<translate> They saw the loya cane here.


<translate> The old woman saw seeds in the bag.


<translate> We loaded the canoe with our gear at first light, pushed off from the bank, paddled across the wide river against the current, landed on the far side, hid the canoe in the reeds, walked inland to the good hunting country, and then made our camp there for several days.

Ngana marrakan ngayku yamba-bu buwan muduwajungu, jalkar-muny jurrnga, wawubaja yalbay naka-naka bana-mundu jarrakulban, ngubara badan, marrakan jikan-ba buyan, bubu balbil ngulkurr-mundu jilban, yalada yinya ngana bayan bungan wungar wubulku.


<glossary> jalngkun ; type=adjective ; domain=physical-property <usage_example> The axe is very dull; sharpen it with a file

Axe dudu bajaku; jalngkun-bunga filemundu.


<translate> Mother washed grandmother's hand.


<translate> They saw the murma wasp there.


<translate> The two of them saw the dijarr freshwater perch here.


<translate> You see the sea snake there.


<translate> He sleeps when his body is tired.

Nyulu warngku-wunay, kaki nyulu bangkarr bajaburray.


<translate> We see the straw-necked ibis there.


<translate> At dusk in the wet season the mosquitoes come up in clouds from the swamp, the old man said, so the people burn green leaves to make a smoke and keep them off.

Wujurr-ma-nya kaba-wungar-a kamu wubul daburr-muny ngurrban yala kaday, mukul-dingkar balkan, bama birra biral waju kubu bunga-nka, kamu ngalka-nka.


<translate> The eagle flies high in the sky, sees a fish in the water below, and drops down fast, catching it in its feet.

Wandi jarra-jarra jiri-nga marra-warri, nyulu kuyu bana-nga bada nyajin, bada daran bila, jina-bu karrban.


<glossary> dayirr ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> The sun is bright


<translate> The women dug a big earth oven near the camp.

Jalbu-jalbungku kurrma yalbay bakan bayanba ngundu.


<translate> That house is big and this one is small.

Yinya bayan yalbay, yanyu bayan karrkay.


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


<translate> That crested pigeon is there.


<translate> I asked about the tree with flowers.


<translate> Grandmother asked mother about the house.


<translate> You two saw the karrmbil parakeet there.


<translate> The child washed the baby's arm.


<glossary> nubiji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=perception <usage_example> What are you looking for?


<glossary> wawu-juljal ; type=noun ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> He is at the dead person's wharf

Nyulu bada wawu-juljalandamunbu wharfmunbu


<translate> I see the balmbalka tree here.


<translate> The children carried this understanding into their own adulthood, and when they had children of their own, they taught them the first law before any other: you belong to each other, and what you have is only yours to share.

Karrkay-karrkayangka yinya binal wundin nyungu warru-manda, jana nyungu kangkal karrban, jana milbin kuku ngadiku yamba yindu ngadiku: yurra nyubun-nyubunji, yamba yundu karrbal nganga daji-wayka.


<translate> The old woman asked the man: "Why did you shout?"

Mukul-jalbu dingkar-anda babajin: "Wanyurringku yundu yirrkan?"


<translate> The old man showed the boy the high bank where the flood water always reaches.

Mukul-dingkar-angka warru jalkar milban, bana yalbay wangkar-a kada-nya.


<translate> The old man speared the goanna in the tree and shared the meat with everyone.

Mukul-dingkarangka jadi daman juku-ngu, minya daji-way wubulku.


<translate> The old people gathered the green ants by the handful and crushed them into water for a sharp sour drink, the old man said, and it made a sick person well.

Mukul-bama munjurr mara-bu mujal, bana-ka murni ngunyanji-mani-nka, mukul-dingkar balkan, nyulu bama bambay ngulkurr-bungal.


<translate> He saw the jimu grasshopper here.


<translate> You all see the karrandal tree there.


<translate> That star always rises in the east before the sun, he said, so it shows you which way to walk in the dark.

Yinya kurrubijal nakanga wandil yabarrka wungarmuny, nyulu balkan, yununda milbil wanjabu jilba wujurrbu.


<translate> The children learned the names of the feelings as they had learned the names of the animals, and just as with the animals, once a feeling was named its fear grew small.

Karrkay-karrkayangka wawumu burri binalman yala jana minyamu burri binalmanmuny, yala minyaji, wawu kunjanmuny yinil buban-manda.


<translate> Grandmother saw the digging stick on the ground.


<translate> You all saw the karrandal tree there.


<lexeme> that's nonsense, take no notice


<glossary> wambaji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=transfer-possession <usage_example> Share out the meat now


<translate> They see the dirrmbay seagull there.


<translate> The young man went to the mountain with a friend.


<glossary> walal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> He went into the house


<translate> You all see the small bat here.


<translate> Grandmother saw the blue-tongue lizard.


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

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


<translate> The dead kangaroo was carried home on the young man's back through the long grass.

Mayarriji wula-nya warru-nda muku-ngu bayan-ka wundi-jin, jikan kalbay-ba.


<translate> The children of the two groups were shy at first and stood apart watching each other, until one small boy walked across and gave another small boy a piece of fruit, and after that they were all friends.

Jawun-karra jambulmu karrkay-karrkay ngadiku milka-murruji kanbal janay, jana nyaji-way, nyubun karrkay buban jilban ngundu, karrkay buban yindu mayi daji, yindumuny jana wubulku jawun janay.


<translate> When you want something with your whole heart, that is wawu, and when you love a person or a place deeply, that is wawu jirray, the wanting that never grows tired.

Yundu yamba wawu wubulku wawu janay, yinya wawu, yundu bama bubu wawu jirray janay bada, yinya wawu jirray, wawu nyulu kari baja-burraymal yabarrka.


<translate> I took mother's clothes to the sea.


<translate> You see the kunjarri palm there.


<translate> Grandad came quietly with his long stick, hit the snake, and it soon died on the warm ground.

Kami wunbu kadan juku kalbayji, jinkalmu kunin, jinkalmu kalbarrmanda bubungu wumbulba.


<translate> Rain for three days; then the sun came out.


<translate> The dogs kept barking and barking at the edge of the camp all night, and in the morning the old man found the tracks of a big python.

Kaya-kaya yirrka-yirrka bayan wangkar-a wujurr wubulku, wunkuwingku mukul-dingkarangka kabul yalbay-mu jina warmban.


<translate> You hear the rattling sound there.


<translate> Those two, the old man and his old wife, have lived in this same camp for many long years.

Bula, mukul-dingkar nyungu manyarr mukul baja, bayan yinya-nga wunan wungar kalbay wubul-muny.


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


<translate> I saw the kurmba-kurmba lizard here.


<translate> When my father died, my father's brother became a father to me; he took me hunting, gave me my first wife's people, and never let me go hungry.

Ngayku nganjan wulan, ngayku nganjan-amu yaba nganya-nka nganjan-man; nyulu nganya balbi wundin, ngayku manyarr-amu bama dayan, nyulu nganya kariku dakwuy-bungan.


<translate> They saw the jinabiju goshawk there.


<translate> The child ran and ran until he was too tired, then he sat down to rest beside the track.

Karrkay warri warri baja-burray-nyjiku, bundan jina karangkal wawu-wulay-muny.


<translate> They saw the newly cleared scrub there.


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


<translate> You and I saw the ngarkay waterhen there.


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


<translate> You all see the high bank here.


<glossary> dandi ; type=adjective ; domain=physical-property <usage_example> I took the medicine and am better now


<translate> You all saw the julbal tree here.


<glossary> ngumanji ; type=adjective ; domain=body-part <usage_example> That man has teeth missing


<glossary> yala-yala ; type=temporal ; domain=time-deixis <usage_example> During the thunderstorm, he hid

Yala-yalaku jarramali kadan, nyulu ngakijin


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


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


<glossary> wambaji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=transfer-possession <usage_example> Share out the meat now


<translate> The hollow tree is home to the possum, the bat, and the wild bees.

Juku-janku yawa-mu mali-mu dabu-mu bayan.


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


<translate> The old man cooked the sea turtle in a ground oven of hot stones and leaves, and the whole camp gathered when the sweet smell rose.

Mukul-dingkarangka ngawiya waju bubu-ba kulji wumbul birra-jirr, bama narmba muru kaday kubu jiba-wulay daka-nya.


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

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


<translate> They waited at the camp until dark.


<translate> You two see the waterfall there.


<translate> The girl and her grandmother went to the paperbark swamp, stripped long clean sheets of the soft bark, rolled them carefully, carried them home, cut them to size for a baby-carrier, sewed the edges with fibre, lined it with the softest inner bark, and then laid the new baby in it for the first time while the whole family watched and smiled.

Karrkay-jalbu nyungu babi kambi-juku bana-yaralmundu jilban, kambi jinbal kalbay ngulkurr bakan, buban-buban murnin, bayan-mundu jarrakulban, ngawa-jarrakay bunganka dakan, karra-bu miyil kajan, kambi dukurr jinbal bajaku birra-manin, yalada ngawa jirakal dukurr-bu wunaman ngadiku jawun-karra wubulku nyajil yajarrilnya.


<translate> You see the cloudless sky here.


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

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


<translate> We two, not you, saw the murral tree kangaroo here.


<translate> The man saw seeds in the bag.


<translate> He sees the rock python here.


<translate> The track is rather long by the river but very long over the range, the old man said, so we will walk the long way and sleep one night on the road.

Jina jarra-kalbay wawubaja ngundu, yamba kalbay-baja-ku jamba-burr, mukul-dingkar balkan, ngali jina kalbay jilba wujurr nyubun wuna jina-ba.


<translate> The old man said: honour your mother's people and your father's people alike; from one you take your blood, from the other your country, and a person who forgets either is lost.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan: nyungu ngamu-mu bama nganjan-amu bama muru dandi karrba; nyubun-muny yundu mula mani, yindu-muny bubu, bama nyubun kari binal nyulu bubu-kari.


<translate> The flowers fell from the tree.


<translate> You see the maya vine there.


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


<translate> You all saw the bajarr fern leaves there.


<translate> The dog runs quickly and quickly.


