<glossary> baykal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> the dog bit the pig and held on


<translate> They saw the small sticks here.


<translate> They saw the jirimandi coconut tree here.


<translate> The eel was cooking on the fire and the children could hardly wait for it to be ready.

Kubarr wumbul bayanga, karrkay-karrkay murruji maku-janay, mayi ngulkurrmanyjiku.


<translate> His country lies far away to the south, beyond the big blue mountains.

Nyungu bubu kala-kalbay naka-nga wunay, manjal yalbay-muny kudamundu.


<translate> The two of them see the mura tree there.


<translate> We two, not you, see the mura tree there.


<translate> The dilly bag lay on the ground.


<translate> Get up now from the soft bark bed, for the bright morning sun has already climbed above the hills.

Wandi niji dakil-muny, wungar balbal wunkuwingku wangkar-wangkar dakan niji jamba-muny.


<translate> We all, not you, saw the tongs here.


<translate> You see the native cat here.


<translate> They see the ridge pole there.


<translate> You saw the spear point there.


<translate> We, not you, saw the bilu-warra spoonbill there.


<translate> You two saw the kaya-kaya dogs here.


<translate> When the dogs chased the kangaroo, it ran fast toward the deep water.

Kaya-ngka mayarriji kangan-nya, nyulu warri bila bana-dukurr-ka.


<translate> In the morning we saw the burnt tree.


<translate> One duck, many uses — nothing from a good catch walks away wasted.

Nili-nili nyubun, murni wubulku: yamba nyubun kari kala-kalbay dungay kuyu-maninmuny yukilmuny.


<translate> You see the light-coloured clothing.


<translate> You two see the bandicoot here.


<translate> The old people named every creek and mountain, and the children repeated the names by the fire.

Mukul-bama-ngku bana-jandu manjal wubulku burri balkan, karrkay-karrkay burri balka-balkan baya-nga.


<translate> You all see the bikarrakal fruit there.


<translate> You saw the wuba red ochre here.


<glossary> bakal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> Sister gave me a shot (pricked with a needle)


<translate> The young man pulled out the bamboo.


<translate> They kept sitting together and talking quietly by the fire until the morning light came.

Jana bundanday muru balka-l janka baya ngundu, wunkuwingku balbal kada-nyjiku.


<translate> The small birds flew down to the waterhole to drink in the cool of the early morning.

Buyi-buyi buban janku-ka bada warri bana nuka-nka, wunkuwingku ngiki-ba.


<glossary> jarra-jarra ; type=adjective ; domain=dimension-size <usage_example> They were grown up in the head (mind)


<translate> You two see the mackerel sky there.


<translate> We two, not you, see the rock python there.


<translate> He was not sad, for he had lived a long good life, and he said to his own face in the water: You have carried me well, old friend.

Nyulu kari milka-murruji, nyulu wawu kalbay ngulkurr bundanmuny, nyulu nyungu waluka balkan bananga: Yundu ngayku ngulkurr wundinmuny, yaba.


<glossary> karangkal ; type=adjective ; domain=location-deixis <usage_example> I sat alongside the road


<translate> We, not you, saw the banamu snake there.


<translate> You two see the black cockatoo here.


<translate> He sees the barracuda there.


<translate> That straw-necked ibis is there.


<translate> The magpie sings its beautiful song in the cool morning beside the sleeping camp.

Dawa-dawa wulngku ngulkurr yirrka-y wunkuwingku ngiki-nga, bayan karangkal.


<translate> You two see the kurkunbay butcherbird here.


<glossary> damal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> I made the dress


<translate> Cook the meat well in the hot coals, lest the people get sick from the raw red flesh.

Minya nguymal waju ngunjil wumbul-ba, bama minya kulbul-muny bambay-ma-nyji.


<translate> The woman left the fire stick in the bag.


<lexeme> smoke the inside of a house after the owner dies


<translate> I am going to my grandmother's house now to eat the sweet ripe fruit.

Ngayu dunga-y niji bayan-ba babi-ndamun-bu, mayi jiba-wulay kulbul nuka-nka.


<translate> You see that marngkil ti tree.


<translate> You see the jungka wild cherry tree there.


<translate> The mujarr fig tree is there.


<translate> We came to the house, closed the house, and then slept.

Ngana bayan-ka kadan, bayan nandan, warngku wunan-da.


<glossary> babaji ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> I asked him, Who is he?


<glossary> bila ; type=particle ; domain=manner <usage_example> a person in a hurry


<translate> The child sees the blue-tongue lizard.


<translate> The five-corner nut falls to the ground when it is ripe, and the women gather them.

Bijalabay bubu-ka daray kulbul-nya, jalbu bangkal.


<glossary> damal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> the pastor baptised him


<translate> The bitter cold of the night before dawn made the little children shiver in their sleep, the old man said, so the mother built the fire up big.

Wujurr ngiki junkurr wunkuwingku kariku karrkay-karrkay buban yararri-bungal wuna-nya-ba, mukul-dingkar balkan, ngamu-ngku buri yalbay bunga.


<translate> I saw the old man's upper leg.


<translate> You see the spotted eagle ray there.


<translate> Grandmother saw the spear-thrower.


<translate> The hunter lost his good axe in the flood; he made a new one, but the new stone was soft and the edge broke; he traded two dilly bags for a hard axe-stone from the ranges.

Balbi-dingkarangka nyungu warrbi ngulkurr jalungkarr-ba bawan; nyulu warrbi baja bungan, yambada kulji baja kima, murrngan; nyulu ngunyin jambul bubu-wuyar-mu kulji dandi-ji dajiway.


<translate> You two see the bamboo spear stick there.


<translate> The men worked together to drag the great log from the forest, ten of them pulling as one, calling to each other to keep the rhythm, and what no one could move alone they moved easily together.

Dingkar-dingkar nyubun kirrajin juku yalbay madjamuny jarrakulbanka, jana wubul nyubunku jarrakulban, jana kunja-wan nyubun-nyubunji yala nyubun, yamba nyubun bama murruji manil jana nyubun buban-buban manin.


<translate> You saw the durra caterpillar here.


<translate> If the yellow flower of the yam shows above the ground, the old woman said, the big yam is ready to dig below it.

Kaki bambayal-mu nganka bubu wangkar-a nyaji-ma-l, mukul-jalbu balkan, bambayal yalbay kulbul bada-ba baka-nka.


<translate> Grandfather saw the deep water.


<translate> We, not you, saw the wakuka bird there.


<translate> The child sees the grass there.


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

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


<glossary> dakumbar ; type=noun ; domain=flora-tree <usage_example> This wood is good for woomeras


<translate> The old man taught the boy to read the water: where the mullet feed, and the swirl where the cod turns.

Mukul-dingkarangka karrkay binal-bungan bana ngaranka: wanja kalngkan nukal, bana-jurrki wanja wara jurrkin.


<translate> In the middle of the night, wind came.


<translate> The man caught a fish first, then dug some roots, gathered ripe fruit, and carried everything back to the camp.

Dingkar kuyu-ngurr manin, bangkan bakan, mayi kulbul munjan, wubul bayanka wundinda.


<translate> Are you all coming to the meeting, or just you two?

Yurra wubulku kaday kuku-yalbayka, yambada yubal nganga?


<translate> Grandmother washed the billycan at the creek.

Babi-ngka jungkalu julurrin wawubaja-nga.


<translate> You and I see the parrot there.


<translate> The two of them took the little child along with them because it was feeling lonely.

Bula karrkay buban wundin muru, milka-bujarr-ma-nya.


<translate> The breadfruit is big and heavy, and one tree feeds the whole camp.

Burrin-burrin yalbay kulngkul, juku nyubun bayan wubul daji-l.


<translate> They saw the yiki owl there.


<translate> I see the black-tip shark here.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the dakwurr-dakwun hammer bird there.


<translate> Auntie is teaching the girls to weave little bags.

Bimayngka maral-maral binal-bungal, balji buban wukurrinka.


<translate> We see the dabway bird here.


<glossary> murba ; type=adjective ; domain=physical-property <usage_example> He built his house well


<glossary> baja ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> do you have more?


<translate> The Leichhardt tree is standing at camp.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the dalmbal flathead there.


<translate> They two see the bamboo stick here.


<glossary> yinyarrin ; type=demonstrative ; domain=location-deixis <usage_example> Those carpenters, they work down (there) now

Yinyarrin carpenter jana bada-badada workmal


<translate> We see the munungkul ground pigeon here.


<translate> You two see the mawal bee here.


<translate> You two see the scrub goanna here.


<translate> We would have gone hungry that waterless year, the old man remembered, but the upriver people carried fish-nets down and we carried root-ground knowledge up, and not one child on this river cried from an empty stomach, and he said: hunger given out to others becomes a small hunger, but a stingy year makes many stingy years.

Ngana dakwuy-manyaku wungar bana-kari yinya, mukulungku dingkarangka milka-binalku, yambada bama wangkarmuny makarr wundin bada, ngana binal bubumuny bangkanmuny wundin wangkar, karrkay nyubun kariku badin jibar ngangamuny wawubajanga, nyulu balkan: dakwuy dayanmuny bamanka yindunka nyulu dakwuy buban-mal, wungar jakay-dandi nyulu wungar jakay-dandi wubul murnil.


<translate> How many bones hold a person upright? a boy asked, and the old woman said: very many, more than the fingers of both hands, and each one stands close-fitting against its neighbour, for the body is a house of bones tied together with flesh, and if one small bone goes bad the whole tall house sinks down.

Wanjarrinya bajibay bama karrbal wangkarku? buban babajin, wulbumanangka balkan: wubul bajaku, wubul-baja mara jambulmuny, nyubun-nyubun murrba janay nyubunji, bangkarr nyulu bayan bajibaymuny kajan bangkarrbu, kaki bajibay buban nyubun mumbu-mal bayan yalbay wubulku bada-mal.


<translate> The many-pronged fish spear is there.


<translate> The light bellied black snake is here.


<translate> You and I saw the banamu snake here.


<translate> The women worked hard all morning, digging and digging until the dilly bag was full of yams.

Jalbu-jalbu bakal-bakan wunkuwingku wubulku, ngunyin-ba wukay wubul-ma-n.


<glossary> ngarra ; type=adverb ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> Danny went to the store, Carol also went.

Danny storengy dungan, Carol ngarra dungan


<glossary> walngkurril ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> You ask your grandmother for food


<translate> We see the shovelnose ray here.


<translate> The old women help the young mother look after the new baby, the old man said, so that she can rest and gather her strength again.

Mukul-jalbu-jalbu-ngku jalbu warru-ngamu mara-dajil karrkay jirakal nyaji-nka, mukul-dingkar balkan, nyulu bundanday junkurr kada-baja-nka.


<glossary> wanyurrinku ; type=interrogative ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> Why did he laugh?


<translate> How many little children does your younger sister have now, the old woman asked, for it has been so very many seasons since I last saw her.

Wanjarrinya karrkay-karrkay buban yunu jinkurr-mu niji? mukul-jalbu-ngku nyajin, wungar-jarra wubul bajaku ngayu nyungu kari nyaji-nya-muny.


<translate> I got the rope from the sack.


<translate> The young man cut the wood for a spear, hardened it in the fire, and then went to hunt for meat.

Warru juku yakan kalkanka, kunjinba dandi-bungan, minya damanka dunganda.


<translate> You two saw the fighting spear here.


<translate> You all saw the bilu-warra spoonbill here.


<translate> If it rains, we will stay at the house.

Kaki kaba kaday, ngana bayanba bundanday.


<translate> We, not you, saw the balarri queenfish there.


<translate> Grandfather saw the parrot there.


<translate> The old man said: Enough is a feast, and too much is a burden, and the whole art of a good life is learning where enough ends and too much begins.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: Yukil mayi yalbay, wubul-baja dandi, wawu ngulkurrmu binal nyubun yala: binalka wanja yukil dungay, wanja wubul-baja badil.


