<translate> The old man said: that vine is strong; we tie the vine to the house.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan: wangay yinya junkurrji; ngali wangay kajal bayanka.


<translate> Grandfather left the shield in the bag.


<translate> The scrub goanna climbs the tall trees to raid the birds' nests, the old man said, and when a dog chases it, it runs up the nearest trunk out of reach.

Kalajarr juku kalbay daka buyi-bubu mani-nka, mukul-dingkar balkan, kaya kanga-nya, nyulu juku ngundu-ka daka wangkar-a.


<translate> As they ate, the mother asked more questions: What kind of water was it, and what did you see there, and where was the big animal?

Jana nukanya, ngamungka babajin baja: Bana wanyunguy, yurra wanyu nyajin bananga, minya yalbay wanjabu janay?


<translate> The kuray-kuray tree is here.


<translate> He does not do bad things; he does good things.

Nyulu kari buyun-damal; nyulu ngulkurrku bunday.


<translate> The old man sat by the fire and told stories all night.

Mukul dingkar bayanga bundandan, kuku balkan.


<translate> The children came to understand that the whole difference between a crowd and a community is reciprocity: a crowd is many people who happen to be in one place, but a community is many people who have agreed, without ever saying so, to be responsible for each other.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman murni yalbay bama wubul bama nyubunmu daji-way: bama wubul bama wubulku nyubun bubungu nganga janay, yambada bama nyubun bama wubulku jana yuwu-wanmuny, kari yabarrka balkanmuny, nyubun-nyubunka karrbanka.


<translate> I see the ngadil hickory tree there.


<translate> The old woman carried her dilly bag full of food and her digging stick everywhere that she went.

Mukul-jalbu ngunyin mayi-jirr, juwal-jirr wundin wubulku, wanja-wanja nyulu dungan.


<translate> You and I see the squid there.


<translate> The girl ground yams with a stone.


<translate> Respect the small teachers: the mosquito teaches the smoke, the big waja teaches the shade, and the sun teaches the water bag — the country runs a strict school.

Yulmbarri milbil-bama buban: kamubu kubu milbil, wajabu wabarr milbil, wungarbu bana-balji milbil: bubu school dandi karrbal.


<translate> A song is learned tail-first, the old woman surprised the girls: you catch first of all the line that everybody sings, then the verses climb on one by one, and by the time you hold the head of the song, its tail is already family, and that is why nobody forgets a song learned this way.

Wulngku binal-mal bada-ngurr, wulbumanangka jalbu-buban milbin: yundu manil ngadiku kuku bama wubulkubu badimuny, yalada wulngku-yamba dakal nyubun-nyubun, yalada yundu dukul wulngkumuny karrbal, bada nyulu jawun ngadiku, yinya wanyurrinku bama kariku milka-wulal wulngku yalabu binalmanmuny.


<translate> You saw the duburan directional sign here.


<translate> But tonight everyone sleeps by the good spring.

Yambada nyiku jana wubulku warngku wunay buraymba.


<translate> The old man said never spear a small fish, for it will grow big and feed the family many times over.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan kuyu buban kari damanka, nyulu yalbay-mal, jawun-karra dajinka wungar wubulku.


<translate> The old people said the trap had been there since the first people, and every year the men mended the stones.

Kamba-kamba balkan: makarr yinyay janan bama ngadikumuny, wungar wubulku dingkar-dingkarangka kulji ngulkurr-bungan.


<glossary> bajaku ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> I'm definitely not going


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


<translate> Don't take my good knife; leave it inside the dilly bag where I put it away.

Kari mani ngayku naybu ngulkurr! Bawa ngunyin-ba, ngayu yijarri-nya.


<translate> The flying foxes hung in the fruiting trees in their thousands, and their noise filled the whole valley in the evening like a great wind.

Kambi wubul juku mayijinga janay, jana kuku bubu wubulku nandan yilay-yilay yala muyar yalbay.


<translate> You all saw the kurriyala snake there.


<translate> The young man went outside with a friend.


<translate> He saw the bamboo spear stick here.


<translate> You two saw the jalbil lizard there.


<translate> They see the queenfish here.


<translate> Granny called them out before dark, dried them by the fire, and combed the water from their hair.

Babingka jananda yirrkan wujurrmanyjiku, bayanga marralbungan, mungkamuny bana kulban.


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


<translate> You all see the warrabuka yam there.


<translate> In the wet season the country is good and full of food, but in the dry it is poor and bare.

Kaba wungar-iji-ba bubu ngulkurr mayi-jirr, yamba marral-wungar-a bubu buyun mayi-kari.


<translate> The stranger arrived without food, without fire, without language — and left with all three, and the old woman said: that is the whole work of a camp in one sentence.

Ngarrbal kadan mayi-kari, baya-kari, kuku-kari, nyulu dungan mayi-ji baya-ji kuku-ji, wulbumanangka balkan: yinya murni bayanmuny wubulku kuku nyubunba.


<glossary> dumbarril ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> He broke the cassette because he was angry


<glossary> walngkal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=posture-rest <usage_example> The clothes are hanging on the line


<translate> The two of them see the black cockatoo here.


<translate> The children learned that the family is not a thing you are given once and have forever, but a fire you must tend every day, that dies the moment everyone assumes someone else is feeding it.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman jawun-karra kari yamba yundu nyubun dajinmuny yabarrka karrbal, yambada baya yundu wungar wubulku nyaji, nyulu wula bama wubulku milka bama yindu nyulu nukamanilnya.


<translate> We all, not you, saw the bamboo spear stick here.


<translate> Name the whole spear, the old man quizzed the boys: biyul the head, jinil the barb, wulburr the shaft, the binding string — for the hunter who knows the parts can mend in the dark.

Kunja kalka wubulku, mukulungku dingkarangka buban-buban babajin: biyul dukul, jinil dirra, wulburr bangkarr, karra kajanmuny, balbi-bama nyulu yamba-daji binal nyulu murnil wujurrba.


<glossary> mungkil ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=hunting-fishing-gathering <usage_example> They speared lots of different kinds of fish

Bula minya wali-yindu walu-yindu kalkabu mungkin


<translate> The children asked the old man which was the most beautiful country he had ever walked in all his long years of travelling, and he thought for a long while and then said: The country I am standing in right now, always, for the most beautiful country is simply the one your feet are on.

Karrkay-karrkayangka mukulungku dingkar babajin wanya bubu ngulkurr bajaku nyulu jilbanmu nyungu wungar wubulku jilbalmuny, nyulu milkabu baykan kalbay yalada balkan: Bubu ngayu nyiku janay, yabarrka, bubu ngulkurr bajaku nyulu nyubun nyungu jina wangkara janay.


<translate> You all see the nyumbil coolibah tree there.


<translate> The best thing, the old man said, is the thing that fits the task and the person, and a wise man owns few things but each one is the right one.

Yamba ngulkurr bajaku, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, yamba nyulu kirrajika bamaka yukil, dingkar binal yamba buban karrbal, yambada wubulku yukil.


<translate> If there is no water, we dig in the ground to get it.

Kaki bana kari, ngali bubungu bakal, bana maninka.


<translate> If it rains, the women will stay in the house.

Kaki kaba kaday, jalbu-jalbu bayanba bundanday.


<translate> The woman saw the black crow.


<translate> The stick lay on the ground.


<translate> I saw the ngumbi bandicoot here.


<translate> That is why the old people say: speak straight, and you will always be able to look anyone in the eye.

Yala kamba-kambangka balkal: balka yaral, yundu yabarrka bama nyajil miyilba.


<translate> The two young men called to each other across the deep water of the gorge.

Warru jambul kunja-way bana-dukurr yalbay-mba.


<translate> The wood there is not smooth.


<translate> We saw the dukul-barangkal flathead fish here.


<translate> Carry the little one — she's tired.

Ngawa jarra-kulbaka — nyulu baja-burray!


<translate> You all saw the freshwater turtle there.


<translate> You all saw the balja food here.


<translate> When the moon is full and round and bright, the old people said, it is a good time to travel and to hunt at night.

Kija yalbaymanda balbajinya, kamba-kamba balkan, wungar ngulkurr jilba dungay, balbinka kunarangkalji.


<translate> I did not eat that little seed; I ate the other sweet ripe fruit instead.

Ngayu diburr yinya kari nukan, ngayu mayi jiba-wulay kulbul yindu nukan.


<translate> The dog swam across the river after the boys.


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


<translate> The old people say it is not good to hold anger in your liver for too long a time.

Mukul-bama-ngka balka, kari ngulkurr kuli karrba-l jiba-nga kalbay-baja wungar-mu.


<glossary> nganku ; type=adjective ; domain=manner <usage_example> He went too quickly, I didn't finish my letter

Nyulu ngankuku dungan ngayu letter kariku kunbay-manin


<translate> What makes a good trade? — Both walk away thing-with and anger-without.

Wanyu daji-way yukil murnil? Jambul dungay yamba-ji kuli-kari.


<translate> The snake crawled through the grass.


<translate> You two saw the kujuway pigeon here.


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


<translate> Grandmother saw the saltwater crocodile in the water.


<translate> The young man went without a spear.


<translate> They saw the wuju grass sponge there.


<translate> The child saw grandmother's upper leg.


<translate> You see the milbarakal tree there.


<translate> The bearded man speared the fish.

Dingkar-angka walarr-iji-ngka kuyu daman.


<translate> He dropped the stone on the girl's foot.

Nyulu kulji daray-manin maral-anda jina-nga.


<translate> The fire was left burning all through the night, and by morning only charcoal remained.

Baya waju-l bawa-jin wujurr wubulku, wunkuwingku ngunjil nganga wuna-l.


<translate> You all saw the kalkarrumbarr lizard there.


<translate> You two see the karraway snail there.


<translate> Mother asked the child: "Are you cold?" The child said: "No."

Ngamu karrkay-anda babajin: "Yundu ngiki?" Karrkay-ngku balkan: "Kari."


<translate> The child put the stone on the ground.


<translate> In the hot season the people bathed many times a day, and the cool river was the best place in all the country on a burning afternoon.

Wangarijinga bama wubulku janjin wungara, bana kiway ngulkurr bajaku bubu wubulmuny wungar wumbul yilay-yilay.


<translate> The women gathered figs, nuts, and yams, and carried a full load back to the camp.

Jalbu binanji darka bambayal bangkan, wubul wundin bayan-ka baja.


<translate> You and I see the seashore there.


<glossary> walngkal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=posture-rest <usage_example> The clothes are hanging on the line


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


<translate> They saw the wild grape here.


<translate> The old woman looked at the new baby and said: This one has her grandmother's eyes and her father's mouth and the laugh of an uncle who died before she was born — the dead are not gone; they are shared out again.

Wulbumanangka ngawa jirakal nyajin, balkan: Yinya nyulu nyungu babimu miyil, nyungu nganjanmu ngandal, yajarril kalngamu nyulu wulanmuny nyulu kambanmuny ngadiku, dubu kari dungan; jana yindu-yindumandan.