<translate> The old man said if you meet a person carrying a heavy grief, do not try to lift it off them with easy words, for grief is not a weight to be taken but a road to be walked, and the kindest thing is simply to walk beside them in silence until they are ready to speak, and then to listen.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: kaki yundu bama walu-jirrbu-jirrbu dandi jarrakulbal nyaji-wan, kari nyaji jana kuku bubanbu wangkar-manilka, walu-jirrbu-jirrbu kari dandi manilmu yambada baral jilbalmu, wawu-yukil bajaku nganga nyungu ngundu janka jilbanka nyulu wawu balkanka janaynya, yalada ngaranka.


<glossary> mala-yirrkay ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> He was sorry and owned up


<translate> The water is cleaner than the grass.


<translate> The narrow track winds down through the scrub to the sandy crossing on the creek.

Jina buban madja-burr bada dungan, jukar wawubaja-nga.


<translate> I went along the road, and father followed me.

Ngayu baral-darr dungan, nganjan-angka nganya wukurrin.


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


<translate> The two found Leichhardt fruit there.


<translate> We heard news from the house.


<translate> You two see the ridge pole there.


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


<translate> You and I saw the hook there.


<translate> The woman put the meat in the ground oven.


<translate> I did not sleep well in the night, for the mosquitoes were very bad.

Ngayu wujurr-ba ngulkurr kari wunan, kamu wubul-baja.


<translate> The little dove coos softly to its mate all through the warm afternoon.

Kuludu buban jawun-ku yirrka-y, wungar wumbul-a wubulku.


<translate> The dukul-mukul lizard is here.


<translate> That strong person is there.


<translate> We see the corkwood pine here.


<translate> Grandmother took the child to gather firewood.


<translate> A shooting star fell right across the sky, and the old man said that someone had died.

Binyu jiri-burr daran, mukul-dingkar-angka balkan bama nyubun wulan.


<translate> Two long spears are in the house.


<translate> That witchetty grub is there.


<translate> Strip the bark from the tree to make a good strong dilly bag.

Dumbul juku-muny mani, ngunyin ngulkurr junkurr bunga-nka.


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


<translate> The rope has grown thin where it holds the branch — bind it with new bark today, not tomorrow.

Karra bala-man wanja nyulu dakil karrbal: kaja warrur jirakalbu nyiku, kari wunkuny.


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


<translate> The children learned never to put a hand into a dark hole or a hollow log, the old woman said, for that is where the snake and the scorpion wait in the day.

Karrkay-karrkay binalman mara janku ngumbu-ba walmba-ba baluda wandi, mukul-jalbu balkan, wanja jarra biringal-jirr wungar-a wuna.


<translate> You saw the balarri queenfish there.


<translate> Put the spears here, and hang the dilly bags there by the tree.

Kalka yaluy wuna, ngunyin yinyay juku karangkal karrba.


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


<translate> When the fighting was over the old men collected every spear, club and shield, laid them in a row, and told the young men to make peace and put the weapons away.

Kuni-way kunbayn-manya, mukul-mukulungku kalka, mirru, kunjuri wubul manin, nyubun-ba janan, warru balkan jana ngulkurr-ma, jarrngkurr wunga.


<translate> If you are hungry, why did you not eat? I was waiting for you, so that we could eat together.

Kaki yundu dakwuy, yundu kari nukan? Ngayu yundunka bundan, ngali muru nukanka.


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


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

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


<translate> The Torres Strait pigeon is big.


<translate> The bingkajiri tree is there.


<translate> We see the kawarr bloodwood tree here.


<translate> The old man said this new road and the old walking-track go to the very same place, only one is quick and one is slow.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: jina jirakal wulman-jirr yala-rrku bubu nyubun-ka dunga, nyubun bila, nyubun buban-buban.


<translate> The tide brought the canoe back.


<translate> The child saw the saltwater crocodile in the water.


<translate> The blue mountain parakeet is 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.


<translate> Where are you going now with that big spear and your two hunting dogs?

Yundu wanjabu dunga-y niji, kalka yalbay-ji kaya jambul-ji?


<translate> You and I see the kookaburra here.


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

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


<translate> We see the milbarkal tree there.


<glossary> muna ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> That man is not afraid of wild pigs


<translate> And the old man looked at the children in the firelight and knew the country was in good hands.

Mukulungku dingkarangka karrkay-karrkay nyajin bayanga, binal: bubu ngulkurr maranga jananka.


<translate> The old woman said the tea-tree standing thick along the swamp is a whole medicine chest: its leaves crushed and breathed clear a blocked nose and a heavy chest, boiled they wash a wound clean, and its oil soothes the skin against the biting flies, and she said a camp pitched near a stand of tea-tree had half its illnesses already answered before they came.

Wulbumanangka balkan bijin junkurr bubu-yaral-ba janan nyulu kalbal-bayan wubulku: nyungu birra dudan ngaran ngandal kajan janka junkurr yukil-manil, balamun buyun julurril, nyungu bana-juku jindi kima-manil minya-baykal kala-kalbay, nyulu balkan bayan bijin ngunduku nyungu buyun jambul ngadiku kalbanmuny jana kadanya ngadiku.


<translate> The young hunter with a strong spear brought back a big grey kangaroo and shared its meat with all.

Warru balbi-bama kalka junkurr-jirr julmbanu yalbay wundin, minya narmba-nka dajin.


<translate> They see the yinkunji fig tree there.


<translate> I want a spear with real strength, not a weak, useless one with no strength at all.

Ngayu wawu kalka-ka junkurr-jirr-ka, kari kalka junkurr-kari-ka narmba.


<translate> We, not you, saw the kulmba-kulmba gecko there.


<translate> They see the fighting spear there.


<lexeme> the point between Kangkiji and Kaway


<translate> You all see the milbarkal tree here.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the mawul freshwater eel here.


<translate> The Torres Strait pigeon is good.


<translate> The policeman shot the young man while he was running through the scrub.

Buliman-angka warru kunin, wanarri-nya madja-nga.


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


<translate> In the wet season the rain falls for many days and the whole country turns green.

Kaba-wungar-a kaba wungar wubulku daran, bubu wubulku jikan-ma-l.


<translate> Two more strands and this net is finished; then we eat.

Karra jambul baja, makarr yanya kunbay-mal, yalada ngana nukal.


<translate> The old woman said her grief for her husband was deep, but her love for her children was deeper still, and it held her up.

Mukul-jalbu balkan: nyungu jiba-badi wawubaja-nka dajali, yamba nyungu kuru karrkay-karrkay-nka dajali bajaku, yinya nyunya wandi-mani.


<translate> Grandmother followed the child along the road.


<translate> The strong young man carried the heavy log on one broad shoulder all the way to the camp.

Warru junkurr-baja-ku juku kulngkul binda nyubun-bu wundin, bayan-ka wubulku.


<translate> You saw the bujarr-bujarr bird here.


<translate> The road is stone-with up high and water-with down low; walk between the two.

Baral kulji-ji wangkara bana-ji badaba, jilba jambulba.


<glossary> juru-kulbal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> He led his friend wrong


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


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


<translate> You and I see the high bank here.


<translate> Those stones are close together.


<translate> We two swam through the river.


<glossary> yunu ; type=adjective ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> Where is your dog?


<glossary> ngiki ; type=noun ; domain=bodily-mental-state <usage_example> He got a big sickenss (pneumonia)


<translate> We, not you, saw the barrbal black bream here.


<translate> Uncle went north to see his brother.


<translate> The old man said the fastest way to lose a friend is to win an argument with them, and the surest way to keep one is to let them keep their pride while you keep the peace.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: yala junkurr bajaku yaba kilbanka yundu nyulu kukungu junkurrmanka, yala yukil bajaku yaba kujinka yundu nyungu wawu-yalbay bawal yundu wunbu kujil.


<translate> I see the grandmother there.


<translate> You and I see the jellyfish here.


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


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

Bana nyangarrika bayanga — ngana dungay!


<translate> The dogs kept barking and barking at the edge of the camp all night, and in the morning the old man found the tracks of a big python.

Kaya-kaya yirrka-yirrka bayan wangkar-a wujurr wubulku, wunkuwingku mukul-dingkarangka kabul yalbay-mu jina warmban.


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


<translate> They walked west toward the setting sun for two days, sleeping under the trees at night and rising before dawn, until they reached the country of the western people and were welcomed as travellers.

Jana kuwa-mundu jilban wungar wulanka jambul wungar, kunarangkalba jukungu wunan, muduwajungumuny wandin, jana kuwamu bamamu bubungu kadanya jana yulmbarrilman jilba-bama yala.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the jungka wild cherry tree there.


<translate> The old woman peeped around in the house and did not go inside.

Mukul-jalbu bayan-ba nuri-nuri-ji, kari walan.


<translate> Grandmother chopped bark for the coolamon.


<glossary> ngaral ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> The carpenters are building a house

Jana carpenter-carpenterangka bayan ngaral-ngaral


<translate> The young man saw the mountain.


<translate> The next day we walked again.


<translate> When the old woman heard the sad news, she cried quietly by the fire all through the long night.

Mukul-jalbu kuku jiba-badi nyajin, nyulu badi janka baya ngundu wujurr kalbay wubulku.


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


<translate> We two, not you, saw the dukul-mukul lizard here.


<translate> He sees the kuray-kuray tree there.


<translate> You two see the stomach here.


<translate> You and I see the flathead there.


<translate> You all see the nganyil haze there.


<translate> You see the black beetle there.


<translate> She lit the fire, put the water on, and then sat down to wait for us.

Nyulu baya wajun, bana yijarrin bayanga, bundanda ngananka janayka.


<translate> You two see the ngadil hickory tree 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> You all see the fingernail there.


<translate> He sees the bamboo stick here.


<translate> The children learned to work as one body: the strong ones carried, the quick ones fetched, the clever ones planned, the small ones ran messages, and even the very old had a task, for a people that wastes no one wants for nothing.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman nyubun bangkarr yala kirrajinka: junkurr jana jarrakulban, warri jana manin, binal jana ngaran, buban jana kuku wundin, mukul bajaku baja nyungu kirraji, bama nyulu bama nyubun kari kilbamanil kari yamba wawu.


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


<translate> When the sun went down, the people came back from hunting, cooked the meat, and then slept by the warm fire.

Wungar bada dunga-nya, bama minyamuny kadan, minya wajun, kunjin wumbulbu wunanda.


