the proper order: where have you come from, how long is your road, are your people well, do you need water and food and rest, and only much later, when they had eaten and rested, did he ask the last question, what has brought you all this way to us?

Bama-yindu kadanya mukulungku dingkarangka jana yulmbarrilbu babajin kuku ngadiku dayal-yamba yukil-dukurr: wanjamuny yundu kadan, wanja-wanja yundu baral, yundu bama yukil, yundu bana mayi wawu-manil, mara-kunbanka baja, ngadiku-baja bajaku, jana nukan mara-kunban, nyulu babajin kuku bada, wanyu yundu ngananka baral kalbay yinya wubulku kadanmuny?

bama-yindu kada-nya mukul-ungku dingkar-angka jana yulmbarril-bu babaji-ny kuku ngadiku daya-l-yamba yukil-dukurr: wanjamuny yundu kada-ny, wanja-wanja yundu baral, yundu bama yukil, yundu bana mayi wawu-ma-ni-l, mara-kunba-nka baja, ngadiku-baja bajaku, jana nuka-ny mara-kunba-ny, nyulu babaji-ny kuku bada, wanyu yundu ngana-nka baral kalbay yinya wubul-ku kada-ny-muny? | strangers come-SUB old man them welcome-INST asked questions hospitality good-order: where-from you came, when your road, your people well, you water food want, to-rest too, much.later very, they ate rested, he asked question last, what you us-for road long that all came-of? | ...

bama yulmbarril babaji wanjamuny wanja-wanja bana mayi baral


The old woman said a child learns the world by asking what is that over and over, but a person becomes wise by learning to ask a deeper question of themselves: not what is that, but what am I not seeing, what am I assuming, what would change my mind, for the questions we turn outward make us clever and the questions we turn inward make us wise.

Wulbumanangka balkan karrkay bubu binalman babajilbu wanyu yinya jambulku wubulku, yambada bama binal-manda binalman babajinka kuku bada nyulu-nyulumuny: kari wanyu yinya, yambada wanyu ngayu kari nyaji, wanyu ngayu kuku-junkurr karrbal, wanyu ngayku milka yindu-manil, kuku ngana ngalanga wandiman ngana binal-manil kuku ngana dukurr-bu wandiman ngana wawu-yukil-manil.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny karrkay bubu binal-ma-ny babaji-l-bu wanyu yinya jambul-ku wubul-ku, yambada bama binal-ma-nda binal-ma-ny babaji-nka kuku bada nyulu-nyulu-muny: kari wanyu yinya, yambada wanyu ngayu kari nyaji, wanyu ngayu kuku-junkurr karrba-l, wanyu ngayku milka yindu-ma-ni-l, kuku ngana ngala-nga wandi-ma-ny ngana binal-ma-ni-l kuku ngana dukurr-bu wandi-ma-ny ngana wawu-yukil-ma-ni-l | old.woman said child world learns ask-INST what that again all, but person wise-becomes learns ask-DAT question deep himself-of: NEG what that, but what I NEG see, what I assumption hold, what my mind changes, question we outside turn we clever-makes question we inside turn we wise-makes | ...

karrkay binal babaji wanyu nyaji kuku-junkurr milka dukurr

dukurr-bu LOC; ngala-nga LOC; outward-questions-make-clever-inward-make-wise


The boy asked the old man which was the strongest animal, and the old man turned it into a lesson by asking back a chain of his own: strongest at what — at lifting, at running, at holding on, at going without water, at surviving fire, for the crocodile is strongest in the water and useless on the ridge, and the question which is strongest has no answer until you first ask, strongest for what task and in what place?

Buban mukulungku dingkar babajin wanyu minya junkurr bajaku, mukulungku dingkarangka yinya milbil-manin babajin kuku nyungu-nyungu: junkurr wanyunka — jarrakulbalka, warrinka, karrbanka, bana-karibu janayka, baya wula-karibu, bilngkumu junkurr bajaku bananga jina-kiway yamba-yukil-kari, kuku wanyu junkurr nyulu kuku-daji-kari yundu ngadiku babajil, junkurr wanyu kirrajinka wanja bubungu?

buban mukul-ungku dingkar babaji-ny wanyu minya junkurr bajaku, mukul-ungku dingkar-angka yinya milbil-ma-ni-ny babaji-ny kuku nyungu-nyungu: junkurr wanyu-nka, jarrakulba-l-ka, warri-nka, karrba-nka, bana-kari-bu jana-y-ka, baya wula-kari-bu, bilngkumu junkurr bajaku bana-nga jina-kiway yamba-yukil-kari, kuku wanyu junkurr nyulu kuku-daji-kari yundu ngadiku babaji-l, junkurr wanyu kirraji-nka wanja bubu-ngu? | boy old man asked what animal strong most, old man that lesson-made asked question his.own: strong what-for, lifting, running, holding, water-less-INST being, fire flame-less-INST, crocodile strong most water-LOC ridge useless, question what strong it answer-less you first ask, strong what task-for where ground-LOC? | ...

babaji wanyu minya junkurr warri bana bilngkumu bubu


The old woman said the hardest question a person ever faces is asked in silence by their own conscience in the dark before sleep: did I act well today, was I fair, did I take more than I gave, did I turn away from someone who needed me, and she taught that a person who can lie awake honestly asking themselves these questions will grow good, while one who never asks them will not.

Wulbumanangka balkan kuku dandi bajaku bama nyubun nyajil babajin dandi-bu nyungu-nyungu wawu-milka wujurr-bu wunay ngadiku: ngayu murni yukil yinya wungar, ngayu daji-way-yukil, ngayu manin ngulkurr-baja dayanmuny, ngayu bawan bama nyubun ngaya wawu-manilmuny, nyulu milbin bama nyulu wuna-janan kuku-yukil-bu nyulu-nyulu babajil kuku yinya nyulu yukil-manda, yambada nyulu kariku babajil nyulu kari.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny kuku dandi bajaku bama nyubun nyaji-l babaji-ny dandi-bu nyungu-nyungu wawu-milka wujurr-bu wuna-y ngadiku: ngayu murni yukil yinya wungar, ngayu daji-way-yukil, ngayu mani-ny ngulkurr-baja daya-ny-muny, ngayu bawa-ny bama nyubun ngaya wawu-ma-ni-l-muny, nyulu milbi-ny bama nyulu wuna-jana-ny kuku-yukil-bu nyulu-nyulu babaji-l kuku yinya nyulu yukil-ma-nda, yambada nyulu kariku babaji-l nyulu kari | old.woman said question hard most person one faces asked silently his.own conscience dark-LOC sleep before: I acted well that day, I fair, I took more gave-of, I turned.away person one me needed-of, she taught person he lies.awake honestly-INST himself asks question that he good-becomes, but he never asks he NEG | ...

kuku dandi babaji jubi wawu wujurr daji-way milbil


The old man ran a test where each boy had to ask the group a question that no one could answer, and it was harder than it sounds, for a good unanswerable question must be real and not just silly, must open a mystery worth thinking about, and the boy whose question made the whole camp fall silent and then argue late into the night had shown a rarer gift than any straight answer.

Mukulungku dingkarangka nyaji-yamba bungan wanja buban nyubun-nyubun bama-wubul babajinka kuku bama nyubun kari kuku-yukil-manilmuny, nyulu dandi ngulkurr-baja ngaranmuny, kuku-yukil-kari yukil nyulu ngadiku kari nganga kuda, yamba-buyan yukil milkalka karra, buban nyulu nyungu kuku bayan wubulku dandi-bungan yalada baji-way wujurr dukurr-bu nyulu milbin daji kari-mabi ngulkurr-baja kuku-yukil murnimuny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka nyaji-yamba bunga-ny wanja buban nyubun-nyubun bama-wubul babaji-nka kuku bama nyubun kari kuku-yukil-ma-ni-l-muny, nyulu dandi ngulkurr-baja ngara-ny-muny, kuku-yukil-kari yukil nyulu ngadiku kari nganga kuda, yamba-buya-ny yukil milka-l-ka karra, buban nyulu nyungu kuku bayan wubul-ku dandi-bunga-ny yala-da baji-way wujurr dukurr-bu nyulu milbi-ny daji kari-mabi ngulkurr-baja kuku-yukil murni-muny | old man test made where boy each group asks question person one NEG answer-of, it hard more sounds-of, unanswerable good it real NEG just silly, mystery good think-DAT worth, boy his question camp all silent-made then argue night deep-LOC he showed gift rare more straight-answer than | ...

nyaji babaji kuku dandi milka baji-way kunya dukurr

dukurr-bu LOC; baji-way RECIP; the-unanswerable-question-test


The old woman said a mother's whole day is a stream of small questions the children ask, and how she answers them shapes what kind of people they become: does she say be quiet, I am busy, or does she say that is a good question, let us find out; does she guess to look clever, or admit when she does not know, for the child learns not just the answers but how to hold not-knowing.

Wulbumanangka balkan ngamu nyungu wungar wubulku nyulu kuku buban-mabi karrkay babajilmuny, yala nyulu kuku-yukil-manil murnil wanyu bama jana janaymuny: nyulu balkan janay, ngayu kirraji-ji, yambada nyulu balkan yinya kuku yukil, ngana binalka; nyulu kanban-manil janka-yukil nyajinka, yambada balkan kaki nyulu kari binal, karrkay binalman kari nganga kuku-yukil yambada yala binal-kari karrbanka.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny ngamu nyungu wungar wubul-ku nyulu kuku buban-mabi karrkay babaji-l-muny, yala nyulu kuku-yukil-ma-ni-l murni-l wanyu bama jana jana-y-muny: nyulu balka-ny janay, ngayu kirraji-ji, yambada nyulu balka-ny yinya kuku yukil, ngana binal-ka; nyulu kanban-ma-ni-l janka-yukil nyaji-nka, yambada balka-ny kaki nyulu kari binal, karrkay binal-ma-ny kari nganga kuku-yukil yambada yala binal-kari karrba-nka | old.woman said mother her day all it question small-like children ask-of, how she answers shapes what people they become-of: she says quiet-become, I busy-COMIT, or she says that question good, we find.out; she guesses clever look-DAT, or says if she NEG know, child learns NEG just answer but how not-know hold-DAT | ...

ngamu wungar kuku babaji wanyu binal kanban kaki


The boy asked the old man the oldest question of all, the one every child asks: where do we go when we die? And the old man did not pretend to certainty but spoke honestly of what the old people believed and what he himself hoped and what no one can truly know, and he said the honest answer to the deepest question is worth more than a comfortable lie, even to a frightened child.

Buban mukulungku dingkar babajin kuku ngadiku bajaku wubulmuny, nyubun karrkay wubulku babajilmuny: wanjabu ngana dungay ngana wulanya? Mukulungku dingkarangka kari kuku-junkurr-manin yambada balkan yukil bama mukul wawu-karrbanmuny nyulu-nyulu wawu-manilmuny yamba nyubun kari bajaku binalmuny, nyulu balkan kuku-yukil kuku bada bajakumuny ngulkurr-baja kuku-mumbu kima-muny, karrkay yinil-jinka baja.

buban mukul-ungku dingkar babaji-ny kuku ngadiku bajaku wubul-muny, nyubun karrkay wubul-ku babaji-l-muny: wanjabu ngana dunga-y ngana wula-nya? mukul-ungku dingkar-angka kari kuku-junkurr-ma-ni-ny yambada balka-ny yukil bama mukul wawu-karrba-ny-muny nyulu-nyulu wawu-ma-ni-l-muny yamba nyubun kari bajaku binal-muny, nyulu balka-ny kuku-yukil kuku bada bajaku-muny ngulkurr-baja kuku-mumbu kima-muny, karrkay yinil-ji-nka baja | boy old man asked question oldest very all-ABL, one child all ask-of: where.to we go we die-SUB? old man NEG certainty-made but said honestly people old believed-of himself hoped-of thing one NEG truly know-of, he said honest.answer question deep most-of more comfortable-lie-ABL, child fear-COMIT-for too | ...

babaji kuku wanjabu wula wawu-karrba binal jinbi yinil


The old woman said before you correct anyone you should ask yourself three questions: is it true, is it kind, and is it needed, for a thing may be all three and still be worth saying, or true but cruel and pointless, and she taught that the person who runs every criticism through these three questions before speaking will wound far fewer people and be heeded by far more.