<translate> The two of them saw the jimalili lizard here.


<translate> He has a sleep if his body feels tired.

Nyulu warngku-wunay, kaki nyungu bangkarr baja-burray.


<translate> The bandicoot came out at night and the dog chased it.

Kulngu wandin kunarangkal, kayangka kangan.


<translate> We all, not you, see the bamboo spear stick here.


<translate> The women pulled up the yams and shook off the dirt.

Jalbu-jalbungku wukay kulban, bubu yilbanda.


<translate> Do not go hunting alone in the deep scrub, the old woman said, in case you fall on the rocks and no one is near to hear you call.

Nyubun-bu madja junkurr-ba balbi-nka dunga kari, mukul-jalbu balkan, yundu kulji-ka daray bama kari ngundu yirrka nyaji-nka kunka.


<glossary> manu ; type=noun ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> You buy only sugar, no lollies

Yundu manu sugar buyim-bunga, lolly kari


<translate> You see the spotted eagle ray here.


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


<translate> The spider waits among the branches and catches the small flies that pass.

Malal dakil-ba karrban, minya-buban warri-nya-nya karrbal.


<translate> They see the yarrka bee there.


<lexeme> the point between Kangkiji and Kaway


<translate> Father gave the bone to grandmother.


<translate> The honey was good, and the honey bread was good.


<glossary> wunay ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=bodily-mental-state <usage_example> Are there any wallabies there?


<translate> We saw the jiljay grub here.


<translate> The small silverfish move in a great shining cloud in the shallows, and the children scoop them with their bark dishes, laughing.

Jingka-jingka jirril balbal-jirr wubul bana buban-ba jurrki, karrkay-karrkay dumbul-bu mani, yajarri.


<translate> The two of them see the sugar glider there.


<translate> I see the freshwater eel here.


<translate> You and I see the bamboo spear stick here.


<translate> You and I saw the spear thrower there.


<translate> The story belongs to this country.


<translate> The man saw the blue-tongue lizard.


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


<glossary> dirrmbay ; type=noun ; domain=fauna-bird <usage_example> He will put the message in his ear


<translate> That person there is stingy.


<translate> The child's eye is sore and red from the smoke of the fire, and it weeps water all the day long.

Karrkay miyil kaka kulbul baya kubu-muny, bana miyil-muny bada wanarri wungar wubulku.


<glossary> wuyarr ; type=adjective ; domain=perception <usage_example> He can't see him well, hes too far away

Nyulu wuyarr nbajaku nyajiji, kala-kalbay bajakunda


<translate> He sees the black cockatoo there.


<translate> This one travels light: firestick-with, water-with, knife-with — and that is all.

Yanya jilbal yamba buban-ji: baya-juku-ji, bana-ji, naybu-ji, yinya wubulku.


<translate> The old woman said reciprocity is not keeping score; the moment you begin to count what you have given and what you are owed, the web has already begun to tear, for true giving expects no return and true receiving carries no debt, only gratitude.

Wulbumanangka balkan: daji-way kari wubul nyajil; yundu wubul nyajil wandinya yundu yamba dajinmuny yamba yundunka wawunmuny, bama nyubun kaji kaka-manda ngadiku, dajil yukil kari kadan wawu, manil yukil kari yamba wundil, wawu-mini nganga.


<translate> The person here is not kind.


<translate> We see the scrub wallaby there.


<translate> As a child I used to eat echidna, cooked slowly in the ground oven between the hot stones.

Ngayu karrkay-nyja-ku minya ngangkin nuka-l-nuka-n, bubu-ngu waju-nya kulji wumbul dindarra-nga.


<translate> Who ate all the ripe figs that were sitting right here, the old woman asked the children sharply, but not one of them answered her.

Wanya-ngka junda kulbul yaluy-mba wubulku nukan? mukul-jalbu-ngku karrkay-karrkay nyajin kuli-bu, yamba nyubun-bu kari balka.


<translate> They saw the karrkurr frog here.


<translate> You all saw the banamu snake there.


<translate> You all see the whip snake there.


<translate> He told it to me as truth; I carry it to you as his words.

Nyulu ngaykunka milbin manubaja yala, ngayu wundil yununka kuku nyungu yala.


<translate> The old man said: I am old now, my time is short; when I am gone, do not weep for me — carry my name in you, and I will not truly die.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan: ngayu mukul, ngayku wungar buban; ngayu wula-ny-muny, yurra kari ngaykunku badi — ngayku burri yunundu karrba, ngayu kariku wulay.


<translate> He carried the firestick carefully through the dark scrub so the small flame would not die out.

Nyulu jidi janka karrban madja ngungul-burr, baya buban kari wula-nyaku.


<translate> You and I see the queenfish here.


<translate> The man with the beard speared many mullet.

Dingkar-angka walarr-iji-ngka ngalkun wubul daman.


<translate> The children do not know the language today.

Karrkay-karrkay nyiku binal-kari kuku-ku.


<translate> The women went first to the water, carrying the big bark water-carriers on their heads.

Jalbu-jalbu banaka dunganyarr, bana wungarmu wundin, balji yalbay dukulba jarra-kulban.


<translate> They saw the small red ant there.


<translate> The little kangaroo rat lives in the dry grass country and feeds on the seeds and small roots.

Jayju buban bubu jikan marral-ba wunay, nukal wukay buban mayi-mayi.


<translate> I saw the branches on the tree.


<translate> If we stay at the camp, we close the house.

Kaki ngana bayan-ba bundanday, ngana bayan nandal.


<translate> You all see the karraway snail there.


<translate> The old man told the young fellows to get wood.

Mukulungku dingkarangka warru-warru balkan, juku maninka.


<translate> Granny lit the fire. She cooked fish. Everyone ate.

Babingka baya wayjun. Nyulu kuyu wayjun. Jana wubulku nukan.


<translate> I see the grey March fly here.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the bayil jungle perch there.


<translate> I would have caught many fish, but my net was broken.

Ngayu kuyu wubul karrba-nyaku, yambada ngayku makarr dumbarrin.


<translate> You two see the possum there.


<glossary> muyul-muyul ; type=adjective ; domain=bodily-mental-state <usage_example> He's got a block against snakes (doesn't want to touch them, doesn't like them)


<translate> The women had found yams and honey while the men hunted.

Jalbu-jalbungku wukay wunba nyajin, dingkar-dingkar minyaka dunganya.


<translate> They saw the karrandal tree there.


<lexeme> {'english': 'The doctor man knows that woman will die'}


<translate> She loves her little baby very much, holding it close to her warm breast all through the cold night.

Nyulu wawu jirray nyungu karrkay buban-ka, karrbal bibi wumbul ngundu wujurr-ba ngiki.


<translate> You all saw the ngurrkul fig tree there.


<translate> The children learned which yam is good to eat and which one makes you sick.

Karrkay binalman wanya bambayal ngulkurr nuka-nka, wanya nyulu bama bambay-bungal.


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


<translate> He sees the mukukanka tree there.


<translate> The woman lit the fire, boiled the water, put in the roots, and then gave the broth to the sick child.

Jalbungku baya jakalamban, bana nyaman, bangkan mumban, wuynkurr karrkay bambayka dayanda.


<glossary> nulu ; type=noun ; domain=fire <usage_example> Pus is running from the sore


<translate> The old people know many songs.


<translate> In the morning grandmother got firewood.


<translate> At low tide the women walked far out on the wide reef to gather the shellfish.

Bana bada-nya jalbu-ngka dulngku kalbay-burr jilba-dungan, minya bangka-nka.


<translate> Today the children stay at camp.

Nyiku karrkay-karrkay bayan-ba bundanday.


<translate> After two months I will go again.


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


<translate> We, not you, saw the kabuljaka snake here.


<translate> The two young men stood, hearts pounding, and slowly the anger left them, and they looked at each other and were ashamed, and the older one put out his hand, and the younger one took it, and it was over.

Warru jambul wawu junkurr janay, buban-buban dukul-wuri jananmuny dungan, jana nyaji-way milka-murruji janay, warru yalbaymu nyungu mara wangkar-manin, warru bubanangka manin, yinya dungan.


<translate> Grandfather made a boomerang for the boy, and the boy threw it away and it came back, threw it away and it came back — and grandfather said: remember this wood; some given things return, the good ones.

Kamingka wangal bungan bubanka, bubanbu yilban nyulu kadan baja, yilban baja nyulu kadan baja, kamingka balkan: milka-binal juku yanya, yamba dayanmuny nyubun-nyubun kaday baja, yamba yukil.


<translate> You and I saw the yalnga turtle here.


<translate> The relatives did not say his name.

Jawun-karra-ngku nyungu burri kari balkan.


<translate> You all see the spear thrower here.


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


<translate> I see the nyumbil coolibah tree here.


<translate> I had a good long rest in the shade before I went walking in the hot sun.

Ngayu wabarr-ba mara-kunbay kalbay-baja, jilba-dunga-nyjiku wungar wumbul-a.


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


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


<translate> You two see the ngarkay waterhen here.


<glossary> buban ; type=noun ; domain=quantity-number <usage_example> He stayed a little while


<translate> Come close into the shallow water.


<translate> You all saw the waterfall there.


<translate> Grandfather got the shield at camp.


<translate> The willie wagtail is there.


<translate> We two, not you, see the nyumbil coolibah tree here.


<translate> That wood there is not thick.


<translate> The child saw the mountain peak there.


<translate> Is that the big waja or the little waja? — In this language crow and march fly share one name; the size tells you which one is stealing your meat.

Yinya waja yalbay yambada waja buban? Kukungu jambul 'waja': yalbay-bubanbu milbil wanjaku minya yundumuny manil.


<translate> The children swam across the cool river in the hot midday sun, calling out to one another.

Karrkay-karrkay janjin naka-naka wawubaja ngiki, wungar wumbul dindarra-nga, yirrka-wa.


<translate> You all saw the birinjil centipede there.


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


<translate> You two saw the scorpion here.


<translate> That marrabal ti tree is there.


<translate> We see the kuralbi tree here.


<translate> The child came to camp, ate food, and then slept.

Karrkay bayan-ba kadan, mayi nukan, warngku wunan-da.


<lexeme> mountain and river flowing from mountain


<translate> We see the kurkunbay butcherbird here.


<glossary> badi ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> They are wailing because their older brother died


<translate> The old man made a heavy fighting club from the hard root of the ironbark tree.

Mukul-dingkar-angka mirru kulngkul juku mali junkurr-muny bungan.


<translate> The little ji loves company, the old man played with the words: a spear-owner is spear-with, an angry man is anger-with, a flowering tree is flower-with, and a married man walks wife-with — the ji is the tier-together of words.

Kuku buban '-ji' wawu-manil jawun, mukulungku dingkarangka kukubu yajarr-man: bama kalka-ji, bama kuli-ji, juku nganka-ji, dingkar dunyu-bama biwar-ji jilbal, '-ji' nyulu kaja-bama kukumuny.


