<translate> Where did that great flood carry the great old log away to, the old man wondered aloud, looking down the whole length of the changed river.

Jalungkarr yalbay-angka walmba mukul wanjabu jarra-kulban? mukul-dingkar milka-ba nyajin, bana-jandu jirakal narmba bada nyaji-nyaji.


<translate> We remember them by their names and their stories, he said, and so they are never really gone.

Nyulu balkan: ngana binalku jana burribu kukubu, yalaku jana kari dungan yukil.


<translate> You and I see the bush fire there.


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


<translate> The old woman's hands are wrinkled and thin, but they still weave the very finest dilly bags.

Mukul-jalbu mara ngungul-ngungul buban, yamba nyulu ngunyin ngulkurr bajaku bunga-l.


<translate> The child put the fish net in the shade.


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


<translate> Grandmother saw the morning star there.


<translate> The old man said there is a yam for every season and every kind of country: the long yam of the sandy ground, the round yam of the vine scrub, the bitter yam that must be soaked and soaked before it is safe, and a person who knows all the yams and their seasons and their places need never go hungry, whatever else fails.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: juwal nyubun wungar wubulku bubu yindu-yindu wubulku: juwal kalbay jukarmu, juwal jirakal majajimu, juwal ngambuy nyulu bananga wunay wunay ngadiku nyulu yukil, bama nyulu juwal wubulku wungar bubu baja binal nyulu kariku dakwuy, yamba yindu wubulku wulanya baja.


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


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


<translate> At last the old woman found him, laughing, and said: you hide like a bandicoot, little one!

Wulbumanangka nyajin, yajarrinya, balkan: yundu ngakiji yala kulngu, buban!


<translate> You two saw the mayfly here.


<translate> The young man got a spear and then went to the sea.

Warru-ngku kalka manin, jalun-bu dungan-da.


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


<translate> The old man sat down by the fire and the old woman gathered the dry firewood.

Mukul-dingkar baya karangkal bundan, mukul-jalbu-ngka baya-juku marral bangkan.


<translate> We caught many small fish in the net at the low tide in the morning.

Ngana kuyu jirril wubul manin makarr-bu ngajal-ba wunkuwingku.


<translate> The dog's food was in a bark dish beside the old man's little humpy.

Mayi kaya-mu warrur-a bundan, mukul-dingkar-amu wurun buban ngundu.


<translate> That shoulder blade is here.


<lexeme> First bay south of Bloomfield River along coast


<translate> Turn around — look behind you!


<translate> The little dog had fallen into an old digging hole and could not climb out.

Kaya buban daran bubungu, wangkar dakal murruji.


<translate> You all saw the darrba grass wallaby there.


<translate> How did that little child climb up so very high into the top of the tall paperbark tree?

Karrkay buban yinya wanjarr-ku juku kalbay wangkar-a dakan?


<translate> Grandmother cut the fish with a knife.


<translate> The folded clothing is there.


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


<translate> The policeman did not see me at all because he was fast asleep by the fire.

Buliman-angka nganya kari nyajin, warngku-wuna-nya baya karangkal.


<translate> This woman taught me about zamia nuts.

Yalu-ngku jalbu-ngku nganya binal-bungan marra-ka.


<translate> We see the dikirr waterlily here.


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

Nganjan-angka bilngkumu bana-nga nyajin.


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

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


<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> We all, not you, see the whip snake here.


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


<translate> The old man said: If it rains tomorrow, we will stay in the camp and make spears; if it is fine, we will go hunting.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: Kaki kaba kaday wunkun, ngana bayanba bunday, kalka ngaral; kaki wungar ngulkurr, ngana balbil dungay.


<glossary> wawurr-wawurrmal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> I decided to go now


<translate> A warm camp on a cold night is a small thing but a real one, said the old woman, and it holds a family together.

Bayan wumbul kunarangkal kiwaymba yamba buban, yambada yamba yukil, wulbumanangka balkan, jawunkarra nyubun kujil.