Wulbumanangka balkan yundu bama nyubun murni-bungal ngadiku yundu nyulu-nyulu babaji kuku kulur: yinya kuku-yukil, yinya wawu-jirray, yinya wawu-manil, yamba nyulu kulur wubulku yambada yukil balkanka, yambada kuku-yukil yambada dukul-wuri kuku-daji-kari baja, nyulu milbin bama nyulu kuku-mumbu wubulku kuku kulur yinya-mundu balkal ngadiku nyulu buban-buban baja bama buyun-bungal ngulkurr wubulku ngaranmu.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny yundu bama nyubun murni-bunga-l ngadiku yundu nyulu-nyulu babaji kuku kulur: yinya kuku-yukil, yinya wawu-jirray, yinya wawu-ma-ni-l, yamba nyulu kulur wubul-ku yambada yukil balka-nka, yambada kuku-yukil yambada dukul-wuri kuku-daji-kari baja, nyulu milbi-ny bama nyulu kuku-mumbu wubul-ku kuku kulur yinya-mundu balka-l ngadiku nyulu buban-buban baja bama buyun-bunga-l ngulkurr wubul-ku ngara-ny-mu | old.woman said you person one correct before you yourself ask question three: it true, it kind, it needed, thing it three all still good say-DAT, or true but cruel pointless too, she taught person he criticism all question three that-through says before he fewer person wound more all heeded | ...

murni babaji kuku wawu-jirray dukul-wuri milbil buyun ngaral


The children asked the old woman a hundred where-questions on the long walk: where does the river start, where do the birds sleep, where is the edge of the country, where does the sky touch the ground, where did the old people first come from; and she answered the ones with answers and, for the ones without, she said honestly that these were the questions the whole people had been asking since the beginning.

Karrkay-karrkay wulbuman babajin wanja-kuku wubul baral kalbay-mba: wanja wawubaja ngadiku, wanja buyi wunay, wanja bubu-kunbayn, wanja jiri bubu kajal, wanjamuny bama mukul ngadiku bajaku kadan; nyulu kuku-yukil-manin kuku-yukil-jimuny, kuku-yukil-karimuny, nyulu balkan yukil kuku yinya bama wubulku babajinmuny ngadiku-mundu.

karrkay-karrkay wulbuman babaji-ny wanja-kuku wubul baral kalbay-mba: wanja wawubaja ngadiku, wanja buyi wuna-y, wanja bubu-kunbayn, wanja jiri bubu kaja-l, wanjamuny bama mukul ngadiku bajaku kada-ny; nyulu kuku-yukil-ma-ni-ny kuku-yukil-ji-muny, kuku-yukil-kari-muny, nyulu balka-ny yukil kuku yinya bama wubul-ku babaji-ny-muny ngadiku-mundu | children old.woman asked where-question hundred road long-LOC: where river starts, where birds sleep, where country edge, where sky ground touches, where-from people old first came; she answered answer-COMIT-of, answer-PRIV-of, she said honestly question those people all asking-of beginning-from | ...

karrkay babaji wanja wawubaja buyi bubu jiri wanjamuny

kalbay-nga LOC(l)->kalbayba FIX; wanja/wanjamuny; a-hundred-where-questions


The old man said the difference between a good decision and a bad one is often just the questions you asked before making it: did I ask who this will affect, did I ask what could go wrong, did I ask whether I am deciding in anger, did I ask what the old people would have done, so that a slow decision with the right questions asked beats a fast one made blind almost every time.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan kuku-manin yukil kuku-manin mumbu yindu-yindu nganga kuku yundu babajinmuny ngadiku bungalmuny: ngayu babajin wanya yinya murninmuny, ngayu babajin wanyu mumbu-mandanmuny, ngayu babajin ngayu dukul-wuri-nga kuku-manilmuny, ngayu babajin wanyu bama mukul murninmuny, kuku-manin buban-buban kuku yukil babajin-ji ngulkurr-baja kuku-manin warri miyil-karibu wubulku wungara.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny kuku-mani-ny yukil kuku-mani-ny mumbu yindu-yindu nganga kuku yundu babaji-ny-muny ngadiku bunga-l-muny: ngayu babaji-ny wanya yinya murni-ny-muny, ngayu babaji-ny wanyu mumbu-ma-nda-ny-muny, ngayu babaji-ny ngayu dukul-wuri-nga kuku-ma-ni-l-muny, ngayu babaji-ny wanyu bama mukul murni-ny-muny, kuku-mani-ny buban-buban kuku yukil babaji-ny-ji ngulkurr-baja kuku-mani-ny warri miyil-kari-bu wubul-ku wungar-a | old man said decision good decision bad different just question you asked-of before make-of: I asked who this affects-of, I asked what wrong-become-of, I asked I anger-LOC decide-of, I asked what people old did-of, decision slow question good asked-with better decision fast blind-INST all time-LOC | ...

kuku mumbu babaji wanya wanyu dukul-wuri milbil warri

dukul-wuri-nga LOC; wungar-nga LOC; the-right-questions-before-deciding


The old woman said a child's why is a gift and an adult's why can be a weapon, for the same word asked with open wonder opens the world, but asked with a sneer to shame someone shuts it, and she taught that you should listen to the tone before you answer any why, and answer the wonder gladly but never reward the sneer, for the question is only as good as the spirit behind it.

Wulbumanangka balkan karrkay nyungu wanyurrinku nyulu daji mukul-bama nyungu wanyurrinku nyulu yinil-yamba, kuku nyubun babajin miyil-jangan-ji bubu kajal, yambada babajin bikirr-daji-bu bama nyubun bikirr-bungalka kajal, nyulu milbin yundu ngara kuku-nganja ngadiku yundu wanyurrinku nyubun kuku-yukil-manil, kuku-yukil-mani miyil-jangan wawu-minibu yambada kariku bikirr-daji dayal, kuku nyulu nganga yukil yala wawu ngundungu.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny karrkay nyungu wanyurrinku nyulu daji mukul-bama nyungu wanyurrinku nyulu yinil-yamba, kuku nyubun babaji-ny miyil-janga-ny-ji bubu kaja-l, yambada babaji-ny bikirr-daji-bu bama nyubun bikirr-bunga-nka kaja-l, nyulu milbi-ny yundu ngara kuku-nganja ngadiku yundu wanyurrinku nyubun kuku-yukil-ma-ni-l, kuku-yukil-mani miyil-janga-ny wawu-mini-bu yambada kariku bikirr-daji daya-l, kuku nyulu nganga yukil yala wawu ngundu-ngu | old.woman said child his why it gift adult-person his why it weapon-thing, word one asked wonder-open-COMIT world opens, but asked contempt-INST person one shame-make-DAT shuts, she taught you listen tone before you why one answer, answer wonder gladly but never contempt reward, question it just good as spirit behind-LOC | ...

karrkay wanyurrinku kuku babaji milbil nganja wawu-mini wawu

ngundu-nga LOC(u)->ngundungu FIX; the-question-is-as-good-as-the-spirit-behind-it


The old man taught the young that some questions are traps and must be answered with a question: if a man asks you angrily whether you called him a liar, do not say yes or no but ask him what he actually heard and from whom, for the trap-question wants a fight and the counter-question wants the truth, and the one who keeps his head and asks back will win where the one who answers straight will lose.

Mukulungku dingkarangka warru milbin kuku nyubun-nyubun jina-yijarril kuku-mundu kuku-yukil-manilka: dingkar nyulu yundu dukul-wuri-bu babajinnya yundu nyulu kuku-mumbu-bama balkanmuny, kari balka yuwu yambada kari, babaji nyulu wanyu nyulu ngaranmuny wanyamuny, jina-babaji nyulu kuni-way wawu-manil kuku-babaji nyulu kuku-yukil wawu-manil, bama nyulu nyungu milka karrbal babajil nyulu wular yala bama nyulu kuku-mundu balkal wular baja.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka warru milbi-ny kuku nyubun-nyubun jina-yijarri-l kuku-mundu kuku-yukil-ma-ni-nka: dingkar nyulu yundu dukul-wuri-bu babaji-ny-nya yundu nyulu kuku-mumbu-bama balka-ny-muny, kari balka yuwu yambada kari, babaji nyulu wanyu nyulu ngara-ny-muny wanya-muny, jina-babaji nyulu kuni-way wawu-ma-ni-l kuku-babaji nyulu kuku-yukil wawu-ma-ni-l, bama nyulu nyungu milka karrba-l babaji-l nyulu wular yala bama nyulu kuku-mundu balka-l wular baja | old man young taught question certain trap answer-DAT question-with: man he you anger-INST asks-SUB you liar-person called-of, NEG say yes or no, ask what he heard-of whom-from, trap-question it fight wants counter-question it truth wants, person he his head holds asks he wins as person he straightly answers loses too | ...

kuku babaji dukul-wuri yuwu wanyu kuni-way milka balkal


The old woman said the young are afraid to ask questions because they fear looking foolish, and this fear robs them of half of what they could learn, so she made her camp a place where no honest question was ever mocked, where the elder answering would often say that is exactly what I wondered at your age, so that the children learned that asking is not weakness but the very engine of all growing wise.