<glossary> kanban ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> I was hit by the mistake by the child


<glossary> walngkurril ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> The dog barked at the pig


<translate> What makes a good club? — The hand that will hold it; shape it against that hand.

Wanyu mirru yukil bungal? Mara karrbalmuny: bunga maranka yinyanka.


<translate> The bronze wing pigeon is there.


<translate> Grandmother dropped the stone on the child's foot.

Babi-ngka kulji daray-manin karrkay-anda jina-nga.


<translate> If you hit that dog with a stick, it will bite you.

Kaki yundu yinya kaya juku-bu kunil, nyulu yununy baykal.


<translate> The men played while the women danced; the boys beat two boomerangs together like clap-sticks, and the old man called out the country's songs.

Dingkar-dingkar nguju, jalbu-jalbu wurin; karrkay-karrkayngku wangal jambul muru kunin, mukul-dingkarangka bubu-mu burri yirrkan.


<translate> The old man said a decision made with counsel and a decision made counselless are not equally wise, for one head holds only one view of a thing while many heads together turn it over and see all its sides, so before any big choice the old people would sit in a long circle and let every voice be heard, and the leader with many counsellors rarely walked the camp into disaster.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan kuku-manin kuku-daji-ji kuku-manin kuku-daji-kari kari nyubun yala binal, nyubun-milka nyulu nyubun-nyaji yamba nyubunmuny yambada milka wubul nyubun-nyubunji murninya nyajil nyungu wubulku, kuku-yalbay ngadiku bama mukul bundan bangka kalbay kuku wubulku ngaranka, kuku-bama kuku-daji wubul-ji nyulu kariku bayan mumbu-mundu jilbaman.


<glossary> jururr-jururr ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> The policeman beat him repeatedly

Bulimanangka nyungun jururr-jururr kunin


<translate> This digging stick is very hard and very sharp, so be careful with the pointed end there.

Juku bakal-nka yinya junkurr-baja-ku jinbal-baja-ku, yundu dukul jinbal-ka milka-jana.


<translate> The moon pulls the tides, the old man said, so a person who knows the moon also knows when the sea will give its food.

Kijabu yira kulbal, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, bama nyulu kija binal jalunmu mayi wanjawanja binal baja.


<translate> The young man sat on the road.


<translate> I followed the fresh tracks along the sandbank at dawn, saw where the big goanna had gone into the driftwood pile, circled quietly to cut off its escape, flushed it out into the open, ran it down before it reached the next cover, killed it cleanly, and then gutted it at the water and carried it home for my family's morning meal.

Ngayu jina jirakal jukar-a wukurrin muduwajungu, nyajin wanja jadi yalbay juku-bundu-mundu dunganmu, janka murni jilban nyungu dumbay-jina kajanka, yaral-mundu wandiman, warrin nyulu juku yindu-mundu kadanya ngadiku, ngulkurr-bu kunin, yalada bana ngundu jubulin bayan-mundu jarrakulbanda jawun-karramu mayi muduwajumu.


<glossary> kankur ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> Nyulu milka bikibiki kankuruku nyandan


<translate> The old man cooked the whole barramundi in paperbark on the coals, and its soft flesh came off the bones.

Mukul-dingkarangka judi wubul wayjun buyku-ngu baya-nga, nyungu minya kima dumbarrin.


<translate> Is there something moving quietly in the long grass over there, the child whispered fearfully, and the hunter went completely still and listened hard.

Junjuy yinya-ba jikan kalbay-mba janka mara-warri-nya? karrkay yararri-bu janka balkan, balbi-bama janjanay bajaku milka-janay junkurr.


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


<glossary> babi ; type=noun ; domain=kinship <usage_example> Grand mother is looking after her grandchild


<translate> By evening they reached the old hill camp, where the shelters still stood from the season before.

Yilay-yilay jana bubu manjalba kadan, bayan-bayan janan ngadikumuny buluriji.


<translate> At the end the old woman turned the whole year once in her two hands like a grinding stone: the hot builds the storms, the storms uncover the wet, the wet fills the country, the drying turns the grass to seed, the cold washes the sky and fattens the fish, and then the hot stands up again, so the year is a round song, she said, and a person who knows all its verses is never lost in time, any more than a singer is lost inside a song.

Badanga wulbumanangka wungar-jina wubulku murnin nyubunbu marabu jambulbu yala kulji-yurril: wangariji jarramali bungal, jarramalibu bana-wungar warmba-bungal, bana-wungarbu bubu jakal-bungal, wungar marral-manya jikan diburr-mal, bulur-ijibu jiri julurril kuyu wandul-bungal, yalada wangariji janay baja, yalada wungar-jina nyulu wulngku murru, nyulu balkan, bama nyulu wulngku-yamba wubulku binal nyulu kari bada-manin wungara, yala wulngku-bama kari bada-manin wulngkungu.


<glossary> kuyu ; type=noun ; domain=fauna-fish <usage_example> I'm going fishing


<translate> We, not you, are not hungry.


<translate> The grass-tree resin is here.


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


<translate> The old woman closed the house.


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


<translate> We two, not you, saw the bayil jungle perch here.


<translate> The old woman washed his leg with clean water, put green ant medicine on it, and bound it with bark.

Wulbumanangka jandal julurrin banabu ngulkurrbu, yangka yijarrin, dubalji kajan.


<translate> You saw the jimu grasshopper there.


<translate> Father saw the shallow water there.


<translate> You all saw the jimalili lizard here.


<translate> Each food is cooked its own way, she told the girls, and a good cook knows them all.

Mayi wubulku yindu-yindu wajul, nyulu balkan, bama ngulkurr wajul binal yambayamba.


<translate> The man came from there and came back to camp.

Dingkar yinya-muny kadan, bayan-ba kadan-baja.


<translate> In the cold season the body is a fire, the old woman said: food is its wood, clothes are its bark shelter, running legs make it warm, and an old person's fire burns small, so on the cold nights give the old people the place close to the coals, for that law is older than all of us.

Bulur-iji bangkarr nyulu baya, wulbumanangka balkan: mayi nyulu juku nyungu, kambi nyulu bayan warrurmuny nyungu, jandal warrinya bangkarr wumbul-bungal, bama mukul baya nyungu buban wajul, yalada wujurr kiway-kiwaymba daya bamanda mukulanda bubu ngundu ngunjilba, yinya kuku mukul-baja nganamuny wubulmuny.


<translate> They both told the story a little differently, but the deep meaning was the very same, and both were true, the old man said.

Jana jambul-angka kuku-jangkar buban yindu-yindu balkan, yamba kuku dajali yala-rrku, jambul nguymal, mukul-dingkar balkan.


<translate> That very strong man lifted the big fat pig right up onto the high fork of the tree.

Dingkar-angka junkurr-ji-baja-ngka-ku bikibiki yalbay kulban juku dakil wangkar-a.


<translate> They saw the madu sea pine there.


<translate> You all see the kundurr-kundurr crescent perch there.


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


<translate> We two, not you, saw the kaya-kaya dogs here.


<translate> You two saw the barramundi here.


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


<translate> The crocodile came from the river.


<glossary> dudu ; type=noun ; domain=physical-property <usage_example> The knife is blunt, you should sharpen it


<translate> The old man said the true test of tree-knowledge is not naming the trees in the daylight but finding the right one in the dark by bark and leaf-shape and smell alone, for a person often needs wood or medicine at night in an emergency, so he made the boys learn each tree with their hands and their nose, not only their eyes, until they could walk the night scrub and know every tree they touched.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan juku-binal yukil nyaji kari juku balkal wungara yambada nyubun yukil maninka wujurr-bu warrur birra-murru nganja nganga, bama nyubun-nyubun juku kalbal wawu-manil wujurr dandi-ngunduku, nyulu warru-warru milbin juku nyubun maranji nganja-mundu baja, kari nganga miyilbu, dukul jana majaji-wujurr jilbal juku wubulku jana karrbanmuny binalka.


<translate> The little child is sleeping.


<translate> I see the Leichhardt tree here.


<glossary> kidal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> Sweep the dirt


<translate> The men used the sharp stone axe to cut the wild honey out of the hollow tree.

Dingkar-angka warrbi-bu wunba jiba-wulay juku dukurr-muny kulban.


<translate> You hear the hiccoughs there.


<translate> The king parrot is red and eats the seeds of the scrub trees, and it flies quietly from one tree to the next.

Karrambil ngala-ngala, juku ngalkal-bubu-mu diburr nukan, juku-ngu juku-ngu marra-warri janka.


<translate> The old man taught the boys that the same word can name a thing changing on its own or a thing being changed by someone, for when the water grows cold in the night it grows cold by itself, but when a woman drops hot stones into it to warm it she is the one making it change, and knowing which is which — did it happen or was it done — is half of understanding any event at all.

Mukulungku dingkarangka warru-warru milbin kuku nyubun nyulu kunjal yamba nyulu-nyulu yindu-mal yambada yamba bama nyubunbu yindu-mani, bana kiway-mal wujurrba nyulu nyulu-nyulu kiway-mal, yambada jalbungku kulji wumbul yilbal bananga bana wumbul-bungalka nyulu nyubun yindu-manil, binalka wanyu wanyu, nyulu-nyulu yindu-mal yambada yindu-manin, nyulu jambul yamba nyubun binalka wubulku.


<glossary> yungal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=transfer-possession <usage_example> He won't let me go


<translate> Granny told the children: don't go near the river!

Babingka karrkay-karrkay balkan: kari wawubajanga dungay!


<translate> You two saw the ngurrkul fig tree there.


<translate> The grandmother said death is not the enemy of the old but the completion of their work: the seed does not mourn when it becomes the tree, and the old, if they have lived well, do not mourn to become the spirits who watch over the young.

Babingka balkan: wulay kari mukulmu yamba yinil, yambada nyungu kirraji dungaymu: diburr kari jiba-badil nyulu juku-mandanya, mukul, kaki jana ngulkurr bunday, kari jiba-badil dubu-mandanya jana warru wangkar nyajil.


<translate> That willie wagtail is there.


<translate> You and I see the spear point here.


<translate> The eagle swooped down fast and carried the little kangaroo away in its strong claws.

Wandi jinbal-baja bada dungan, mayarriji buban jina-bu wundin wangkar-a.


<translate> Cover the meat, in case the march flies come and spoil it in the heat.

Minya nanda, kunka waja kaday nyulu bambay-bungal wumbul-a.


<translate> The zamia nut is poison when it is raw; you must soak it a long time in the water.

Marra bambay dandi-nya; yundu bana-nga wuna-nka wungar wubulku.


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


<translate> You all see the frill necked lizard here.


<translate> We sat down in the cool green shade under the wide branches of the great fig tree.

Ngana bundan wabarr ngiki jikan-jikan-ba, baril-baril yalbay dakil-dakil kalbay bada.