<lexeme> child who has just learned to talk


<translate> The old man laughed and said: I do not know all the answers, but the sky keeps its stories — watch always.

Mukulungku dingkarangka yajarrin, balkan: ngayu kari binal wubulku, yambada wangkarbu kuku kujil, nyaka yabarrka.


<translate> The old man held his chin in his hand, thinking of the old story.

Mukul-dingkarangka nyungu bari mara-bu karrban, kuku ngadiku milka-nga.


<translate> The two dogs are very hungry tonight because they caught nothing at all the whole long day.

Kaya jambul dakuy-baja-ku wujurr yinya, jana wungar wubulku yamba kari karrban.


<translate> The kookaburra laughed first at my empty net, then at my full one — some watchers never change.

Kururrungkabu yajarr-man ngadiku-ngurr makarr nganga-yambaka ngayku, yalada jakalka baja: bama-nyaji nyubun-nyubun kariku yindu-mal.


<translate> It will tip over with you without quite falling.


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


<translate> The woman cut herself with a knife.


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


<translate> You all see the fighting spear there.


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


<translate> You and I see the crocodile there.


<translate> Keep the little children close by the camp, the old woman told the mothers, just in case the crocodile is moving quietly in the muddy creek nearby.

Karrkay-karrkay buban bayan ngundu-ba karrba, mukul-jalbu-ngku ngamu-ngamu-nka balkan, nganganjirrka bilngkumu bana-jandu kambal-kambal-ba janka mara-warri-nya.


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


<translate> The child jumped from the boat.


<translate> The sea snake is very dangerous; the old people never touch it in the water.

Yuray bambay-baja; mukul-bama kariku nyunguny karrba bana-nga.


<translate> The white ibis walks slowly through the wet mud, digging for little crabs and insects.

Birmba bana-ba jilba dunga-y, minya buban baka-l bubu-ngu.


<translate> The clear fresh water in the deep spring never dries up, even in the long dry season.

Bana ngulkurr jirka dukurr-ba kariku marral-ma-l, wungar marral kalbay-muny.


<translate> We see the marril ti tree here.


<translate> The grandmother made the sick child well again: she warmed him by the fire, made him drink the medicine, and sang until he slept.

Babingka karrkay bambay kakawarri-bungan: nyulu kunjinba wumbul-bungan, mayi nuka-manin, burri balkan nyulu wuna-nyjiku.


<translate> Feelings are visitors, the old man said: feed them, hear their news, and walk them to the door.

Wawu-yamba jana ngarrbal, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: mayi-daya jana, kuku janamuny milka-janay, jilba-bunga jana baral-ngandalka.


<translate> The children painted themselves with white and red for the dance.

Karrkay-karrkay julngka-ji ngala-ngala-bu warrma-ka.


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


<lexeme> the Aboriginal camp at Thompson Creek


<translate> You all see the black snake here.


<translate> The green ants bit the little child all over, and he cried and cried and ran to the water.

Munjurr-angka karrkay buban wubulku baykan, nyulu banbadi-l-banbadi-l, bana-ka warri.


<translate> The scrub goanna climbs the tree fast when it is afraid of the dog.

Kalajarr juku-ngu bila daka-l, kaya-nka yinil-ma-nya.


<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> He saw the ngadil hickory tree here.


<translate> The striped water snake is here.


<translate> The old man sharpened his spear with a stone.

Mukulungku dingkarangka nyungu kalka nyurrban kuljibu.


<translate> They saw the kalngkan small mullet there.


<translate> The children learned to say two things every day, to as many people as they could: thank you, which admits you needed them, and how can I help, which offers that you are needed too, and between those two small phrases a whole community is woven.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman kuku jambul wungar wubulku balkanka, bama wubulku jana maninka: wawu-mini balka, yinya milbil yundu jananka wawunmuny, yala ngayu mara-daji, yinya dajil yundunka baja wawu, jambulku kuku bubanba bama nyubun wukurril.


<translate> I saw the crocodile in the river.


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


<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> Grandad's boomerang came back to his hand.