Wulbumanangka balkan warru yinil-ji babajinka jana yinil ngangkal yala nyajilmuny, yinya yinil jananka jarrba manin jana binalman-mabimuny, nyulu bungan nyungu bayan bubu wanja kuku-yukil nyubun kariku bikirr-bungal, wanja mukul kuku-yukil-manil nganga balkan yinya ngayu baja milkanga karrbanmuny yundu wungara, karrkay-karrkay binalman babaji nyulu kari junkurr-kari yambada nyulu yamba-murni wawu-yukil bungalmuny wubulku.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny warru yinil-ji babaji-nka jana yinil ngangkal yala nyaji-l-muny, yinya yinil jana-nka jarrba mani-ny jana binal-ma-ny-mabi-muny, nyulu bunga-ny nyungu bayan bubu wanja kuku-yukil nyubun kariku bikirr-bunga-l, wanja mukul kuku-yukil-ma-ni-l nganga balka-ny yinya ngayu baja milka-nga karrba-ny-muny yundu wungar-a, karrkay-karrkay binal-ma-ny babaji nyulu kari junkurr-kari yambada nyulu yamba-murni wawu-yukil bunga-l-muny wubul-ku | old.woman said young fear-COMIT ask-DAT they fear self-foolish as look-of, that fear them-for half took they could.learn-of, she made her camp place where question honest one never mocked, where elder answers just says that I too wondered-of your age-LOC, children learned asking it NEG weakness but engine wise make-of all | ...

warru yinil babaji binal bayan bikirr milka wungar


The old man said when you are truly lost the right questions are simple and few: where did I last know where I was, what has the sun done since then, which way is the water flowing and where does it lead, so that a calm person asking three clear questions will find their way home while a panicked person asking none, just running, will wander in circles until they drop.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan yundu bajaku wular-manda kuku yukil kima buban: wanja ngayu ngadiku binal wanja ngayu janan, wanyu kala-kalbay murninmuny ngadiku-mundu, wanjaburr bana dungay wanjabu nyulu dungay, bama dandi kuku kulur jirakal babajil nyulu nyungu baral bayan-mundu manil yambada bama yinil-ji kuku-kari, nganga warri, nyulu naka-naka jilbal dukul nyulu badanya.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny yundu bajaku wular-ma-nda kuku yukil kima buban: wanja ngayu ngadiku binal wanja ngayu jana-ny, wanyu kala-kalbay murni-ny-muny ngadiku-mundu, wanjaburr bana dunga-y wanjabu nyulu dunga-y, bama dandi kuku kulur jirakal babaji-l nyulu nyungu baral bayan-mundu mani-l yambada bama yinil-ji kuku-kari, nganga warri, nyulu naka-naka jilba-l dukul nyulu bada-nya | old man said you truly lost-become question good easy few: where I last know where I stood, what sun did-of since, which.way water flows where.to it goes, person calm question three clear asks he his road home-toward finds but person fear-COMIT question-less, just runs, he across walks at.last he drops | ...

wular kuku wanja wanyu wanjaburr bana wanjabu yinil


The old woman said the deepest test of whether you really understand something is whether you can answer a child's simplest questions about it, for a person who truly knows why the tide turns can explain it to a five-year-old, but a person who has only memorized words will be exposed the moment the child asks the innocent question, but why, that the memorized words cannot answer.

Wulbumanangka balkan nyaji dukurr bajaku yundu yamba nyubun bajaku binalmuny yundu karrkay nyungu kuku kima bajaku kuku-yukil-manilmuny, bama nyulu bajaku binal wanyurrinku jalun-ba murninmuny nyulu karrkay kulur-wungar-bamanka balkalmuny, yambada bama nyulu nganga kuku milka-karrban nyulu nyaji-manda karrkay babajinya kuku kima, yambada wanyurrinku, kuku milka-karrban nyulu kari kuku-yukil-manil.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny nyaji dukurr bajaku yundu yamba nyubun bajaku binal-muny yundu karrkay nyungu kuku kima bajaku kuku-yukil-ma-ni-l-muny, bama nyulu bajaku binal wanyurrinku jalun-ba murni-ny-muny nyulu karrkay kulur-wungar-bama-nka balka-l-muny, yambada bama nyulu nganga kuku milka-karrba-ny nyulu nyaji-ma-nda karrkay babaji-nya kuku kima, yambada wanyurrinku, kuku milka-karrba-ny nyulu kari kuku-yukil-ma-ni-l | old.woman said test deep most you thing one truly know-of you child his question easy most answer-of, person he truly knows why tide turns-of he child five-year-person-for explain-of, but person he just word memorized he exposed child asks-SUB question easy, but why, word memorized it NEG answer | ...

nyaji dukurr binal karrkay kuku wanyurrinku jalun milka


The old man taught the boys the questions that keep a traveller alive, to be asked at every new place before making camp: where is the nearest water and is it good, which way does the wind come at night, could this dry creek flood in the dark, what animals own this ground, and where is the high safe place if the water rises, for the traveller who asks these five questions every evening grows old on the road.

Mukulungku dingkarangka warru-warru milbin kuku jilba-bama wunay-manilmuny, babajinka bubu jirakal wubulku bayan bungal ngadiku: wanja bana ngundu-baja yinya yukil, wanjaburr muyar kadan wujurrba, bubu-jandu kiway-kiway yinya bana-yalbay-manda wujurr-bu, wanyu minya bubu yinya karrbal, wanja bubu wangkar yukil kaki bana wandinya, jilba-bama nyulu kuku kulur-nganjil yinya nyubun-nyubun kunarangkal babajil nyulu mukul-manda baralba.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka warru-warru milbi-ny kuku jilba-bama wuna-y-ma-ni-l-muny, babaji-nka bubu jirakal wubul-ku bayan bunga-l ngadiku: wanja bana ngundu-baja yinya yukil, wanjaburr muyar kada-ny wujurr-ba, bubu-jandu kiway-kiway yinya bana-yalbay-ma-nda wujurr-bu, wanyu minya bubu yinya karrba-l, wanja bubu wangkar yukil kaki bana wandi-nya, jilba-bama nyulu kuku kulur-nganjil yinya nyubun-nyubun kunarangkal babaji-l nyulu mukul-ma-nda baral-ba | old man young.men taught question traveller alive-keeps-of, ask-DAT place new all camp make before: where water nearest that good, which.way wind comes night-LOC, dry-creek this it flood-becomes dark-LOC, what animals ground this own, where ground high safe if water rises-SUB, traveller he question five that each evening asks he grows.old road-LOC | ...

kuku jilbay babaji wanja bana wanjaburr muyar kaki

kaki; kunya-nga/baral-nga LOC; the-five-questions-that-keep-a-traveller-alive


The old woman said that the way a person answers the question how are you tells you almost everything: the one who says fine and looks away, the one who tells you their whole trouble, the one who turns it back and asks after you first, and she taught the children that this small daily question, asked with real attention and answered with real honesty, is one of the quiet threads that holds a whole people together.

Wulbumanangka balkan yala bama nyubun kuku-yukil-manil kuku yundu wanjarr nyulu yundunka yamba wubulku balkal: nyulu balkan yukil miyil bawal, nyulu balkan yundunka nyungu mumbu wubulku, nyulu kuku-mundu nyunbal babajil yundunka ngadiku, nyulu karrkay-karrkay milbin kuku buban wungar-mabi, babajin milka-yukilbu kuku-yukil-manin kuku-yukil-bu, nyulu nyubun karra dandi bama wubulku nyubunku karrbalmuny.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny yala bama nyubun kuku-yukil-ma-ni-l kuku yundu wanjarr nyulu yundu-nka yamba wubul-ku balka-l: nyulu balka-ny yukil miyil bawa-l, nyulu balka-ny yundu-nka nyungu mumbu wubul-ku, nyulu kuku-mundu nyunba-l babaji-l yundu-nka ngadiku, nyulu karrkay-karrkay milbi-ny kuku buban wungar-mabi, babaji-ny milka-yukil-bu kuku-yukil-ma-ni-ny kuku-yukil-bu, nyulu nyubun karra dandi bama wubul-ku nyubun-ku karrba-l-muny | old.woman said how person one answers question you how it you-for thing all tells: he says well eye turns.away, he says you-for his trouble all, he question-with returns asks you-for first, she children taught question small daily-like, asked attention-INST answered honesty-INST, it one thread quiet people all together holds-of | ...

kuku wanjarr balkal miyil mumbu babaji milka karra


The old man said the questions a people stops asking mark the edges of what it has given up on, for a people that no longer asks where the missing ones went, or why the young are leaving, or how the old ways could be kept, has already half-surrendered, so he made it a duty to keep asking the hard uncomfortable questions aloud, even when no answer came, for the asking itself keeps a door open that silence would close.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan kuku bama wubul bawan babajinka jarra bubu-ngu wanya nyulu bawanmuny, bama nyulu kari babajil wanja jana bawanmuny dunganmuny, yambada wanyurrinku warru dungay, yambada wanjarr kuku ngadiku karrbal, nyulu ngadiku dukurr-baja bawan, nyulu bungan kuku ngadiku junkurr dandi babajinka kuku-mundu, kuku-yukil kari kadanya baja, babajil nyulu-nyulu bubu karra-kari karrbal dandi nyulu kajalmuny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny kuku bama wubul bawa-ny babaji-nka jarra bubu-ngu wanya nyulu bawa-ny-muny, bama nyulu kari babaji-l wanja jana bawa-ny-muny dunga-ny-muny, yambada wanyurrinku warru dunga-y, yambada wanjarr kuku ngadiku karrba-l, nyulu ngadiku dukurr-baja bawa-ny, nyulu bunga-ny kuku ngadiku junkurr dandi babaji-nka kuku-mundu, kuku-yukil kari kada-nya baja, babaji-l nyulu-nyulu bubu karra-kari karrba-l dandi nyulu kaja-l-muny | old man said question people stops ask-DAT marks edge what it given.up-of, people he no.longer asks where missing went-of, or why young go, or how law old kept, he already half-surrendered, he made duty question hard uncomfortable ask-DAT aloud, answer NEG comes too, asking itself door open-less(open) holds silence it close-of | ...

kuku bama babaji wanja wanyurrinku warru dukurr jubi


The children asked the old woman the question children everywhere ask about the past: what was it like before, when you were small, was it better or worse, and did you have the things we have; and she was careful to answer truthfully, neither painting the old days as a golden time nor as a hard darkness, for she said a child who is lied to about the past cannot understand the present or choose the future well.

Karrkay-karrkay wulbuman babajin kuku karrkay bubu wubulku babajil ngadiku-mundu: wanyu yala ngadiku, yundu buban janay-mba, yinya yukil-baja mumbu-baja, yundu yamba ngana karrbal karrbanmuny; nyulu wawu-karrbabu kuku-yukil-manin, kari ngadiku-wungar makirr-wungar yala kari wujurr-dandi yala, nyulu balkan karrkay nyulu ngadiku-mundu kuku-mumbunmuny nyulu kari nyikuku binal yambada wungar-kadal yukil manilmuny.

karrkay-karrkay wulbuman babaji-ny kuku karrkay bubu wubul-ku babaji-l ngadiku-mundu: wanyu yala ngadiku, yundu buban jana-y-mba, yinya yukil-baja mumbu-baja, yundu yamba ngana karrba-l karrba-ny-muny; nyulu wawu-karrba-bu kuku-yukil-ma-ni-ny, kari ngadiku-wungar makirr-wungar yala kari wujurr-dandi yala, nyulu balka-ny karrkay nyulu ngadiku-mundu kuku-mumbu-ny-muny nyulu kari nyiku-ku binal yambada wungar-kada-l yukil mani-l-muny | children old.woman asked question children world all ask past-about: what like before, you small were-LOC, that better worse, you thing we hold held-of; she truthfully answered, NEG old-days golden-days as NEG dark-hard as, she said child he past-about lied-of he NEG now know or future good take-of | ...

karrkay babaji kuku wanyu yukil mumbu binal wungar


The old man said the best teachers do not give answers, they teach questions, for an answer feeds you once but a good question feeds you for life, teaching you to find a hundred answers yourself, so instead of telling the boy where the fish were, he taught him to ask the water: where is it deep, where is it shaded, where does the small food gather, and the fish will tell you where they are.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan milbil-bama yukil bajaku kari kuku-yukil dayal, jana milbin kuku-babaji, kuku-yukil dayal nyubun nganga yambada kuku yukil dayal wawu kalbay, milbil yundu kuku-yukil wubul nyulu-nyulu maninka, nyulu kari buban balkan wanja kuyu jananmuny, nyulu milbin bana babajinka: wanja bada, wanja wabarr, wanja mayi buban bangkan, kuyu nyulu yundunka balkal wanja jana janay.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny milbil-bama yukil bajaku kari kuku-yukil daya-l, jana milbi-ny kuku-babaji, kuku-yukil daya-l nyubun nganga yambada kuku yukil daya-l wawu kalbay, milbi-l yundu kuku-yukil wubul nyulu-nyulu mani-nka, nyulu kari buban balka-ny wanja kuyu jana-ny-muny, nyulu milbi-ny bana babaji-nka: wanja bada, wanja wabarr, wanja mayi buban bangka-ny, kuyu nyulu yundu-nka balka-l wanja jana jana-y | old man said teacher good most NEG answer gives, they teach question, answer feeds once only but question good feeds life long, teaches you answer hundred yourself find-DAT, he NEG boy told where fish were-of, he taught water ask-DAT: where deep, where shaded, where food small gathers, fish it you-for tells where they are | ...

milbil kuku babaji dayal wawu wanja kuyu bana


The old woman said grief comes with unanswerable questions and the kindest thing is not to answer them but to sit with them: when a mother asks why did my child die, she is not really asking for a reason, she is howling, and the person who tries to give her a neat answer wounds her, while the person who simply says I do not know either, and holds her, gives her what she truly needs.