<translate> The spear-thrower is on the ground.


<lexeme> the Aboriginal camp at Thompson Creek


<translate> The old man taught the children to read the birds: when the rainbow bird calls, the honey is ready in the trees.

Mukulungku dingkarangka karrkay-karrkay binalbungan buyika: biru-biru yirrkanya, wunba ngulkurrmanda jukungu.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the jabil lizard there.


<glossary> wawu-darra ; type=noun ; domain=dimension-size <usage_example> The house is too small for all the people (just can't fit in)


<translate> We hear the sharp sound there.


<translate> When the baby was born, the whole camp was glad.

Ngawa balka-ji-nya, bama bayan wubul ngulkurr.


<translate> They saw the cockatoo crest there.


<translate> The woman tied the bag with rope.


<translate> They put paperbark in the ground oven.


<translate> "Why did you go to that dark place by the river, and not to the good camp near the sea?"

Wanyurrimbu yundu dungan yinya bubu ngungul-ka wawubaja-nga, bayan ngulkurr jalun ngundu kari?


<glossary> balanbalan ; type=adjective ; domain=physical-property <usage_example> When you camp out, you should build your shelter on flat ground

Yundu balnhi wunay, bayan ngara bubunga balanbalanba


<translate> He kept calling and calling his old dog, but it had run far away and did not come back.

Nyulu kaya mukul nyungu yirrka-l-yirrka-n, yamba kaya kala-kalbay-ka wanarrin kari kadan.


<translate> You two and those two carry the net; the rest of us sing the hauling song.

Yubal bulanji makarr wundil, ngana bawanmuny wulngku badil kulbanka.


<translate> When did your father die? He died two wet seasons ago, in the time of the big flood. And where is he buried? He lies on the high ground of his own country, where his father lies too.

Wanja-wanja yunu nganjan wulan? Nyulu bana-wungar jambul ngadiku wulan, jalungkarr yalbay-mba. Wanjabu nyulu wunay? Nyulu nyungu bubu-mu wuyar-a wunay, nyungu nganjan baja yinyabu wunay.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the marril ti tree there.


<translate> That old man is their grandfather; he taught them all the kin names.

Yinya mukul-dingkar jananga ngaji; nyulu janangan binal-bungan kuku-jawun wubul.


<translate> We cracked the oyster shells on the rocks and ate them there beside the sea.

Ngana julul milbar dumbarrin kulji-nga, nukan yinyay jalun karangkal.


<translate> You saw the diwalngku bird here.


<glossary> nuril ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=perception <usage_example> The child is peeping through the window


<glossary> bangka-bangkangal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> the children sang loudly


<translate> We see the tree snake there.


<translate> The two of them saw the karrmbil parakeet here.


<translate> The spear struck the man in the chest, and the red blood ran down over his belly to the ground.

Kalka-bu dingkar damu-ba daman, mula kulbul bada wanarri jibar-burr bubu-ngu.


<translate> We two, not you, see the death adder here.


<translate> When the canoe was finished, they carried it to the water, and it sat well and true on the river.

Marrakan ngulkurrmanda, jana wundin bananga, marrakan wawubajanga ngulkurr bundandan.


<translate> The black cherry tree is here.


<glossary> yala ; type=demonstrative ; domain=location-deixis <usage_example> he went from here


<translate> You see the ngamu-murramu dingo here.


<translate> The old woman said anger is a change that comes fast and passes fast if you let it, but that a person can foolishly make permanent by feeding it, for the hot flash of anger cools by itself within minutes like a coal pulled from the fire, but a person who broods, who keeps telling themselves the story of the wrong, makes the passing heat into a lasting cold hatred, changing a small storm into a permanent winter of the heart.

Wulbumanangka balkan kuli nyulu yindu kadan warri janay warri kaki yundu yindu-manilmuny, yambada bama nyulu kanban junkurr-bungal nukalnya, kuli wumbul nyulu nyulu-nyulu kiway-mal wungar buban-ba yala ngunjil baya-muny maninmuny, yambada bama nyulu milka-baykal, nyulu wawu-manil balkal nyulu-nyulunji kuku mumbumuny, nyulu wumbul warri janay yindu-bungal kuli kiway-kiway junkurrku, jarramali buban yindu-bungal bulur-ijirrku wawungu yabarrka janay.


<translate> The two of them saw the bajal bower bird here.


<translate> The big snake lay on the warm rock in the sun, and the children did not see it.

Jarba yalbay kulji wumbulbu wunan wungara, karrkay-karrkay nyulu kariku nyajin.


<translate> You see the wurrul shellfish there.


<translate> This dog is rather tame and will not bite the children, but that other one is still wild.

Nyiku kaya jarra-minday, kari karrkay baykanka, yambada yinya yindu kari-baja minday.


<translate> The two boys swam across the river.


<glossary> yuku ; type=adjective ; domain=dimension-size <usage_example> Bring all the meat home (don't cut it up and leave some)


<translate> Their fire, our fire — at flood time there is only the fire.

Baya janamuny, baya nganamuny: jalungkarrba baya nyubun nganga.


<translate> The girl asked grandfather about water.


<translate> This is sharing, she said: you give much, and the country gives you much back.

Yanyu dajil, nyulu balkan: yundu wubul dajil, bububu yununda wubul dajil baja.


<translate> They saw the bamboo spear stick here.


<translate> We see the grey March fly here.


<translate> The two of them see the mawal bee there.


<glossary> warngku ; type=noun ; domain=bodily-mental-state <usage_example> Three days ago I left


<translate> The old woman said a lost person should sit down and wait to be found.

Wulbumanangka balkan bama nubi-ji-nya bunday, jana milbi-nka.


<translate> You see the dukul-mukul lizard there.


<translate> We two (not you) saw the sand there.


<translate> I left the fish net in the shade.


<translate> Walk straight through the scrub, but turn off at the big tree and go down to the hidden waterhole.

Madja yimba-y, yamba warrki juku yalbay-mba, bada dunga-y janku janka-ka.


<translate> We all, not you, see the flea there.


<translate> The child heard barking from the house.

Karrkay-ngku ngangkurr bayan-muny nyajin.


<translate> The smallest child was sad to be the shortest, but the old woman said: You are the smallest now, but you are also the youngest, and you will grow taller than all of them one day.

Karrkay buban bajaku walu-jirrbu-jirrbu nyulu buban bajaku, yambada wulbumanangka balkan: Yundu buban bajaku nyiku, yundu warru bajaku baja, yundu kalbay-baja jana wubulmuny nyubun wungara.


<translate> We saw the bloodwood tree there.


<translate> The old man said big and small are not what they seem: the biggest thing may be empty and the smallest may hold a whole forest, so never judge a thing by its size alone.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: yalbay buban kari yala jana milbil, yamba yalbay bajaku yamba-kari, yamba buban bajaku madja wubulku kujil, kari yamba milbi nyungu yalbaybu nganga.


<translate> You see the empty box there.


<translate> They saw the jiljay grub here.


<translate> The two young men have not come back yet, though three long, cold days have already passed.

Warru jambul kariku nyunba, wungar kulur kalbay ngiki niji dungan.


<translate> We wrapped the fresh fish in broad green leaves and put it down on the hot coals.

Ngana kuyu birra kalbay jikan-jikan-ba kajan, baya ngunjil-ba yijarrin.


<translate> We two (not you) saw the bamboo spear stick here.


<translate> The dog kept foraging around in the food near the fire.

Kaya mayi-nga ngunja-n-ngunja-ji baya ngundu-ba.


<translate> You two saw the karrmbil parakeet here.


<translate> You two see the tree snake here.


<translate> We see the fire stick there.


<translate> Grandmother saw the baby's neck.


<translate> He saw the karranda tree there.


<glossary> jimal damal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=fire <usage_example> The old man made a fire with a fire stick to cook food


<glossary> yanday-bungal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> You gut the crass (to get the grass ready), I'll throw it out later

Yundu jikan yanday-bunga ngayu juma yilbal


<translate> You two see the oyster there.


<translate> Why does the great crocodile lie so very still for so long a time, the boy asked, and the old man told him that it was only waiting.

Wanyurrimun bilngkumu yalbay janka bajaku wuna wumbul marri? karrkay nyajin, mukul-dingkar-angka nyunguny balkan nyulu nyubun bunda-nya.


<translate> The mud was deep and cold, and the men felt for the crabs with their feet, very quietly.

Kambal-kambal bada kiway, dingkar-dingkarangka kiju jina nyunjan, wunbu bajaku.


<translate> The old woman scolded the child.


Ngana bayanba jilba dungan, wulngku badinya.


<translate> I see the water gum tree here.


<translate> The mother cried quietly by the fire, feeling sad in her liver for her little son who had died.

Ngamu badi janka baya ngundu, jiba-badi nyungu karrkay buban wula-nya-mu.


<translate> The sea has no compass words, so the old people gave it courtesy ones: to-the-sea, at-the-base, along-the-edge.

Jalun kuku-jina-kari, yalada bama mukulbu kuku yulmbarril dayan: 'jalunbu', 'dingalba', 'yalmba-burr'.


<translate> You two see the swamp there.


<translate> You all see the milmarr cane there.


<translate> Bring your two dogs here quickly, and we will follow the kangaroo's fresh tracks.

Kaya jambul yununy ngundu-ka mani jinbal-baja, ngana mayarriji jina wukurri-l!


<translate> The woman went to the river to get water and to cook the food.

Jalbu wawubajanga dungan, bana maninka mayi wajunku.


<translate> The waterhen walks in the grass at the swamp edge, stepping quietly, hunting for little creatures in the mud.

Ngarkay jikan daburri-nga jilban, janka jina bungan, minya-buban kambal-kambal-ba balbin.


<translate> That man standing over there is my mother's brother.

Yinya dingkar yinyay janay ngayku kalnga.


<translate> From the high rock the two hunters watched the kangaroos feeding far below on the open plain.

Kulji wangkar-mundu balbi-bama jambul mayarriji nyajin nuka-nya bada-bada bubu-ba.


<glossary> jiba-yararri ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> He's frightened because people are fighting


<glossary> walngkan-damal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> The woman hung the clothes up on the line


<translate> The women were afraid to walk in the dark scrub at night, for the wild pigs lived there.

Jalbu-jalbu yinil jilba-nka madja ngungul-ba wujurr-ba, bikibiki kuli yinya wunan.


<translate> The bird is standing outside.


<translate> Where shall we make the new camp? We will make it on the high ground, away from the flood and near the good water; there the wind keeps the mosquitoes off.

Wanjabu ngana bayan baja bungay? Ngana wuyar-a bungay, jalungkarr-mundu, bana ngulkurr ngundu; yinyabu muyar-bu kamu yungal.


<translate> We saw the jungka wild cherry tree there.


<translate> I watched the old man making the spear, the old man said, and by watching I learned how to bind the sharp point to the spear.

Ngayu mukul-dingkar nyaji-l-nyaji-n, kalka bunga-l-bunga-nya, mukul-dingkar balkan, nyaji-nya-bu ngayu binalman jalbu junkurr kaja-nka kalka-ka.


<glossary> kana ; type=noun ; domain=location-deixis <usage_example> we are sitting inside the house


<translate> Granny pulled the blanket over the sleeping children.


<translate> I saw the kawarr bloodwood tree here.


<glossary> janay ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=posture-rest <usage_example> they went and went in the truck, then stopped by the creek

Jana truckmundu warrin warrin, warrin, jana yilkinga.


<lexeme> nyulu present ngayku dajin, "he gave me a present"


<translate> The men built a shelter before the rain came.

Dingkar-dingkarangka bayan balkan, kaba kadanyjiku.


<glossary> nganjar-nganjar ; type=adverb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> He came to find out where they got the grog from (didn't ask, just hinted to find out)

Nyulu nganjar-nganjar kadan, jana wanjamun kamukamu manin


<translate> We two, not you, see the bush fire here.