Kamimu wangal kadan baja nyungu maranga.


<translate> You and I see the house here.


<translate> I saw the baringkan small bird there.


<glossary> yarangkay ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=bodily-mental-state <usage_example> He fell and sprained his ankle


<translate> The children learned the final truth, which was also the first: that a human being alone is not fully a human being, that we become ourselves only through each other, and that the deepest word in the language is not 'I' but 'we'.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman kuku yukil bada bajaku, nyulu ngadiku baja: bama nyubun nganga kari yukil bama, ngana ngana-manda nganga nyubun-nyubunbu, kuku bada bajaku kukungu kari 'ngayu' yambada 'ngana'.


<translate> You two saw the ground there.


<translate> As a child I used to eat wallaby meat.

Ngayu karrkay-nyja-ku minya kadar nuka-l-nuka-n.


<translate> The dog is lazy and no good for hunting.


<translate> The crow watched the whole fish-feast from the high branch, wearing his best black clothes.

Wakukabu nyajin kuyu-nuka wubulku dakilmuny wangkarmuny, kambi ngumbu yukil bajaku-ji.


<translate> That wurmbariji scrub tree is there.


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

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


<translate> You two see the small conical shellfish here.


<translate> You saw the wurrbu hornet here.


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


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


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


<translate> The old woman said to the children: "Do not shout!"

Mukul-jalbu-ngku karrkay-karra-nda balkan: "Kari yirrka-y!"


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


<translate> She washed the boy with the warm water and gave him a little to drink, and told his mother not to fear.

Nyulu karrkay julurrin bana wumbulbu ngulkurrbu, buban dajin nukanka, ngamu balkan: kari yinil.


<translate> You and I saw the kalmbangarr black diver bird there.


<translate> They carried the animal back to the camp together, and the boy told his mother the whole story and asked if he could go again the next day.

Jana minya bayanka wundin baja nyubun, karrkayangka ngamunka kuku wubulku balkan, babajin nyulu baja dungay yindu wungara.


<translate> After the big water the dry creek filled again, the grass grew fresh, and the whole country became alive with birds.

Bana yalbay-muny wawubaja bana-ji-man, jikan kulbul-man, bubu dikal-ji juran-man.


<translate> They saw the bush fire there.


<translate> While the women were digging for mussels, the sand crabs ran sideways into their holes.

Jalbu mukirr baka-nya, ngalngal wurril bubungu dungan.


<translate> I see the kunkun periwinkle here.


<translate> The children learned that ngujan and wawu-mini could not live in the same heart at the same time, so filling your heart with gratitude leaves no room for envy to take root.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman ngujan wawu-mini murruji nyubun wawungu nyubun wungara bundanka, wawu wawu-minibu nandanmuny ngujan kari wanja janay bangkanka.


<translate> The old man climbed the tree.


<translate> The child went to the house to eat food.


<translate> They two saw the mudcrab there.


<translate> You two see the kurrkal shortcut here.


<translate> They saw the bingkajiri tree there.


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

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


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


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


<translate> He saw the karranda tree here.


<translate> We hear the sharp sound here.


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


<translate> The child saw the freshwater eel in the water.


<translate> The young man is now as strong as his father, and the two hunt the big animals together.

Warru nyiku yaykarr nyungu nganjan yala, jana jambul minya yalbay muru balbil.


<translate> The woman asked father about meat.


<translate> Grandmother saw the freshwater turtle.


<glossary> ngaral ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> They spread out a blanket for the children to sleep

Jana blanket ngaran kaykay-kaykay wunanka


<translate> You two see the oyster there.


<translate> He hurt himself with his own knife — the careless one's nearest fight is himself.

Nyulu nyulu-nyulu baykan naybubu nyungu-nyungubu: bama miyil-karimuny kuniway ngundu bajaku nyulu-nyulu.


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


<translate> They saw the karunkurr crested pigeon here.


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


<glossary> duray ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> Sea turtles dig holes and cover them again without eggs; they trick people

Ngawiyangka bubu bakal, diburr kariku nandal baja; jana duraymal bamanka


<translate> Granny said: the sea is the boss out there.