Wulbumanangka balkan wawu-mumbu kadan kuku-yukil-kari-ji kuku-yukil kima kari kuku-yukil-manil yambada jananji bundal: ngamu nyulu babajinnya wanyurrinku ngayku karrkay wulan, nyulu kari bajaku babajil kuku-daji-mundu, nyulu badil, bama nyulu jananka kuku-yukil yukil dayalku nyulu buyun-manil, yambada bama nyulu nganga balkan ngayu baja kari binal, karrban nyulu, dayal nyulu wanya nyulu bajaku wawu-manilmuny.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny wawu-mumbu kada-ny kuku-yukil-kari-ji kuku-yukil kima kari kuku-yukil-ma-ni-l yambada jana-nji bunda-l: ngamu nyulu babaji-ny-nya wanyurrinku ngayku karrkay wula-ny, nyulu kari bajaku babaji-l kuku-daji-mundu, nyulu badi-l, bama nyulu jana-nka kuku-yukil yukil daya-l-ku nyulu buyun-ma-ni-l, yambada bama nyulu nganga balka-ny ngayu baja kari binal, karrba-ny nyulu, daya-l nyulu wanya nyulu bajaku wawu-ma-ni-l-muny | old.woman said grief comes answer-less-COMIT kindest NEG answer but them-with sit: mother asks-SUB why my child died, she NEG truly asks reason-for, she howls, person he them-for answer neat give-DAT he wounds, but person he just says I too NEG know, held her, gives what she truly needs-of | ...

wawu-mumbu kuku babaji wanyurrinku wula badil buyun binal


The old man taught the boys to ask themselves before every hunt the questions that separate the taker from the true hunter: do I truly need this animal or merely want it, will my taking it here harm the future, is this the right season, will I use every part, so that the hunt began not with the spear but with the questions, and a young man who could not answer them well was not yet ready to hunt alone.

Mukulungku dingkarangka warru-warru milbin nyulu-nyulu babajinka balbil ngadiku kuku manil-bama balbi-bama yukilmuny yindu-manilmuny: ngayu bajaku minya yinya wawu-manil yambada nganga wawu-manil, ngayu manilnya yinya bubungu wungar-kadal buyun-manda, yinya wungar yukil, ngayu yamba wubulku manil, balbil ngadiku kari kalka yambada kuku-mundu, warru nyulu kari yukil kuku-yukil-manin nyulu kariku ngadiku nyulu-nyulu balbinka.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka warru-warru milbi-ny nyulu-nyulu babaji-nka balbi-l ngadiku kuku mani-l-bama balbi-bama yukil-muny yindu-ma-ni-l-muny: ngayu bajaku minya yinya wawu-ma-ni-l yambada nganga wawu-ma-ni-l, ngayu mani-l-nya yinya bubu-ngu wungar-kada-l buyun-ma-nda, yinya wungar yukil, ngayu yamba wubul-ku mani-l, balbi-l ngadiku kari kalka yambada kuku-mundu, warru nyulu kari yukil kuku-yukil-ma-ni-ny nyulu kariku ngadiku nyulu-nyulu balbi-nka | old man young.men taught themselves ask-DAT hunt before question taker true-hunter good-of separates-of: I truly animal this want or just want, I take-SUB it ground-LOC future harm-becomes, this season right, I part all use, hunt begins NEG spear but question-with, young he NEG well answered he not.yet himself hunt-DAT | ...

balbil babaji kuku minya wawu bubu wungar kalka


The old woman said the question you are most afraid to ask is usually the one you most need the answer to, and she taught the girls to notice that fear and turn toward it: if you are afraid to ask whether he still loves you, ask; if you are afraid to ask whether the lump is serious, ask; for the question avoided grows in the dark into a monster far worse than any true answer could ever be.

Wulbumanangka balkan kuku yundu yinil bajaku babajinka nyulu nganga kuku-yukil yundu bajaku wawu-manilmuny, nyulu jalbu-buban milbin yinil yinya nyajinka yinya-mundu wandimanka: kaki yundu yinil-ji babajinka nyulu yundu wawu-jirray karrbalmuny, babaji; kaki yundu yinil babajinka buyun-jiran yinya dandi, babaji; kuku bawal jarral wujurr-bu minya-mumbu-mundu ngulkurr-baja yamba kuku-yukil yukil nyubun kariku bajaku janaymuny.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny kuku yundu yinil bajaku babaji-nka nyulu nganga kuku-yukil yundu bajaku wawu-ma-ni-l-muny, nyulu jalbu-buban milbi-ny yinil yinya nyaji-nka yinya-mundu wandi-ma-nka: kaki yundu yinil-ji babaji-nka nyulu yundu wawu-jirray karrba-l-muny, babaji; kaki yundu yinil babaji-nka buyun-jiran yinya dandi, babaji; kuku bawa-l jarra-l wujurr-bu minya-mumbu-mundu ngulkurr-baja yamba kuku-yukil yukil nyubun kariku bajaku jana-y-muny | old.woman said question you fear most ask-DAT it just answer you most need-of, she girls taught fear that notice-DAT it-toward turn-DAT: if you fear-COMIT ask-DAT he you love holds-of, ask; if you fear ask-DAT lump that serious, ask; question avoided grows dark-LOC monster more thing answer good it never worse be-of | ...

kuku yinil babaji wawu milbil kaki wujurr dandi

kaki; wujurr-bu LOC; ask-the-question-you-most-fear


The old man said the young often ask what should I do with my life, and the old ones answered not with a plan but with better questions: what makes the day pass without your noticing, what would you do even if no one thanked you, whose troubles feel like your own, what will the country need that you could become, for the question what should I do is answered only by the questions that reveal who you already are.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan warru nganga babajil wanyu ngayu murni ngayku wawu-kalbaymuny, mukul jana kuku-yukil-manin kari kuku-yalbaybu yambada kuku yukil-baja: wanyu wungar jilban yundu kari nyajilnya, wanyu yundu murni bama nyubun kari wawu-mini dayanya, wanya nyungu mumbu yundu nyungu-nyungu yala, wanyu bubu wawu-manil yundu bunganmuny, kuku wanyu ngayu murni nyulu kuku-yukil-manil nganga kuku yinya wanya yundu ngadiku janaymuny nyajilmuny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny warru nganga babaji-l wanyu ngayu murni ngayku wawu-kalbay-muny, mukul jana kuku-yukil-ma-ni-ny kari kuku-yalbay-bu yambada kuku yukil-baja: wanyu wungar jilba-ny yundu kari nyaji-l-nya, wanyu yundu murni bama nyubun kari wawu-mini daya-nya, wanya nyungu mumbu yundu nyungu-nyungu yala, wanyu bubu wawu-ma-ni-l yundu bunga-ny-muny, kuku wanyu ngayu murni nyulu kuku-yukil-ma-ni-l nganga kuku yinya wanya yundu ngadiku jana-y-muny nyaji-l-muny | old man said young just asks what I do my life-of, old they answered NEG plan-INST but question better: what day passes you NEG notice-SUB, what you do person one NEG thanks give-SUB, whose trouble you your.own as, what country needs you become-of, question what I do it answered only question that who you already are-of reveal-of | ...

warru babaji wanyu murni wawu mumbu wanya bubu


The old woman said there is a question you should ask a very old person before it is too late, and most people forget until the chance is gone: not how are you feeling or do you need anything, but tell me about your life, what do you want me to remember, what did you learn that I should know, for the old carry a whole world that dies with them unasked, and one good question can save a piece of it forever.

Wulbumanangka balkan kuku nyubun yundu babajil mukul bajaku ngadiku nyulu bada bajaku-mandanya, bama wubulku milka-wulan dukul wungar bawanya: kari wanjarr yundu wawu-manil yambada yundu yamba wawu-manil, yambada balka ngaya yundu nyungu wawu-kalbaymuny, wanyu yundu wawu-manil ngayu milkalmuny, wanyu yundu binalman ngayu binalmuny, mukul karrbal bubu nyubun nyulu jananji wulan babaji-kari, kuku nyubun yukil nyulu buban wula-manil bada bajaku.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny kuku nyubun yundu babaji-l mukul bajaku ngadiku nyulu bada bajaku-ma-nda-nya, bama wubul-ku milka-wula-ny dukul wungar bawa-nya: kari wanjarr yundu wawu-ma-ni-l yambada yundu yamba wawu-ma-ni-l, yambada balka ngaya yundu nyungu wawu-kalbay-muny, wanyu yundu wawu-ma-ni-l ngayu milka-l-muny, wanyu yundu binal-ma-ny ngayu binal-muny, mukul karrba-l bubu nyubun nyulu jana-nji wula-ny babaji-kari, kuku nyubun yukil nyulu buban wula-ma-ni-l bada bajaku | old.woman said question one you ask old very before it too.late-becomes-SUB, people all forget at.last chance gone-SUB: NEG how you feel or you thing want, but tell me your life-of, what you want I remember-of, what you learned I know-of, old holds world one it them-with dies unasked, question one good it piece saves deep most | ...

kuku babaji mukul milka-wula wanjarr wanyu binal wula


The old man said even the animals ask questions in their way, and a hunter must learn to read them: the wallaby that lifts its head and freezes is asking what was that sound, the bird that gives a sharp call is asking is there danger, the whole silent bush that stops at once is asking together where is the hunter, so that the good hunter answers the country's questions before the country can warn its own.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan minya baja babajil nyungu yala, balbi-bama nyulu milbil ngaranka: darrba nyulu muku wangkar-manil janan nyulu babajil wanyu yinya kadil, buyi nyulu kuku jalngkun dayal nyulu babajil yinil ngundu, majaji dandi wubulku kajal nyubunku nyulu babajil nyubunji wanja balbi-bama, balbi-bama yukil kuku-yukil-manil bubu nyungu kuku-babaji ngadiku bubu nyulu jana warri-manilmuny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny minya baja babaji-l nyungu yala, balbi-bama nyulu milbi-l ngara-nka: darrba nyulu muku wangkar-ma-ni-l jana-ny nyulu babaji-l wanyu yinya kadil, buyi nyulu kuku jalngkun daya-l nyulu babaji-l yinil ngundu, majaji dandi wubul-ku kaja-l nyubun-ku nyulu babaji-l nyubun-ji wanja balbi-bama, balbi-bama yukil kuku-yukil-ma-ni-l bubu nyungu kuku-babaji ngadiku bubu nyulu jana warri-ma-ni-l-muny | old man said animals too ask their way, hunter he read-DAT: wallaby it head lifts freezes it asks what that sound, bird it call sharp gives it asks danger near, scrub silent all stops one-DAT it asks together where hunter, hunter good answers country its question before country it its warns-of | ...

minya babaji balbil darrba buyi jalngkun yinil majaji

kadil 'sharp sound'; even-the-animals-ask-questions


The old woman said the questions parents ask their children reveal what those parents truly value, for the parent who asks only did you win, did you beat the others, teaches one thing, while the parent who asks were you kind, did you learn something, did you help anyone, teaches another, so she told the young mothers to listen to their own questions, for their children are learning what matters from what the mother thinks to ask.