<translate> He saw the biru-biru rainbow bird there.


<lexeme> the Aboriginal camp at Thompson Creek


<translate> They see the shellfish there.


<translate> They saw the shell back snail there.


<translate> You and I see the nyumbil coolibah tree there.


<translate> You and I see the mayfly here.


<translate> He saw the makarra streaky yellow ochre there.


<translate> The old man said water shows every kind of change at once and so was a great teacher to the old people, for it becomes ice-cold in the mountain and warm in the shallows, it becomes hard rain and soft mist, it becomes a still lagoon and a roaring flood, it becomes cloud and comes back as rain, and he said a person who truly watches water learns that a single thing can wear a hundred forms and change endlessly between them while remaining, always, itself.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bana yindu wubulku nyubunji milbil-bama yalbay bama mukulmuny, nyulu kiway-kiway-mal manjalba wumbul-mal bana-bubanba, nyulu bana dandi-mal ngurrbal kima-mal, nyulu daburri wunbu-mal bana-yalbay jarramali-mal, nyulu ngurrban-mal kaday baja bana-ji, nyulu balkan bama nyulu bana bajaku nyaji nyulu binalman yamba nyubun karrbal jina wubul yindu-mal bada-kari nyubunmuny nyubunku yambada janay, wungar wubulku, nyulu-nyulu.


<translate> The bottlebrush tree is standing at camp.


<translate> The two of them see the creek there.


<translate> The old woman said the saddest thing she knew was a child growing up cut off from its kin, for such a child had food perhaps and clothes perhaps but lacked the thing a child needs most, the certain knowledge of exactly who they were and where they belonged and whose they were, and she said the old people would have moved the whole camp and crossed any distance rather than leave one child adrift without its rightful place in the kin-web.

Wulbumanangka balkan yamba wawu-mumbu bajaku nyulu binal karrkay warru-manda jawun-karramuny kaka-manin, karrkay yinya karrbal mayi wungkul kambi wungkul yambada bawal yamba karrkay nyulu bajaku wawu-manil, binal junkurr wanya nyulu wanja nyulu karra wanyamuny nyulu, nyulu balkan bama mukul bayan wubulku jilba-manin ngundu wubulku dungan kari karrkay nyubun bawan jawun-karraba nyungu jarray-yukil-kari.


<lexeme> tree (this term is very rarely used for money)


<glossary> kalkandil ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> He jammed his finger in the door


<translate> You and I see the ground here.


<translate> They saw the corkwood pine here.


<translate> We see the domestic turkey there.


<translate> At each camp they told the stories that belong to that place.

Bayanba jana kuku balkan, kuku yinya bubungu.


<translate> The child cried for its mother.


<translate> The possum went up into the tree, and the dog waited down below.

Yawa wangkar juku-ngu dakan, kaya bada karrban.


<translate> That diwalngku migratory bird is here.


<translate> You and I see the kalmnbagarr diver bird there.


<translate> The old woman's breast is empty now, and the hungry baby cries all through the long cold night.

Mukul-jalbu bibi kari niji, karrkay buban dakwuy badi wujurr wubulku ngiki-ba.


<glossary> kayil ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=hunting-fishing-gathering <usage_example> The man charmed the girl


<translate> This clothing is light-coloured.


<translate> At low tide the women and children go out onto the reef to gather oysters and clams and the small sweet shellfish among the coral.

Ngajal-ba jalbu-jalbu karrkay-karrkay-jirr dulngku-ka dunga, julul darkay-jirr bangka, kuyngkarr buban jiba-wulay karrirrangkal-ba.


<translate> You and I saw the mawu grass there.


<translate> The wind turned cold in the afternoon.


<glossary> majin ; type=adjective ; domain=texture <usage_example> Your hair is too oily


<translate> She carried the water home from the river in a big bark container held in both her hands.

Nyulu bana wawubaja-muny wundin bayan-ka dakil yalbay-mba, mara jambul-bu karrba-l.


<translate> The women pounded the nuts into food and cooked flat cakes on the coals.

Jalbu darka nyurrban mayi-ka, mayi-buban wajun baya-nga.


<translate> They should have kept one old canoe in the shed as a pattern, the old woman said, so the young could see how it was truly made, but the last one rotted while everyone was busy, and now the young make them from memory and picture, and each one is a little wrong, and the wrongness grows with every copy.

Jana marrakan mukul nyubun bayanba karrba-nyaku wari yala, wulbumanangka balkan, warru nyaji yala nyulu yukil bunganmu, yambada marrakan bada bajaku wula bama wubulku janayka, nyiku warru bungal milkamuny nyajilmuny, nyubun wubulku buban mumbu, mumbu ngaral wungar wubulku nyulu murni-manilba.


<translate> You and I see the fire here.


<lexeme> {'english': 'Yabaju kari diday-mana ngaykundu. Ngayu babarr', 'translation': "Don't say bad something bad about my younger brother to me. I'm his older sister."}


<translate> The old man began to teach the boy the deep law of the country, the old woman said, but the boy was still too young to hold all of it in his mind.

Mukul-dingkarangka karrkay bubu-mu yalaku dajali binal-bungal yudal, mukul-jalbu balkan, yamba karrkay buban-baja, narmba milka-ba karrba-nka kari.


<translate> The people of that place speared fish at the sea.


<translate> You all see the straw-necked ibis there.


<translate> That willie wagtail is there.


<translate> You all see the jirimandi coconut tree there.


<translate> You saw the dawa-dawa magpie here.


<translate> I saw the birinjil centipede here.


<translate> You and I saw the spear barb here.


<glossary> badi ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> The birds were singing early in the morning


<translate> To whom did you give the biggest piece of the meat?


<translate> You two saw the juku-juku bronzewing dove here.


<translate> Let the angry message sleep one night; send the survivor in the morning.

Bawa yimbal dukul-wuri-ji wunanka wujurr nyubun: yunga muduwajuny wanyu juran.


<glossary> wungka ; type=noun ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> She's swearing another woman (because she's wronged)


<translate> The dry country without water is only a beautiful grave, the old people always said.

Bubu marral bana-kari nyulu ngulkurr wula-bubu janka, mukul-bama wungar wubulku balkan.


<translate> The young men waded into the shallows at first light to spear fish and stingray in the good clear water.

Warru-warru bana bubanba walan muduwajunyjiku, kuyu yawu damanka bana ngulkurrbu.


<translate> We all, not you, see the high bank here.


<translate> This bag carries more than it looks — grandmother tied hidden knowledge into it.

Balji yanya wundil wubul-baja nyajilmuny, babingka binal ngakijinmuny kajan yinyaka.


<glossary> kuda ; type=interrogative ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> What about your older brother?


<translate> You and I see the dalkari bladder there.


<translate> The young man made a spear from strong wood.

Warru-ngku kalka balkan juku junkurr-muny.


<translate> When they came to the deep crossing, the water was too fast to wade, so they walked upriver until they found a place where the river ran wide and slow, and there they crossed to the other side.

Jana bana bada-baja naka-nakanka kadanya, bana warri junkurr-baja marijinka, jana wangkar-mundu jilban wanja bana yalbay bunya warri wanjinya, yinya jana ngubara jilban.


<translate> The children never went hungry, for even when the hunting was poor there was always something to gather — a root, a fruit, a grub, a handful of nuts.

Karrkay-karrkay kari dakwuy yabarrka, balbil buban jananya baja yamba yabarrka bangkanka janay: bangkan, mayi, jambun, barka mara nyubun.


<translate> We all, not you, see the jumper ant here.


<translate> He saw the barrbal black bream there.


<glossary> didal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=clothing-adornment <usage_example> I put my good clothes on


<translate> That clothing there is not loose.


<translate> The old man said the little stingless sugarbag bee does not hurt you at all, but the big hornet has a sting that will drop a grown man to his knees.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: kuja buban baykal-kari, yundu kari yinbay-mani, yamba mulma yalbay-mu baykal bama yalbay bunku-ka bada-bungal.


<glossary> ngurrbal ; type=noun ; domain=sky-weather <usage_example> I couldn't see, the heavy fog oblterated (the view)

Ngayu kari nyajin, ngurrbalda yalbaynja kanbin


<translate> You two see the karrandal tree there.


<translate> You see the white-tailed rat there.


<translate> The hunter crept up behind the kangaroo through the long grass.

Balbi-bama mayarriji-mu kudamundu wangkar warri bilanji kalbay-mba.


<translate> We two, not you, see the house here.


<translate> The ground oven was still hot in the ground.


<translate> The children asked what the strange thing was; the old man said it was a white man's axe, heavier and sharper than stone, but it cut down the sacred trees too fast.

Karrkay-karrkayngku babajin wanyu nyiku; mukul-dingkarangka balkan yinya waybala-mu warrbi, kulngkul, jalngkun kulji-ngadiku, yambada nyulu juku-ngumu warri yakan.


<translate> They saw the oak tree there.


<translate> You two saw the yalnga turtle here.


<translate> She went out angry-with and came back quiet — the long walk did its old work.

Nyulu dungan kuli-ji, kadan baja wunbu, jilba kalbaybu murni mukul nyungu murnin.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the biyangkal yam there.


<translate> The dogs smelled the wallaby first and ran ahead into the long grass, barking and jumping over the logs.

Kaya-kayangka kadar nyajin ngadiku, warrin maku jikan kalbaymba, yirrkanya jalamanya jukungu.


<translate> You two saw the nakawarra bee here.


<translate> That baringkan small bird is here.


<translate> You all saw the bububay blacktip shark there.


<translate> We see the mukukanka tree there.


<translate> He sees the jirimandi coconut tree here.


<translate> The people of this place gave food to the people of that place.

Yaluy-arra-ngka yinyay-arra-nda mayi dajin.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the jumper ant here.


<translate> They saw the grass-tree resin here.


<translate> You and I see the archerfish here.


<translate> The young cassowary is there.


<translate> Test the edge with a leaf, not with your finger.


<translate> The children came to see that mastering the inner country was harder than mastering the outer, for the animals of the heart leave no tracks and the weather of the mind gives no warning before it turns.

Karrkay-karrkayangka nyajin wawu bubu kujinka dandi-baja bubu badabada kujilmuny, wawumu minya kari jina bawal, milkamu wungar kari milbil murninyjiku.


<translate> The men did not catch any fish, so they came back to the camp hungry.

Dingkarangka kuyu kari karrban, jana bayan-ka mayi-kari kadan.


<translate> The two of them see the jingajalka tree there.


<translate> The young man was bitten by a shark in the salt water, but the old people made him well with bush medicine.

Warru jalunba yaburr-undu bayka-jin, yambada mukul-mukul-ungku nyulu mayi-bu kakawarri-bungan.


<translate> Grandmother sees the shallow water there.


<translate> We all, not you, see the door there.


<translate> This red fruit is good, she said, but that one just like it will make you very sick, so look at the leaf and the vine.

Yanyu mayi ngulkurr, nyulu balkan, yambada yinya yala nyungu yundu bambaymal bajaku, yala nyaka birra kalal.


<translate> The people kept eating at the food all day.

Bama mayi-nga nuka-n-nuka-jin wungar wubulku.


<translate> You and I see the fire stick here.


<translate> The two of them saw the balarri queenfish here.


<translate> After bathing, they rest at the camp.

Wawu-janji-nya-muny, jana bayan-ba wunana-y.


<translate> I thought you meant to roast the meat, but you are boiling it in water.

Balu yundu minya dinda-nka, kari yundu bana-nga wajul.


<translate> He saw the jabarrangkul ant there.


<translate> The old man asked mother about water.


<translate> The kangaroo feeds in the cool early morning and lies down in the shade through the hot day.

Mayarriji nukal wunkuwingku ngiki-ba, wunay wabarr-ba wungar wumbul-ba.