<translate> Wait, it is hot! Let it stand first, and then eat.

Janay, nyulu wumbul! Bawa janay-ngurr, yalada nuka.


<translate> The old woman said the snake is not evil, only hungry and afraid like everything else, so give it room and it will go its own way and leave you alone.

Mukul-jalbu balkan: jarba kari buyun, dakuy yararri-jirr nyubun-bu yala wubulku, bubu daji, nyulu nyungu jangan-a dunga, yundu balu wuna.


<translate> You and I see the bandicoot there.


<translate> The Moreton Bay ash tree is standing outside.


<translate> If there is no water along the road, take the billycan.

Kaki bana kari baral-darr, jungkalu wundi.


<translate> The old man said the wise person does not resent this dependence but rejoices in it, for to need others is to be woven into the living cloth of a people, and the only person who needs no one is the one lying alone and cold in the ground.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: bama binal yinya kajinka kari dukul-wuri, yambada wawu-mini, bama yinduka wawu yala bama nyubunmu kambinga wukurrinmuny, bama nyulu nyubun kari bama yinduka wawu nyulu nganga wunay kiway bubungu.


<translate> The old man was glad; a camp that watches the weather and prepares is never caught out by the rain.

Mukul dingkar wawu-mini; bayan nyulu wungar nyajil, ngulkurr-bungal, kababu kari karrbal yabarrka.


<translate> What did the old people call a rich man? — Kin-with. And a poor man? — Kin-without. The things never entered into it.

Wanyu bama mukulungku kunjan bama yamba-ji wubul-ji? Jawun-karra-nji. Bama yamba-kari? Jawun-karra-kari. Yamba kariku walan yinyaka.


<glossary> milka-dalkay-manil ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> You remind me tomorrow about the monkey

Yundu nganya milka-dalkay-mana wunkun moneyka


<translate> They see the queenfish here.


<translate> The boomerang flew out, went right around, and came back to the thrower's hand; a good boomerang always returns, a bad one falls in the grass.

Wangal dungan, warrin, dingkar-mu mara-nda kada baja; wangal ngulkurr kada baja ngadiku-ngudiku, wangal buyun jikan-ba daran.


<translate> The story belongs to this country.


<translate> You and I see the spring here.


<translate> The two of them lived well together, and in time their own children played in the camp by the river.

Jana jambul ngulkurr bundandan, wungar dunganya, nyungu karrkay-karrkay kinkan bayanba wawubajanga.


<translate> We see the running water there.


<translate> You saw the murma wasp there.


<translate> The woman saw the spear in the shade.


<translate> The child asked mother: "Do you want food?" Mother said: "Yes."

Karrkay ngamu-ndu babajin: "Yundu mayi-ka wawu?" Ngamu-ngku balkan: "Yuwu."


<translate> The old man said: A people who waste nothing and thank everything will never empty the country, but a people who waste and forget will soon have nothing left at all.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: bama nyulu nyubun kari yilbal, yambayamba ngulkurr balkal, kari bubu kilbal yabarrka; bama nyulu yilbal, milka-wulal, ngadiku yamba-kari janay.


<translate> That's the way, said grandad. The old way.

Kamingka balkan: yalaku. Ngujakura yalaku.


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


<translate> They saw the crescent perch here.


<translate> He sees the death adder there.


<translate> The little child cried for its mother all through the long night, the old woman said, and would not be quieted by anyone else at all.

Karrkay buban ngamu-nka badi wujurr narmba, mukul-jalbu balkan, yindu-yindu-ngku kari nyunguny janka-bungal.


<translate> You and I saw the ngurrkul fig tree here.


<translate> The mother fed the hungry baby at her breast until the little one fell fast asleep.

Ngamu-ngka ngawa dakuy bibi-bu daji, karrkay buban wuna-n jinbal-baja-ku.


<translate> He saw the barrbal black bream here.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the jalkay salmon there.


<translate> The black wattle has flowers.