Wulbumanangka balkan kuku ngamu-nganjan karrkay babajil balkal wanyu ngamu-nganjan bajaku yamba-yukilmuny, ngamu-nganjan nyulu nganga babajil yundu wular, yundu bama yindu wular-manin, milbin yamba nyubun, yambada ngamu-nganjan nyulu babajil yundu wawu-jirray, yundu yamba binalman, yundu bama nyubun ngaya-manin, milbin yindu, nyulu balkan warru-ngamu ngara jananka kuku, karrkay jana binalman wanyu yamba-yukil wanyu ngamu milka babajilmuny.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny kuku ngamu-nganjan karrkay babaji-l balka-l wanyu ngamu-nganjan bajaku yamba-yukil-muny, ngamu-nganjan nyulu nganga babaji-l yundu wular, yundu bama yindu wular-ma-ni-ny, milbi-ny yamba nyubun, yambada ngamu-nganjan nyulu babaji-l yundu wawu-jirray, yundu yamba binal-ma-ny, yundu bama nyubun ngaya-ma-ni-ny, milbi-ny yindu, nyulu balka-ny warru-ngamu ngara jana-nka kuku, karrkay jana binal-ma-ny wanyu yamba-yukil wanyu ngamu milka babaji-l-muny | old.woman said question parents children ask reveals what parents truly value-of, parent he just asks you win, you person other beat, teaches thing one, but parent he asks you kind, you thing learned, you person one helped, teaches other, she said young-mother listen their-for question, children they learn what matters what mother thinks ask-of | ...

kuku ngamu karrkay babaji wanyu wular wawu-jirray binal


The old man said the wise never stop asking whether they are wrong, for the moment a person becomes certain they know everything is the moment they stop learning and start to fall behind, so he made a practice of asking himself where might I be mistaken about this, what would someone who disagreed say, what have I not tested, and this steady self-questioning, he said, is the whole difference between an elder and merely an old fool.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan binal-bama kariku bawal babajinka jana mumbu-manda, wungar bama nyulu kuku-junkurr-manda nyulu yamba wubulku binal nyulu bawal binalmanka wandin bada-mundu jilban, nyulu bungan yamba nyulu-nyulu babajinka wanja ngayu mumbu-manda yinya-mundu, wanyu bama nyulu kari nyubun-manin balkalmuny, wanyu ngayu kari nyajin, yinya nyulu-nyulu-babaji junkurr, nyulu balkan, nyulu bada bajaku mukul dingkar ngangkal mukul yindu-yindumuny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny binal-bama kariku bawa-l babaji-nka jana mumbu-ma-nda, wungar bama nyulu kuku-junkurr-ma-nda nyulu yamba wubul-ku binal nyulu bawa-l binal-ma-nka wandi-ny bada-mundu jilba-ny, nyulu bunga-ny yamba nyulu-nyulu babaji-nka wanja ngayu mumbu-ma-nda yinya-mundu, wanyu bama nyulu kari nyubun-ma-ni-ny balka-l-muny, wanyu ngayu kari nyaji-ny, yinya nyulu-nyulu-babaji junkurr, nyulu balka-ny, nyulu bada bajaku mukul dingkar ngangkal mukul yindu-yindu-muny | old man said wise-person never leaves ask-DAT they wrong-become, moment person he certain-becomes he thing all knows he leaves learn-DAT wandi behind walks, he made thing himself ask-DAT where I mistaken-become this-about, what person he NEG agreed says-of, what I NEG tested, that self-question strong, he said, it deep most elder old-fool old different-of | ...

binal babaji mumbu kuku-junkurr wandil wanja wanyu mukul


The old woman said a good question at the right moment can turn a whole life, and she told of the time an elder asked her, when she was young and about to make a bad marriage out of fear of being alone: are you choosing him, or are you only running from the empty house, and that single question, she said, stopped her and saved her from years of sorrow she never had to live.

Wulbumanangka balkan kuku yukil wungar yukilba nyulu wawu kalbay wubulku yindu-manil, nyulu balkan wungar mukul nyulu babajinmuny, nyulu warru-manda nyulu dunyu mumbu maninka yinil nganga janayka: yundu nyulu manil, yambada yundu nganga bayan yamba-kari-muny warri, yinya kuku nyubun, nyulu balkan, kajan nyulu wula-manin nyulu wungar wawu-mumbumuny nyulu kariku janaymuny.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny kuku yukil wungar yukil-ba nyulu wawu kalbay wubul-ku yindu-ma-ni-l, nyulu balka-ny wungar mukul nyulu babaji-ny-muny, nyulu warru-ma-nda nyulu dunyu mumbu mani-nka yinil nganga jana-y-ka: yundu nyulu mani-l, yambada yundu nganga bayan yamba-kari-muny warri, yinya kuku nyubun, nyulu balka-ny, kaja-ny nyulu wula-ma-ni-ny nyulu wungar wawu-mumbu-muny nyulu kariku jana-y-muny | old.woman said question good moment right-LOC it life long all turns, she told time elder her asked-of, she young-becomes she marriage bad take-DAT fear alone be-DAT: you him take, or you just empty.house nothing-from flee, that question one, she said, stopped her edge-LOC saved she years sorrow-from she never live-of | ...

kuku wungar wawu babaji dunyu yinil warral wula

yukil-nga LOC(l)->yukilba FIX; warral-nga LOC(l)->warralba FIX; one-question-at-the-edge-turned-a-life


The old man said children should be taught not only the answers their people have found but the great questions their people have never answered, for a child raised believing everything is already known becomes small and closed, while a child shown the vast dark edge of the unknown, the questions the ancestors argued and died still asking, becomes a mind that reaches, and it is the reaching, not the knowing, that keeps a people alive.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan karrkay milbil kari nganga kuku-yukil bama nyungu maninmuny yambada kuku-yalbay bama nyungu kariku kuku-yukil-maninmuny, karrkay warru-manda binal yamba wubulku ngadiku binal buban-manda karra-manda, yambada karrkay milbin wujurr-ba yalbay binal-karimuny, kuku ngadiku-bama baji-way wulan janan babajil, milka nyulu wangkarril-manda, yinya wangkarril, kari binal, nyulu bama wula-manilmuny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny karrkay milbi-l kari nganga kuku-yukil bama nyungu mani-ny-muny yambada kuku-yalbay bama nyungu kariku kuku-yukil-ma-ni-ny-muny, karrkay warru-ma-nda binal yamba wubul-ku ngadiku binal buban-ma-nda karra-ma-nda, yambada karrkay milbi-ny wujurr-ba yalbay binal-kari-muny, kuku ngadiku-bama baji-way wula-ny jana-ny babaji-l, milka nyulu wangkarri-l-ma-nda, yinya wangkarri-l, kari binal, nyulu bama wula-ma-ni-l-muny | old man said children teach NEG just answer people their found-of but question-big people their never answered-of, child raised believing thing all already known small-becomes closed-becomes, but child shown dark-edge big unknown-of, question ancestors argued died stood asking, mind it reaches, that reaching, NEG knowing, it people alive keeps-of | ...

karrkay milbil kuku binal wujurr baji-way wula babaji


The old woman said the simplest and most powerful question in the whole language is are you all right, asked with real attention and a willingness to hear a true answer, for it opens a door that a person in trouble is often desperate for someone to open, and she said a people where anyone will stop and truly ask this of anyone is a people that no sorrow can quietly swallow.

Wulbumanangka balkan kuku kima junkurr bajaku kuku wubulmuny yundu yukil, babajin milka-yukilbu wawu kuku-yukil yukil ngaralbu, nyulu bubu kajal bama mumbu-mundu nyulu nganga wawu-junkurr bama nyubun kajalmuny, nyulu balkan bama wanja bama nyubun janan kuku-yukil-bu babajil kuku yinya bama nyubunmuny nyulu bama wawu-mumbu nyubun kari dandi-bu nukalmuny.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny kuku kima junkurr bajaku kuku wubul-muny yundu yukil, babaji-ny milka-yukil-bu wawu kuku-yukil yukil ngara-l-bu, nyulu bubu kaja-l bama mumbu-mundu nyulu nganga wawu-junkurr bama nyubun kaja-l-muny, nyulu balka-ny bama wanja bama nyubun jana-ny kuku-yukil-bu babaji-l kuku yinya bama nyubun-muny nyulu bama wawu-mumbu nyubun kari dandi-bu nuka-l-muny | old.woman said question simple strong most language all-ABL you well, asked attention-INST desire answer true hear-INST, it door opens person trouble-toward he just desperate someone opens-of, she said people where person one stops honestly ask-DAT question that person one-of it people sorrow one NEG quietly swallow-of | ...

kuku jinbi junkurr babaji milka wawu bubu mumbu


The old man said before you follow anyone you should ask where are they leading and why, for a people that follows without questioning is a people that can be led anywhere, even off a cliff, and he taught the young that the duty to ask where are we going and is this right does not weaken a group but strengthens it, since a leader worth following welcomes the question and only a false one fears it.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan yundu bama nyubun wukurri ngadiku yundu babaji wanjabu jana jilbaman wanyurrinku, bama nyulu wukurril babaji-kari nyulu bama wanjabu jilbamanmuny, jina-jalkar-mundu baja, nyulu warru milbin ngadiku babajinka wanjabu ngana dungay yinya yukil nyulu kari bama-wubul buban-manil yambada junkurr-manil, kuku-bama yukil wukurrilmuny nyulu kuku yulmbarrilbu manil nganga bama kuku-kari nyulu yinil.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny yundu bama nyubun wukurri ngadiku yundu babaji wanjabu jana jilba-ma-ny wanyurrinku, bama nyulu wukurri-l babaji-kari nyulu bama wanjabu jilba-ma-ny-muny, jina-jalkar-mundu baja, nyulu warru milbi-ny ngadiku babaji-nka wanjabu ngana dunga-y yinya yukil nyulu kari bama-wubul buban-ma-ni-l yambada junkurr-ma-ni-l, kuku-bama yukil wukurri-l-muny nyulu kuku yulmbarril-bu mani-l nganga bama kuku-kari nyulu yinil | old man said you person one follow before you ask where.to they lead why, people he follows question-less it people where.to led-of, cliff-toward too, he young taught duty ask-DAT where.to we go this right it NEG group weakens but strengthens, leader good follow-of he question gladly takes only leader-false it fears | ...

babaji wanjabu wanyurrinku wukurril jilbay milbil yulmbarril yinil


The old woman said the question a dying person most wants to be asked is often simply what do you want us to know, for the dying are full of things they are afraid it is too late or too self-important to say, and this one gentle question gives them permission to pass on the last of their wisdom, their forgiveness, their love, and she had sat with many at the end and never once regretted asking it.