<translate> We gathered the wild grapes from the vine that hangs down over the water.

Ngana kangka bangkan maya-muny, nyulu bana wangkar bada wunay.


<translate> The boss of the young men told them to go and hunt the kangaroo before the sun rose over the hills.

Maja warru-warru-nka balkan, jana balbi-ka dunga-y mayarriji-ka, wungar daka-nya kariku jamba-muny.


<translate> The old man asked his elder brother about the fishing net, and the brother said the tide was still rising.

Mukul-dingkarangka yaba-nda babajin makarr-ka, yabangku balkan, yira daka-l niji.


<translate> The old man said the words for kin were among the very first a child learned, before the names of most animals or plants, because knowing who was mother and who was uncle and who was cross-cousin was the most urgent knowledge of all, telling a child at every moment how to behave toward the person in front of them, whom to obey, whom to joke with, whom to avoid, so that the kin-words were the child's first and most important map of the world.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan kuku karra-muny nyulu kuku ngadiku bajaku karrkay binalman, minya mayi wubulku kukumuny ngadiku, wanya ngamu wanya kalnga wanya kambanmu binalka nyulu binal junkurr bajaku wubulmuny, balkal karrkay wungar nyubun-nyubun yala nyulu janan bama miyil-jinanga, wanya wukurrinka, wanya yajarr-wayka, wanya jibarr-jibarrka, kuku-karra nyulu karrkay nyungu ngadiku bubu-jarray yukil bajaku.


<translate> The man saw the woman's neck.


<translate> Grandfather's body is tired.


<translate> He saw the dakwurr-dakwun hammer bird there.


<translate> The old people knew that strong bones come from plenty of good fat meat and marrow.

Mukul-bama-ngka binal, bajibay junkurr minya wandul ngulkurr wubul-muny kada-nya.


<translate> The bronzewing doves come down to the water hole to drink at the end of the day.

Juku-juku wubul bana-ka muru kada-y, bana nuka-nka wungar bada-nya.


<translate> You all see the bandicoot here.


<translate> The children jumped straight into the deep part and swam and splashed, while the old people washed more slowly at the water's edge.

Karrkay-karrkay bada badaka dungan, janjin, bana yilban, kamba-kamba buban-buban julurri-jin bana bungkarra.


<translate> This is a good camping ground with fresh water nearby and plenty of dry firewood.

Yinya bubu ngulkurr bunda-nka, bana ngulkurr ngundu baya-juku marral wubul.


<translate> The bush foods feed the people through every season, if they know where to look.

Duduy-mayi bama daji-l wungar wubulku, kaki jana binal wanja balbil.


<translate> You all saw the yiki owl here.


<translate> The child, that one, is sitting there.


<translate> He was burnt by a stinging tree.


<translate> The children went very fast.


<translate> The women dug in the dry sand of the creek bed to reach the hidden soak water.

Jalbu-ngka jukar marral wawubaja-nga bakan, bana ngaki-nya mani-nka.


<translate> We two, not you, see the cheek here.


<translate> We two, not you, see the mungka-dirka fur here.


<translate> Grandfather told about the hungry year: they moved camp seven times following the food, and the children never knew it was a hungry year, because the old people turned the searching itself into a laughing thing — and that is what grown-ups are for.

Kamingka balkan wungar dakwuymuny: jana bayan wundin wubulkubu mayi wukurrinya, karrkay-karrkay kariku binalman wungar dakwuy yinya, bama mukulungku balbil nyulu-nyulu murnin yajarr-yambaku, yinya murni bama-yalbaymuny.


<translate> You two see the morning star there.


<translate> The two of them saw the barrbal black bream there.


<translate> The old man said there are two ways to travel: the fast way and the true way, and they are seldom the same road, for the fast way skips the sacred places and the true way stops at every one to pay respect.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: jilbanka jambul yala: warri yala yukil yala baja, jana kariku nyubun baral, warri yala bubu wawu-yukil kalka bawal, yukil yala bubu wubulku kanban wawu-yukil dajinka.


<glossary> wubaji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=bodily-mental-state <usage_example> My feet are swollen


<translate> You two saw the murrabal barramundi here.


<translate> You went to the river; I followed you; I gave the spear to you; and now your dilly bag is full of fish.

Yundu wawubajanga dungan; ngayu yununy wukurrin; ngayu kalka yununku dayan; yunu balji kuyu-bu yajin.


<translate> You two saw the three-pronged spear here.


<translate> The children watched the ibis flock rise all at once from the swamp when the hawk came over, the old woman said, a great white cloud of beating wings.

Karrkay-karrkay birmba wubul daburr-muny nyubun-bu wandi jinabiju kada-nya-ba nyajin, mukul-jalbu balkan, nangki balbal wubul jiri-ba yala ngurrban.


<translate> He sees the kalkuri tree there.


<translate> You two saw the julaji freshwater catfish there.


<translate> The still water of the lagoon is smooth and bright, like a big flat shining stone.

Bana daburri janka jinali balbal, yala kulji jirakal kalbay balbal.


<translate> The man carried the heavy load of firewood on his head to the camp.

Dingkarangka baya-juku kulngkul dukul-ba wundin bayan-ka.


<translate> The big green frog sits fat and still on the broad leaf by the waterhole, the old woman said, and the children love to watch it swell up and call.

Karrkurr yalbay wandul janka birra kalbay-mba bana-mabi ngundu-ba bunda, mukul-jalbu balkan, karrkay-karrkay nyaji-nyaji yajarri nyulu yalbay-ma-l yirrka-nya.


<translate> They see the mura tree there.


<translate> Grandfather brought news from the house.


<translate> And so the knowledge of the plants passed from the old to the young, unbroken, longer than anyone could say.

Yalaku mayimu binal kamba-kambamuny warru-warruka dungan, kari dumbarrin, yala ngadiku bajaku bama kari balkanka.


<translate> That woman knows all the good water places.


<translate> It floated well and true, and the young men were proud of the raft they had made together.

Marrakan bananga ngulkurr bundandan, warru-warru wawu-mini nyungu marrakanmu, jana jambulku ngaranmuny.


<translate> We, not you, saw the dijarr freshwater perch there.


<translate> The dead person remembered his wife.


<translate> The man tricked the child by lying.


<glossary> kuljan ; type=noun ; domain=ceremony-magic-song <usage_example> I drummed the water


<translate> Did granny tell you the story?


<translate> He saw the kalkamal locust there.


<translate> You saw the dukunjulu golden whistler here.


<translate> You two saw the jirimandi coconut tree there.


<translate> You and I see the tree snake here.


<glossary> biwur ; type=adverb ; domain=posture-rest <usage_example> He is sitting with his hands holding his legs


<translate> The native cat is a small, fierce hunter that kills the rats and the little birds in the night.

Jungarr buban, balbi-bama kuli-ji, kukur buyi buban kunil wujurr-ba.


<translate> If you lose the path in the thick scrub, the old man said, follow the little creek downhill and it will always bring you to the big water.

Kaki yundu jina madja junkurr-ba wula-mani, mukul-dingkar balkan, bana-jandu bada-ka jilba, nyulu yundu bana yalbay-ka kada-baja.


<translate> That stockwhip bird is there.


<translate> The man sees the hairy yam there.


<glossary> ngarra-yilbal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> The Bloomfield team beat the rest


<glossary> kuku yaral ; type=noun ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> You go straighten him out / tell him straight


<translate> We two, not you, see the karrandal tree there.


<translate> Is he your younger brother? No, he is my uncle's son — my cross-cousin — so we joke and hunt together, but I must respect his father.

Nyulu nyungu yabaju? Kari, nyulu ngayku kalnga-mu kangkal — ngayku kambanmu — ngali yajarr-way balbi-way, yambada ngayu nyungu nganjan dandi karrbal.


<translate> You saw the juku-juku bronzewing dove there.


<translate> We hear the sharp sound here.


<translate> I see the kakaji mangrove tree here.


<translate> The morning star fades as the sun rises, and the new day comes over the wide, waking country.

Dawar wunkuwingku-mu wula wungar daka-nya, wungar jirakal kaday bubu yalbay wandi-nya.


<translate> The wind knocked the clothes down.


<translate> Fill the big water-bag right up before you cross the dry stony country, the old man said, in case you find no clean water at all along the whole way.

Bana-ngunyin yalbay narmba warmba bubu marral kulji-jirr jilba-nyjiku, mukul-dingkar balkan, kunka yundu bana ngulkurr kari mani-nya yalaku narmba-ba.


<translate> The women went straight for the yam grounds.


<translate> You and I see the fighting spear there.


<translate> You two see the smouldering log there.


<translate> The two of them saw the deep water there.


<glossary> baral ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=perception <usage_example> He was feeling for his torch in the dark


<translate> You and I see the kurrkal shortcut there.


<translate> Who says so? — The tracks say so, and tracks do not lie.

Wanyabu balkal? Jinabu balkal, jina kariku warmbiji.


<glossary> nubiji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=perception <usage_example> The child went into the scrub and then got lost

Nyulu karrkay madjanga dungan, nubijinkuda


<translate> They saw the dog flea there.


<translate> We saw the mountain peak there.


<lexeme> {'english': 'Yabaju kari diday-mana ngaykundu. Ngayu babarr', 'translation': "Don't say bad something bad about my younger brother to me. I'm his older sister."}


<glossary> bajaybajay ; type=adjective ; domain=bodily-mental-state <usage_example> My body is sore after the fly


<translate> The chicken hawk snatched the small chick from right beside the camp fire.

Jinabiju-ngka jukijuki buban baya karangkal nyarrman.


<translate> My mother's brother took me hunting and taught me to throw the spear.

Ngayku kalngangka nganya balbi-ka wundin, kalka dama-nka binal-bungan.


<translate> The smooth grey rocks in the creek bed are very slippery when the water runs high.

Kulji jinali wawubaja-nga julbarr-warri-baja, bana wangkar-nya.


<lexeme> that's nonsense, take no notice


<translate> The old woman's last teaching about kin was the simplest and the deepest: you did not earn your kin and you cannot resign them, you were born into them as into the air you breathe, they are yours and you are theirs before you do anything at all, and this, she said, is the first free gift every Kuku Yalanji child receives, a whole world of people already bound to love and hold and answer for them, and it should be received with thanks and passed on whole.

Wulbumanangka nyungu milbil bada karra-muny nyulu kima bajaku dukurr bajaku baja: yundu kari nyungu karra manin yundu kariku bawal, yundu ngunduku wandin yala ngumbu yundu ngaralmuny, jana yundunji yundu jananji ngadiku yundu yamba nyubun murninya ngadiku, yinya, nyulu balkan, daji jirray ngadiku bajaku karrkay Kuku Yalanji wubulku manil, bubu bama-mabi ngadiku karra-ji wawu-maninka karrbanka kuku-yukil-maninka, nyulu maninka yajarr-ji jilbanka wubulku baja.


<translate> This day is much hotter than yesterday, and the old people say the big rain will come very soon.

Nyiku wungar jarra-wumbul-baja ngadiku-wungar-ka, bama mukul balkan kaba yalbay ngundu-baja kada.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the kurkunbay butcherbird there.


<translate> You see the light-coloured hair.


<translate> We, not you, saw the yiki owl there.


<translate> They saw the kalburiji bee there.


<glossary> bajaku ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> he's a real aboriginal


<translate> I had better cook some food now, for I am very hungry and the sun is going down.

Ngayu mayi waju-nku niji, ngayu dakwuy-baja, wungar bada dunga-l.


<translate> The fruit on this tree is rather ripe now, but the old woman says we should wait two more days.

Mayi nyiku juku-ngu jarra-kulbul nyiku, yambada wulbuman balkan ngali wungar jambul baja karrbanka.