<translate> Grandmother left the remains dilly bag in the shade.


<translate> The old man said a good child listens well, for the ear is the home of memory.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan karrkay ngulkurr milka-bu ngaral, milka nyulu binal-mu bayan.


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

Baya janamuny, baya nganamuny: jalungkarrba baya nyubun nganga.


<translate> That stinging vine is there.


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


<translate> The snake lay on the ground.


<translate> You saw the yarrka bee here.


<translate> They saw the waddy club there.


<translate> The old man gathered the children and said: the country talks to us in the clouds, the wind, and the birds.

Mukulungku dingkarangka karrkay-karrkay bangkan, balkan: bububu ngananda balkal ngurrbanji, muyarji, buyiji.


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


<translate> The child asked why the moon changes, and the old woman said: it grows fat and thin like a woman carrying a child.

Karrkay-angka babajin wanyurringku kija yindu-mal, mukul-jalbu balkan: nyulu wandul-mal buban-mal yala jalbu karrkay jarra-kulba-nya.


<translate> I saw the yalnga turtle here.


<translate> The children learned that the teacher who cannot learn should not teach, for teaching is not pouring water into an empty vessel but lighting a fire that both can warm themselves by, and a teacher whose own fire has gone cold has nothing left to give.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman milbibama nyulu murruji binal kari milbil, milbil kari bana yamba-karinga yijarril, yambada baya wangkal jambulku nyulu ngundu wumbul-ma-ji, milbibama nyungu baya kiwaymandanya kari yamba dajinka.


<translate> I put the rope in the shade.


<translate> Long ago the two mobs always used to come together for the big ceremony when the food was plenty.

Kalbay-muny bama-jambul kankaday muru wungar yalbay-ka, mayi wubul-ma-nya.


<glossary> kunjal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> They'll invite you to the wedding


<translate> Uncle cut his hand on the shells.


<translate> He saw the bajabaja lizard here.


<translate> The old man taught the boy to walk at night by starlight, keeping the bright star behind his right shoulder, moving from tree-shadow to tree-shadow, freezing when a night-bird called, for the country at night belongs to other travellers and a wise one moves through it like water, seen by no one.

Mukulungku dingkarangka bubanwu milbin wujurr jilbanka dawarbu, dawar milka nyungu jibi yukilba dumbay karrbal, juku-ngamba jukungamba dungal, jajil jujubala wujurrumu kunjanya, bubu wujurrba bama yindu jilba-bamamu, binal nyulu bana yala dungay, bama nyubun kari nyajil.


<glossary> mambarril ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=transfer-possession <usage_example> He turned him over to the police


<translate> The old man said in the old days when they took a big animal, the whole thing went into a great earth oven and fed the whole camp for two days, and nothing was wasted — the fat, the liver, the marrow, the tail — for to waste any part of a creature that gave its life was the deepest kind of disrespect.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: ngadiku jana minya yalbay manin, yamba wubulku kurrma yalbay-mba dungan bayan wubulku daya jambul wungar, yamba nyubun kari kudamundu — wandul, jiba, kuku-mula, junkan — minya nyulu nyungu wawu dajinmu yamba nyubun kudamundu bawal mumbu bada bajaku.


<translate> The old man taught the children by asking them questions: What kind of bird is that, he asked, and where does it live, and what does it eat?

Mukulungku dingkarangka karrkay-karrkay milbin babajilbu: Yinya buyi wanyunguy, nyulu babajin, wanjabu nyulu bundanay, wanyu nyulu nukal?


<translate> You all saw the ground here.


<translate> Grandmother roasts the zamia nut before pounding it.


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


<translate> You saw the dukunjulu golden whistler here.


<translate> They two saw the fish there.


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


<translate> The girl watched the people while they danced the corroboree all through the night.

Maralangka bama nyajin, malkarri warrma-warrma-nya wujurr wubulku.


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


<translate> The bush curlew cries in the dark night, and the children are afraid and lie close to the fire.