<translate> He scraped the bark off the tree with the axe.


<translate> You all saw the jika-birra tobacco leaf there.


<translate> We see the small sticks here.


<translate> You saw the jalkay salmon here.


<translate> You and I saw the binju snake there.


<translate> The hunter speared the big grey kangaroo, and the strong young men carried it home to the camp.

Balbi-bama-ngka julmbanu yalbay daman, warru-ngku junkurr bayan-ka wundin.


<translate> The men followed the bees to the hollow tree and took the sweet honey.

Dingkar-angka dabu wukurrin juku dimbirr-ka, wunba jiba-wula-wula manin.


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


<translate> I saw the jabarrangkul ant there.


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


<translate> You and I see the mayfly there.


<translate> You two saw the freshwater turtle here.


<translate> A green ant bite is much more painful than a small mosquito bite, the old man warned the boy.

Munjurr baykal jarra-kaka kamu baykal-ka, mukul-dingkar-angka warru balkan.


<translate> When the water was far, they carried it in paperbark.

Kaki bana kalakalbay, jana wundin buykungu.


<translate> He sees the ngajay small crayfish here.


<translate> As a child I used to eat wallaby meat and echidna, cooked in the hot coals of the fire.

Ngayu karrkay-nyja-ku minya kadar ngangkin nuka-l-nuka-n, baya ngunjil wumbul-ba waju-nya.


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


<translate> You and I see the mawal bee here.


<translate> The dog bit mother's stomach.


<translate> The old man said the leaf tells the season: fresh and green means growing, yellow means ripe and ready, and fallen means the time is nearly gone.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: birra wungar-iji balka — jirakal balbal yalbay-ma-l, kulbul mayi warmba niji, dara-nya wungar wula kariku.


<translate> I saw the bajal bower bird here.


<translate> You and I saw the darrba grass wallaby there.


<translate> Who saw the big crocodile down at the river early this morning? — The young men saw it.

Wanyangka bilngkumu yalbay bana-nga nyajin wunkuwingku? Warru-ngku nyajin.


<translate> We two made peace at the crossing: he took the deep side, I took the small side, and the fish fed both our fires.

Ngali kaka-kari murnin bana-baralba: nyulu dukurr manin, ngayu buban, kuyubu baya jambul mayi-dayan.


<translate> The march fly bit the hunter on the thigh and he hit it with his hand.

Wajangka balbi-bama waba-nga baykan, nyulu mara-bu kunin.


<translate> The young man's legs were strong and fast, and he ran down the kangaroo.

Warru-mu jandal junkurr bila, nyulu mayarriji wukurrin warri-bu karrban.


<translate> The lonely one sits close to the fire's talk.

Bama jirrbu-jirrbu bundal ngundu kuku-balkanka bayamuny.


<glossary> kandarr ; type=noun ; domain=bodily-function <usage_example> The child finished eating, then the mother burped him

Nyulu karrkaymayi kunban ngamungku kandarrda dakay-manin


<translate> They gave clothes to the woman.


<translate> I saw the karkunbay stockwhip bird here.


<translate> Why is the kestrel hanging in the sky? It is watching for a rat in the grass; when it sees one, it will drop down fast and catch it.

Wanyurrinku kalin-kalin jiringa walngkal? Nyulu kukur jikanba nyajil; nyulu nyubun nyaji-nya, nyulu bada warri dungay, karrbanka.


<translate> The old people always step around a snake, never over it, and teach this to the smallest child before it can even walk far, for the snake asks only to be left alone and will strike only when trodden on or cornered, and a person who watches the ground and gives the snake its road will grow old having never once been bitten.

Bama mukul yabarrka jarba ngundu-mundu jilbal, kariku wangkar-mundu, milbil yinya karrkay buban ngadiku nyulu kalbay jilbanya, jarba nyulu nganga bawanka wawu-karrba nyulu baykal nganga yundu jina-mandanya yambada janku-karinga, bama nyulu bubu nyajil jarbanka baral dayal nyulu mukul-manda kariku nyubun baykanmuny.


<translate> We see the marril ti tree there.


<translate> The child badly hurt her foot on the sharp rock in the shallow running water.

Karrkay buban jina kaka-mani-n kulji jinbal-ba, bana buban warri-nya.


<translate> That person there is tricky.


<translate> He saw the nyumbil coolibah tree here.


<translate> You all see the windbreak there.


<translate> You and I see the three-pronged spear here.


<translate> The country keeps its children who keep its knowledge, said the old woman's last student to her own students, many years on.

Bububu karrkay kujil jana nyungu binal kujil, wulbumanmu maral ngadikubu nyungu karrkay-karrkayka balkan, wungar wubulku dunganmuny.


<translate> The two of them saw the kalkamuku snake here.


<translate> Granny boiled the remedy in the billycan.


<translate> He sees the bandicoot there.


<translate> They saw the kalngkan small mullet here.


<glossary> ngamba ; type=adjective ; domain=perception <usage_example> He's sitting not noticing


<translate> He sees the grass wallaby here.


<translate> The friend asked the girl about the mango.


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


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


<translate> Grandfather came from the river.


<translate> Three tellers, one river story: the first saw it, the second heard the first, the third dreamed loudly — sort your firewood before you burn it.

Balkal-bama kulur, kuku-jangkar wawubajamuny nyubun: ngadikubu nyajin, jambulkubu ngadiku milka-janan, kulurkubu bijarril junkurrbu: baya-juku nyaji wajunka ngadiku.


<translate> You all saw the dawa-dawa magpie there.


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


<translate> We see the mukukanka tree there.


<translate> They see the mirrbangku pencil cedar tree there.


<translate> The two of them saw the dalmbal flathead here.


<translate> Who is that young man? He is my elder sister's son, so he calls me uncle, and I must look after him.

Wanya yinya warru? Nyulu ngayku babarr-amu kangkal, nyulu nganya kalnga kunjal, ngayu nyulu kuji-l.


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


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

Bilngkumu-nku kari dungay, yununy bayka-nyji.


<translate> The woman saw the wallaby in the scrub.


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


<translate> They reached the camp just as the big rain began to fall, and everyone went inside the shelters.

Jana bayanba kadan, kaba yalbay daran, jana wubulku bayanba walanda.


<translate> If we had shared the big catch with the other camp that season instead of drying it all for ourselves, the old woman said, they would have shared with us in the hungry time that followed, but we were greedy, and when our own hunger came no one owed us anything, and we learned the law the hard way.

Kaki ngana kuyu yalbay jawun-karra yindunji daji-way yinya wungara kari ngana-nyulunku wubulku kambal, wulbumanangka balkan, jana ngananji daji-way-nyaku dakwuy wungara nyulu dumbay kadanmu, yambada ngana ngujan, ngana nyungu dakwuy kadanya bama nyubun ngananka kari yamba wundil, ngana kuku dandibu binalman.


<glossary> milka-wulay ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> I forgot about the dog


<translate> Father saw the black bean tree in the scrub.


<translate> He saw the morning star here.


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


<translate> You and I see the blanket there.


<translate> The old man kept coming back to the same waterhole every morning to watch the birds drink.

Mukul-dingkar kankaday janku nyubun-ka wunkuwingku wubulku, buyi nyaji-nka bana nuka-nya.


<translate> They saw the umbrella palm there.


<translate> The black cherry tree is there.


<translate> They run to the woman cooking food.


<translate> Maybe the rain will come in the morning, maybe it will stay away another day.

Nguba kaba kaday wunkuwingku, nguba wanja-baja wungar yindu-ngu.


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


<translate> You and I see the mijan wart there.


<translate> We, not you, saw the jayju kangaroo rat here.


<translate> The old man did not speak, but sat quietly by the fire all night.

Mukul-dingkar kari balkan, yambada baya karangkal janka bundan wujurr wubulku.


<glossary> yiringkurr ; type=noun ; domain=location-deixis <usage_example> You're talking this way and that (can't understand)


<translate> The big mudcrab fights hard, its claws up in the air, so you hold it firmly from behind.

Kiju yalbay kuli-mal, nyungu mara yalbay wangkar, yundu dandi karrbal kudamundu.


<translate> Who will carry the heavy bag of yams all the way back to the camp for the old people?

Wanyangka wukay kulngkul bayan-ka wundi-l, mukul-bama-ka?


<translate> You all see the archerfish here.


<translate> I see the older sister there.


<translate> The hungry children ate everything.


<translate> The hunter got water from the waterhole and filled his dilly-bag before he set out on the long walk at first light.

Balbi-bama bana-mabi-muny bana mani, ngunyin warmba, kala-kalbay-ka jilba-nyjiku wunkuwingku-ba.


<translate> You two see the king parrot there.


<translate> You see the freshwater prawn there.


<translate> The girl laughed at the woman.


<translate> Grandmother sang a song in the morning.


<translate> You all see the tree snake here.


<translate> The children caught the little frogs at the edge of the swamp, the old woman said, but the old people told them to put every one back, for the frogs feed the snakes and the birds.

Karrkay-karrkay yirku-yirku buban daburr ngandal-ba mani, mukul-jalbu balkan, yamba mukul-bama-ngku jana-nka balkan nyubun-nyubun wandi-baja, yirku-yirku jarba buyi-jirr mayi daji.


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


<glossary> ngura-ngura ngal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> Aim the gun


<translate> We see the scrub goanna here.


<translate> The old man said this is the secret the newcomers never learned: that ten weak people who help each other are stronger than one strong person alone, for a load shared is a load halved, and a joy shared is a joy doubled.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: yinya kuku bama yindu-yindu kari binalman: bama wubul junkurr-kari jana mara-daji-way junkurr-baja bama nyubun junkurr ngangamuny, dandi daji-wanmuny buban-manil, wawu-mini daji-wanmuny jambul-manil.


<translate> The young man went to the river to spear fish.

Warru dungan wawubaja-nga kuyu dama-nka.


<glossary> dayirr ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> After washing th clothes are very clean


<translate> We see the jingajalka tree there.


<translate> The old man is sitting quietly by the fire, and the little children are sleeping in the warm camp.

Mukul-dingkar janka bundan baya ngundu, karrkay-karrkay buban warngku wuna bayan wumbul-ba.


<translate> The two of them saw the jiljay grub there.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the kurrubal freshwater cod here.