Wulbumanangka balkan kuku wula-bama nyulu bajaku wawu-manil babajilmuny nyulu nganga wanyu yundu wawu-manil ngana binalmuny, wula-bama buwan yamba jana yinil-ji nyulu bada bajaku yambada nyulu-nyulu-yalbay balkalmuny, kuku nyubun kima yinya jananka dayal bada bajaku nyungu binal, nyungu bawa-way, nyungu wawu-jirray jarrakulbalka, nyulu bundanmuny wubulku bada bajaku kariku nyubun mumbu-manin babajinmuny.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny kuku wula-bama nyulu bajaku wawu-ma-ni-l babaji-l-muny nyulu nganga wanyu yundu wawu-ma-ni-l ngana binal-muny, wula-bama buwa-ny yamba jana yinil-ji nyulu bada bajaku yambada nyulu-nyulu-yalbay balka-l-muny, kuku nyubun kima yinya jana-nka daya-l bada bajaku nyungu binal, nyungu bawa-way, nyungu wawu-jirray jarrakulba-l-ka, nyulu bunda-ny-muny wubul-ku bada bajaku kariku nyubun mumbu-ma-ni-ny babaji-ny-muny | old.woman said question dying-person he most wants asked-of it just what you want us know-of, dying-person full thing they fear-COMIT it too.late or too self-important say-of, question one gentle that them-for gives last very his knowledge, his forgiveness, his love pass-DAT, she sat-of many end deep most never once regretted asked-of | ...

kuku wula babaji wanyu binal yinil bunday wawu-jirray


The old man said a question can be a greater gift than any answer, for when you ask a young person what they think, and truly listen, you tell them their mind matters, and when you ask a lonely person about their life, and truly listen, you tell them they matter, so he taught the boys that learning to ask good questions and then to be quiet and listen is one of the deepest ways one person can honor another.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan kuku nyulu daji yalbay kuku-yukil wubulmuny, yundu babajinnya warru wanyu jana milka-manil, kuku-yukil ngara, yundu jananka balkan jana milka yamba-yukil, yundu babajin nganga-bama nyungu wawu-kalbaymuny, kuku-yukil ngara, yundu jananka balkan jana yamba-yukil, nyulu warru-warru milbin babajinka kuku yukil yalada dandi-manda ngaranka nyulu nyubun dukurr-baja bama nyubun bama yindu yulmbarril-manilmuny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny kuku nyulu daji yalbay kuku-yukil wubul-muny, yundu babaji-ny-nya warru wanyu jana milka-ma-ni-l, kuku-yukil ngara, yundu jana-nka balka-ny jana milka yamba-yukil, yundu babaji-ny nganga-bama nyungu wawu-kalbay-muny, kuku-yukil ngara, yundu jana-nka balka-ny jana yamba-yukil, nyulu warru-warru milbi-ny babaji-nka kuku yukil yala-da dandi-ma-nda ngara-nka nyulu nyubun dukurr-baja bama nyubun bama yindu yulmbarril-ma-ni-l-muny | old man said question it gift big answer all-ABL, you ask-SUB young what they think, honestly listen, you them-for said their mind matters, you ask lonely-person his life-of, honestly listen, you them-for said they matter, he young.men taught ask-DAT question good then quiet-become listen-DAT it one deep most person one person other honor-of | ...

kuku daji babaji wanyu milka ngaral dukurr yulmbarril


The old woman's final teaching was a question she left the children to carry all their lives, refusing ever to answer it for them: when you are as old as I am now, and a child sits at your fire and asks you what the whole of your life has taught you, what will you say, and are you living now in such a way that you will have a good answer, for that question, asked of yourself every night, is the truest compass there is.

Wulbumanangka nyungu milbil bada nyulu kuku bawan karrkay-karrkay jarrakulbalka wawu wubulku, kariku bawal kuku-yukil-manil jananka: yundu mukul yala ngayu nyiku-manda, karrkay yundu baya ngunduku bundal babajil yundu wanyu yundu wawu wubulku milbinmuny, wanyu yundu balkal, yundu wunay nyiku yala yundu kuku-yukil yukil karrbalmuny, yinya kuku, nyulu-nyulu babajin nyubun-nyubun wujurr, nyulu jina-yukil kuku-yukil bada bajaku janan.

wulbuman-angka nyungu milbi-l bada nyulu kuku bawa-ny karrkay-karrkay jarrakulba-l-ka wawu wubul-ku, kariku bawa-l kuku-yukil-ma-ni-l jana-nka: yundu mukul yala ngayu nyiku-ma-nda, karrkay yundu baya ngundu-ku bunda-l babaji-l yundu wanyu yundu wawu wubul-ku milbi-ny-muny, wanyu yundu balka-l, yundu wuna-y nyiku yala yundu kuku-yukil yukil karrba-l-muny, yinya kuku, nyulu-nyulu babaji-ny nyubun-nyubun wujurr, nyulu jina-yukil kuku-yukil bada bajaku jana-ny | old.woman her teaching last it question left children carry-DAT life all, never answer it them-for: you old as I now-become, child you fire near sits asks you what you life all taught-of, what you say, you live now as you answer good hold-of, that question, itself asked each night, it compass truest deep most stands | ...

milbil kuku bawal karrkay baya babaji wanyu wawu


The old woman said a child is born already tied into a whole net of kin, for before it can even speak it already has a mother and a father, grandmothers and grandfathers, uncles and aunts, older and younger siblings, and cross-cousins, and each of these relations carries its own name, its own duties, and its own particular kind of love, so that to be born Kuku Yalanji is to be born into a ready-made world of belonging.

Wulbumanangka balkan karrkay wandin ngadiku karra-ji jawun-karra wubulku bubungu, nyulu balka ngadiku nyulu ngadiku karrbal ngamu nganjan, babi kami, kalnga mukul, yaba yabaju babarr jinkurr, kambanmu baja, nyubun-nyubun jawun-karra karrbal nyungu kuku, nyungu yamba-yukil, nyungu wawu-jirray yindu-yindu, karrkay Kuku Yalanji wandin nyulu wandin bayan-karra ngadiku-mabinga.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny karrkay wandi-ny ngadiku karra-ji jawun-karra wubul-ku bubu-ngu, nyulu balka ngadiku nyulu ngadiku karrba-l ngamu nganjan, babi kami, kalnga mukul, yaba yabaju babarr jinkurr, kambanmu baja, nyubun-nyubun jawun-karra karrba-l nyungu kuku, nyungu yamba-yukil, nyungu wawu-jirray yindu-yindu, karrkay Kuku Yalanji wandi-ny nyulu wandi-ny bayan-karra ngadiku-mabi-nga | old.woman said child born already tied-COMIT relations all ground-LOC, it speak before it already holds mother father, grandmother grandfather, uncle aunt, elder.brother younger.brother elder.sister younger.sister, cross.cousin too, each relation holds its name, its duty, its love different, child Kuku.Yalanji born it born belonging-net ready-made-LOC

karrkay wandil janyji jawun ngamu nganjan kami kambanmu

bubu-nga LOC(a); COMIT janyji-ji; born-into-a-net-of-kin


The old man said the bond between a mother and her child is the first and deepest of all, and the language marks it in a special way: the mother and child together are called by one dyadic word, ngamu-manda, the two-who-are-mother-and-child, as if the pair were a single thing, for in the old understanding a mother and her small child were indeed almost one being, and the word held that truth.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan karra ngamu nyungu karrkay jambulmuny nyulu ngadiku dukurr bajaku wubulmuny, kuku nyulu dandi-bungal yala yukil: ngamu karrkay nyubunji nyulu kuku nyubun kunjal, ngamu-manda, jambul-jana-ngamu-karrkay, yala jambul nyulu yamba nyubun, ngadiku-milka ngamu nyungu karrkay buban nyulu bajaku nyubun-mabi, kuku yinya kuku-yukil karrban.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny karra ngamu nyungu karrkay jambul-muny nyulu ngadiku dukurr bajaku wubul-muny, kuku nyulu dandi-bunga-l yala yukil: ngamu karrkay nyubun-ji nyulu kuku nyubun kunja-l, ngamu-manda, jambul-jana-ngamu-karrkay, yala jambul nyulu yamba nyubun, ngadiku-milka ngamu nyungu karrkay buban nyulu bajaku nyubun-mabi, kuku yinya kuku-yukil karrba-ny | old man said bond mother her child two-of it first deep most all-ABL, language it marks how good: mother child one-COMIT it word one calls, mother-child(dyad), two-they-mother-child, as two it thing one, old-understanding mother her child small it truly one-like, word that truth held

janyji ngamu karrkay dukurr kuku kunjal ngamu-manda milka


The old woman said a father teaches his son the man's work and a mother teaches her daughter the woman's work, but both parents love both children the same, and the father's spear and the mother's dilly-bag are not signs of who is greater but of two halves of one life, for the man's hunting fills the camp with meat and the woman's gathering fills it with everything else, and neither could feed a family alone.

Wulbumanangka balkan nganjanangka nyungu jija milbil dingkar nyungu janka ngamungku nyungu jalbu-karrkay milbil jalbu nyungu janka, yambada ngamu-nganjan jambul karrkay jambul wawu-jirray nyubun-baja, nganjan-amu kalka ngamu-mu balji nyulu kari dandi wanya yalbay yambada jambul-warra nyubun wawu-kalbaymuny, dingkar nyungu balbil bayan minyabu buwal jalbu nyungu bangkal yamba wubulku-baja buwal, jambul-warra nyubun kari jawun-karra dayal nganga.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny nganjan-angka nyungu jija milbi-l dingkar nyungu janka ngamu-ngku nyungu jalbu-karrkay milbi-l jalbu nyungu janka, yambada ngamu-nganjan jambul karrkay jambul wawu-jirray nyubun-baja, nganjan-amu kalka ngamu-mu balji nyulu kari dandi wanya yalbay yambada jambul-warra nyubun wawu-kalbay-muny, dingkar nyungu balbi-l bayan minya-bu buwa-l jalbu nyungu bangka-l yamba wubul-ku-baja buwa-l, jambul-warra nyubun kari jawun-karra daya-l nganga | old.woman said father-ERG his son teaches man his work mother-ERG her daughter teaches woman her work, but mother-father two child two love same, father's spear mother's dilly.bag it NEG sign who greater but two-halves one life-of, man his hunting camp meat-INST fills woman her gathering thing all-more fills, two-halves one NEG family feeds alone

nganjan ngamu jija milbil kalka balji balbil bangkal

ERG nganjan-angka/ngamu-ngku; POSS nganjan-amu/ngamu-mu; father-teaches-son-mother-teaches-daughter


The old man said the grandparents hold a different place from the parents, for while a father must sometimes be stern and a mother must sometimes correct, a grandfather and a grandmother are free simply to delight in the grandchildren, to spoil them a little, to tell them the old stories, and this is why a child often runs first to the grandmother when hurt, for from the grandmother comes comfort with no correction in it.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan kami babi yindu yamba karrbal ngamu-nganjanmuny, nganjan nyulu wungar nyubun junkurr-milka ngamu nyulu wungar nyubun murni-bungal, kami babi baja nganga yajarr jija-nka, jana kanan buban, jana kuku ngadiku balkal, karrkay nyulu nganga warri ngadiku babi-nka kaka-manda, babi-ndumuny kadan wumbul murni-bungal-kari-ji.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny kami babi yindu yamba karrba-l ngamu-nganjan-muny, nganjan nyulu wungar nyubun junkurr-milka ngamu nyulu wungar nyubun murni-bunga-l, kami babi baja nganga yajarr jija-nka, jana kana-ny buban, jana kuku ngadiku balka-l, karrkay nyulu nganga warri ngadiku babi-nka kaka-ma-nda, babi-ndumuny kada-ny wumbul murni-bunga-l-kari-ji | old man said grandfather grandmother different place hold parents-ABL, father he sometimes stern mother she sometimes corrects, grandfather grandmother too just delight grandchild-DAT, them spoil a.little, them story old tell, child he just runs first grandmother-DAT hurt-becomes, grandmother-ABL comes comfort correction-less-COMIT

kami babi jija ngamu nganjan warri wumbul kaka

DAT jija-nka/babi-nka; ABL babi-ndumuny; grandparents-give-comfort-without-correction


The old woman said the mother's brother, the uncle called kalnga, has special duties toward his sister's children that the father does not, for in the old way the uncle helped make a boy into a man, gave him some of his first weapons, spoke for him at his initiation, and had a say in his marriage, so that a boy grew up owing a particular respect and a particular closeness to his mother's brother.