<glossary> jikaji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=posture-rest <usage_example> You stretch when you get up


<lexeme> want something but can't get it


<translate> The two of them see the kurubarr mangrove here.


<translate> They came at last to the great river, too wide and deep to wade, and there they found an old canoe pulled up on the bank, and they pushed it into the water and paddled across to the far shore.

Jana dukul kadan wawubaja yalbay, bada-baja yalbay-baja marijinka, yinya jana marrakan mukul nyajin bana ngundu jajirrinmu, jana marrakan banangu jurrnga, jana ngubar-mundu jilban.


<translate> The old man said the country fed you in a hundred small ways if you knew where to look, and the person who knew the small foods never went hungry.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: bububu yundu nukamanil mayi buban wubulku, kaki yundu binal wanjabu nyajil, bama nyulu mayi buban binal kari dakwuy yabarrka.


<translate> Which little word would you keep, if you could keep only one? the girls teased, and the old woman said: the ji — because everything I love, I love with.

Wanjaku kuku buban yundu karrbal, kaki nyubun nganga? jalbu-bubanangka yajarr-ji babajin, wulbumanangka balkan: '-ji', yamba wubulku ngayu wawu-manil, ngayu wawu-manil '-ji'-bu.


<translate> The old man said the animals were the people's oldest teachers and oldest relatives, and to know them well was to know your own family and your own self.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: minya bamamu binal-bungabama ngadiku, jawunkarra ngadiku, yinya ngulkurr binalka yala yundu jawunkarra binal, yundu nyulu-nyulu binal.


<translate> The mother's father is here.


<translate> The child was lost in the big scrub, but the old man found him.

Karrkay nubi-ji madja yalbay-mba, yambada mukul-dingkarangka milbin.


<translate> The spider waits among the branches and catches the small flies that pass.

Malal dakil-ba karrban, minya-buban warri-nya-nya karrbal.


<translate> When did the old people first come to live in this good country, long, long ago?

Wanjawanja mukul-bama nyubun-bu bubu yinya-ka kadan, kalbay-muny bunda-nka?


<glossary> nyirray ; type=noun ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> That child is always crying


<glossary> balu ; type=adverb ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> I almost hit the chicken


<translate> That wuymbariji scrub tree is there.


<translate> He saw the karrkil jumper ant there.


<translate> They saw the karrkurr frog there.


<translate> When the first thunder of the year speaks, put the cold-season work down and look over your tools, the old man taught: the wet is walking up from the sea, see what must be finished before the rivers close the roads — wood to the camp, shelters tight, meat with smoke — for the first thunder is not a warning, it is a word for working.

Kaki jabulbina ngadiku wungarmuny balkal, murni kiwaymuny yijarrika bada, yamba-murni nyungu nyaji, mukulungku dingkarangka milbin: bana-wungar jilbal wangkar jalunmuny, nyaji wanyu kunbay-manilka wawubajabu baral nandanyjiku: juku bayanka, bayan murrba, minya kubu-ji, jabulbina ngadiku nyulu kari kuku-yinil, nyulu kuku murninka.


<translate> You all see the fighting spear here.


<glossary> kala-balal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> Try out the log (to see if it will hold you)


<translate> They saw the knight fish here.


<translate> You saw the bajalji python there.


<translate> They saw the deep water here.


<translate> They saw the spotted eagle ray here.


<translate> You two see the nakawarra bee there.


<translate> He hooked the fish by the tail.


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


<translate> Give the spear to him, and he will hunt for all of us.

Kalka nyungunku daji, nyulu balbi-l ngana wubul-ka.


<translate> The boomerang lay in the bag.


<translate> When someone was leaving on a long and dangerous journey, the old man said, the family cooked them a special meal the night before, all their favorite foods, and everyone ate together and told the good old stories, for whatever happened out on the road, the traveller would carry the warmth of that fire and that meal inside them, and it would be a light in dark places.

Bama jilbanka kalbay dandinga baja dunganya, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, jawun-karra jananka mayi yukil wajun kunarangkal ngadiku, nyungu mayi wawu-mini wubulku, bama wubulku nyubunji nukan jangkar ngadiku yukil balkan, yamba wanya baral yaralba bungal, jilba-bama baya yinya mayi yinya wumbul dukurr-bu jarrakulbal, nyulu wula janayka bubu wujurrbu.


<translate> He sees the wuli-wuli soldier crab here.


<translate> The hunter waited quietly to spear the game at the waterhole.

Balbi-bama janka karrban, nyulu minya dama-nka bana karangkal.


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


<translate> They saw the black bean tree there.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the yalnga turtle here.


<translate> That tall tree with the bright white flowers marks the far edge of the old family country.

Juku kalbay nganka balbal-jirr yinya, bubu mukul-bama-mu karangkal milba-l.


<translate> The child picked up the egg, held it very carefully, and carried it back to the camp.

Karrkay-angka diburr kulban, ngulkurr karrban, bayan-ka wundin-baja.


<translate> You all saw the karunkurr crested pigeon there.


<translate> You see the light-coloured hair there.


<translate> You and I will go together, but they two will stay behind.

Ngaliny muru dunga-y, yambada bula kudamundu bundal.


<translate> The old woman said the changing of a girl into a woman and a boy into a man was marked with ceremony precisely because it was a change that must not be allowed to happen carelessly or alone, for the old people knew that a body may grow of itself but a person must be actively made into an adult, taught, tested, and formally changed in the eyes of the whole community from a child who is cared for into an adult who now cares for others.

Wulbumanangka balkan jalbu-karrkay jalbu-mal buban dingkar-mal baja milbin malkarri-ji ngadiku yinya yindu nyulu kariku kaki jana kanban yambada nganga janaymuny, bama mukul binal bangkarr nyulu-nyulu yalbay-mal yambada bama nyulu mukul-bama-bungal, milbil, nyaji-yamba, yindu-bungal bama wubulku nyungu miyilba karrkay wanya nyajilmuny mukul-bama wanya nganga bama yindu nyajilmuny.


<translate> Wash your hands before you eat, cover yourself against the cold, and hide the meat well so the dogs cannot reach it!

Mara julurri-jika yundu nuka-nyjiku, kiway-muny nanda-jika, minya ngulkurr ngaka kaya kariku manil!


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


<translate> You and I see the milmarr cane there.


<glossary> badi ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> the child cried for food


<translate> The old man kept watching the sky and watching the sea all morning, and only when the wind kept turning did he say a big storm was coming.

Mukul-dingkar jiri nyaji-nyaji jalun nyaji-nyaji wunkuwingku wubulku, muyar jurrki-jurrki-ba nyulu balkan jarramali yalbay kaday.


<translate> The women ground the seeds for damper.

Jalbu-jalbu-ngku diburr nyurrban damba-ka.


<translate> That is the whole law of the hunt, said the old man: take only what you need, and honour what you take.

Yanyu balbimu yala wubulku, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: mani nganga wanya yundu wawu, ngulkurr-bunga wanya yundu manin.


<translate> He was so frightened in his liver that he could not move or call out to anyone.

Nyulu jiba-yararri baja, nyulu kari jilba-l kari balka-l bama yindu-nka.


<translate> He saw the kanjal companion there.


<translate> You two saw the balja food there.


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


<translate> The old man taught the children: the paperbark gives us bark for the house, and the lawyer cane gives us strong strips for tying.

Mukul-dingkarangka karrkay-karrkay binalbungan: buyku ngananda julkun dayal bayanka, kaku ngananda junkurrji dayal kajanka.


<translate> The old woman said the hand that gives is never empty for long.

Wulbumanangka balkan mara daji-nya kariku kalbay-baja junjuy-kari.


<translate> The woman saw the wallaby on the ground.


<translate> The path up the mountain is rather long, but the old woman climbed it without stopping once.

Jina manjal wangkar-a jarra-kalbay, yamba mukul-jalbu-ngka kari bunda-l dakan.


<glossary> nginja ; type=noun ; domain=perception <usage_example> That man is always grunting (in his sleep)


<translate> You see the seashell headband here.


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


<translate> They saw the durra caterpillar here.


<translate> The old people sang, talked, and then rested.

Mukul-bama wulngku badin, kuku balkan, wunanan-da.


<translate> Don't touch that snake — its bite makes you very sick!

Kari yinya jarba karrba — nyungu jindal bambay-baja-bungal!


<translate> These people are my family; those people are the seaside people.

Yalu-rriny ngayku jawun-karra; yinya-rriny jalun-ji-warra.


<translate> Grandmother hears the thunderstorm there.


<translate> You and I saw the murraja stonefish there.


<translate> You all see the scrub goanna there.


<translate> The old grandmother sat the little grandchild beside her and began to teach the names of all their relatives, one by one, starting with the nearest and working outward.

Babi mukul jija buban nyungu ngundu bundaman, nyungu jawun-karra wubulku burri milbin, nyubun-nyubun, ngundu bajakumuny kalakalbayka.


<translate> That ground there is not lumpy.


<translate> The big fat witchetty grubs live in the roots of the certain tree, the old woman said, and the children dig them out and eat them raw or roast them in the coals.

Mujurr yalbay wandul juku yindu-mu ngara-ba wuna, mukul-jalbu balkan, karrkay-karrkay baka ngalkal, waju-kari nuka kubu-ba waju-jirr.


<glossary> balkaji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=bodily-function <usage_example> there are are flowers now


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


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


<glossary> wanjarrku ; type=interrogative ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> How did you come?


<translate> Are you tired? Sit down and rest.


<translate> They gave his body back to the country clean and whole, as the old woman had always said it should be given, and the country took him gently in.

Jana nyungu bangkarr bubunka dajin baja dayirr nyubun, yala wulbuman yabarrka balkanmuny, bububu nyulu wunbu manin dukurr.


<translate> The old man said if you are given power over others, whether over a child or a camp or a whole people, remember it is a thing lent, not a thing owned, and you must give account of it, for the country watched how you used it, and the country has a long memory, and it tells your name to the ones who come after.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: kaki yundunka junkurr bama yindu wangkar dajil, karrkay-anda bayanba bama nyubun wubulkungu baja, milka nyulu yamba dajinmu, kari yamba karrbalmu, yundu nyungu kuku dajil, bubu nyajin yala yundu nyulu manin, bubu milka kalbay karrbal, nyulu nyungu burri balkal bama jana nganga kadanmu.


<translate> The girls swam this morning.


<glossary> maru-maru ; type=adverb ; domain=quantity-number <usage_example> I came with nothing, having nothing


<translate> You and I saw the mudcrab there.


<translate> You see that milbarakal tree.


<translate> You see the durral tree there.


<translate> The clean clothes are there.


<translate> You saw the mackerel sky there.


<translate> The blue-tongue lizard is a brave little fighter, and it can even kill the deadly taipan.

Bajabaja buban junkurr-baja, nyulu jinkalmu junkurr baja kuni-l.


<translate> We see the son's child here.


<translate> The old people laughed at father.


<translate> The women talked and laughed at the river all morning.