<glossary> diburr ; type=noun ; domain=flora-plant <usage_example> I planted the seeds in the garden


<glossary> kukujida ; type=noun ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> news mouth


<translate> Near, close by, far away — the language walks in three steps: yuba, ngundu, kala-kalbay.

Yuba, ngundu, kala-kalbay: kuku jilbal jina kulurbu.


<translate> I hit myself on the foot by mistake.


<translate> Grandfather hears the thunder there.


<translate> The big grey kangaroo stood up and looked at us.

Julmbanu yalbay warndin, nganjinan nyajin.


<translate> They put the bones together.


<translate> We, not you, saw the kalkamuku snake there.


<translate> The crab bit father's chest.


<translate> Grandmother saw the swamp there.


<translate> They saw the jingajalka tree here.


<translate> Ask your old grandfather about the country of your people, for he alone still knows the old stories.

Babaji yunu kami mukul-da bubu yunu bama-mu-ka, nyulu nyubun-bu binal kuku mukul kariku.


<translate> The old man said the very land was mapped by kin, for each family line held its own country by descent, and a person could look across the whole landscape and read it as a map of relations, this ridge my father's, that river my mother's people's, this camp where my grandmother was born, so that to walk the country was to walk among one's kin living and dead, and the land and the family were finally two names for one thing.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bubu nyulu karra-bu dandi-bungan, karra-jina nyubun-nyubun karrbal nyungu-nyungu bubu karra-mundu, bama nyulu nyaji bubu wubulku ngaral yala karra-bubu-jarray, jina-kiway yinya nganjan-amu, wawubaja yinya ngamu nyungu bama nyungu, bayan wanja ngayku babi wandinmuny, bubu jilbanka nyulu karra-mundu jilbal wula-mabi wula-mabi-kari baja, bubu jawun-karra jambul kuku nyubunku bada bajaku.


<translate> You all saw the dalmbal flathead here.


<translate> Share the honey out evenly, and give the first taste to grandmother.

Wunba wambajika yukilbu, nganja-ngurr babinda daya.


<glossary> wadil ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=sky-weather <usage_example> They hung a blanket up because the cold might come in

Jana blanket walngkan-daman buluruku wadinji


<translate> A man who makes his own tools well never goes hungry, the old man told them.

Bama nyulu kalka ngulkurr ngaral kari dakwuy yabarrka, mukulungku dingkarangka jananda balkan.


<translate> The children ate some grubs and roasted others on the coals, and the old woman said a good grub was as fine a food as any meat in the country.

Karrkay-karrkayangka jambun kanbal nukan, kanbal ngunjilba wayjun, wulbumanangka balkan jambun ngulkurr mayi ngulkurr yala minya wanyu bubungu.


<translate> They gathered the small sweet berries all afternoon, the old man said, staining their hands and mouths red, and no one went home hungry.

Jana mayi buban jiba-wulay mujal wungar bada dunga-nya, mukul-dingkar balkan, mara ngandal-jirr kulbul-ma-n, bama nyubun kari bayan-ka dakwuy.


<translate> The two of them see the ngadil hickory tree here.


<translate> They saw the biru-biru rainbow bird there.


<translate> You two see the kambar white clay here.


<glossary> wanjaburr ; type=interrogative ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> WHich way did you come?


<translate> You two see the jungka wild cherry tree here.


<translate> The boy practiced every day, throwing at a fruit hanging from a tree until his arm grew straight and strong.

Karrkay yabarrka kirrajin, mayi bubanka yilbanya jukungu, nyungu mara junkurrmanda yaral.


<glossary> bakal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> They dug a hole


<glossary> janbangaji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> he'll keep the ball


<glossary> jarra-jarra ; type=adjective ; domain=dimension-size <usage_example> She climbed up high


<glossary> yalaymburr ; type=temporal ; domain=time-deixis <usage_example> I'll go before the rain comes


<translate> There was really nothing at all.


<translate> Father washed the baby's stomach.


<glossary> kari ; type=particle ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> I didn't get any meat, the fish didn't bite at all

Ngayu minya kari manin, kuyungku kari bajaku baykan


<translate> The path climbed steeply into the ranges, and they went slowly, stopping often to catch their breath, until at last they stood on the ridge and could see the whole country spread out below them.

Baral wangkar-mundu dakan junkurr, jana buban-buban dungan, jana kanban kalka, dukul dungay, dumbaymuny jana yumalba janay bubu wubulku nyajil jana bada.


<translate> The old man watched the woman weaving the dilly-bag from the vine, the old woman said, and he saw that her fingers were quick and sure.

Mukul-dingkarangka jalbu nyaji-l-nyaji-n, ngunyin jaba-l-jaba-nya wangay-mu, mukul-jalbu balkan, nyulu nyaji nyungu mara bila junkurr.


<translate> I saw the children up there.

Ngayu karrkay-karrkay nyajin wangkarwangkar.


<translate> We, not you, saw the kurkunbay butcherbird there.


<translate> You all see the jungka wild cherry tree there.


<translate> You all saw the bujabay tree here.


<translate> They saw the mud wasp there.


<translate> The green ants build their nest of leaves high in the mango tree.

Munjurr nyungu bayan birra-bu bunga-l juku wangkar-a.


<lexeme> Nganjin dungan, ngingkirr nyajin


<translate> I set the fish net in the creek, waited on the bank, and when the mullet came I pulled the net up full.

Ngayu makarr wawubajanga yijarrin, wawubaja-nga bundan, ngalkun kada-nya, ngayu makarr yajin maninda.


<glossary> ngangkay ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> You will soon be surprised when I show you something

Yundu juma ngangkay, ngayu yunundu junjuy milbil


<translate> You all see the pumice stone here.


<translate> The scrub turkey scratches the ground all day looking for food, and the old people follow its scratchings to find the yams.

Diwan bubu yirrbajin wungar wubulku mayi-nka, bama mukul nyungu jina wukurrin bunkuny milbinka.


<translate> You and I saw the jangkan swift there.


<translate> We, not you, saw the dalmbal flathead here.


<translate> In the morning we'll go out for fish.


<translate> Mother washed the young man's arm.


<translate> You and I saw the yiki owl there.


<translate> The children learned to wash themselves without being told, to keep their sleeping place clean, and to dry themselves properly in the cold season.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman julurri-jinka kari balkanyjiku, nyungu warngku-wanja dayirr kujinka, nyulu-nyulu marraljinka bulurijinga.


<translate> The women dug the yams with their hands in the soft cold ground.

Jalbungku bambayal mara-bu bakan bubu kima ngiki-nga.


<glossary> wurrmay ; type=noun ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> Don't steal


<translate> You all see the running water here.


<translate> The witchetty grub is there.


<translate> Grandfather saw the deep water there.


<glossary> mulkal-mulkal ; type=noun ; domain=spirit-mythical-being <usage_example> They're fighting for no reason. Someone will have a baby.

Bula mulkal-mulkal; somebodyngka baby haveim-bungal


<translate> You all see the seashore here.


<translate> You all saw the wawukuna long wild yam here.


<translate> The girl stored up plenty of food and clothes before she went to her husband's camp.

Maralangka mayi, kambi baja bangkan wubul, dunyu-mu bayan-ka dunga-nyjiku.


<translate> Mother put water on the child's hand.

Ngamu-ngku bana yijarrin karrkay-anda mara-nga.


<translate> The man cut himself with the sharp knife while he was cleaning the fish.

Dingkar yaka-ji naybu dandi-bu, kuyu ngulkurr-bunga-nya.


<translate> He saw the bilbil-bilbil gecko there.


<glossary> majamal-majamal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> He is too bossy


<translate> The stingray lies buried in the sand of the shallow water, and its tail can hurt a person badly.

Yawu jukar-a bana-buban-ba wunay, nyungu banda-bu bama yalbay bambay-bungan.


<glossary> wunay ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=kinship <usage_example> The young man married the girl


<translate> The old man named all these people, and told how each one is related.

Mukul-dingkarangka yalu-rriny wubul burri-bungan, jawun kuku balkan.


<translate> The old people showed us the good water.

Kamba-kambangka bana ngulkurr milbin ngananda.


<translate> The geese flew high over the grey sea in a long line towards the cold wind.

Jamarbina wubul jalun wangkar-a kalbay-baja dunga-y, muyar ngiki-ka.


<translate> The old man chopped the hard wood with a heavy stone axe to make the shaft of his new spear.

Mukul-dingkar-angka juku junkurr yakan warrbi-bu, kalka jirakal-mu juku bungal.


<lexeme> bad spirit in form of crocodile


<translate> We saw the bottlebrush tree.


<translate> The two of them see the black bream there.


<translate> You see the corkwood tree there.


<translate> We all, not you, see the ridge pole here.


<translate> You two saw the bayil jungle perch there.


<translate> The clothing there is not narrow.


<translate> You two see the tree kangaroo there.


<translate> You saw the mirrbangku pencil cedar tree there.


<translate> Granny showed the girls how to find yams. They dug there. They put the yams in the dilly bags.

Babingka maral-maral binal-bungan, wukay nyajinka. Jana bakan yinyay. Jana wukay mumban baljinga.


<translate> The old man is staying in the humpy with the baby.


<translate> The child took mother's clothes.


<translate> That woman knows all the good water places.


<translate> The two of them saw the julaji freshwater catfish here.


<translate> The old man came from the sea.


<translate> We two, not you, see the murrkul tree there.


<lexeme> upper reaches of the Bloomfield River


<translate> The stone is on the open ground.


<translate> Some stories made the children laugh until their bellies hurt, and some made them quiet and thoughtful.

Kuku kanbal karrkay-karrkay yajarrimanil jibar kaka bajaku, kuku kanbal jana wunbu bundanday milka-bu baykanya.


<translate> I saw the dawa-dawa magpie here.


<translate> Pour the water into the billycan.


<translate> The young man left the gun outside.


<translate> The centipede and the scorpion both hide under the bark and the stones in the day, the old woman said, so shake out your blanket and your bedding before you lie down.

Birinjil biringal-jirr jambulu dumbul kulji-jirr bada-ba wungar-a wuna, mukul-jalbu balkan, bilangkurr kararr-jirr balka wuna-nyjiku.


<translate> You and I see the red bream here.


<translate> I see the black bean tree here.


<translate> The old man said the frog buries itself deep in the cracked mud all through the long dry, and lies as if dead until the first rain wakes it again.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: yirku-yirku kambal-kambal dumbarri-nya-ba dajali janku baka marral-wungar narmba, wuna yala wula-nya kaba yudal-nya-muny.


<glossary> jamba ; type=noun ; domain=land-geography <usage_example> Up there on the hillside


<translate> By the end of the day each child had made a small crooked bag, and the old woman said every one was good.

Wungar dunganya, karrkay wubulku ngunyin buban ngaran, wulbumanangka balkan: yambayamba ngulkurr.


<translate> The young man took over the house completely.


<translate> The old man said knowing the number is good but knowing the weight is better, for two small fish and one big fish may weigh the same but never make the same meal.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: wubul binal ngulkurr, dandi binal ngulkurr-baja, kuyu buban jambul kuyu yalbay nyubunji dandi nyubun, yambada mayi kari nyubun.


<translate> You all see the prawn there.


<glossary> baja ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> I don't know what to tell


<glossary> yakal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> you cut the meat up


<translate> The old man's legs are weak now, and he leans on a strong wooden stick when he walks.

Mukul-dingkar jandal buban niji, nyulu juku junkurr-ba karrba jilba-nya.


<glossary> bijjaril ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> I dream about a carpet snake


<translate> The children must never point at the rainbow serpent, or the big rain will surely come.

Karrkay-karrkay-angka yarru kari milba-l mara-bu, kaba yalbay kada-nyji.


<translate> The little worms came up out of the wet ground after the heavy rain had fallen.

Nganjamu buban bubu bana-ba wangkar-a wandi-l, kaba yalbay dara-nya-muny.