<translate> The old man said: everything we own we make with our own hands — the spear, the bag, the net, the canoe; a person who cannot make his tools is poor, even if he holds many things.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan: ngananga yamba-yamba wubul ngana mara-bu bungal — kalka, balji, makarr, kaljan; bama yamba-yamba bunga-l kari-bama buyun, wubul karrba yaba.


<translate> The woman went to the road with a stick.


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


<translate> The old man read the signs early and moved the whole camp up to the high ground before the flood came.

Mukulungku dingkarangka yala nyajin ngadiku, bayan wubulku bubu wangkarka jurrkijin jalungkarr kadanyjiku.


<translate> The children helped by carrying paperbark and by holding the saplings straight while the men tied them fast.

Karrkay-karrkayangka mara-dajin buyku wundinya, juku yaral karrbanya dingkar-dingkarangka kajanya junkurrku.


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

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


<translate> At sunset the sun falls down behind the trees and the whole sky glows warm.

Wungar dara-y juku kudamundu bada, jiri wubulku wumbul-baja.


<translate> The old man said the spirits of the dead go up to the sky and live above the dark clouds.

Mukul-dingkar balkan, bama wula-nya-mu dubu wangkar dunga-y jiri-ka, wuna-nka wangkar-wangkar ngungul-muny.


<translate> He sees the queenfish there.


<translate> The old man taught the boys to read the tides, for the sea gives its food only at the low water.

Mukulungku dingkarangka dabal binalbungan yira nyajinka, jalunbu mayi dajil nganga ngajalba.


<translate> The candle nut tree flowers white in the wet season, before it gives its rich round nuts.

Bilar nganka balbal, kaba-wungar-a nganka-ma-l, baja diburr yalbay daji.


<translate> With the spear-thrower the man threw the spear a long way; the spear went far and struck the kangaroo; then he pulled it out and threw it again.

Balur-bu dingkarangka kalka kala-kalbay yilban; kalka kala-kalbay dungan, kadar daman; nyulu kalka manin, yilban baja.


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


<translate> The children fell asleep listening to the old stories, and the fire burned low and warm in the cold night.

Karrkay-karrkay warngku wunan kuku ngadiku milka-jananya, baya buban wajun wumbul kunarangkal kiwaymba.


<translate> Each time the fish got bigger!


<glossary> yungal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=transfer-possession <usage_example> Mother sent to me the store


<translate> I am afraid to go out in the dark.


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


<translate> We two saw the big grey kangaroo on the plain, and the old man speared it with one throw.

Ngali julmbanu yalbay nyajin bubu-ba, mukul-dingkar-angka daman nyubun-bu.


<glossary> yungal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=transfer-possession <usage_example> The judge freed him (sent him back home)


<translate> They see the running water there.


<translate> The children learn the language by hearing the old people's words every day.

Karrkay-karrkay kuku binalman, wungar nyubun-nyubun mukul-bama-mu kuku nyajin.


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

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


<translate> She looked and looked for the lost spear, and at last she found it under the big tree.

Nyulu kalka nyaji-l-nyajin, niji-baja juku yalbay bada-ba warrmba-bungan.


<translate> The person there is truthful.


<translate> They saw the spear thrower there.


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


<translate> He sees the spear point here.


<translate> The young man made a spear and the old man showed him how to throw it straight.

Warru-ngku kalka bungan, mukul-dingkar-angka nyunguny milban jinbal dama-nka.


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


<translate> The old dog lay down beside the fire, put its head on its paws, and slept the whole night through.

Kaya mukul wunan baya karangkal, nyungu dukul mara-nga nanda, warngku wuna wujurr wubulku.


<translate> For whom are you searching in the dark scrub at night?

Wanyanka yundu nubil madja-nga wujurr-ba?


<translate> The children listened well and did not forget, for the old people's words are the country's own words.

Karrkay-karrkayangka milka-janan ngulkurrku, kari milka-wulan, kamba-kambamu kuku bubumu kuku.


<translate> You see the knight fish there.


<translate> You two saw the julbal tree there.


<translate> The Moreton Bay fig tree is standing there.


<translate> The woman put the fish on the ground.


<translate> Mother sees the pig at the camp.


<translate> The big crocodile lay still on the muddy bank, right beside the deep water where the fish swim.

Bilngkumu yalbay daburri jalkar-a janka wunay, bana dajali karangkal kuyu wanarri-nga.


<glossary> dalbarril ; type=noun ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> the lightning struck the tree


<translate> I saw grandfather's shoulder.


<translate> The bird that calls its own name in the scrub at midday is the one the old people listen for, the old woman said, for it tells where the wild honey is.

Buyi nyungu burri madja-ba wungar wangkar-wangkar-a yirrka-nya, mukul-bama milka-janay, mukul-jalbu balkan, nyulu balka wanja ngamurr wuna-nya.


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


<translate> That mungka-mungka tree is there.


<translate> What did you put in the bag?


<translate> The mother smiled and asked the youngest child: And you, little one, what did you do all day at the deep water?

Ngamungka yajarrin, karrkay bubanka babajin: Yundu, karrkay buban, wanyu ngaran wungar kalbay bana badanga?


<translate> He kept thinking hard about the dead man all night, biting with his ear again and again.

Nyulu milka-bu bayka-l-bayka-n dingkar wula-nya-mu wujurr wubulku junkurr.


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


<translate> I saw you two at the low tide — both bags full!

Ngayu yubaliny nyajin ngajalba, balji jambul jakal-ji!


<translate> I should have brought more water, but the day was hot and my coolamon was already full.

Ngayu bana wubul wundi-nyaku, yambada wungar wumbul, ngayku dubal yajin baja.


<translate> They saw the jalbil lizard there.


<translate> The two of them saw the biru-biru rainbow bird there.


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


<translate> The old woman without teeth cannot eat the hard, dry meat, so she eats only the soft sweet fruit.

Mukul-jalbu dirra-kari minya junkurr marral kari nukal, nyulu mayi jiba-wulay balbal nuka.


<translate> The Moreton Bay ash stands there.


<translate> Father saw the charcoal on the ground.


<glossary> muna ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> That man is not afraid of wild pigs


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


<translate> You and I see the jadalangka animal leg there.


<translate> The little children love the sweet white witchetty grubs, eaten raw or roasted in the coals.

Karrkay-karrkay wawu mujurr jiba-wulay nuka-nka, kayal baja baya-nga wajun-nya baja.


<translate> We see the older brother there.


<translate> The friend laughed at grandmother.


<translate> The spear is on the open ground.


<translate> They saw the kurrujuwa sentry bird there.


<translate> The old woman asked the boy: "What did you see in the dark scrub when you went hunting last night?"

Mukul-jalbu-ngku karrkay babajin: Wanyu yundu nyajin madja ngungul-ba, yundu balbi-ka dunga-nya wujurr-muny?


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


<translate> The man's one eye is blind now, stale and white, and he walks slowly with a stick through the dark scrub.

Dingkar miyil nyubun miyil-burra niji, nyulu janka jilba juku-jirr madja ngungul-burr.


<translate> That kumin fig tree is here.


<translate> They saw the biwul snake there.


<translate> You see the little wallaby there.


<translate> We see the older sister there.


<translate> We went with a friend to the river.


<translate> By evening there was flour enough for many days, stored in bark in the cool part of the shelter.

Yilay-yilay bulawu wubul wungar wubulku, buykungu kujin bayan kiwaymba.


<translate> The old man taught the boys the names of the winds and which season each one brings.

Mukulungku dingkarangka dabal binalbungan muyarmu burri, wanjawanja muyar buluriji wanjawanja wangariji.


<translate> The old man said if you would know whether you have truly forgiven someone, notice what happens in your chest when you hear their name spoken well by another, for if there is still a small hot stone there, the forgiving is not finished, and that is not a failure but only more road still to walk.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: kaki yundu binalka yundu yabarrka bama milka-wulanmu, nyaji wanya bungal nyungu jibanga yundu nyungu burri ngulkurr balkanya bama yindubu ngaranya, kaki kulji buban wangka yinya janay, milka-wula kari dumban, yinya kari mumbu yambada baral wubul-baja jilbanka.


<translate> The two dogs bit each other over the one piece of meat.


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


<translate> The kalbariji tree is there.


<translate> You all see the domestic turkey here.


<translate> You two see the julbal tree there.


<lexeme> {'english': "He doesn't do bad things (but) does good things", 'translation': 'Nyulu kari buyun-damal; nyulu ngulkurrku bunday'}


<translate> The two of them saw the mali small bat there.


<translate> The scrub hen's young rise alone in the warm ground and must find their own food from the very first day.

Jarruka nyungu karrkay bubu ngiki-kari-nga nyubun daka-l, nyungu-nyungu mayi milbinka wungar-nyubunmuny.


<translate> You and I see the stomach there.


<translate> The child is staying outside with the baby.


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


<translate> I saw the boomerang in the shade.


<translate> You and I saw the deep water there.


<translate> The men cut long straight poles of hard wood to build the strong frame of the humpy.

Dingkar-angka juku jinbal kalbay yakan, wurun junkurr bunga-nka.


<translate> You two see the mungka-dirka fur here.


<translate> A big goanna ran up a tree, but the youngest man climbed after it and shook it down to the dogs.

Jadi yalbay jukungu dakan, yabajungku wukurrin dakan, jukumuny yilban kaya-kayanka.


<translate> Grandmother saw the snake in the scrub.


<translate> They see the grass wallaby there.


<translate> They saw the scrub wallaby here.


<lexeme> Rattlesnake point - Fritz Creek


<glossary> wawu yungal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> Hank is wishing for a new outboard motor

Hankangka wawu yungal-yungal motorka jirakalka


<translate> Inside the dark tree the little snake lay curled up, hiding from the hot midday sun outside.

Dukurr juku ngungul-ba jarba buban murru wunay, wungar wumbul dindarra-muny janka ngalkal.


<translate> The frill-necked lizard stood up tall on its back legs and frightened the barking dog away.

Binanjal wangkar-a janay jina jambul-bu, kaya yinil-mani-l.


<translate> Why does the woomera stay when the spears go? — Because the thrower comes home; the thrown does its work out there.