<translate> We saw the kinga caterpillar here.


<translate> Some places nearby are just the same.


<translate> The two of them saw the jabarrangkul ant here.


<translate> The shell of the zamia nut is hard.


<translate> The stony crossing is there.


<translate> They see the milbarkal tree here.


<translate> The child saw the slippery ground.


<translate> So the old man taught the boy the whole shape of doing: keep at it, do it again, finish it, and only call a thing very good when it is truly finished.

Yala mukul-dingkarangka karrkay balka yukil-mu narmba: yudal bundanday, yalama-baja, kunbayn, kuku ngulkurr-baja-ku balka nyulu nguymal kunbayn-nya kariku.


<translate> The friend laughed at grandfather.


<translate> You and I see the marsupial native cat there.


<translate> You see the shovelnose ray there.


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


<translate> What kind of people are those strangers camping over there beside the far river?

Bama wanyunguy yinya, wawubaja kalbay-ba ngundu bunda-nya?


<translate> When you are afraid, that is yinil, and there is no shame in it, for even the bravest hunter feels yinil before a fight; the brave one only does not let it rule him.

Yundu yinil janay, yinya kari milka-murruji, balbibama wawu-junkurr bajaku yinil janay kuni-wanyjiku; wawu-junkurr nyulu nganga kari yinilbu kujil.


<translate> The children are hungry — cook the fish quickly!

Karrkay-karrkay dakwuy — kuyu wayju jinbalku!


<translate> The duck is standing at camp.


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


<translate> He is very tired now from swimming all day long in the cold sea.

Nyulu bajaburray-baja niji, janji-nya wungar wubulku jalun ngiki-nga.


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


<translate> The two of them saw the bilbil-bilbil gecko here.


<translate> You see the sea snake there.


<translate> You all see the fire stick here.


<translate> When the black cockatoos fly north the old people know the cold weather is coming to the country.

Kadanji kuwa-nka marra-warri-manda, bama mukul binal ngiki-wungar bubu-ngu kada.


<translate> You see that marngkil ti tree.


<translate> The freshwater crocodile is there.


<translate> We see the shell back snail here.


<glossary> muyul-muyul ; type=adjective ; domain=bodily-mental-state <usage_example> He's got a block against snakes (doesn't want to touch them, doesn't like them)


<translate> You saw the jalbil lizard here.


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

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


<translate> Grandfather hears the wind there.


<translate> The mother holds her child close in the dark, lest the bad spirit come and steal it away.

Ngamu-ngku nyungu karrkay junkurr karrban ngungul-ba, dubu buyun kada-ba-nyji, karrkay ngaki-nyji.


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

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


<translate> You all see the ground here.


<translate> The young men pulled everyone out of the water.

Warru-warrungku janangan kulbanyarrku banamuny.


<translate> You all see the windbreak here.


<translate> They made a canoe from candlenut tree.


<translate> Come around behind the house; the front is all wind today.

Kaday dimbiku: walu bayanmuny muyar wubulku nyiku.


<translate> You saw the biru-biru rainbow bird here.


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


<translate> Teach me how to make fire, the boy said to the old man, and I will never be cold in the night again.

Nganya binal-bungal buri bunga-nka, karrkay mukul-dingkar-nka balkan, ngayu kari ngiki wujurr-ba yindu-baja.


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

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


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


<translate> Good water, good shade, plenty of firewood.

Bana ngulkurr, wabarr ngulkurr, baya jirray.


<translate> You saw the baliji people here.


<translate> The children ran between the legs of the grownups, and no one minded, for at a gathering every adult is an uncle or an aunt to every child, and every child belongs to everyone.

Karrkay-karrkay jilbay bama yalbay jinanga, kari bama dukul-wuri, bangkanmuny bama yalbay wubulku karrkay wubulmu kalnga bimay, karrkay wubulku bama wubulkunka.


<translate> They wanted to go; meanwhile wind was coming.


<translate> You all see the high bank here.


<translate> You two saw the spear thrower here.


<translate> The two men lashed logs together with cane to make a raft; they poled it across the flooded river, the belongings piled high and dry in the middle.

Bula dingkarangka juku karra-bu dandi-bungan, marrakan bungan; bula jaba-bu wawubaja jalungkarr-ba yungan, yamba-yamba jambul-bu wuyar-a marral.


<translate> The old woman knew which tree gives good medicine bark for a sick child's bad fever.

Mukul-jalbu-ngka juku binal, wanjinya juku warrur ngulkurr karrkay bambay-ka.


<translate> We saw the black scrub goanna on the open ground.


<glossary> binal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> I want to know


<translate> I see the murrkul tree here.


<translate> The country's own remedy is strong, the old woman said, stronger than any other.

Bubu-mu kalbal yaykarr, wulbumanangka balkan, jarra-yaykarr wubulku.


<lexeme> Rattlesnake point - Fritz Creek


<translate> He saw the mangkurr-mangkurr garfish here.


<translate> That man's moiety is walarr.


<translate> Your dog is barking loudly at that big black snake down near the water.

Yunu kaya yalbay-bu yirrka-l jarba yalbay bindimu-ka, bana ngundu bada.


<translate> You two see the yarrka bee there.


<translate> You all see the tree snake there.


<translate> You and I saw the mawal bee there.


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


<translate> The two of them saw the dibirr-dibirr rainbow bird here.


<translate> The old man made a strong new spear from the hard wood by the fire in the evening.

Mukul-dingkar-angka kalka junkurr jirakal bungal juku junkurr-bu baya ngundu wujurr-ma-nya.


<translate> The hunter threw his spear straight and true, and the big kangaroo fell dead on the open plain.

Balbi-bama kalka jinbal nguymal daman, mayarriji yalbay daran wula bubu ngalkal-ba.


<translate> You saw the bilu-warra spoonbill there.


<glossary> bijal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=ingestion-consumption <usage_example> The child licked the icecream cone


<glossary> bajaku ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> I'm definitely not going


<translate> The child happened to step on my shin.


<translate> How many children do you have?


<translate> They saw the birinjil centipede here.


<translate> You saw the spear point here.


<translate> The old woman said the same plant that is food in one season is medicine in another and poison in a third, and this is why the plant knowledge cannot be rushed or guessed, for the young shoot may be sweet, the ripe fruit good, but the old seed deadly, so she made the girls learn each plant through the whole turning of the year before ever trusting it.

Wulbumanangka balkan mayi nyubun nyulu wungar nyubunba mayi wungar yindungu kalbal wungar kuluru jangkar, yinya mayi-binal kariku warri-manda kanban-manda, jurrbu buban jiba-wulay yala, mayi kulbul yukil, diburr mukul wula-mabi, nyulu jalbu-buban kirrajin mayi nyubun wungar wubulku murni-mandanya ngadiku wawu-karrbalka.


<translate> Mother saw the child's chest.


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


<glossary> walngal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> Open the gate


<translate> You two see the marril ti tree there.


<translate> In the rain, the ground was unexpectedly slippery.


<translate> The young man saw the snake in the grass.


<translate> We saw the kubu-kubu tadpole here.


<translate> You all saw the bilbil-bilbil gecko there.


<translate> We two, not you, see the jungka wild cherry tree here.


<translate> Whose is that long fighting spear leaning against the old man's little humpy?

Wanya-mba murrangkal kalbay yinya, mukul-dingkar-amu wurun-ba janay-nya?


<translate> In the wet season the women go out with their digging-sticks to dig the long yams from the soft ground by the river.

Kaba wungar-iji jalbu-jalbu juwal-jirr dunga, bambayal kalbay baka bubu wawubaja ngundu.


<translate> They searched for that child.

Jana nubi-l-nubin yinyay-anka karrkay-anka.


<translate> You and I see the king parrot there.


<translate> The strong vine is good for tying the spear head firmly onto the long straight shaft.

Mawar junkurr ngulkurr, kalka dukul juku-ngu karrba-nka.


<translate> You two see the dulmbi umbrella palm here.


<glossary> jikal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> They straighten the spear out in the fire


<translate> The children learned the names of the tides — the low water, the turning, the high water, and the still water.

Karrkay-karrkayangka yiramu burri binalman: ngajal, murnimu, balar, bana janay wunbu.


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


<translate> They saw the smooth rock here.


<translate> Count what made you laugh this week; jealousy dies in that counting.

Kunja wanyu yundu yajarr-bungan wungar yanyaba: ngujan wulay kunjal yinyaba.


<translate> The flood took the good canoe and left the leaky one, and the old man laughed at the river: you have taste! — and he built a better one out of the lesson.

Jalungkarrbu marrakan yukil manin, bawan mumbunmuny, mukulungku dingkarangka wawubajanka yajarr-man: yundu nganja-ji! — nyulu bungan yukil-baja binalmuny.


<translate> You two see the ground there.


<translate> Grandad got up first and looked at the clouds. Clouds in the north. Rain coming.

Kami wandin. Ngurrban kungkarr. Kaba kaday.


<translate> We saw the wallaby on the open ground.


<translate> Mother sees the open ground.


<translate> The two hunters shared the sea turtle between each other and gave the best to the old man.

Balbi-bama jambul ngawiya daji-way, mukul-dingkar-nka ngulkurr-baja dajin.


<lexeme> {'english': "He's well now after being sick", 'translation': 'Nyulu bambaymun ngulkurrda'}


<translate> The old woman saw the frog in the water.

Wulbuman-angka yirku-yirku bana-nga nyajin.


<glossary> yukil ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> Is it true that he came?


<translate> You and I see the coral there.


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

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


<glossary> kankur ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> Nyulu milka bikibiki kankuruku nyandan


<glossary> balkal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> he made a spear


<translate> The woman wove the bag from coarse grass.


<translate> Many leaves are there on the tree.


<translate> Carry the firestick carefully through the dark scrub, lest the small warm flame die out in the wind.

Jidi janka karrba madja ngungul-burr, baya buban wumbul muyar-bu wula-nyji.


<translate> The child cut himself on the sharp stone by the creek.

Karrkay yaka-ji kulji dandi-bu wawubaja karangkal.


<translate> The wind knocked the clothes down.


<translate> The children caught the little scrub lizards on the warm rocks in the middle of the day, the old woman said, but the old people said to let them go.

Karrkay-karrkay jabil buban kulji wumbul-ba wungar wangkar-wangkar-a mani, mukul-jalbu balkan, yamba mukul-bama balkan jana balu dunga.


<translate> The two of them saw the sky there.


<glossary> balkaji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=bodily-function <usage_example> the baby was born yesterday


<translate> You all saw the kulmba-kulmba gecko here.


<translate> Grandmother told the girl to look after the baby.


<translate> You all saw the baban angelfish there.


<glossary> yanday-nyajil ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=perception <usage_example> I overheard them


<translate> The children looked up at the many stars and asked the old man many questions about the sky.

Karrkay-karrkayangka dawar wubul nyajin wangkar, mukul dingkar babajin wubulku wangkarka.