<translate> She keeps her own counsel: her fire, her words, and her silence too — she guards what is her own.

Nyulubu kuku nyungu-nyungu karrbal: baya nyungu, kuku nyungu, wunbu nyungu baja, nyungu-nyungu kuji.


<translate> My hands are cold — I'll sit by the fire.

Ngayku mara kiway-kiway — ngayu bayanga bunday.


<translate> You two see the salmon there.


<translate> You and I saw the dijarr freshwater perch here.


<translate> We see the cockatoo crest there.


<translate> You and I saw the rope there.


<translate> My elder sister wove the dilly bag and gave it to me by the fire.

Ngayku babarr ngunyin bungan, nganya dajin baya karangkal.


<translate> The coals were hot, but the ash was cool.


<translate> The two of them see the black snake there.


<translate> The young man had a feed of food and then kept eating more.

Warru mayi-nga nuka-jin, baja nuka-n-nuka-ji.


<translate> The children sat in the shade.


<translate> They saw the straw hat here.


<lexeme> the Aboriginal camp at Thompson Creek


<translate> Teach the children the language — they'll keep it strong.

Karrkay-karrkay binal-bunga kukuku — jana junkurrku kujil!


<translate> When will you come back in the hot season?


<translate> You two see the jungka wild cherry tree there.


<translate> A boy asked when his spear would fly true, and the old man said: ask your own shoulder, for the true throw does not live in the wanting, it lives in the arm that has thrown very many times, so throw at the old log at dusk each day, and one day the shoulder will answer without you.

Buban babajin wanjawanja kalka nyungu warrinyaku yukil, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: babaji binda nyungu-nyungu, kalka-warri yukil kariku wunay wawuba, nyulu wunay wakuymba yilbanmuny wubulku bajaku, yalada yilba jukungu mukulba miyil-wujurr-wujurrba nyubun-nyubun, wungar nyubun binda nyulu-nyulu balkal yundu-mundu.


<translate> That baringkan small bird is there.


<translate> Grey clouds hide the sun all day, and the cold wind blows in from the sea.

Ngurrban jiri wubulku wungar ngaki-l, muyar kiway jalun-muny warri.


<translate> You saw the jiwurrmal pheasant cuckoo there.


<translate> You all see the black snake here.


<translate> Father saw the scrub turkey in the scrub.


<translate> The hunter has very sharp eyes; he sees the small bird high up in the far tall tree.

Balbi-bama miyil jinbal-baja-ku; nyulu buyi buban juku kalbay wangkar-a nyaji-l.


<translate> We, not you, saw the bujil-yiran ibis here.


<translate> The two of them saw the yirku-yirku frog there.


<translate> The girl is carrying the baby and Mum is cooking food.

Maralangka ngawa jarra-kulbal, ngamungku mayi wayjul.


<lexeme> The Daintree side of Rocky Point


<translate> And so the wet season began, and the camp was warm and full of food, safe until the sun came back.

Yalaku buluriji kadan, bayan wumbul mayiji, jana yajarrin, ngulkurr wungar kadanyjiku baja.


<translate> I should have watched the net, but I fell asleep on the warm sand, and the birds took two of the mullet.

Ngayu makarr nyaji-nyaku, yambada ngayu jukara wumbulbu wunan, dikal ngalkun jambul manin.


<translate> We see the freshwater eel here.


<translate> You all see the murrka scar there.


<translate> That knife-spear stays in the shelter until your arms grow into it.

Yingkan janay bayanba yundu wakuy yalbay-manyjiku.


<translate> The old man said the cassowary is the most feared of all the animals in the deep scrub.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan kurranji jarra-yinil minya wubul-ku ngalkal-bubu-ngu.


<translate> Don't touch the hot red coals with your bare hand, little one; you will hurt yourself!

Kari karrba baya wumbul mara-bu, buban! Yundu nyulu-nyulu kaka-mani-l!


<translate> The old man made a long strong rope by twisting together thin strips of inner bark.

Mukul-dingkar-angka karra kalbay junkurr bungan, warrur buban-buban kaja-l-kajan.


<translate> The old woman scraped the scales off the fish before she cooked it.

Wulbumangka kuyu jindi manin, waju-nyji.


<translate> Grandfather saw the child's navel.


<translate> You two saw the bamboo spear stick there.


<glossary> babal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=perception <usage_example> I want to go fishing to try the place out

ngayu baduriji dungaka, yinya bubu babanka


<glossary> nuril ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=perception <usage_example> The child is peeping through the window


<translate> The black cockatoos fly over in a screeching flock in the late afternoon, the old woman said, and the old people say that means rain is coming soon.

Kadanji wubul jiri-ba wungar wujurr-ma-nya-ka marra-warri yirrka junkurr, mukul-jalbu balkan, mukul-bama balka kaba nyiku-nyiku kada-nya.


<translate> We see the tree kangaroo there.


<translate> The house is small, but it is clean.


<translate> You see the father's sister here.


<translate> The old man knows how to make a strong, well-made spear from the black palm, the old woman said, and he can throw it further than any young man.

Mukul-dingkar binal kalka junkurr ngulkurr bunga-nka duwar-mu, mukul-jalbu balkan, nyulu dama kala-kalbay-ka warru wubulku-muny.


<translate> I saw the bamboo spear stick here.


<translate> The centipede has many little legs and crawls quickly across the dark floor of the shelter.

Birinjil jina wubul buban, bayan-ba wujurr-ba jinbal-baja mara-warri.


<lexeme> Rattlesnake point - Fritz Creek


<translate> They got fish first, and then came.


<glossary> wawu jirray ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> I love eating fish


<translate> The young man speared the turtle with the spear thrower.


<translate> I see the marubu species of oyster.


<translate> The two of them see the ground here.


<translate> We see the freshwater crocodile here.


<translate> You saw the yikari hardened beeswax here.


<translate> The old man knew the distance to every camp and waterhole in the country, and he could tell you which was nearer and which was farther and by how much.

Mukulungku dingkarangka binal yala kalbay bayan wubulku banaka bubungu, nyulu balkal wanya ngundu-baja, wanya kalakalbay-baja, wanjarrinya baja.


<translate> We see the kurruba freshwater fish here.


<translate> Who ate all the honeycomb? — The quiet one with the shining chin.

Wanyabu mandi-mandi wubulku nukan? Bama wunbu bari jilu-jilu-ji.


<translate> The man pushed the big stone.


<translate> The two of them see the kaya-kaya dogs here.


<translate> We all, not you, see the black bream here.


<translate> They saw the grandfather here.


<translate> You two saw the murma wasp here.


<translate> Grey clouds hide the sun all day, and the cold wind blows in from the sea.


<translate> I had a good rest in the cool shade after I had washed all the clothes in the creek.

Ngayu wabarr-ba wunanan, wawu-kambi-muny julurrin wubulku wawubaja-nga.


<translate> We two, not you, see the humpy there.


<translate> One little boy hid so well in a hollow log that nobody could find him for a long time.

Karrkay buban ngakijin jukungu ngulkurrku, jana murruji nyajil nyungu wungar wubulku.


<translate> The two women gave eel-food to the man.

Bula jalbu-bulal-angka mayi kubarr dingkar-anda dajin.


<translate> Why is the child crying? He cut himself on a stone, but the grandmother washed it, and now he is getting better.

Wanyurrinku karrkay badil? Nyulu kulji-bu yaka-jin, yambada babingka julurrin, nyulu ngulkurr-mal.


<translate> The people of this place gave food.


<translate> They see the diri-diri sandfly there.


<translate> We see the crescent perch there.


<translate> Don't travel water-without in the hot season — not even one day.

Kari jilbal bana-kari wangariji, wungar nyubun baja.


<translate> We all, not you, see the small conical shellfish here.


<translate> The men carried their spears, their boomerangs, and their shields when they went to meet the other people.

Dingkar-angka kalka, wangal, kunjuri wundin, jana bama yindu-ka dungan.


<translate> He saw the freshwater turtle here.


<lexeme> First bay south of Bloomfield River along coast


<translate> Granny smiled and put the food out.


<translate> So the old man named for the boy the whole great web of kin, the old woman said — mother and father, brother and sister, grandparent and grandchild, uncle and aunt and cousin — and the two moieties that hold it all together, and he said: this is who you are.

Yala mukul-dingkarangka karrkay bama-mu narmba burri — ngamu nganjan, yaba babarr, kami jija, kalnga bimakay bangunji-jirr — mandi jambul-jirr wubulku karrba-nya, mukul-jalbu balkan, nyulu balkan: yinya yundu.


<translate> The shark and the stingray divided the reef in the old story: the flat one took the sand, the other took the deep, and the fish agreed to fear them both — some treaties are older than people.

Yaburr yawu jalun-bubu wambajin kuku-jangkar mukulba: dubar-jibu jukar manin, yinya yindubu dukurr manin, kuyubu yinil dayan jambulka: kuku-dandi nyubun-nyubun mukul-baja bamamuny.


<translate> The tree stands in the scrub.


<glossary> karrul ; type=noun ; domain=bodily-function <usage_example> He is drooling


<translate> You two saw the ngarkay waterhen here.


<translate> The morning star is the traveller's friend, the old man said as they carried the bags in the dark: when it stands alone above the high ground, the dawn follows close behind it, so the person who leaves beneath the morning star walks the cool road, and reaches the far camp before the sun grows teeth.

Kurrubijal nyulu jawun jilba-bamamuny, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, jana balji wundinya wujurrba: kaki nyulu janay nyubun bubu wangkara, muduwaju nyulu ngundu wukurril, yalada bama nyulu dungay kurrubijal badabada nyulu jilbal baral kiway-kiway, nyulu kaday bayanka kala-kalbayba wungar dirra-ji-manyjiku.


<translate> They saw the corkwood tree here.


<translate> The bees put their honey in the hollow tree, and the old man takes it out with his tool.

Dabu wunba juku-janku-ngu wunan, mukul-dingkar kalka-bu manin.


<translate> Don't touch the grubs in that log — they are for grandmother's fishing.

Kari jambun karrba jukungu yinyangu: jana babimuny kuyu-maninka.


<glossary> baru ; type=noun ; domain=body-part <usage_example> The child is spoiled - always wanting to be held


<translate> I saw the kujuway pigeon here.


<translate> They came to a fork where one path went up into the ranges and the other followed the river, and the old man chose the river path, saying: When you do not know the way, follow water, for water has walked this country longer than any person and always knows the shortest way down.

Jana baral jambul-manda kadan wanja nyubun baral wangkar-mundu yumalngu dungay yindu wawubaja wukurril, mukulungku dingkarangka wawubaja baral manin, balkan: Yundu murruji baral binal, bana wukurri, bana bubu jilbanmuny kalbay-baja bama wubulmuny, yabarrka binal baral buban bada-mundu.


<translate> Grandmother washed the girl's foot.


<translate> We, not you, saw the kalngkan small mullet here.


<translate> The rain got into the shelter.


<translate> We saw the bububay blacktip shark here.


<translate> The two of them see the wankar tree there.


<translate> The two walked for a long time.


<translate> The big rock python is not poisonous, the old man said, but it is very strong and wraps around the wallaby and squeezes it until it cannot breathe.

Kabul yalbay kari baykal-buyun, mukul-dingkar balkan, yamba junkurr bajaku, kadar-ka murru-murru kaja, junkurr karrba wawu kunbayn-nya.


<translate> The two of them saw the fire here.


<translate> We two (not you) see the three-pronged spear there.


<translate> The possum runs the branch-roads all night and asks nobody's leave.

Yawa warril dakil-baralburr wujurr wubulku, nyulu bama nyubun kari babajil.


<glossary> wurril ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> Don't sit on the edge of the boat, sit right

Yundu wurril kari bunday boatbu. Junkayku bunday.


<translate> They saw the marku species of oyster there.