Kuyir wujurr-ba yirrkan, karrkay yinilman, baya ngundu wunan.


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


<translate> You all see the board there.


<translate> The men speared the mullet from the rocks at the river mouth, and the fish jumped up as the sun went down.

Dingkar kalngkan daman kulji-muny wawubaja-ngandal-ba, kuyu wangkar dakan wungar bada dungan.


<translate> I saw the julbal tree there.


<translate> The children learned to read the water before going in: if it is dark and fast it is deeper than it looks; if you cannot see the bottom you cannot know the depth, and a crossing misjudged is a life lost.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman bana nyajinka bana dunganyjiku ngadiku: kaki bana ngungul junkurr nyulu bada-baja nyajilmuny; kaki yundu bundal murruji nyajil, yundu bada binal murruji, bana mumbunmuny wawu kilba.


<translate> You and I saw the mayfly there.


<translate> The seashore plover runs along the wet sand at the edge of the waves, the old man said, quick little steps chasing the small crabs the tide leaves behind.

Juril-juril jukar duna-ba mulngku ngandal-ba wanarri, mukul-dingkar balkan, jina buban bila-bu kiju buban yira wuna-nya-ba kanga.


<translate> Maybe they boil the fish, maybe they roast it.


<translate> They see the marsupial native cat there.


<translate> The wise man of the old days read sickness like tracks, they say — rrunyuji; the word itself is rare now, keep it warm.

Rrunyuji bambay nyajin yala jina, bamabu balkal: kuku nyulu-nyulu buban nyiku, karrba nyulu wumbulbu.


<translate> The child went to the scrub with a stick.


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

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


<translate> We packed up the camp in the morning.


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


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


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


<translate> You all saw the pumice stone here.


<translate> Always look where you climb and where you put your feet, said the old woman, and the country will not hurt you.

Wulbumanangka balkan: nyaka wanjabu dakal, jina wanjabu yijarril, kari bububu yununda kaka-bungal.


<translate> You two see the kookaburra here.


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


<translate> They see the boomerang here.


<translate> Two horses are running to the river.


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


<translate> I did not really sleep last night; I only dozed a little by the fire.

Ngayu wujurr-ba karirrku warngku-wunan; ngayu buban-baja janka bundan baya karangkal.


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


<translate> Big brother speared two fish; little brother got none.

Yabangka kuyu jambul daman; yabajungku yamba-kari manin.


<translate> The moon shone on the quiet sea.


<translate> You and I see the hole here.


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


<translate> When the sun went down behind the hills, the children came home from the water to the warm fire.

Wungar bada dungan jamba kudamundu, karrkay-karrkay bana-muny kadan baya wumbul-ka.


<translate> I see the murrkul tree here.


<translate> When the mourning was finished, the old woman spoke the dead man's name aloud again for the first time, and the people knew the grief was closing.

Jiba-badi kunbayn-nya, mukul-jalbu bama wula-nya-mu burri yirrka-baja nyubun-bu, bama binal jiba-badi kunba-nya.


<lexeme> want something but can't get it


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


<translate> That wuymbariji scrub tree is there.


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

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


<translate> You and I saw the kinga caterpillar there.


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


<translate> The freshwater eel is in the water.


<translate> We two, not you, see the dulmbi umbrella palm there.


<translate> The old people were glad to be back in the high country, where the air is cool and the water is sweet.

Kamba-kamba wawu-mini bubu wangkara baja, muyar kiway, bana ngulkurr.


<translate> The old man said a thing is only big or small next to another thing, and a person only rich or poor next to another, so a wise person compares themselves to no one and is content.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: yamba yalbay buban nganga yamba yindu ngundu, bama ngulkurr mumbu nganga bama yindu ngundu, bama binal nyulu-nyulu bama nyubunmuny kari milbi-ji, wawu ngulkurr janay.


<translate> The wet-season river is far wider and faster than the dry-season one, and it carries whole trees to the sea.

Bana-wungar wawubaja jarra-yalbay jarra-jinbal-baja ngiki-wungar-mu-ka, nyulu juku wubul jalun-ka wundil.