<translate> You two see the spring there.


<translate> You two saw the mountain here.


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


<translate> You two see the small bat there.


<translate> You see the bujabay tree there.


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


<translate> The men painted their bodies with white clay and red ochre for the dance; the old man drew the totem lines, and each design told which country a man belonged to.

Dingkar-dingkarangka bangkarr bajar-bu, murbuy-bu julngkan wuri-nka; mukul-dingkarangka bama-mu duburan julngkan, nyubun-nyubun duburan-du balkan wanya-mu bubu.


<translate> The kuji-kuji tree is there.


<translate> You see the bamboo spear stick there.


<translate> The white crane is standing in the scrub.


<translate> We see the smouldering log here.


<translate> Rope is patience you can hold, the old woman rolled the bark on her thigh: one strand is a wish, two strands twisted together are a firm word, and a net of firm words feeds the whole camp.

Karra nyulu wawu-karrba yundu karrbalmuny, wulbumanangka warrur murnin wabanga: karra nyubun nyulu wawu, karra jambul kajanmuny nyulu kuku-dandi, makarr kuku-dandi-muny nyulu bayan wubulku mayi-dayal.


<translate> The grandmother sat with all her grandchildren around her, gave each one a name from the old people, and told them which country they belonged to.

Babingka jija-karra-ji muru bundan, nyubun-nyubun-ka burri mukul-mukul-amu dayan, jananda balkan wanja bubu jana-mu.


<translate> I heard the kookaburra laugh at dawn, then the curlew cried in the dark, and I knew the camp was safe.

Ngayu kururrungka milkabu nyajin nyulu yajarr-nya, kuyir badin wujurrbu, ngayu binalman bayan jani.


<translate> They saw the war spear here.


<translate> Why is that old woman sitting all alone in the dark, away from the warm fire?

Wanyurringku mukul-jalbu nyubun-bu wujurr-ba bunda-l, baya wumbul-muny kalbay?


<translate> The dog did not bite the child; the child is well.

Kaya-ngka karrkay kari baykan, karrkay ngulkurr.


<translate> We, not you, are not ashamed.


<translate> He sees the small sticks here.


<translate> The two of them see the fire stick there.


<translate> The children collected the yellow and the red ochre from the special place in the cliff.

Karrkay-karrkay murbuy makirr baja bubu yindu-muny bangkan, kulji kalbay-muny.


<translate> They saw the marrabal ti tree there.


<translate> The two of them saw the jinkalmu snake there.


<translate> They saw the flat rock here.


<translate> They saw the spiderlily here.


<translate> Why is that little child crying so hard in the night?

Wanyurringku karrkay buban yinya badil dandi-baja wujurr-ba?


<translate> You all saw the kalbawurr cypress-pine pitch there.


<translate> That is the greatest thing the old people give the young: not fear of the end, but a place in the country forever.

Yanyu kamba-kambangka dajil ngulkurr bajaku karrkayka: kari yinil wulaka, yambada bubungu bunday yabarrka.


<translate> You see the bronze wing pigeon there.


<translate> They see the large mud clam there.


<translate> We see the exposed place here.


<translate> That night they told the story of the two dogs.

Kunarangkal jana kuku balkan kayanka jambulka.


<translate> Is this yours or mine? — Ours, little one; that word ends most fights.

Yanya yunumuny yambada ngaykumuny? Nganamuny, bubanku: kukubu yinyabu kuniway wubulku kunbay-manil.


<translate> That big fig tree has stood beside the crossing since the time of the old, old people.

Baril-baril yalbay yinya wawubaja karangkal janay, mukul-bama mukul wungar-muny.


<translate> The ground there is not lumpy.


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


<translate> I see the bamboo spear stick here.


<translate> The old man said the old people held that death itself was not an ending but the last and greatest change, the person changing from a living body walking the country into a spirit belonging to it in a different way, joining the ancestors and the country and the stories, so that they grieved a death fully and truly and yet did not see it as a pure loss but as a passing-over, a final changing of state, the same person changed into a new and lasting form.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bama mukul karrban wula nyulu-nyulu kari bada yambada yindu bada bajaku yalbay baja, bama yindu-mal bangkarr juran bubu jilbalmuny wawu-yambaku, wawu bubuku yindu yalanga, ngadiku-bama bubu kuku-jangkar baja nyubun-mal, jana wawu-mumbu wula bajaku kuku-yukil baja yambada kari nyajin yinya bada nganga yambada yindu jilbalmuny, yindu bada bajaku jana-jinanga, bama nyubun yindu-manin jirakal janay-yamba baja.


<translate> The old man sharpened the spear well before he went hunting for the big kangaroo.

Mukul-dingkarangka kalka jalngkun-bungan ngulkurr, mayarriji balbi-ka dunga-nyjiku.


<translate> The child cried out to father and mother: "Come now!"

Karrkay nganjan-anda ngamu-ndu yirrkan: "Yala kada-y!"


<translate> The old man walks with a friend to the far country, lest he grow lonely on the long, empty road.

Mukul-dingkar jawun-jirr dunga-y bubu kala-kalbay-ka, nyulu milkabujar-ma-nyji jina kalbay-burr.


<translate> You two see the mawal bee there.


<translate> The freshwater prawn is here.


<translate> Grandfather saw the grass outside.


<translate> Grandmother put water on the girl's foot.

Babi-ngka bana yijarrin maral-anda jina-nga.


<translate> We looked for the dog everywhere but couldn't find it.

Ngana kayanda nubi-nubijin, kari nyajin.


<translate> The breadfruit is big and heavy and green, the old man said, and you must roast it long in the coals before its hard flesh turns soft and good.

Burrin-burrin yalbay kulngkul nganjil, mukul-dingkar balkan, yundu waju kalbay baya-ba nyungu minya junkurr ngulkurr-ma-nya kariku.


<translate> Tie the paperbark down before the storm!


<translate> I should have taught my son the country while my legs were still strong, the old man said, but I always thought there would be more time, and then the sickness took my walking, and now I can only point at the hills and name them, and a name without a walk is only half a teaching.

Ngayu ngayku kangkal bubu milbi-nyaku ngayku jadal junkurr janay-mba, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, yambada ngayu yabarrka milkabu baykan wungar wubul-baja janayka, yalada buyun ngayku jilbal manin, nyiku ngayu nganga yumal milbal burri balkal, burri jilbal-kari nyulu nganga milbil buban.


<lexeme> {'english': 'I put out the food on the table', 'translation': 'Ngayu mayi wamban tablebu'}


<translate> The old woman boiled the bush medicine leaves in water to heal the sick child.

Wulbuman dukunjaka birra bana-nga wajun, karrkay bambay ngulkurr-bunga-nka.


<translate> Mother saw the black crow at camp.


<glossary> wulman ; type=noun ; domain=weapon <usage_example> the old horse


<translate> The child sees the grass there.


<translate> The old man followed the dingo tracks to its den and found the little pups hidden inside.

Mukul-dingkar murramu jina wukurrin nyungu bayan-ka, karrkay buban wubul dukurr janka nyajin.


<translate> The woman left the spear on the ground.


<translate> The old man said the goanna's fat was rubbed on the sore joints of the old people, and nothing else made them warm and easy again so well.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: jadi-mu wandul mukul-bama-mu bunku-ka murni, yindu-yindu kari jana wumbul ngulkurr-bungal yala.


<translate> The tree stands in the scrub.


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

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


<glossary> jinbal ; type=adjective ; domain=manner <usage_example> Karrkay jinbal-kanga, ngana dungankada


<translate> The old man said the change from a boy's fear of the dark scrub to a man's ease in it happens only by going in, again and again, so that no amount of being told the scrub is safe can change the fear, but the body's own repeated experience of going in and coming out unharmed slowly changes the fear into confidence, and he said this is the deep law of all real change, that a person is changed far more by what they repeatedly do than by anything they are merely told.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan yindu buban nyungu yinil majaji wujurrmuny dingkar nyungu wunbu-jimuny nyulu janay nganga jilbalnya, jambulku jambulku, kuku wubulku majaji wunbu nyulu kari yinil yindu-bungalmuny, yambada bangkarr nyulu-nyulu jilbalnya buyun-kari kadanya nyulu buban-buban yinil yindu-bungal wawu-junkurrku, nyulu balkan yinya kuku dukurr yindu bajaku wubulmuny, bama nyulu yindu-bungal ngulkurr-baja wanyu nyulu jambulku murninmuny yamba nyubun nganga balkanmuny.


<translate> The possum, the bandicoot, and the kangaroo rat all feed in the dark and lie hidden in the day.

Yawa kulngu jayju wubul nukal wujurr-ba, janka wunay wungar-a.


<translate> What is that you are holding in your hand, my child?

Wanyu yundu mara-nga karrbal, ngayku karrkay?


<translate> Grandmother put the dog's food in the bag.

Babi-ngka mayi kaya-nga balji-nga yijarrin.


<translate> The woman left the bag outside.


<translate> You saw the wakuka bird here.


<translate> The two of them saw the kawa ants here.


<translate> The strong man overpowered the big fish, dragged it onto the sand, and killed it.

Dingkar junkurr kuyu yalbay junkurr-manin, jukara wundin, kunin.


<translate> The father scolded his own little child, the old man said, because it had kicked the sleeping camp dog hard and made it cry out in pain.

Nganjan-angka kangkal buban murru-kanga-l, karrkay-angka kaya warngku-nya jabi-nya junkurr badi-bungal, mukul-dingkar balkan.


<translate> My knife is somewhere here — did you see it anywhere by the fire?

Ngayku naybu wanjabu; yundu junjuy nyajin baya karangkal?


<translate> We see the flat-tailed ray there.


<translate> You all saw the barramundi there.


<translate> You see the ground lizard there.


<translate> The young man was frightened by the crocodile at the river, but he stayed still and was not harmed.

Warru wawubajanga bilngkumu-ndu yinil-kanga-jin, yambada nyulu dandi bundan, nyulu kariku buyun-man.


<translate> You see the grass-tree resin here.


<translate> They hunted the wallaby into the scrub; the dogs ran ahead of them; they speared it together; and they carried the meat back to their camp.

Jana kadar madjanga balbin; kaya jana maku warrin; jana muru daman; jana minya jananga bayan-mundu wundinda.


<translate> We are born people-with and we leave story-with, and everything between is the slow trade of the one for the other.

Ngana wandil bama-nji, ngana dungay kuku-jangkar-ji, yamba wubulku jambulba nyulu daji-way buban-buban nyubunmuny yindunka.


<translate> I hear the rustling noise here.


<glossary> yalanguwimburr ; type=temporal ; domain=time-deixis <usage_example> Before the store closes, go immediately

Store nandajinjiku, yalanguwimburr dunday


<translate> The two of them saw the jungka wild cherry tree there.


<translate> They run to the woman cooking food.


<translate> If you follow the wallaby's tracks, you will find where it feeds.