Wulbumanangka balkan ngamu nyungu yaba, kalnga kunjal, nyungu yamba-yukil junkurr nyungu babarr nyungu karrkaynka nganjan nyulu kari karrbalmuny, ngadiku-kuku kalngangka buban dingkar-manil, nyungu kalka ngadiku dayal, nyungu-nka balkal bujur-warrilba, nyungu dunyu-manin kuku-manil, buban nyulu mukul-manda karrbal yulmbarril junkurr karra junkurr baja kalnga-nka.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny ngamu nyungu yaba, kalnga kunja-l, nyungu yamba-yukil junkurr nyungu babarr nyungu karrkay-nka nganjan nyulu kari karrba-l-muny, ngadiku-kuku kalnga-ngka buban dingkar-ma-ni-l, nyungu kalka ngadiku daya-l, nyungu-nka balka-l bujur-warri-l-ba, nyungu dunyu-mani-ny kuku-ma-ni-l, buban nyulu mukul-ma-nda karrba-l yulmbarril junkurr karra junkurr baja kalnga-nka | old.woman said mother her brother, uncle called, his duty special his sister her child-DAT father he NEG holds-ABL, old-way uncle-ERG boy man-makes, his weapon first gives, him-for speaks initiation-LOC, his marriage decides, boy he grows.up respect special tie special too uncle-DAT | ...

ngamu yaba kalnga babarr karrkay nganjan kalka dunyu

ERG kalnga-ngka; DAT karrkay-nka/kalnga-nka; bujur-warri-l-nga LOC; the-mother's-brother's-special-role


The old man said the older and younger siblings are named by different words, yaba for the older brother and yabaju for the younger, babarr for the older sister and jinkurr for the younger, because the age-order carried real weight: the older sibling had authority over and responsibility for the younger, and the younger owed obedience and could always turn to the older for help, so that even the words themselves taught the shape of the bond.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan yaba-yabaju babarr-jinkurr kuku yindu-yindubu kunjal, yaba dingkar-yalbayku yabaju bubanku, babarr jalbu-yalbayku jinkurr bubanku, wungar-jambul karrban junkurr bajaku: yaba nyungu yabaju junkurr karrbal yamba-yukil baja, yabaju nyulu ngara-yukil dayal nyulu nganga wandin yaba-nka wawu-manilka, kuku nyulu-nyulu milbin karra nyungu yala.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny yaba-yabaju babarr-jinkurr kuku yindu-yindu-bu kunja-l, yaba dingkar-yalbay-ku yabaju buban-ku, babarr jalbu-yalbay-ku jinkurr buban-ku, wungar-jambul karrba-ny junkurr bajaku: yaba nyungu yabaju junkurr karrba-l yamba-yukil baja, yabaju nyulu ngara-yukil daya-l nyulu nganga wandi-ny yaba-nka wawu-ma-ni-nka, kuku nyulu-nyulu milbi-ny karra nyungu yala | old man said elder-younger.brother elder-younger.sister word different-INST called, elder.brother senior-DAT younger junior-DAT, elder.sister senior-DAT younger junior-DAT, age-order held weight most: elder his younger authority holds duty too, younger he obedience gives he just turns elder.brother-DAT help-DAT, word itself teaches bond its shape | ...

yaba yabaju babarr jinkurr kunjal junkurr milbil janyji


The old woman said a marriage in the old way was not simply two people choosing each other but two whole families being joined, and it had to be a right marriage, the partners from opposite moieties, for a child belongs to the father's moiety, and if the moieties were wrong the marriage was wrong, and though these rules have loosened now, the old people still say that a marriage that ignores them will carry a hidden trouble.

Wulbumanangka balkan dunyu-manil ngadiku-kuku nyulu kari jambul bama nyubun-nyubun maninka yambada jawun-karra jambul nyubun-maninka, nyulu junkurr dunyu-manil yukil, ngaybirr bama-jambul jambul yindu-yindumuny, karrkay nyulu nganjan nyungu bama-jambul karra, bama-jambul mumbu-manda dunyu-manil mumbu, kuku yinya bada-manda nganga, bama mukul nganga balkan dunyu-manil kuku yinya bawal nyulu mumbu buyan karrbal.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny dunyu-mani-l ngadiku-kuku nyulu kari jambul bama nyubun-nyubun mani-nka yambada jawun-karra jambul nyubun-ma-ni-nka, nyulu junkurr dunyu-mani-l yukil, ngaybirr bama-jambul jambul yindu-yindu-muny, karrkay nyulu nganjan nyungu bama-jambul karra, bama-jambul mumbu-ma-nda dunyu-mani-l mumbu, kuku yinya bada-ma-nda nganga, bama mukul nganga balka-ny dunyu-mani-l kuku yinya bawa-l nyulu mumbu buya-ny karrba-l | old.woman said marriage old-way it NEG two person each.other take-DAT but families two one-become-DAT, it must marriage good, spouse bama-jambul two opposite-of, child it father his bama-jambul belongs, bama-jambul wrong-become marriage wrong, law that loosen now, people old just say marriage law that ignores it trouble hidden holds | ...

dunyu bama jawun ngaybirr karrkay nganjan mumbu buyan


The old man said there is a relation of careful avoidance between a man and his mother-in-law, and it is not coldness but deep respect: the two do not look directly at each other, do not speak directly, do not sit close, and a message between them passes through a third person, and though outsiders find this strange, the old people understood it as a way of protecting a delicate bond from the friction that closeness can bring.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan karra jibarr-jibarr janan dingkar nyungu biwul jambulmuny, nyulu kari kaka-milka yambada yulmbarril dukurr: jambul kari nyaji-way nyubunji, kari balka-way nyubunji, kari ngundu bundal-way, kuku jambulji jilban bama kulur-mundu, bama-nka yinya kari binal, bama mukul milkabu baykan nyulu yala karra kima karrbanka kuni-way ngundu-mundu-muny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny karra jibarr-jibarr jana-ny dingkar nyungu biwul jambul-muny, nyulu kari kaka-milka yambada yulmbarril dukurr: jambul kari nyaji-way nyubun-ji, kari balka-way nyubun-ji, kari ngundu bunda-l-way, kuku jambul-ji jilba-ny bama kulur-mundu, bama-nka yinya kari binal, bama mukul milka-bu bayka-ny nyulu yala karra kima karrba-nka kuni-way ngundu-mundu-muny | old man said relation avoidance-careful stands man his mother.in.law two-of, it NEG coldness but respect deep: two NEG look-each.other one-COMIT, NEG speak-each.other one-COMIT, NEG near sit-each.other, message two-COMIT passes person third-through, person-outside that NEG understand, people old understood it way bond delicate protect-DAT friction closeness-from-of | ...

janyji biwul yulmbarril nyaji-way balkal kuni-way milka jibarr


The old woman said the relation between certain cousins, the cross-cousins called kambanmu, was the opposite of the avoidance, for these were the joking kin, the ones you could tease and be teased by, laugh with freely, ask a favour of without shame, and often marry, so that where the mother-in-law bond was all careful distance, the cross-cousin bond was all warmth and easy laughter, and a person needed both kinds in a full life.

Wulbumanangka balkan karra bangunji nyubun-nyubun, kambanmu kunjal, nyulu yindu-yindu jibarr-jibarrmuny, yinya yajarr-karra, bama yundu jaway-jaway nyubunji, yajarr-way nganga, wawu-manil babajil bikirr-kari, wungar dunyu-manil baja, wanja biwul-karra nyulu wubulku jibarr-ngundu, kambanmu-karra nyulu wubulku wumbul yajarr kima, bama nyulu jambul-warra wawu-manil wawu kalbay-mba.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny karra bangunji nyubun-nyubun, kambanmu kunja-l, nyulu yindu-yindu jibarr-jibarr-muny, yinya yajarr-karra, bama yundu jaway-jaway nyubun-ji, yajarr-way nganga, wawu-ma-ni-l babaji-l bikirr-kari, wungar dunyu-mani-l baja, wanja biwul-karra nyulu wubul-ku jibarr-ngundu, kambanmu-karra nyulu wubul-ku wumbul yajarr kima, bama nyulu jambul-warra wawu-ma-ni-l wawu kalbay-mba | old.woman said relation cousin certain, cross.cousin called, it opposite avoidance-of, that joking-relation, person you tease-each.other one-COMIT, laugh-each.other freely, favour ask shame-less, sometimes marry too, where mother.in.law-bond it all avoidance-distance, cross.cousin-bond it all warm joking easy, person he two-kinds needs life long-LOC | ...

janyji bangunji kambanmu kunjal yajarr babaji dunyu wumbul

kambanmu 'cross-cousin' = joking-kin; wawu kalbay-nga LOC(l)->kalbayba FIX


The old man said the strongest law of all touched the name of the dead, for when a person died their name could not be spoken while the body decomposed, and a living person who shared that name was called by a substitute term, ngalba, and the family spoke of the dead one only by a kinship term, my father, my mother's brother, so that even in death a person remained held inside the web of kin that named them.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan kuku junkurr bajaku wubulmuny janan bama wula-mabimuny nyungu kuku, bama wulanya nyungu kuku kari balkalmuny nyulu buyan-manda, bama wulay nyungu kuku nyubun karrban nyulu kuku-yindubu kunjal, ngalba, jawun-karra wula-bama balkan nganga kuku-karrabu, ngayku nganjan, ngayku kalnga, wula-nga baja bama nyulu janan karrban karra jawun-karra ngunduku nyulu kunjanmuny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny kuku junkurr bajaku wubul-muny jana-ny bama wula-mabi-muny nyungu kuku, bama wula-nya nyungu kuku kari balka-l-muny nyulu buya-ny-ma-nda, bama wula-y nyungu kuku nyubun karrba-ny nyulu kuku-yindu-bu kunja-l, ngalba, jawun-karra wula-bama balka-ny nganga kuku-karra-bu, ngayku nganjan, ngayku kalnga, wula-nga baja bama nyulu jana-ny karrba-ny karra jawun-karra ngundu-ku nyulu kunja-ny-muny | old man said law strong most all-ABL touched person dead-of his name, person dies-SUB his name NEG spoken-of it decomposes, person dead his name one holds it word-other-INST called, ngalba, family dead-person spoke just kinship-word-INST, my father, my uncle, death-LOC too person he stood held relation net near-LOC it named-of | ...

kuku wula balkal kunjal janyji jawun nganjan kalnga

wula-nga LOC(a); ngalba name-substitute; the-name-taboo-of-the-dead


The old woman said a widow and a widower each had their own hard road and their own name, and the bereaved father was called yuyku, a word heavy with sorrow, and the old people did not expect a grieving spouse to simply carry on but gave them time, and duties among the wider kin, so that the loss was carried by the whole family together and not left to crush one person alone in an empty camp.