<glossary> bajurr-bangkan ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> I scolded my child because he broke the cassette

Ngayu kangkal bajurr-bangkan, nyulu cassette dumbarrinya


<translate> Grandmother wove the bag from dillybag grass.


<translate> You two saw the river there.


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

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


<translate> The old woman said the richest person was not the one with the most things but the one who needed the least, for they were free where others were bound.

Wulbumanangka balkan: bama ngulkurr bajaku kari nyulu yamba wubul bajakuji, yambada nyulu wawu buban bajaku, nyulu kaja-kari wanja yindu kajaji janay.


<translate> You two see the domestic turkey here.


<translate> Ask the question you are afraid of first of all; the other questions are only its children.

Babaji kuku-babaji yinil-ji ngadiku-ngurr: yindu-yindu karrkay nyungu nganga.


<translate> The old man's eyes were sore from watching the bright glaring water all day long, the old woman said, so he sat down in the deep shade.

Mukul-dingkar-mu miyil kaka, bana balbal nyaji-l-nyaji-nya wungar narmba, mukul-jalbu balkan, nyulu bunda ngumbu-ngumbu dajali-ba.


<translate> The two of them saw the wankar tree there.


<translate> The old woman said the loneliest people are not those who have no one, but those who have never learned to need anyone, for they have walled themselves inside a strong house of self-sufficiency and called it strength, when it is really the deepest poverty there is.

Wulbumanangka balkan: bama jirrbu-jirrbu bajaku bubu wubulku kari jana bama-kari, yambada jana jana kariku binalman bama yinduka wawunku, jana nyulu-nyulu bayan junkurr dukurr nandan nyulu-nyulu wawuka, junkurr kunjan, yinya yamba mumbu bada bajaku nganga.


<glossary> jarri ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> He hasn't come yet, is staying away


<translate> The child came from the scrub.


<translate> The old man showed a boy how to find the fat clams by the little holes they leave in the wet sand.

Mukulungku dingkarangka karrkay milbin: darkay wandul nyajinka, bakan buban jukar yarungu.


<translate> You two see the frill necked lizard there.


<translate> We heard the old man singing.

Ngana mukul dingkar nyajin, wulngku badinya.


<translate> A hunter who shares his kill is rich in friends, said the old man, and friends are better than meat.

Balbibama nyulu minya dajil jawunbu wubul, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, jawun ngulkurr minyamuny.


<translate> The two women were fighting, and they stirred each other up with a dance.

Jalbu-jalbu kuni-way, jana kuli-kanga-way jurbu-bu.


<translate> We all, not you, see the flat rock here.


<translate> They saw the giant herring here.


<translate> The boys are building a little shelter to play in.

Dabalangka bayan buban ngaral, kinkanka.


<translate> Keep the fire burning through the night, or the little ones will get cold.

Baya waju-l-waju wujurr wubulku, karrkay-karrkay kiway-ma-nyji.


<translate> We will stay at the camp; perhaps the child is tired.

Ngana bayan-ba bundanday, nguba karrkay bajaburray.


<translate> I got the knife from the bag.


<translate> You see the mawar vine there.


<glossary> manubu-damal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=perception <usage_example> The policeman guarded him


<translate> You two see the fingernail here.


<translate> The old woman said: Your cousin's spear does not make your own any worse; it is the same spear it was before you saw his, so the loss is not real — you made it yourself, in your own mind.

Wulbumanangka balkan: Yaba nyungu kalka yundu nyungu kalka kari mumbu-manil; nyubun kalka yala ngadiku yundu nyungumuny nyajinyjiku, yinya kilba kari yukil — yundu nyulu-nyulu ngaran, nyungu milkanga.


<translate> The man saw the shark in the water.


<translate> The old man said: When I was young I thought strength meant needing no one; now that I am old I know that strength means being so securely held by others that you can risk everything, give everything, love without holding back, because you know that if you fall, a hundred hands will catch you.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: Ngayu warru janaymuny ngayu milkabu baykan junkurr yala bama yinduka wawu-kari; nyiku ngayu mukul ngayu binal junkurr yala bama yindubu yukil karrban yundu yamba wubulku yilbanka, wubulku dajinka, wawu jirray kari karrbanka, yundu binalmuny kaki yundu badaka dungay, mara wubul yundu manil.


<translate> We two (not you) see the bamboo spear stick there.


<translate> At last the old dog found the boy asleep under a big tree, cold but not hurt.

Kaya mukulungku karrkay nyajin juku yalbaymba, warngku wunanya, kiway yambada kari kaka.


<glossary> jarra-jarra ; type=adjective ; domain=dimension-size <usage_example> They were grown up in the head (mind)


<translate> The grandfather is very old now and can no longer hunt, the old man said, but he sits by the fire and teaches the young ones the deep law all day long.

Kami mukul bajaku niji, kari-baja balbi, mukul-dingkar balkan, nyulu buri-ngka bunda warru-warru binal-bungal yalaku dajali wungar narmba.


<translate> The marsupial native cat is here.


<translate> In the morning he woke first of all, before the birds, and asked his father straight away: Is it time, can we go now, is the day fine enough to hunt?

Wunkuwingku nyulu wandinyarr wubulmuny, buyi wandinyjiku, nyungu dingkar babajinyarr: Wungar nyiku, ngana nyiku dungay, wungar ngulkurr balbinka?


<translate> The women disapprove of smoking.


<glossary> maku ; type=locational ; domain=location-deixis <usage_example> The boat was coming toward him


<translate> We two (not you) see the sun there.


<translate> The two of them see the flathead here.


<translate> They would have found the hidden water in half a day, the old man turned his head over the travellers without water, if they had asked any grandmother at the last camp, for the water knowledge lives with the old women, but the young men asked only themselves, and the self knows every road except the one to water.

Jana bana ngakijinmuny maninyaku wungar-bubanbu, mukulungku dingkarangka dukul murnin jilba-bamanka bana-mundu, kaki jana babajinyaku babi nyubun-nyubun bayanba badaba, binal banamuny nyulu wunay wulbumananda, yambada warru-warrungku babajin nganga nyulu-nyulu, nyulu-nyulu binal baral wubulku, kari baral banaka nganga.


<translate> Don't go there in the night — that is where the bad spirit lives.

Kari dunga-y yinyay wujurr-ba — yinyay dubu bambay wunay.


<translate> They see the wurru-bulan small crab here.


<translate> They saw the mountain there.


<glossary> bawal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> I left Bloomfield and went to Mossman


<translate> The message ran ahead of the runner, the old man laughed about the old days: he kept running and kept running from camp to camp, and at every fire the story had already grown a new tail, so at the coast his own news greeted him fatter than he had sent it, for a running story eats at every fire it passes.

Kuku warrin ngadiku warri-bamamuny, mukulungku dingkarangka yajarr-man wungar mukulmuny: nyulu wanarri wanarri bayanmuny bayanka, baya nyubun-nyubunba kuku-jangkar yalbay-man baja, jalunba nyulu kuku nyungu-nyungu manin wandul-baja nyulu dayanmuny, kuku warrinya nyulu nukal baya nyubun-nyubunba.


<translate> The children asked the old man what was the single most important precaution of all, and he thought a long time and said: Never let your want for a thing blind you to the cost of getting it.

Karrkay-karrkayangka mukul dingkar babajin wanya nyaji-ngarr nyubun dandi bajaku wubulmuny, nyulu milka-bu baykan kalbay, balkan: Kari yundu yamba wawubu yundu yamba-nka dandika milka-kari-mani.


<glossary> nganganjirrka ; type=adverb ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> Bring (your) gun, in case a pig comes

Marrkin wundi, nganganjirrka bikibiki kadanyamunku


<translate> Climb with three points holding, always — the mountain counts hands and feet, not years.

Daka mara-jina kulur karrbanya yabarrka: bububu kunjal mara jina, kari bana-wungar.


<translate> The sharp stone cut the child's foot down by the creek.

Kulji dandi-ngka karrkay-mu jina yakan wawubaja karangkal.


<translate> They ground the seeds between two flat stones to make fine flour for damper.

Jalbu-jalbungku diburr nyurrban kulji jambulbu, bulawu buban damba ngaranka.


<translate> The fighting stick is there.


<glossary> kaka ; type=adjective ; domain=physical-property <usage_example> The river is salty, not fresh water


<translate> You two saw the outrigger canoe there.


<translate> The turtle came up for one breath and gave the whole hunt away — keep your habits secret, or keep moving.

Ngawiya wandin wawu nyubunku, nyulu balbil wubulku milbin: murni-jina yundumuny ngakiji, yambada jilba yabarrka.


<translate> You and I saw the dukul-barangkal flathead fish there.


<glossary> kunukunu ; type=adjective ; domain=food <usage_example> That soup is too fatty


<translate> Let us go down to the water now, and then we will swim in the cool clear creek.

Yala ngana bana-ka dunga-l niji, yalada wawubaja ngiki-nga janji-l.


<translate> Never put your foot where you cannot see the bottom, the old man said at the crossing full of floodwater, and never pick a fight with bad water, lest the river call you too, for the water-taken were all strong swimmers — the weak ones are still alive on the bank.

Kari jina bunga wanja yundu bubu badabada kari nyajil, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bana-baralba bana-yalbay-ji, kari kuniway-maka banaka mumbuka, wawubajabu yununy kunjanyji baja, bama bana-manin jana wubulku maraji-bama junkurr, bama kala-burra jana juran jalkara yabarrka.


<translate> Grandmother watched the child bathing.

Babi-ngka karrkay nyaji-l-nyaji-n, janji-janji-nya.


<translate> He quickly followed the stranger.


<translate> We, not you, saw the mangkurr-mangkurr garfish here.


<translate> That house there is not huge.


<translate> A person who knows only two seasons is half blind, said the old man; the country speaks in many voices, and you must learn them all.

Bama nyulu jambul nganga binal ngamba buban, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan; bubu kuku wubulku balkal, yundu yabarrka binalmanka wubulku.


<glossary> ngura-ngura ngal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> The carpenters got the house ready to build (leveled the foundations measured to see where the walls wouuld be etc)

Jana carpenter-carpenterangka bayan ngurangurangan


<translate> At dawn Dad got up. He went to the sea. He caught a lot of fish and came back home.

Muduwajuny nganjan wandin. Nyulu jalunbu dungan. Nyulu kuyu wubul manin, bayanba kadan baja.


<translate> The old woman said the mangrove is the nursery of the sea, where the little fish and the young crabs hide and grow among the tangled roots.

Mukul-jalbu balkan: kajul jalun-mu karrkay-bubu, wanja kuyu buban kiju buban-jirr ngara jarra-jarra-ba wawan yalbay-ma-l.


<translate> They see the small conical shellfish there.


<translate> You and I see the pumice stone there.


<translate> They see the wooden sword here.


<translate> You two saw the running water there.


<glossary> janbangaji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> The car is stuck in the mud


<translate> Mother cooked food in the shade.


<glossary> yanday ; type=adjective ; domain=artefact <usage_example> The grass is ready (cut) now, (you) gather (it up)


<glossary> nganga ; type=adverb ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> I came for just a little bit, have to get back to cook

Ngayu nganga kadan. Ngayu dungay baja mayika wayjul


<translate> He saw the jiljay grub here.


<translate> When the first rains come, the dry creek beds fill up with running water again.

Kaba nyubun-baja kada-nya, wawubaja marral bana-bu yalbay-ma-l baja.


<translate> We two (not you) see the creek there.


<lexeme> see and know someone before he sees and knows you


<translate> They see the spear thrower here.


<translate> They see the tree kangaroo here.


<translate> Someone took my spear in the night — do you know who it was?

Bama-ngka ngayku kalka wundin wujurr-ba; yundu binal wanya?


<glossary> bubu ; type=noun ; domain=land-geography <usage_example> his country is Shipton's Flats


<translate> You see the dukul-mukul lizard here.


<translate> That witchetty grub is there.