Kaki yundu minya jina wukurril, yundu milbil wanja nyulu nukal.


<translate> What fish did the child see?


<lexeme> {'english': 'I put out the food on the table', 'translation': 'Ngayu mayi wamban tablebu'}


<translate> You all saw the bujabay tree here.


<translate> I saw the wakuka bird there.


Ngayu jalbu nyajin, wulngku badi-badi-nya.


<translate> They two saw the barramundi there.


<translate> You two saw the sea turtle here.


<translate> He saw the birinjil centipede here.


<translate> The men made the fish nets and the fishing spears, and the women made the dilly bags and the string.

Dingkar-angka makarr kalka bungal, jalbu-ngku ngunyin karra bungal.


<translate> That mother's older sister is there.


<translate> If you hit that dog with a stick, it will bite you.

Kaki yundu yinya kaya juku-bu kunil, yununy baykal.


<translate> The forest kingfisher is there.


<translate> The knife lay on the ground.


<translate> You all see the kambar white clay there.


<translate> You and I saw the murral tree kangaroo there.


<translate> You see the boxwood tree there.


<translate> The strong man's chest and shoulders were broad, and he lifted the big log up with ease.

Dingkar junkurr damu binda kalbay, nyulu juku kulngkul jinbal-baja-ku kulban wangkar-a.


<translate> The old man said the animals were the people's oldest teachers and oldest relatives, and to know them well was to know your own family and your own self.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: minya bamamu binal-bungabama ngadiku, jawunkarra ngadiku, yinya ngulkurr binalka yala yundu jawunkarra binal, yundu nyulu-nyulu binal.


<translate> The one without a dog found no pigs.

Kaya-kari-ngka bikibiki kari warmba-bungan.


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

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


<glossary> juwa ; type=temporal ; domain=time-deixis <usage_example> We are ready to go walkabout, you are taking too long a time

Nganjin ready jilba dunganka, yundu juwaku bundanday


<translate> You and I see the flea here.


<translate> First came the mother-and-child pairs, the ngamu-manda, the little ones riding on hips; then the father-and-son pairs, the nganjan-manda, the boys carrying their first small spears with pride.

Ngadiku kadan ngamu-manda, karrkay buban mirrimara wundin; yindu nganjan-manda, karrkay-karrkay nyungu kalka buban ngadiku wundin wawu-yalbayji.


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


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


<translate> Grandfather saw the deep water.


<translate> The old man's shoulder is sore.


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

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


<translate> You two saw the yiki owl there.


<translate> The young woman prepared her first big fish for the whole family, wanting to do it perfectly: she scaled and cleaned it carefully at the water, made a good fire and let it burn to coals, wrapped the fish in the right leaves with a little fat, laid it in the coals and turned it at the right moment, tested that it was cooked through, served the old ones first, and then watched anxiously as everyone tasted her cooking.

Karrkay-jalbu nyungu kuyu yalbay ngadiku bungan jawun-karra wubulkunka, wawu nyulu yukil bajaku bunganka: nyulu jindi karra bananga buban-buban, baya ngulkurr bungan wula ngunjilku dungan, kuyu birra yukilba wandul buban baja buwan, ngunjilba daya murni-manin wungar yukilba, jani dukurr-mundu nyajin, mukul ngadiku daya, yalada janka-kari nyajin bama wubulku nyungu waju nganja-kangalnya.


<translate> You see the jinjay tree here.


<translate> You all see the river there.


<glossary> kurru-jindaway ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> They're arguing about it


<translate> Doubt the too-sweet story; truth usually arrives with wet feet.

Warmbi kuku-jangkar jiba-wulay bajaku: manubaja jina yaru-ji yabarrka kadal.


<translate> The boy asked the old man: "What kind of bird called?"

Karrkay mukul-dingkar-anda babajin: "Wanyu-nguy buyi yirrkan?"


<translate> I spent the whole day making a good digging stick for my grandmother: I found a length of the hardest heavy wood, cut it to the right length, sharpened one end to a strong point on the rough stone, fire-hardened the point over the coals, smoothed the whole shaft so it would not blister her hands, tested its weight and balance, and then gave it to her, and she used it happily for the rest of her days.

Ngayu wungar wubulku jaba yukil bungan ngayku babinka: ngayu juku junkurr dandi bajaku manin, murni kalbay yukilku dakan, nyubun jungku kulji-jiran-bu murni-manin junkurr-bu, ngunjil wangkar jungku wumbul-manin, juku wubulku jinbal-manin nyulu nyungu mara kari buyun-bungalka, dandi murni-nyajin, yalada nyulunka dayan, nyulu wawu-minibu kirrajin nyungu wungar wubulmuny.


<translate> I saw the jalbil lizard here.


<translate> Do not go to the crocodile lest it bite you.

Bilngkumu-nku kari dungay, yununy bayka-nyji.


<translate> The grasshopper jumped up out of the long grass and flew a little way through the air.

Jimu jikan kalbay-muny jalama-l, buban-baja wangkar-a dunga-y.


<lexeme> bad spirit in form of crocodile


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


<translate> The dog bit the young man's arm.


<translate> She carried two dilly bags full of ripe fruit and one big bag full of small silver fish.

Nyulu ngunyin jambul mayi kulbul-jirr wundin, ngunyin nyubun yalbay kuyu buban-jirr baja.


<glossary> yimbal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> He shouldn't come so close


<translate> The oak and the messmate stood together on the ground, and the children were in their shade.

Dalban warka baja muru janan bubungu, karrkay-karrkay wabarrba.


<translate> Do not be ashamed of tears, the old woman told a boy crying on a day of grief: the eye makes water for sorrow the way the body sweats while working, both carry the heat out, and a person who bursts into tears and leaves them to run empties the flood, lest it break the deep bank inside.

Kari murru-kaday ngirraymuny, wulbumanangka buban badinya milbin wungar wawu-mumbuba: miyilbu bana murnil wawu-mumbuka yala bangkarr jila-warri murninya, jambulbu wumbul manil ngalkalku, bama nyulu ngirray-warri jana bawal warrinka, nyulu bana-yalbay nganga-bungal, jalkar dukurrba nyulu dumbarrinyji.


<translate> The food in the ground oven was well cooked.


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


<translate> The little mudskippers climb out of the water onto the mangrove roots when the tide goes down.

Kuyu buban jalil-jalil bana-muny daka-l kajul-jina-nga yira bada dunga-nya.


<translate> The stones here are not close together.


<translate> The young man laughed at the children.


<translate> I saw the walkarr goanna there.


<translate> They saw the bilu-warra spoonbill here.


<translate> You two see the marril ti tree here.


<translate> You all saw the marril ti tree there.


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


<translate> You see the black stone there.


<translate> You all see the flames there.


<translate> The old woman ground again; the children were hungry.

Mukul-jalbu nyurrban baja, karrkay-karrkay dakwuy.


<translate> He sees the black snake there.


<translate> The night messenger bird flew past the camp calling, and the old woman said someone in another camp had died.

Jiway bayan-ba wangkar dungan yirrkan, wulbuman balkan bama bayan-yindu-ngu wulan.


<translate> You see the black beetle there.


<translate> You and I saw the barinkan scrub bird here.


<translate> The women taught each other about the bark bags and the digging sticks.

Jalbu binal-bunga-way, buyku-balji-ka juku-baka-ka.


<glossary> walngal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> Don't wake up the baby


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


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


<translate> Sing it again — the little ones want to hear it!

Wulngku badi baja — ngawa-ngawa wawu nyajinka!


<translate> He saw the spear barb there.


<lexeme> Nganjin dungan, ngingkirr nyajin


<translate> There are many seeds in the bag.


<translate> We see the big clam shell there.


<translate> The child burned itself on the hot coals by mistake right beside the camp fire.

Karrkay kanban baya wumbul-bu waju-jin, baya karangkal.


<translate> Father asked the girl about the mango.


<translate> Mother washed the child's navel.


<translate> Where did that big mob of flying foxes come from at dusk?

Kambi wubul-baja wanjamuny kadan wungar bada dunga-nya?


<translate> We see the jinjajalka tree here.


<translate> He sees the straw-necked ibis here.


<translate> You and I see the lightning here.


<translate> That stringybark tree is here.


<lexeme> the point between Kangkiji and Kaway


<translate> You all see the queenfish there.


<translate> I see the marubu species of oyster here.


<glossary> yimbalji ; type=noun ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> He went with a message


<translate> The women went out for yams.


<translate> He sees the marsupial native cat there.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the karrmbil parakeet there.


<translate> The two of them see the smouldering log there.


<translate> The old woman said the best cook feeds more than the belly: a meal cooked with love and served with a glad face nourishes the spirit as much as the body, and a person can go to sleep full of good food yet still hungry in the heart if it was thrown at them coldly, so cook and serve as if the eater were the most welcome person in the world, because at your fire they are.

Wulbumanangka balkan: waju-bama yukil bajaku daya wubul-baja jibamuny: mayi wawu-jirraybu wajun miyil-wawu-minibu dayanmu bangkarr yala wawu daya, bama nyulu wuna jiba yajin mayi yukilbu yambada jiba dakwuy nyungunga kaki nyulu kiway-manda jananka yilbanmu, waju daya yala nuka-bama nyulu bama wawu-mini bajaku bubu wubulkungu, nyulu nyungu bayangu yala.


<translate> He saw the jirimandi coconut tree here.


<translate> How do you say he is blind the soft way? — Eye-without; or better, ear-with.

Wanjarr yundu balkal 'miyil-burra' kimabu? 'Miyil-kari', yambada yukil-baja, 'milka-ji'.


<lexeme> Nganjin dungan, ngingkirr nyajin


<glossary> jumbun ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> The baby is greedy for milk


<translate> The remains dilly bag lay on the ground.


<translate> I see the grandfather there.


<translate> The old woman said a rather good story makes the children listen, but a very good story makes them forget the fire has gone out and the night is cold.

Mukul-jalbu balkan: kuku jarra-ngulkurr karrkay-karrkay milka-janay-mani, yamba kuku ngulkurr-baja-ku jana baya wulan wujurr ngiki-jirr milka-wula-mani.


<translate> The old man said: the dingo hunts alone, it is clever and patient, and it will wait a long time by the water for the wallabies to come and drink.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan: murramu nyubun balbil, nyulu binal, nyulu bana ngundu bundan yalbay wungar, kadar kada-nya bana nukanka.


<translate> At midday the sun stands high overhead, and the people rest quietly in the cool shade of the trees.

Wungar wangkar-wangkar janay, bama janka bundan juku ngungul-ba wumbul-muny.


<translate> You saw the jirimandi coconut tree there.


<translate> We see the casuarina pine here.


<translate> We see the freshwater crocodile there.


<translate> The honey bread is sweet and good.


<translate> I see the black bream there.


<translate> I saw the jimalili lizard there.


<glossary> wanjarrku ; type=interrogative ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> How did you come?


<translate> The old people said that every tree in this country has its own true and proper name.