Wanyurrinku balur janay kalka dunganya? Yilbal-bama kaday baja: yilbanmuny murni nyungu murnil kala-kalbay.


<translate> We saw the jingajalka tree there.


<translate> We see the young cassowary there.


<glossary> kunil ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> He hit the dog with a stick


<translate> You see the little wallaby here.


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


<translate> They put the paperbark on the ground.


<translate> The old man said trade is the first peace: two peoples who give to each other regularly will not easily make war on each other, for you do not raise a spear against the hand that gives you what you need.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: daji-way wunbu ngadiku: bama jambul jana yabarrka daji-way kari junkurr kuni-way baja, yundu kalka kari wangkar-manil maranga nyulu yundunka yamba wawu dajilnya.


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


<glossary> yunu ; type=adjective ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> I got water for you


<translate> Many people sat in the shade of the big fig tree, ate the sweet ripe fruit, and talked.

Bama wubul jarrangkal wabarrba, mayi kulbul jiba-wulay nukan, jana balkan.


<translate> The old people stayed at camp.


<translate> The woman put wood near the fire.

Jalbu-ngku juku yijarrin baya ngundu-ba.


<translate> Grandmother washed her stomach.


<translate> The red king parrot is here.


<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> I did not break the billycan.


<translate> The girls are grinding seeds for damper.

Maral-maralangka diburr nyurrbal dambaka.


<translate> You and I saw the jirabay lizard there.


<glossary> milka ngabal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> God will give them judgement


<translate> Mother sees the paperbark here.


<translate> Cut the meat, roast it on the coals, and share it among the children just before the old people arrive.

Minya yaka, ngunjilba dinda, karrkay-karrkay daji-way mukul-mukul kada-nyjiku.


<translate> The old man laughed and said: the wet season is exactly when we make tools, so they are ready when the hunting season comes.

Mukulungku dingkarangka yajarrin, balkan: buluriji nyiku ngana yamba ngaral, ngulkurrmanka wangariji kadanyjiku.


<glossary> kana-baykal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> I'm angry at you


<translate> He got a stone and placed it.


<translate> The dew is the night's quiet gift, the old man said, walking the children out at dawn: it puts little stars on every grass blade, it shows every track that walked in the dark, and it waters the grass when no rain comes, so the person who sleeps toward the high sun reads a country that has already been washed.

Bulur nyulu daji-jirray wunbu wujurrmuny, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, karrkay-karrkay jilba-bunganya muduwajuny: nyulu dawar buban yijarril jikanba nyubun-nyubunba, nyulu jina wubulku milbil wujurrba jilbanmuny, nyulu jikan bana-dayal kaba kari kadanya, yalada bama nyulu wunay wungar wangkarku nyulu bubu nyajil julurrinmuny ngadiku.


<translate> At the river they saw fresh wallaby tracks.

Wawubajanga jana kadaramu jina jirakal nyajin.


<translate> The two old women helped each other carry the heavy load of yams to camp.

Wulbuman bula mara-daji-way, bambayal kulngkul wundi-nka bayan-ka.


<translate> The kangaroo meat is good and lean, but the possum is fat and sweet in the cold season.

Mayarriji minya ngulkurr, yamba yawa wandul jiba-wulay ngiki-wungar-a.


<translate> You two see the ghost crab here.


<translate> We see the small lizard here.


<translate> The crocodile made that woman his wife.

Bilngkumu-ngku yinya jalbu manyarr-bungan.


<translate> The old man came from the sea.


<translate> That person there is clumsy.


<translate> All afternoon the air grew heavy and still, and the old man watched the black clouds pile up over the western hills.

Yilay-yilay wubulku muyar dandimanda janay, mukulungku dingkarangka ngurrban wujurr nyajin wangkar manjalba kuwanga.


<translate> And the country never lies and never changes its story for anyone, he said, and that is why we can trust it above all things.

Bubu kari warmbijil yabarrka, nyulu balkan, kari nyungu kuku murnil bamaka, yala ngana bubu binalku yamba wubulmuny.


<translate> You and I see the leg there.


<translate> The woman with two little children walked down to the water, carrying a dilly bag full of yams.

Jalbu karrkay-jirr buban jambul bana-ka bada jilban, ngunyin wukay-jirr wundin.


<translate> The old woman brought the stone from the house.


<translate> You see the clear water there.


<translate> The old man's dog followed the kangaroo's fresh tracks deep into the thick scrub.

Mukul-dingkar-amu kaya mayarriji jina wukurri-l, madja junkurr dukurr-ka.


<translate> I saw the dog's food outside.


<lexeme> {'english': 'That food is very good', 'translation': 'Yinya mayi ngulkurr bajaku'}


<translate> The old man said: the scrub turkey builds a big mound with its feet, lays its eggs inside, and the warm earth cooks them — so never take all the eggs, leave some to become birds.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan: diwan bubu jina-bu ngaran, diburr dukurrbu yijarrin, bubu wumbulbu wajun; kari diburr wubul mana, bada baja bawa dikal-manka.


<translate> We took the fish net to the river.


<translate> He saw the baliji people there.


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


<translate> They saw the bajalji python here.


<translate> My father's sister looks after the children when the mothers are away.

Ngayku bimayangka karrkay kuji-l, ngamu-karra wanja-baja dunga-nya.


<translate> They saw the bloodwood tree here.


<translate> The ground here is soft and sandy, but up on the ridge it is hard and stony.

Bubu yaluy kima jukar-ji, yamba wangkar-a jarra-jarra junkurr kulji-ji.


<translate> When the birds fly to the west, he said, the big rains are not far behind.

Nyulu balkan: buyi-buyi kuwaka marra-warrinya, kaba yalbay ngundu kudamundu.


<lexeme> someone who is continually talking


<translate> You see the ground lizard here.


<translate> You saw the wakuka bird here.


<lexeme> Rattlesnake point - Fritz Creek


<translate> The fish sees you from underwater long before you see it from above — the fish has the better eye-road.

Kuyubu yunu nyajil kuralmuny kalbayku, yundu nyulu wangkar-wangkarmuny nyajinya ngadiku: kuyu miyil-baral yukil-baja karrbal.


<translate> The sister-in-law helped the young mother carry the heavy load home.

Warrin-angka jalbu-buban mara-daji-l, bana kulngkul bayan-ka wundi-nka.


<translate> The boy sharpened his spear to go hunting at first light, and his grandfather watched without a word until the end, then said: take the water bag, tell your mother which way you are going, and mark the trees as you go in deep, for wanting to hunt is one thing, and coming home is the whole of it.

Bubanangka kalka junkurr-bungan dunganka muduwajuny balbinka, kamingka nyajin kuku-kari badaku, yalada balkan: bana-balji mana, ngamunda balka wanjaburr yundu dungay, juku jina-bunga yundu dunganya dukurrku, wawu-manil balbinka nyulu yamba nyubun, kaday bayanka nyulu yamba wubulku.


<translate> They see the mirrbangku pencil cedar tree here.


<translate> The old man taught the boy to stand very still and spear the archer-fish quickly, before it can dart away into the deep.

Mukul-dingkarangka karrkay balkan: janjanay janka bajaku, dalku bila dama, nyulu wanarri dajali-ka kariku.


<translate> You see the red king parrot.


<translate> The man went to the river to spear fish.

Dingkar wawubaja-nga dungan kuyu dama-nka.


<translate> Don't pick up the turtle eggs, or you will break them all on the rocks.

Kari yalnga diburr kulba, wubul dumbarri-nyji kulji-nga.


<translate> The boy was brave and did not cry any more, and the old woman told him: A wound heals faster in a calm body, so keep your mind quiet and rest.

Karrkay wawu-junkurr, nyulu kari badin baja, wulbumanangka nyunganka balkan: Muja bangkarr wunbungu junkurr kakawarrimal, milka wunbu kuji, mara-kunba.


<translate> The tide brought in a big log.


<translate> You two saw the yiki owl here.


<translate> You two saw the bajal bower bird there.


<translate> That person there is careful.


<translate> You and I see the high bank there.


<translate> Father ate meat near the fire.

Nganjan-angka minya nukan baya ngundu-ba.


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


<translate> I see the wankar tree there.


<translate> You see the red flower there.


<translate> I saw the barrbal black bream there.


<translate> The old man took a long piece of paperbark from the tree in one strip.

Mukul-dingkar buyku manin juku-muny, nyubun kalbay.


<glossary> ngakil ; type=noun ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> I hid the spear in the grass


<translate> There is no water at all along the road.


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

Kulngu wandin kunarangkal, kayangka kangan.


<translate> The fish cooked well in the hot coals.


<translate> The man laughed at grandmother.


<translate> They see the kubu-kubu tadpole there.


<translate> The old man told them not to laugh at a person who speaks a different language.

Mukul-dingkarangka jana-nka balkan, kari bama kuku yindu-mu yajarril.


<glossary> wurmbu ; type=noun ; domain=body-part <usage_example> The bird is right up at the top


<translate> The young man disapproves of fighting.


<translate> You and I see the small conical shellfish there.


<glossary> janbay-janbay ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> You people are cheeky


<translate> The man grabbed the young man while he was spearing turtle.

Dingkar-angka warru nyarrman, ngawuya dama-l-dama-nya.


<translate> You two see the flat rock there.


<lexeme> the Aboriginal camp at Thompson Creek


<translate> The marngkil ti tree is here.


<translate> The children listened, then went to sleep.

Karrkay-karrkay milka-janan, warngku wunanda.


<translate> The woman got mussels at the river.


<translate> One day a young man cut his leg on a rock as he was climbing down to the water.

Nyubun wungar warru jandal yakajin kuljinga, bananga dakanya bada.


<translate> The red king parrot is here.


<translate> The woman did not cook the food; she roasted the fish.

Jalbu-ngku mayi kari wajun, kuyu dindan.


<translate> Do not cook the food lest you spoil it.


<translate> This fish is full of bones — give the child the belly part.

Kuyu yanya bajibay-ji wubul-ji, karrkayanda jibar-daji daya.


<translate> You two get grass for the soup.


<glossary> milka ngabal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> God will give them judgement


<translate> The old people sat by the fire a while longer, talking quietly about the day and the days to come.

Kamba-kamba bayanga bundandan baja, balkanya wunbu yinya wungarka, wungar jirakalka.