<translate> The young man asked grandmother about water.


<glossary> balnji ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> they are camping out


<translate> The small child cried and cried for its mother, who had gone far away to dig for yams.

Karrkay buban badi badi ngamu-nka, ngamu kala-kalbay-ka dungan wukay bakal-ka.


<translate> When one family's roof was torn off in the storm, every other family came the next morning without being asked, and by day's end the roof was rebuilt, and that is how a people survives what would destroy a single household.

Nyubun jawun-karramu bayan wangkar jarramalibu manin, jawun-karra wubulku yindu kadan wunkuwingku kari babajinmuny, wungar dungaymuny bayan wangkar bungan baja, yinyabu bama wubulku janay yamba nyubun bayan kilba-manilnya.


<translate> I saw the kaykay-kaykay children there.


<translate> He sees the jawurraji ant bed there.


<translate> Grandmother saw the freshwater turtle in the water.


<translate> Mother cut the meat with a knife.


<translate> Green ant is a remedy for colds.


<translate> We two, not you, see the roof here.


<translate> When the wet season rain comes the water rises, and the salmon come into the river mouth in a great school.

Bana-wungar kaba kada-nya bana yalbay-mal, jalkay wawubaja-ngandal-ba wubul kadan.


<translate> Pour a little water on the fire — we're leaving.

Bana nyangarrika bayanga — ngana dungay!


<translate> What did the old woman ask you? She asked whose child was crying by the river; I told her it was my elder sister's little one, lost from its mother.

Wanyu mukulungku yununy babajin? Nyulu babajin wanyamba karrkay wawubaja ngundu badil; ngayu nyungunku balkan yinya ngayku babarr-mu buban, ngamu-muny wuna.


<translate> Why did you put the dog in the house and not somewhere else — was it the rain?

Wanyurrimbu yundu kaya bayan-ba wunan, wanja-baja kari?


<translate> Why can you not sit with that woman? She is my mother-in-law; I must not look at her or speak to her, so I always leave when she comes.

Wanyurrinku yundu yinya jalbu-ji kari bundal? Nyulu ngayku biwul; ngayu nyulu kari nyajil, kari balkal, ngayu nganga dungay nyulu kada-nya.


<lexeme> mountain and river flowing from mountain


<glossary> jindi ; type=noun ; domain=fauna-fish <usage_example> We gathered the green ants in dishes


<translate> They heard the rustling noise here.


<translate> The old man taught the children the moon and its changing face — how it grows fat and thin, and dies, and is born again.

Mukulungku dingkarangka karrkay-karrkay kija milbin, nyungu walu murninya, yala kija dandimal, bubanmal, wulay, wandin baja.


<glossary> kuku yaral ; type=noun ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> You go straighten him out / tell him straight


<translate> We saw the baban angelfish here.


<translate> The woman saw the dilly bag in the shade.


<translate> The old woman was full of joy from seeing her grandchildren again after so many long seasons apart, the old man said, and she wept for happiness.

Mukul-jalbu wawu-mini, kangkal-kangkal nyaji-l-nyaji-nya wungar-jarra wubul-muny yindu-ba, mukul-dingkar balkan, nyulu wawu-mini-bu badi.


<translate> Grandmother left mother's clothes in the shade.

Babi-ngka kambi ngamu-ngu wabarr-ba bawan.


<glossary> kayal ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> Leave that fruit, it's still green


<translate> The native cat crept quietly along the branch and took the sleeping bird from its nest.

Jungarr janka jilba dakil-burr, buyi warngku wuna-nya manin bayan-muny.


<translate> The old man scraped the spear, tied on the point, and put it in the sun.

Mukulungku dingkarangka kalka yurrin, kajan, wungara yijarrinda.


<translate> The husband and his wife built their humpy a little apart from all the others, the old woman said, at the quiet far edge of the big camp.

Dunyu biwar-jirr nyungu wurun bunga kanbal yindu-yindu-muny, mukul-jalbu balkan, bayan yalbay-mu ngandal janka kala-kalbay-mba.


<translate> The man killed the snake after it had bitten him.

Dingkar-angka jarba kunin, wawu-bayka-nya-muny.


<translate> You two see the black snake there.


<translate> The little children were frightened and cried, but grandad told them the storm would pass by morning.

Karrkay-karrkay buban yini-yini, badin, yambada kamingka balkan: jarramali dungay wunkuwingkuku.


<translate> The old man taught the boy to feel for the buried cockles with his toes in the wet sand as the tide went out at dusk.

Mukul-dingkarangka karrkay balkan: darkay jukar-a wawan-nya jina-bu nyaji, bana jukar duna-ba, yira dunga wujurr-ma-nya.


<lexeme> The Daintree side of Rocky Point


<translate> If the tide goes out, the women go onto the reef to gather shells.

Kaki yira dungay, jalbu kulji-ka dungay, milbar bangka-nka.


<translate> Mother saw the boomerang at camp.


<translate> The back and the shoulder are the country's carriers, the old woman said: the shoulder holds the spear and the axe, the back holds the child and the dillybag full of food, and at the end of a long day the back talks slowly by the fire, for a body that has carried well aches in a true way.

Muku binda nyulu bubumuny karrbal-bama, wulbumanangka balkan, bindabu karrbal kalka warrbi baja, mukubu karrbal karrkay balji mayi-ji jakal baja, wungar kalbay badanga muku balkal buban-buban bayanga, bangkarr nyulu yukil karrbanmuny kaka nyungu yukil baja.


<translate> When the young man ran ahead out of sight, the old man did not call him back but walked steadily on, knowing the boy would grow anxious in the empty country and come running back to the safety of the group, which is how the young learn the worth of company.

Warruwu wangkar warrinya nyaji-karinga, mukulungku dingkarangka nyulu kariku kunja baja, yambada nyulu yaba jilban, binalnya buban wawu-mumbu jananka bubu yamba-karinga, warri kadanka bama wubulku yukilka, yinyabu warru binalman bama wubulmu dandi.


<translate> The grey March fly is there.


<glossary> dubal ; type=noun ; domain=artefact <usage_example> My child is sleeping in the coolamon


<translate> Many trees are standing here.


<translate> You and I saw the freshwater turtle there.


<translate> Carry a firestick with you when you travel far, the old man said, in case the cold night catches you a long way from the camp.

Buri-juku yundu-ndu jarra-kulba kala-kalbay-ka dunga-nya, mukul-dingkar balkan, wujurr ngiki yundu bayan-muny marri-ba mani kunka.


<translate> You and I see the marrka calm sea there.


<glossary> julbarr-warri ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> I slipped in the mud


<translate> The old woman said the two who have fought and made peace are bound more tightly than the two who never fought at all, for they have seen each other at their worst and chosen each other anyway, and that is a deeper trust than untested friendship.

Wulbumanangka balkan: jambul jana kuni-wanmuny wunbu-wanmuny kaji junkurr-baja jambul jana kariku kuni-wanmuny, jana nyubun-nyubun mumbu bajakungu nyaji-wanmuny, jana nyubun-nyubun manin baja, yinya manu-baja bada-baja jawun kari nyaji-nyajinmuny.


<translate> Mother put the fire stick at camp.


<translate> The child's chest is very sore.


<translate> You two see the cheek there.


<translate> That wuymbariji scrub tree is there.


<translate> They saw the yarrka bee there.


<translate> We would have hunted the dugong, but the sea was too rough.

Ngana biwuy balbi-nyaku, yambada jalun mulngku-baja.


<translate> We see the jungka wild cherry tree here.


<translate> We two (not you) saw the waterfall there.


<translate> The men carried their big war spears and their shields when they went to the fight.

Dingkar-angka kukuni yalbay kunjuri baja wundin, jana kuni-wa-nka dungan.


<translate> We two (not you) see the shield there.


<glossary> nyangarril ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> Pour the tea into the pannikin


<translate> They saw the kalkarrumbarr lizard there.


<translate> After you and I have eaten, we all will rest together by the big fire.

Ngaliny nuka-nya-muny, ngana muru mara-kunbay baya yalbay karangkal.


<translate> You and I saw the bajal bower bird there.


<translate> The two of them saw the morning star there.


<translate> The man put the spear on the road.


<translate> You and I see the murrka scar there.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the karranda tree there.


<translate> He saw the jingajalka tree here.


<translate> They saw the spear point here.


<translate> The grandfather taught the young men the true old law of the country long, long ago.

Kami-ngka warru-warru kuku mukul yukil bubu-mu balkan kalbay-muny.


<translate> They filled every dilly bag.


<translate> Give it here first! wash your hands first! drink water first before you talk! — the sharp little rr rides at the end of the telling word when the order matters, the old woman taught the girls, so listen for it: when you hear daya-rr and julurri-ka-rr, the speaker is not just asking, they are setting the world on its right road.

Daya-rr! julurri-ka-rr mara! bana-ngurr nuka balkanka ngadiku! kuku buban 'rr' bundal kuku badaba murni-jina yalbaynya, wulbumanangka jalbu-buban milbin, yalada milka-janay yinyaka: kaki yundu milka-janay 'daya-rr' 'julurri-ka-rr', balkal-bama nyulu kari nganga babajil, nyulu bubu yijarril baralba yukilba.


<translate> Walk carefully — that path is snake-with in the hot season.

Jilba miyil-ji, baral yinya jarba-nji wangariji.


<translate> The cassowary's kick opens what arguments cannot — stand far away when you must disagree with one.

Kurranjibu jina-jurrngabu ngalkal-bungal wanyu kuku-balka-way kari: janay kala-kalbay kaki yundu balkal muku yinyanka.


<translate> That suitcase is small, but it is heavy.


<translate> You and I see the liver there.


<glossary> dakal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> he climbed the tree


<translate> Why are the little children crying so loudly down there beside the running water?

Wanyurringku karrkay-karrkay yalbay-bu banbadi-l, bana karangkal?


<glossary> wawumal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> If you agree, we'll go


<translate> That night the dog came back with the meat.


<translate> You two saw the kira-kira black ant here.


<glossary> jarmbil ; type=noun ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> The flood washed the tree away


<translate> The old man said the grass-tree is one of the most useful plants of the dry country, for its long straight flower-stalk makes the lightest spear-shaft and the best fire-drill, its resin makes a strong glue that hardens like stone, and its soft heart is food, so a single grass-tree gives a hunter his weapon, his fire, and his meal all at once.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan nganjirr nyulu mayi yukil bajaku bubu-kiway wubulmuny, nyungu nganka-juku murni kalbay kalka-juku buban bajaku dama-murnil yukil bajaku, nyungu kanunjul junkurr-yikari nyulu kiway-manda kulji yala, nyungu jiba kima mayi, nganjirr nyubun dayal balbi-bama nyungu kalka, nyungu baya, nyungu mayi nyubunku.


<lexeme> {'english': 'Yabaju kari diday-mana ngaykundu. Ngayu babarr', 'translation': "Don't say bad something bad about my younger brother to me. I'm his older sister."}


<translate> That blue spotted fantail ray is here.


<translate> The boy watched the shadow of the big barramundi move below the rock.

Karrkay-angka judi yalbay-mu wujurr nyajin, kulji bada murninya.


<translate> The person there is experienced.


<translate> They gave clothes to the girl.


<translate> Where is the good camping place with plenty of fresh water and dry firewood nearby?

Wanjabu bubu ngulkurr bunda-nka, bana ngulkurr baya-juku wubul-jirr?


<translate> Put the baby on the blanket and cover it up well, for the night is very cold.

Ngawa kararr-ba yijarri-ka, ngulkurr nanda, wujurr ngiki-baja!


<translate> The person there is careful.


<translate> Then the lightning came, splitting the dark sky, and the thunder rolled down from the hills like a hundred falling stones.

Yalada balbay kadan, jiri wujurr yika-daman, jabulbina bada dungan manjalmuny yala kulji wubul daranya.