Mukul-bama-ngka balkan, juku wubul bubu yinya-nga nyungu burri ngulkurr baja.


<translate> You two see the rock python here.


<translate> I saw the bujabay tree there.


<translate> I see the mukukanka tree there.


<glossary> kunka ; type=adverb ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> People might talk about you


<glossary> durru ; type=noun ; domain=body-part <usage_example> I stubbed my toe on a stone


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


<glossary> dajay ; type=noun ; domain=spirit-mythical-being <usage_example> The woman died, that's why they want to find her spirit

Nyulu jalbu wulan, yinyayanka jana nyungu dajay warrmba-bunganka


<translate> Right at the camp he set the big stone.


<translate> The grey kangaroo is on the open ground.


<translate> We, not you, saw the yalnga turtle there.


<translate> The children lined up from the oldest to the youngest, and there were seven of them, more than the fingers of one hand, and the old woman named them all in order.

Karrkay-karrkay jarran warru bajakumuny buban bajakuka, jana wubul, mara nyubunmu wubul-baja, wulbumanangka jana wubulku kunjan yalanga.


<translate> You two see the humpy there.


<translate> The eel slipped back into the river.


<translate> You see the river mist here.


<translate> The bird's eggs are in the tree.


<translate> The woman saw the candlenut tree outside.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the karunkurr crested pigeon here.


<translate> The old woman said tell the old stories again and again to the children, for a story not told again is a story that dies with you.

Mukul-jalbu balkan: kuku ngadiku karrkay-karrkay-nka balka-baja balka-baja, kuku kari balka-nya-baja nyulu yundu-jirr wula.


<glossary> balnji ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> cook the meat properly


<translate> When are we going down to the sea to catch the big green turtles out beyond the reef?

Wanjawanja ngana jalun-ka dunga-y, ngawiya yalbay dulngku-ngu karrba-nka?


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


<translate> The old woman said: the kin who look after each other never go hungry.

Wulbumanangka balkan: jawun kuji-way-nya kariku mayi-kari.


<translate> The black snake lies still in the long grass by the water, the old man warned, so always beat the ground with a stick before you walk through.

Bindimu jarba janka wuna jikan kalbay-mba bana ngundu-ba, mukul-dingkar balkan, bubu marri juku-bu balka nyubun-bu jilba-nyjiku.


<translate> The flowers on the tree are wilted.


<translate> He saw the jinkalmu snake there.


<translate> We two, not you, see the large mud clam there.


<glossary> bijal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=ingestion-consumption <usage_example> The child licked the icecream cone


<translate> You saw the bulnja frogmouth here.


<translate> They saw the kalbali tall man there.


<translate> Two women and three children walked down to the river to dig for the sweet white yams.

Jalbu jambul karrkay kulur baja wawubaja-ka bada jilba-dungan, wukay jiba-wulay bakal-ka.


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


<translate> The man sharpened his spear.


<translate> You two see the marsupial native cat here.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the balja food there.


<translate> You two see the spring here.


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


<translate> He saw the biwul snake there.


<translate> The old man cannot hear the children calling him, for both his ears are old and deaf now.

Mukul-dingkar karrkay-karrkay yirrka-nya milka-bu kari nyaji-l, nyungu milka jambul mukul milka-kari niji.


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


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


<translate> We see the small patch of scrub there.


<translate> The two of them saw the grasshopper there.


<translate> The tall young man stood very still behind the big tree, watching the two strangers walk past.

Warru kalbay janay janka bajaku juku yalbay kudamundu, bama yindu jambul jilba-nya nyaji-l.


<translate> You and I see the mayfly there.


<translate> The old man said: I am an old man now, and my own parents are long dead, but I am still their son; you do not stop being a child when your parents die, you simply become the keeper of their memory and the teller of their story.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: Ngayu mukul dingkar nyiku, ngayku ngamu nganjan ngadiku wulan, yambada ngayu kariku nyungu kangkal; yundu kari kangkal bawal nyungu ngamu-nganjan wulanya, yundu nganga nyungu binalkumu kujibama-manda, nyungu milbimu balkabama.


<translate> The women are walking on foot.


<translate> The heavy dilly bag hung at the old woman's neck as she walked.

Ngunyin kulngkul wulbuman-mu jakay-mba karrban, nyulu jilba-nya.


<translate> The wood there is not coarse.


<glossary> yala ; type=interrogative ; domain=interjection <usage_example> What about your older brother?


<translate> Give the meat to the man with a spear, not to the boy without one by the empty fire.

Minya dingkar kalka-jirr-nka daya, kari buban kalka-kari-nka baya-kari ngundu.


<translate> The old man asked the whole camp quietly: "Where have all the young people gone, and when will they return?"

Mukul-dingkar-angka bayan narmba babajin janka: Warru-warru narmba wanjabu dungan, wanjawanja jana nyunba?


<glossary> jaway ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> The old man is very generous


<translate> We talked until the fire went small, and then we slept.

Ngana balkan baya buban-manyjiku, wunanda.


<translate> He saw the nakawarra bee there.


<translate> Settled then, we will stay at the camp.


<translate> The old hunter looked thoroughly all over the ground, examining every track the kangaroo had left.

Balbi-bama mukul bubu narmba nyaji-l-nyaji-n, mayarriji-mu jina narmba binalman.


<translate> They saw the kalkarrumbarr lizard here.


<translate> Mother shared out all the yams.


<translate> The girls took the babies down to the shade.

Maral-maralangka ngawa-ngawa wundin wabarrba.


<translate> The fire kept the camp warm.


<translate> The man saw the snake on the ground.


<translate> You two see the kangaroo rat there.


<translate> The old woman said a person changes all through life and the language marks the stages, for a baby becomes a child, a child becomes a youth, a youth becomes a grown person, a grown person becomes an elder, and an elder at last becomes an ancestor, and she said the sad thing is not this changing, which is right and good, but a person who fights it, who will not let the youth become the elder and clings to what they were instead of becoming what they now must be.

Wulbumanangka balkan bama yindu-mal wawu wubulku kuku nyubun-nyubun milbi-nya, ngawa karrkay-mal, karrkay warru-mal, warru bama-yalbay-mal, bama-yalbay mukul-mal, mukul bada bajaku ngadiku-bama-mal, nyulu balkan yamba wawu-mumbu nyulu kari yinya yindu-mal, yukil yala, yambada bama nyulu yinya-nka kuli-mal, nyulu kari warru mukul-mal bawal karrbal yamba nyulu janan nganga nyulu yindu-mal yamba nyulu nyiku yala janaymuny.


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

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


<glossary> jilba ; type=noun ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> The child can walk now


<translate> The women cut up the wallaby meat and shared it out to all the children by the evening fire.

Jalbu-jalbu minya kadar yakan, karrkay-karrkay narmba-nka dajin baya ngundu wujurr-ba.


<translate> The two of them saw the jinabiju goshawk here.


<translate> My mother's father tells the old stories of long ago by the fire.

Ngayku ngaji kuku ngadiku balkal baya karangkal.


<translate> You two saw the ngarkay waterhen there.


<translate> We see the black spotted dart here.


<translate> When the stranger asked where our camp was, what did you tell him? I told him nothing; I said only that the country was big and the water was far, and I watched which way he went.

Bama yindungku babajin wanjabu ngananga bayan, wanyu yundu nyungunku balkan? Ngayu nyungunku maru-maru balkan; ngayu balkan bubu yalbay, bana kala-kalbay nganga, ngayu nyajin wanjabu nyulu dungan.


<translate> The two of them saw the kurrmaja larvae here.


<translate> We walked all day across the wide open ground, following the old dry river bed.

Ngana wungar wubulku bubu kalbay-burr jilba-dungan, wawubaja marral kalbay wukurri-l.


<translate> The child asked the dillybag expert about dillybags.

Karrkay mala-balji-nda babajin balji-ka.


<translate> We prepared for the big gathering for many days: we hunted and smoked extra meat, the women ground great quantities of seed-meal, we cleared and levelled the meeting ground, we built extra shelters for the visitors, we sent the messengers out to the far camps, we lit the welcoming fires as they arrived, and then we feasted and danced and told the old stories for three whole nights.

Ngana bangkarr-yalbaynka murni-manda wungar wubulku: ngana balbin minya kubu-manin baja, jalbu jarra-mayi wubulku nyurrban, ngana bubu-bangkarr karra yaral-manin, ngana bayan yindu bama-yindunka bungan, ngana kuku-jarrakay bayan kala-kalbay-mundu yunga, ngana yulmbarril-baya wandiman jana kadanya, yalada ngana nukan janjin jangkar ngadiku balkan kulur wujurr wubulku.


<translate> We see the kunjarri palm here.


<translate> Grandmother saw the morning star.


<translate> It rained all night and the river came up.


<translate> The old man said: care well for your body, for the country made it and the country feeds it.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan: nyungu bangkarr ngulkurr karrba, bubu-ngka bangkarr bungan, bubu-bu daji.


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


<translate> You see the plum tree there.


<translate> My younger brother and I set out at dawn, tracked the wallaby to the ridge, speared it together, and carried it home to our mother and grandmother.

Ngayku yabaju ngali wungar wangkara dungan, kadar jina wukurrin bubu wangkara, muru daman, bayanka wundinda ngamu babi-nka.


<translate> The camp is on the mountain.


<translate> I saw the spear on the road.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the jurriyan satin bower bird here.


<translate> We cooked the eel in the earth oven.


<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> We all, not you, see the salmon here.


<translate> He saw the bajal bower bird here.


<translate> The old people rested there.


<glossary> kinbal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> You got his attention to show him


<translate> The little baby crawled across the ground towards the warm fire, and the mother picked it up quickly.

Karrkay buban mara-warrin naka-naka bubu-ngu baya wumbul-ka, ngamu-ngku mani buyun-buyun.


<translate> The white wattle is standing at camp.


<translate> The old man made fire with a fire-stick.


<glossary> yukil ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> Is it true that he came?


<lexeme> that's nonsense, take no notice


<translate> That bukunjarra tree is there.


<translate> You and I see the humpy there.


<translate> The green ant bit the little boy right on the cheek, and it swelled up big and dark.

Munjurr-angka warru buban kangkul-ba baykan, nyulu yalbay-ma-n ngungul-baja.


<translate> The old woman answered the child: "No, that is not the right way; the good track goes down to the sea."

Mukul-jalbu-ngku karrkay balkan: Kari, yinya jina kari ngulkurr; jina ngulkurr bada dunga-y jalun-ka.


<translate> You two see the love handles here.


<translate> You all saw the mawul freshwater eel there.


<translate> What are you sick with, old man? You look very tired and weak today.

Yundu wanyurrinji bambay, mukul-dingkar? Yundu bajaburray-baja niji.


<translate> The strong man overpowered the big fish, dragged it onto the sand, and killed it.

Dingkar junkurr kuyu yalbay junkurr-manin, jukara wundin, kunin.


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