<translate> Grandmother cut the meat with a knife.


<translate> I saw the duburan directional sign there.


<translate> They saw grandmother's stomach.


<translate> The person here is truthful.


<translate> The man avoided his mother-in-law.


<translate> Keep away from the deep water and the muddy bank where the big crocodile lies waiting.

Bana dajali-mundu janka wuna-y, daburri buyun-mundu, bilngkumu yalbay yinya kuji-l wunay.


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


<glossary> wuybubu kulbal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> He whipped the horse


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


<translate> You two see the oyster here.


<translate> The boomerang lay in the shade.


<translate> The two of them saw the jiljay grub here.


<translate> The old woman knew which grubs lived in which trees, and she cut open the soft dead wood and pulled out the fat grubs for the children.

Wulbumanangka binal jambun wanya jukungu bundanay, nyulu juku wulan buban yika-daman, jambun wandul wandin karrkay-karrkayka.


<translate> They should have made peace with the neighbouring people while the quarrel was still only words, the old man said, but pride on both sides let it harden into spears, and by the time the elders wanted peace too many had died on each side, and grief demanded more grief, and it took three generations for the killing to stop.

Jana wunbu-wan-nyaku bama ngundunji dukul-yamba kuku nganga janay-mba, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, yambada wawu-yalbay jambul-mandanga nyulu kalka-manda bawan, mukul wunbu wawunya wubul-baja jambulmu wulan, walu-jirrbu-jirrbu walu-jirrbu-jirrbu babajin, wungar kulurmu kuni-way dumbanmu.


<translate> You all saw the bakay snake there.


<translate> I saw two big trees standing there: one growing by the track, and one down on the beach.

Ngayu juku yalbay jambul nyajin yinyay, nyubun jina karangkal nyubun jukar bada.


<translate> He saw the marri-marri old people there.


<translate> That old hollow tree trunk is where the little grey possum sleeps all through the long day.

Juku mukul dimbirr yinya, yawa buban wungar wubulku wuna-nya.


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


<translate> Do not go to the sea lest wind come.


<translate> Grandfather took the paperbark from the ground.


<translate> The rain stopped at last, and a big bright rainbow stood over the wet green hills.

Kaba nanda-jin niji, yiril yalbay balbal bubu jikan-ba wangkar-a janay.


<translate> What did you catch at the river? I caught two catfish and one eel, and the old people ate well.

Wanya yundu wawubajanga karrban? Ngayu julaji jambul kubarr nyubun karrban, mukul-mukul jani nukan.


<translate> You two see the flathead there.


<translate> That marsupial native cat is here.


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


<translate> You saw the yirku-yirku frog here.


<translate> I planted the seeds in the ground.


<translate> The camp is on the mountain.


<translate> The hunter, from behind the tree, speared the pig with one long spear by the quiet waterhole.

Balbi-bama juku-mundu kalka kalbay-bu bikibiki daman janku janka ngundu.


<translate> With the spear-thrower the man threw the spear a long way; the spear went far and struck the kangaroo; then he pulled it out and threw it again.

Balur-bu dingkarangka kalka kala-kalbay yilban; kalka kala-kalbay dungan, kadar daman; nyulu kalka manin, yilban baja.


<translate> They saw the bark belt here.


<translate> The children learned that to make peace is harder than to make war, for war asks only that you strike, but peace asks that you look your enemy in the eye, see their humanity, and choose to build with the very hands that were raised to strike.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman wunbu-bungal dandi-baja kuni-waymuny, kuni-way babajil nganga yundu kuni, yambada wunbu babajil yundu yindu miyilba nyaji, nyungu bama-yukil nyaji, mara jana wangkar-manin kuninka nyubunji bunganka manil.


<translate> Grandmother left the boomerang in the bag.


<translate> The man left the dog's food outside.

Dingkar-angka mayi kaya-nga ngalkal-ba bawan.


<translate> He saw the walkarr goanna here.


<translate> He threw the boomerang at the flock of birds, and it knocked two of them down to the ground.

Nyulu wangal daman buyi wubul-ka, jambul bada kunin bubu-ngu.


<translate> The two old women keep laughing about the young men in a friendly way.


<translate> Cover the coals with sand before the wind rises, the old woman taught the girls, and the fire will still be alive under its blanket at dawn, for a fire kept through the night is a gift: the person of the evening gives it, the person at dawn takes it, and both of them are only you.

Ngunjil jukarbu nanda, wulbumanangka jalbu-buban milbin, muyar wandinyjiku, baya nyulu janay juran kararr badabada muduwajuny, baya karrbanmuny wujurrburr nyulu daji-jirray: bama wujurrba dayal, bamangka muduwajuny manil, jambul yinya yundu nganga.


<translate> You and I see the tree kangaroo there.


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


<translate> The women are making string bags for the gathering trip.

Jalbu-jalbungku balji wukurril, mayika dunganka.


<translate> We cooked the crabs in the ashes and shared them around.

Ngana wurru-bulan wayjun nulungu, dajin jananda wubulku.


<translate> The little bandicoot with sharp claws dug a deep hole down under the roots of the big tree.

Kulngu buban mara junkurr-jirr janku dajali bakan juku yalbay bada-nga.


<translate> The old woman said the last and best lesson of the road is this: that no journey is ever really made alone, even the one you walk by yourself, for you carry your people in your feet and your dead in your memory and your children in your hopes, and the whole of a life is just learning to walk well in that company.

Wulbumanangka balkan: baralmu milbil bada yukil bajaku yinya: jilbal nyubun kari nganga bungal, baja nyulu yundu nganga jilbal, yundu nyungu bama jinanga karrbal nyungu wula milkanga nyungu karrkay wawungu, wawu wubulku nyulu binalka yukil jilbanka yinya nyubun-nyubunji.


<translate> You saw the nyumbil coolibah tree there.


<translate> The two of them saw the jadi goanna there.


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


<translate> You two see the ngiwa moray eel here.


<translate> Do it the same way your old grandfather did it, not in some new and different way.

Yijarri yala-ku yunu kami yijarrin, kari yindu walu-yindu-ku.


<translate> My elder brother speared his first wallaby today; my father was proud, my mother cooked a feast, and the whole camp shared the meat.

Ngayku yaba kadar ngadiku daman nyiku-wungar; ngayku nganjan ngulkurr-man, ngayku ngamu mayi yalbay wajun, bayan wubul minya daji-way.


<translate> You saw the jabarrangkul ant here.


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


<translate> The door of the house is shut now, and the children are all asleep inside.

Bayan nanda-ji niji, karrkay-karrkay wubul bayan-ba wuna-l.


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


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


<translate> If the day is good, the young men go for pigs with a dog.

Kaki wungar ngulkurr, warru-warru bikibiki-nga dungay kaya-nji.


<translate> If the big rain comes, the river floods, and the people carry all their things away from the water to the high ground.

Kaki kaba yalbay kaday, bana jalungkarr-ma-l, bama nyungu wubulku jarra-kulba bana-muny bubu jarra-jarra-ka.


<translate> You see the yawarr palm there.


<translate> Rain came and then stopped. After that, the ground was dry.

Kaba kadan, wulan-da. Wawu-yinya-muny, bubu marral.


<translate> Hold the digging-stick tight when you reach into the mud, the old woman warned, lest the big mudcrab grab your hand and cut it.

Juku junkurr karrba kambal-kambal-ba daka-nya, mukul-jalbu balkan, kiju yalbay yundu mara mani bayka-nyji.


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

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


<translate> Grandmother left the bark outside.


<translate> He saw the jadi goanna there.


<translate> You all saw the jiwal-jiwal kingfisher there.


<translate> Where have all the little children gone off to now, the old woman asked, for the whole camp is far too quiet this warm afternoon.

Karrkay-karrkay buban wubulku wanjabu dunga-nya niji? mukul-jalbu nyajin, bayan narmba janka bajaku wungar wumbul-ba.


<translate> Is the fish cooked yet? — Not yet, the underside is still raw.

Kuyu jani nyiku? Kariku, bada nyulu jani-kari.


<translate> You two see the munungkul ground pigeon here.


<translate> You all see the torch there.


<translate> The dog smelled them and pulled toward the scrub.


<translate> The two of them see the jumper ant here.


<translate> The dogs dug under the shelter for the cool ground.

Kaya-kayangka bubu bakan bayanba, kiway-kiwayka.


<translate> The two of them saw the bakay snake here.


<translate> They taught the children to make and read the smoke signals: one long column means all is well and come to us; two columns means danger, stay away; and a broken, spreading smoke means we are lost or hurt, come and find us, and these signals can be read from a full day's walk away.

Jana karrkay-karrkay milbin kubu-kuku bunganka nyajinka: kubu nyubun kalbay yala yukil wubulku kadanka nganjinji; kubu jambul yala mumbu, kala-kalbay jana; kubu kaka-manda dungay yala ngana bubu-kari kaka-manda, kada nganjin nyaji, kubu-kuku yinya nyajil wungar nyubun jilbalmuny.


<translate> You all saw the kalkamuku snake here.


<translate> Bring the meat here to the fire, put it down on the flat stone, and I will cook it for the children.

Minya wundi yala baya-ka, kulji yalbay-mba nanda, ngayu waju-l karrkay-karrkay-nka.


<translate> You all see the kakaji mangrove tree there.


<translate> You see the bamboo spear stick here.


<translate> You can smell the rain before you see it, the old woman taught: the country breathes out like a person about to sweat, the ground's breath rises, the leaves show their pale backs, the birds fly low, so when the earth smell stands up and the leaves show white, bring in the food and strengthen the shelter, even while the open sky says otherwise.

Yundu kaba jila manil nyajinka ngadiku, wulbumanangka milbin: bubu wawu-dayal yala bama jila-warrinka ngadiku, bubu wawu wangkar dayal, birrabu muku kambar milbil, jarruka-jarruka bada warril, yalada kaki bubu-jila wandil birra kambar-milbil, mayi mana bayanka, bayan junkurr-bunga, jiri ngalkal yala balkanya baja.


<translate> There are many branches on the tree.


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


<translate> The woman asked elder brother about the net.


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


<translate> They saw the munungkul ground pigeon here.


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

Wanyabu balkal? Jinabu balkal, jina kariku warmbiji.