Wulbumanangka balkan biwar-wula dunyu-wula jambul nyungu-nyungu baral dandi nyungu-nyungu kuku baja, nganjan wawu-mumbu yuyku kunjal, kuku wawu-mumbu-ji junkurr, bama mukul kari wawu-manin wawu-mumbu-bama nganga jilbanka yambada dayan wungar, yamba-yukil baja jawun-karra-nga, wawu-mumbu nyulu jawun-karra wubulku nyubunji karrban kari nyubun bama nganga kajan bayan-nganganga.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny biwar-wula dunyu-wula jambul nyungu-nyungu baral dandi nyungu-nyungu kuku baja, nganjan wawu-mumbu yuyku kunja-l, kuku wawu-mumbu-ji junkurr, bama mukul kari wawu-ma-ni-ny wawu-mumbu-bama nganga jilba-nka yambada daya-ny wungar, yamba-yukil baja jawun-karra-nga, wawu-mumbu nyulu jawun-karra wubul-ku nyubun-ji karrba-ny kari nyubun bama nganga kaja-ny bayan-nganga-nga | old.woman said widow widower two their.own road hard their.own word too, father grieved yuyku called, word grief-COMIT strong, people old NEG expected grieving-person just carry.on-DAT but gave time, duty too relation-wider-from, grief it family all one-COMIT carried NEG one person alone crushed camp-empty-LOC | ...

biwar dunyu wula yuyku kunjal wawu-mumbu jawun janyji

bayan-nganga-nga LOC(a); yuyku 'bereaved father'; grief-carried-by-the-whole-family


The old man said the word bama, which the whitefellas heard as just the name of the people, really means a human being, a person tied into the kin-web, and it stands against the word for a stranger or an outsider who has no known place in the relations, for to be bama was not a matter of blood alone but of belonging, of having a mother and a father and a moiety and a place that everyone could name.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan kuku bama, waybala ngaran nyulu nganga kuku bamamuny, nyulu bajaku bama-nyubun jani-mabi, bama jawun-karra-nji janan, nyulu janan kuku bama-yindumuny nyulu karra-nga yamba-kari, bama nyulu kari mula-daji nganga yambada bayan-karra, ngamu nganjan bama-jambul yamba baja karrbal bama wubulku kunjalmuny.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny kuku bama, waybala ngara-ny nyulu nganga kuku bama-muny, nyulu bajaku bama-nyubun jani-mabi, bama jawun-karra-nji jana-ny, nyulu jana-ny kuku bama-yindu-muny nyulu karra-nga yamba-kari, bama nyulu kari mula-daji nganga yambada bayan-karra, ngamu nganjan bama-jambul yamba baja karrba-l bama wubul-ku kunja-l-muny | old man said word bama, whitefella heard it just name people-of, it truly human-one alive-like, person relation-net-COMIT stands, it stands against word stranger-of outsider-of he relation-LOC place-less, bama it NEG blood just but belonging-net, mother father bama-jambul place too holds person all name-of | ...

bama waybala ngaral janyji jawun ngamu nganjan kunjal

janyji-nga LOC(a); bama = a-person-tied-into-kin


The old woman said the way you address a person tells at once how you are related, for you almost never use a person's own name to their face but the kin term, calling an older man yaba or kami or nganjan according to how he stands to you, so that a child learns very early to place every person they meet somewhere in the kin-web, and to speak to each one in the way that relation demands.

Wulbumanangka balkan yala yundu bama nyubun kunjal nyulu ngadiku balkal wanjarr yundu karra, yundu nganga kari bama nyungu kuku miyil-jinanga yambada kuku-karra, dingkar-yalbay kunjal yaba kami nganjan yala nyulu yundunka janan, karrkay nyulu ngadiku bajaku milbil bama wubulku nyaji-way jani-manilka jawun-karraba, balkanka nyubun-nyubunji yala karra yinya wawu-manilmuny.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny yala yundu bama nyubun kunja-l nyulu ngadiku balka-l wanjarr yundu karra, yundu nganga kari bama nyungu kuku miyil-jina-nga yambada kuku-karra, dingkar-yalbay kunja-l yaba kami nganjan yala nyulu yundu-nka jana-ny, karrkay nyulu ngadiku bajaku milbi-l bama wubul-ku nyaji-way jani-ma-ni-nka jawun-karra-nga, balka-nka nyubun-nyubun-ji yala karra yinya wawu-ma-ni-l-muny | old.woman said how you person one address it at.once tells how you related, you just NEG person his name face-LOC but kin-word, man-senior call elder.brother grandfather father as he you-for stands, child he early most learns person all meet place-DAT kin-net-LOC, speak-DAT each-COMIT as relation that demands-of | ...

bama kunjal balkal janyji kami nganjan milbil nyaji-way

miyil-jina-nga LOC; janyji-jawun-nga LOC; address-by-kin-term-not-name


The old man said a person is never without kin even far from home, for the kin-web reaches out through the moieties and the shared relations so that a traveller arriving among strangers can, by tracing the connections, find that this old man is a kind of father and that woman a kind of sister, and once the links are found the stranger is a stranger no longer but a relative who must be housed and fed and kept safe.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bama nyulu kari karra-kari bayan-kiway baja, jawun-karra jilban bama-jambul-mundu karra-nyubun-mundu bama jilba-bama bama-yindu-ngu kadanya nyulu, karra wukurrilbu, manil dingkar mukul yinya nganjan-mabi jalbu yinya babarr-mabi, karra nyaji-manda bama-yindu nyulu bama-yindu kari-baja yambada bama-karra nyulu bayan-manil dayal wunay-manil.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny bama nyulu kari karra-kari bayan-kiway baja, jawun-karra jilba-ny bama-jambul-mundu karra-nyubun-mundu bama jilba-bama bama-yindu-ngu kada-nya nyulu, karra wukurri-l-bu, mani-l dingkar mukul yinya nganjan-mabi jalbu yinya babarr-mabi, karra nyaji-ma-nda bama-yindu nyulu bama-yindu kari-baja yambada bama-karra nyulu bayan-ma-ni-l daya-l wuna-y-ma-ni-l | old man said person he NEG kin-less home-far too, kin-net reaches bama-jambul-through shared-relation-through person traveller stranger-among comes-SUB he, relation follow-INST, gets man old that father-like woman that sister-like, relation seen-becomes stranger he stranger no-more but relative he housed fed kept.safe | ...

bama janyji jawun wukurril nganjan babarr nyajil bayan


The old woman said the duties between kin were as real and binding as any law: a mother owed her child food and teaching, a child owed the parents care in their old age, an uncle owed his nephews a share in making them men, cross-cousins owed each other help and laughter, and to fail in a kin-duty was a serious wrong, watched by the whole family and long remembered.

Wulbumanangka balkan yamba-yukil karra-nga nyulu ngadiku junkurr kuku wubulmuny: ngamu nyungu karrkay mayi milbil dayal, karrkay nyungu ngamu-nganjan mukul-yukil dayal jana mukul-mandanya, kalnga nyungu jija-warra dingkar-manilba junkurr dayal, kambanmu nyubunji wawu-manil yajarr baja, karra-yamba kaka-manda nyulu mumbu junkurr, jawun-karra wubulku nyajil wungar kalbay milka-manil.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny yamba-yukil karra-nga nyulu ngadiku junkurr kuku wubul-muny: ngamu nyungu karrkay mayi milbil daya-l, karrkay nyungu ngamu-nganjan mukul-yukil daya-l jana mukul-ma-nda-nya, kalnga nyungu jija-warra dingkar-ma-ni-l-ba junkurr daya-l, kambanmu nyubun-ji wawu-ma-ni-l yajarr baja, karra-yamba kaka-ma-nda nyulu mumbu junkurr, jawun-karra wubul-ku nyaji-l wungar kalbay milka-ma-ni-l | old.woman said duty relation-wide it real strong law all-ABL: mother her child food teaching gives, child his parents care-good gives they old-become-SUB, uncle his nephews man-make-LOC share gives, cross.cousin each.other help laughter too, kin-duty fails it wrong strong, family all sees years long remembers | ...

janyji ngamu karrkay milbil kalnga jija kambanmu mukul


The old man said a child with many kin is a rich child even if the family has no possessions, for such a child has many laps to sit on, many hands to be fed by, many voices telling the old stories, many people who will notice if it goes hungry or comes to harm, and he said the deepest poverty is not to lack goods but to lack kin, to be a person no one is watching out for.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan karrkay karra-wubul-ji nyulu karrkay yamba-yukil yamba-kari-ji baja, karrkay yinya karrbal bundal-yamba wubul, mara wubul dayanka, kuku-balkal wubul ngadiku-kuku, bama wubul nyajilmuny nyulu dakwuy jilba yambada buyun-manda, nyulu balkan yamba-kari dukurr bajaku nyulu kari yamba-kari yambada karra-kari, bama nyubun wanya kari nyajil.

mukul-ungku dingkar-angka balka-ny karrkay karra-wubul-ji nyulu karrkay yamba-yukil yamba-kari-ji baja, karrkay yinya karrba-l bunda-l-yamba wubul, mara wubul daya-nka, kuku-balka-l wubul ngadiku-kuku, bama wubul nyaji-l-muny nyulu dakwuy jilba yambada buyun-ma-nda, nyulu balka-ny yamba-kari dukurr bajaku nyulu kari yamba-kari yambada karra-kari, bama nyubun wanya kari nyaji-l | old man said child kin-many-COMIT it child rich thing-less-COMIT too, child that holds lap-thing many, hand many feed-DAT, voice many old-story, person many see-of it hungry goes or harm-becomes, he said poverty deep most it NEG goods-less but kin-less, person one whom NEG watches | ...

karrkay janyji mara dayal bama nyajil dakwuy dukurr


The old woman said the mother's mother and the father's mother, though both grandmothers, do not stand quite the same to a child, and the old language kept the difference clear, and this mattered because the two grandmothers belonged to different moieties and different lines, and a child learning exactly how each grandparent was related was learning at the same time the whole shape of the two great halves the people were divided into.

Wulbumanangka balkan ngamu nyungu ngamu nganjan nyungu ngamu, jambul babi yambada, jana kari yala nyubun janan karrkaynka, kuku ngadiku karrban yindu-yindu dandi, yinya junkurr jambul babi yindu-yindu bama-jambul janan yindu-yindu jina baja, karrkay nyulu binalman yala nyubun-nyubun kami-babi kajan nyulu binalman nyubunku janka jambul yalbay bama nyulu jambul-manin.

wulbuman-angka balka-ny ngamu nyungu ngamu nganjan nyungu ngamu, jambul babi yambada, jana kari yala nyubun jana-ny karrkay-nka, kuku ngadiku karrba-ny yindu-yindu dandi, yinya junkurr jambul babi yindu-yindu bama-jambul jana-ny yindu-yindu jina baja, karrkay nyulu binal-ma-ny yala nyubun-nyubun kami-babi kaja-ny nyulu binal-ma-ny nyubun-ku janka jambul yalbay bama nyulu jambul-ma-ni-ny | old.woman said mother her mother father his mother, two grandmother although, they NEG as one stand child-DAT, language old held difference clear, that mattered two grandmother different bama-jambul stand different line too, child he learns how each grandparent related he learns one-DAT shape two great people it two-divided-of | ...

ngamu nganjan babi karrkay kami janyji binal bama