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


<translate> The mother asked her children at dark: "Where have you all been all day, and when did you last eat?"

Ngamu-ngku nyungu karrkay-karrkay babajin wujurr-ba: Yurra wanjabu wungar wubulku, wanjawanja yurra nukan kariku?


<translate> Big sister's dog bit the pig.

Babarrandamundu kayangka bikibiki baykan.


<translate> I saw the kurranday seagull here.


<translate> Put more wood on the fire — the night will be cold.

Juku yijarrika bayanga — kunarangkal kiway-kiway.


<translate> I saw the karkunbay stockwhip bird here.


<translate> The grandmother said: the mussels bury themselves in the sand where the fresh water meets the salt, so dig there with your hands and you will always find food.

Babingka balkan: mukirr jukara ngakiji bana jalun muru, yundu mara-bu bakal yinyabu, yundu mayi manil.


<translate> We see the sugar glider here.


<lexeme> child who has just learned to talk


<translate> We two, not you, see the nyamun natural debris here.


<glossary> wuljil ; type=adjective ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> They emptied out (the bee's nest) into the bucket


<translate> The man killed the brown snake with his club after it had bitten him hard on the leg in the long grass, the old woman said.

Dingkar-angka jinkalmu kuni juku-bu, wawu-bayka-nya-muny jina junkurr jikan kalbay-mba, mukul-jalbu balkan.


<translate> The rain came down hard, but the people kept on walking towards the far camp.

Kaba junkurr daran, yamba bama wubul jilba-dungan bayan kalbay-ka.


<translate> The old man asked the traveller: "Where are you going now, and where have you come from today?"

Mukul-dingkar-angka bama dunga-nya babajin: Yundu wanjabu dunga-y niji, yundu wanjamuny kadan?


<translate> She pointed with her hand at the small fresh track in the soft wet sand of the river bank.

Nyulu mara-bu jina buban jukar kima-nga milban, wawubaja jalkar-a.


<translate> I saw the mirrbangku pencil cedar tree here.


<translate> The man made the child bleed.


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


<translate> The two men talked together quietly all night about where the kangaroos had gone in the dry time.

Dingkar jambul muru balka-wa janka wujurr wubulku, mayarriji wanja dunga-nya marral-wungar-a.


<translate> Grandmother sees the swamp there.


<translate> They saw the scrub tree here.


<translate> Grandmother cooked food and then slept. After that she went to the river.

Babi-ngka mayi wajun, warngku wunan-da. Wawu-yinya-muny, nyulu wawubaja-nga dungan.


<translate> The man saw the bloodwood tree.


<translate> The child broke the stick with a stone.


<translate> I would go fishing, but I have no fishing line.

Ngayu badur-ji dunga-nyaku, yambada ngayu badur-kari.


<translate> Grandfather saw the stone at the camp.


<translate> You all see the humpy there.


<translate> Father put water on mother's back.

Nganjan-angka bana yijarrin ngamu-ndu muku-ngu.


<translate> You two see the spring here.


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


<translate> The Moreton Bay ash tree is big.


<translate> The freshwater prawn is here.


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


<translate> The fire stick lay in the bag.


<translate> The paperbark lay on the ground.


<translate> That's granny's dilly bag — put it back!


<translate> They saw the yellow March fly there.


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

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


<translate> The spoon bill bird is here.


<translate> That marrabal ti tree is there.


<translate> She pointed with her hand at the small fresh track in the soft wet sand of the river bank.


<translate> The old man said the whole of wisdom can be folded into one conditional: if you would know what to do, imagine the person you most respect is watching, and do what would make them nod, for we all carry such a person inside us, put there by those who raised us well, and to live rightly is only to stop and ask them before we act.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: wawu-binal wubulku kuku-ngaral nyubunba yijarril: kaki yundu binalka wanya bunganka, milka bama yundu ngulkurr-baja milkal nyaji, bunga yamba nyulu wawu-mini janji, ngana wubulku bama yinya dukurr-bu karrbal, bama jana ngana ngulkurr wandilman yijarrinmu, yukil janayka nyulu nganga mara-kunbay jana babajinka ngana bunga ngadiku.


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

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


<translate> You and I see the love handles there.


<translate> I take water, but the billycan broke.

Ngayu bana wundil, kari jungkalu dumbarrin.


<translate> You two saw the kurranday seagull there.


<translate> The stars are out — time to sleep, little ones.

Dawar wubul — warngku wunay, ngawa-ngawa!


<translate> The canopy on that tree is big.


<glossary> dakandil ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> The man dropped the child because he was angry

Dingkarangka karrkay dakandin kuli-kadanymundu


<translate> The woman is carrying the baby.


<translate> Uncle turned the meat with a green stick.


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


<translate> You two see the creek there.


<translate> We saw the kira-kira black ant here.


<translate> They saw the kawarr bloodwood tree there.


<translate> You saw the grasshopper there.


<translate> Grandmother saw the white crane in the scrub.


<translate> You all see the outrigger canoe there.


<translate> They saw the milbarakal tree there.


<translate> That brother-in-law is here.


<translate> Father put the bark in the shade.

Nganjan-angka dumbul wabarr-ba yijarrin.


<glossary> dalngarri ; type=noun ; domain=fire <usage_example> make the fire give light


<translate> They swam through the river.


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


<translate> I see the light-coloured hair.


<translate> Keep away from the deep water and the muddy bank where the big crocodile lies waiting.

Bana dajali-mundu janka wuna-y, daburri buyun-mundu, bilngkumu yalbay yinya kuji-l wunay.


<translate> The cassowary walked through the rainforest, ate the fallen fruit, and its big feet left tracks in the mud.

Kurranji madjaburr jilban, mayi bada nukan, jina yalbay jina-jina bawan.


<translate> The two of them saw the murma wasp there.


<translate> His father smiled at the boy's eagerness and said: Yes, it is time; a hunter who wakes with the question already in his mouth will never go hungry.

Nyungu dingkarangka karrkaymu wawu-junkurrka yajarrin, balkan: Yuwu, wungar nyiku; balbibama nyulu babaji ngandalba wandil kari dakwuy yabarrka.


<translate> He saw the ngurrkul fig tree there.


<translate> I see the jalan sea urchin here.


<translate> I see the scrub goanna here.


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


<translate> You and I saw the yawa possum there.


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


<translate> You and I see the hillside there.


<translate> Old people stayed at the sea.


<translate> You and I saw the jirabay lizard there.


<translate> The hunter, from behind the tree, speared the pig with one long spear by the quiet waterhole.

Balbi-bama juku-mundu kalka kalbay-bu bikibiki daman janku janka ngundu.


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

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


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


<translate> That father-in-law is there.


<translate> The child went into the scrub and got lost.


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

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


<lexeme> want something but can't get it


<translate> You hear the whistle sound here.


<translate> When the father died, the eldest brother took care of all the younger children, the old man said, and raised them as if he were their own father.

Nganjan wula-nya-muny, yaba yalbay-angka karrkay-karrkay buban wubulku nyaji-nyaji, mukul-dingkar balkan, jana yalbay-bungal yala nyulu nganjan.


<translate> I became sick from eating unripe mangoes.


<translate> Grind the hard root on the stone with water, the old woman said, and wash it well, for it is bitter and will make you sick uncooked.

Ngara junkurr kulji-ba murni bana-jirr, mukul-jalbu balkan, janji ngulkurr, nyulu ngunyjanji bama bambay-ma-nyji nuka-nya kari-ku.


<translate> They saw the freshwater eel.


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


<translate> The dog killed the big black goanna by the roots of the tree in the hot midday sun.

Kaya-ngka walkarr yalbay kunin juku bada-nga, wungar wumbul dindarra-nga.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the julaji freshwater catfish here.


<translate> The old woman said never strip a plant bare: take some, leave some, and it will feed your children's children long after you are gone.

Mukul-jalbu balkan: mayi-juku baluda narmba bangka — kanbal mani, kanbal wuna, nyulu karrkay-mu karrkay dajil marri yundu wula-ny-muny.


<translate> The dog bit the woman's neck.


<translate> The old man said each tree has its own use: this one for spears, that one for dilly-bag string, and the big fig for shade and food.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: juku wubulku nyungu yukil — yinya kalka-nka, yinya yinkar-karra-nka, dukal yalbay ngungul mayi-jirr.


<translate> Soon the flame tree will get flowers.


<translate> He sees the crocodile there.


<translate> By the still water the women gathered water-plant roots and seeds, wading deep with their bags held above the water.

Bana janay ngundu jalbu-jalbungku bangkan diburr manin, bana badanga walan, ngunyin wangkar kujin bana wuyar.


<translate> At daybreak father went for water.


<translate> You and I saw the morning star here.


<translate> He dropped the egg by mistake.


<translate> The fish net is on the ground.


<translate> The corkwood pine has soft light wood, good for carrying a long way.

Dili-juku juku kima kulngkul-kari, ngulkurr wundinka kalbay.


<translate> The ghost frightened the girl.


<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> He saw the baringkan small bird there.


<translate> The elder brother teaches the younger ones the old ways of the country.

Yaba-ngka yabaju-karra binal-bungal bubu-mu kuku ngadiku.


<translate> The two children kept eating and eating the sweet honey until their little bellies were big and round.

Karrkay jambul wunba jiba-wulay nuka-l-nuka-n, jibar yalbay murru-ma-nyjiku.


<translate> When the yam's leaf dies back in the dry season, the women know the yam below is ripe.

Bambayal-mu birra wula-nya dukurr-wungar-a, jalbu binal bambayal bada kulbul.


<translate> The old woman said that feelings, like animals, all had names, and a child who could name what they felt already held it well.

Wulbumanangka balkan: wawu, yala minya, wubulku burri-ji, karrkay nyulu nyungu wawu kunjal binalmal, nyulu yinya wawu ngulkurr karrbal.


<translate> There are many stars in the sky.


<glossary> ngangkal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> The stranger doesn't know the road

Nyulu ngarrbal ngangkal-ngangkal baralka


<translate> The dog jumped from behind the tree.


<translate> Mother put the fire stick in the bag.


<glossary> mambarril ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=transfer-possession <usage_example> He forced the child to go to school

Nyulu karrkay mambarrin schoolbu dunganka


<translate> They two see the mullet there.


<translate> The dogs found the bandicoot in the long grass, and the children ran to see it.

Kaya-ngka kulngu milbin bilanji kalbay-mba, karrkay warri nyaji-nka.


<glossary> damal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> she washed clothes in the creek


<translate> They see the yarrka bee here.


<translate> That old man does not know the way to the far country; he has never walked there in his whole life.

Yinya mukul-dingkar jina bubu kala-kalbay-mu kari binal; nyulu yinyay kari jilban wungar wubulku-mu.


<translate> They see the snake on the open ground.


<translate> When they parted at the crossroads, each family to its own country, they did not say goodbye but said instead the old traveller's words: walk well, sleep dry, and may your feet find the good road, and may we meet again on it before too long.

Jana baral jambul-mandanga bawa-wanya, jawun-karra wubulku nyungu bubungu, jana kari dunga-kuku balka yambada jana jilba-bamamu kuku ngadiku balkan: yukil jilba, karra wuna, nyungu jina baral yukil nyaji, ngali baralba nyaji-way baja kari kalbaymuny.


<translate> The children ran across the wide sand to the water, laughing and calling to one another.

Karrkay-karrkay naka-naka wanarrin jukar kalbay-burr bana-ka, yajarri-l yirrka-wa.


<translate> They saw the mukukanka tree here.


<translate> We saw the mackerel sky there.


<translate> You and I see the small bat here.


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

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


<translate> The child asked which fruit is best, and the old man said: the one in your hand now, in its own season, is always better than the one you dream of.

Karrkay-angka babajin wanya mayi ngulkurr bajaku, mukul-dingkar balkan: mayi mara-nga niji, nyungu wungar-a, ngulkurr bajaku mayi yundu jiba-ngundu-mu.


<translate> I see the bloodwood tree here.


<translate> The road there is not steep.


<translate> They saw the jellyfish here.


<translate> The dog did not bite the child; it only barked loudly and ran away into the long grass.

Kaya-ngka karrkay kari baykan; nyulu yirrkan yalbay warri jikan kalbay-ka.


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

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


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


<glossary> minday ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> That pig isn't afraid any more, is tame now

Nyulu bikibiki yinyilji karida, mindayda


<translate> You and I saw the oyster there.


<translate> Grandfather saw the whirlwind there.


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


<translate> He saw the bajal bower bird here.


<translate> Granny sent honey to her sister's camp.

Babingka wunba yungan babarrandamunba bayanba.


<translate> Whose track is this in the sand? It is a big man's track. And where does it lead? It leads down to the water, then it turns and goes into the scrub.

Wanyamba jina nyiku jukar-a? Nyiku jina dingkar yalbay-mu. Wanjabu nyulu dungay? Nyulu bana-nka bada dungay, murni baja madja-nka dungay.


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


<translate> The men carried the boy home to his mother, who cried with joy and held him close by the fire.

Dingkar-dingkarangka karrkay wundin ngamunda, ngamu wawu-mini badin, karrban ngundu bayanga.


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


<translate> Grandmother told the child to sit.

Babi-ngka karrkay-anda balkan bunda-nka.


<translate> The trees lean kungkarr on this ridge — the storm wind writes its name on everything that stands still.

Juku murnil kungkarrku wangkara yanyaba: muyarbu jarramalimunybu burri nyungu yijarril yamba janaymunyba.


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


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

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


<translate> We see the kawarr bloodwood tree there.


<translate> The old man asked the boy: How many wallabies did you kill, and how many did your family need? And the boy saw he had taken more than they could eat.

Mukulungku dingkarangka karrkay babajin: Yundu darrba wanjarrinya kunin, jawunkarra wanjarrinya wawu? Karrkayangka nyajin nyulu wubul-baja manin jana nukalmuny.


<translate> You all see the perch there.


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


<translate> The child sees the rainbow there.


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


<glossary> balu ; type=adverb ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> I thought he came but he didn't


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

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


<translate> The children made too much noise by the fire, and the old woman scolded them and told them to sit quietly.

Karrkay-karrkay nyurra-baka baya-nga, mukul-jalbu-ngku jana murru-kangan, janka bunda-nka balkan.


<translate> The white-tailed rat is here.


<translate> We saw the julbal tree there.


<translate> Behind the behind there is more behind — the country does not end; only the describing ends.

Kudamundu kudamundumuny kudamundu baja janay: bubu kariku kunbay-mal, kuku nganga kunbay-mal.


<translate> Don't be afraid of the dog — it is old and it will not bite.

Kari kaya-nka yinil — nyulu mukul, kari baykal.


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

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


<translate> They two see the spear point here.


<translate> The hunter followed the wallaby's tracks all morning through the long grass.

Balbi-bama darrba-mu jina wukurrin wunkuwingku wubulku, bilanji kalbay-burr.


<translate> If the water is deep, the children will not swim.

Kaki bana bada, karrkay-karrkay kari maraji.


<translate> The freshwater turtle is in the water.


<translate> The old people sat in a circle, passed the food from hand to hand, told stories to one another, and laughed together late into the night.

Mukul-mukul muru bundan, mayi mara-burr daji-wan, kuku balka-wan, yajarr-wan wujurr yalbay-mba.


<translate> Everyone was wet but nobody was hurt.


<glossary> minji ; type=noun ; domain=fire <usage_example> The fire has a lot of flames shooting up


<translate> The man left the dog's food outside.

Dingkar-angka mayi kaya-nga ngalkal-ba bawan.


<translate> The seagulls follow the fishing men all day, the old man said, crying and wheeling over the fishing men, waiting for the scraps thrown on the water.

Dirrmbay kuyu-bama-nka jana-jana wungar wubulku, mukul-dingkar balkan, yirrka-yirrka kuyu-bama wangkar-a jurrki, mayi dara-nya bana-ba bunda.


<translate> He sees the spear point there.


<translate> The digging stick is on the ground.


<translate> No swimming now — the water is the boss.


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


<translate> You and I saw the creek here.


<translate> The young man came to the road.


<translate> You see the corkwood tree there.


<translate> The two came and then went to the river.


<translate> Take your spear and your woomera, and let us two go down to hunt the kangaroo now.

Kalka balur baja mani, ngali mayarriji balbi-ka dunga-y niji!


<translate> The dog ran from here to there and back again, following the scent.

Kaya warri yaluy-muny yinyay, baja kadan, jina wukurril.


<translate> Uncle says the island turtles are laying now.

Kalngangka balkal: ngawiyangka diburr yijarril nyiku burrira.


<glossary> nulu ; type=noun ; domain=fire <usage_example> She cooked damper in the ashes


<translate> Do not forget to leave enough behind for the country when you gather, the old man warned, or there will be nothing at all next season.

Baluda milka-wula bubu-nka kanbal wuna-nka bangka-nya, mukul-dingkar balkan, yamba-kari yamba wungar-jarra yindu-ngu.


<translate> The old man said: a boy becomes a man not by growing tall, but by learning to give — the one who shares becomes rich in kin, and the one who hoards becomes poor and alone.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan: buban dingkar-mal kari yalbay-muny, binal daya-l-muny; daji-way-bama mula-ji-mal, ngaki-bama mula-kari nyubun-man.


<translate> You and I see the thigh there.


<translate> I see the kakaji mangrove tree here.


<translate> I saw the flower on the tree.


<translate> The children would have swum in the creek, but they saw the crocodile.

Karrkay wawubaja-nga maraji-nyaku, yambada jana bilngkumu nyajin.


<translate> You two saw the mirrki kidney bird here.


<translate> The old man said a family with many children was richer than a family with much food, for food is eaten and gone but children grow and stay and care for you.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: jawunkarra karrkay wubulji ngulkurr-baja jawunkarra mayi wubulmuny, mayi nukan dungan, karrkay kambaman janay yundu nyajil.


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


<translate> You all saw the kalburiji bee here.


<translate> You two see the barracuda there.


<translate> She would have gathered the oysters, but the tide had already come in.

Nyulu julul bangka-nyaku, yambada yira yalada kadan.


<translate> Three-sentence: The storm came at night. Lightning struck a tree. In the morning the tree was down.

Jarramali kadan kunarangkal. Balbaynja juku dalbarrin. Wunkuwingku juku bada-bada.


<translate> The trees have no flowers in the cold, dry season, and the little birds fly away to the north.

Juku-juku nganka-kari ngiki marral-wungar-a, buyi buban kungkarr marra-warri.


<translate> The old man walked slowly along the beach after he had fed the dogs and banked the fire up for the long night, the old woman said.

Mukul-dingkar jilba jukar-a, wawu-kaya-muny mayi daji-n buri wandi-n wujurr marri-nka, mukul-jalbu balkan.


<translate> The two of them saw the mirrki kidney bird there.


<glossary> milka-daray ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> The young men sinned and stole food from the shop

Jana warruwarru milka-daran milka-daran mayi ngakinka shopmunmun


<translate> The grandmother said the greatest gift the old can give the young is not answers but questions, not the memory of how things were but the wisdom to see how things are, and above all the knowledge that they are loved.

Babingka balkan: dajil yalbay bajaku mukulmu warruka kari kuku-yukil, yambada babajil, kari milbi yala yamba ngadiku janan, yambada binal yala yamba nyiku janay nyajinka, wangkar bajaku binal jana wawu jirray janay.


<translate> The two of them see the rock python here.


<translate> He sees the bamboo spear stick here.


<lexeme> that's nonsense, take no notice


<translate> They saw the sea snake here.


<translate> The woman asked father about the spear.


<translate> They saw the black beetle here.


<translate> We see the black cockatoo here.


<translate> The camp dogs know the people.


<glossary> mururr-mururr ; type=adjective ; domain=time-deixis <usage_example> We came the same time


<translate> My grandmother always sings the old song quietly to the children before they go to sleep.

Ngayku babi kuku mukul janka balka-nya karrkay-nka, jana warngku wuna-nka kariku.


<translate> Those people over there lit a big fire on the high ground at dusk.

Yinya-rriny yinyay baya yalbay bungan bubu wangkar-a wungar bada dunga-nya.


<translate> We see the tiger shark there.


<translate> You two saw the jiwurrmal pheasant cuckoo there.


<translate> The old woman went up to get the dog.

Wulbuman wangkar dungan kaya-nda mani-nka.