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


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


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


<glossary> janbar ; type=noun ; domain=texture <usage_example> I'm very sticky, want to take a bath


<translate> Grandfather saw the baby's shin.


<translate> You and I saw the waterfall there.


<translate> The children found a tree heavy with figs and ate until their bellies were round, and carried the rest home to the old people in the camp.

Karrkay-karrkay juku dukal-jirr warmban, nuka jibar murru-murru kariku, mayi kanbal bayan-ka jarra-kulba mukul-bama-nka.


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


<translate> The woman wove the bag from loya cane.


<translate> There are lots of fish in the sea.


<glossary> jarrngkurr ; type=noun ; domain=weapon <usage_example> He hit the man with his weapon


<translate> You all saw the jimalili lizard there.


<translate> Have the men come back yet from the far reef, the old woman asked the children, for the strong tide is already beginning to turn now.

Dingkar-dingkar dulngku kala-kalbay-muny bada-baja kada-n niji? mukul-jalbu-ngku karrkay-karrkay nyajin, yira junkurr niji nyunba yudal-nya.


<translate> You two saw the kurrujuwa sentry bird there.


<translate> The possum bit the boy's hand hard, so he let it go, and it ran back up the tall tree.

Yawa karrkay mara baykan junkurr, nyulu daya, yawa juku kalbay wangkar nyunban.


<translate> You two see the large mud clam there.


<translate> They saw the karrkurr frog here.


<translate> He sees the kakaji mangrove tree there.


<translate> You see the shell back snail there.


<translate> The children learned to choose well: not the biggest or the brightest thing, but the thing that would do the work best and last the longest.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman ngulkurr maninka: kari yamba yalbay bajaku, kari yamba balbajil bajaku, yambada yamba nyulu kirraji ngulkurr-baja ngaral, bundal kalbay-baja.


<translate> Grandfather left the axe in the shade.


<translate> In the cold morning a thick white fog lies over the still water of the creek.

Wunkuwingku kiway ngurrbal yalbay bana-nga bada wuna-l, wawubaja janka-nga.


<translate> The little child tried and tried to make fire, the old man said, but the wood was too wet and no smoke would come.

Karrkay buban babal-babal buri bunga-nka, mukul-dingkar balkan, yamba juku duna bajaku, kubu kari ngalkal-ma-l.


<translate> You two see the small bat here.


<translate> The child said: "My head aches."

Karrkay-ngku balkan: "Ngayu dukul baykal."


<translate> We saw the fish net on the ground.


<translate> The boy searched around for the spear at the creek.

Karrkay kalka-nga nubi-nubi-ji yilki-nga.


<translate> The old people sat in the shade.


<translate> The old woman said to the children: "Do not shout!"

Mukul-jalbu-ngku karrkay-karra-nda balkan: "Kari yirrka-y!"


<translate> The children learned that day that the truth is easier to carry than a heavy, hard lie.

Karrkay-karrkay yinya wungar binalman, manubaja ngulkurr wundi-nka, jurril kulngkul junkurr-muny.


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


<translate> We told them about the honey and the crabs and the big eel.

Ngana jananda balkan: wunba, wurru-bulan, kubarr yalbay.


<translate> The woman saw the shallow water there.


<translate> The children kept eating and eating the sweet ripe figs under the big tree until their bellies were round and they could eat no more.

Karrkay-karrkay mayi kulbul jiba-wulay nukalkal juku yalbay bada-bada, jibar murru-murru-ma-n, nuka kari-baja.


<translate> I take the billycan with water in case there is no water along the road.

Ngayu jungkalu bana-ji wundil, kunka bana kari baral-darr.


<translate> Grandmother put the hook and line on the ground.


<translate> The old woman told the children the true story of the country long ago in the cold season.

Mukul-jalbu-ngku karrkay-karrkay-nka kuku yukil bubu-mu balkan kalbay-muny ngiki-wungar-a.


<glossary> kaki ; type=particle ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> When/if you go, close the gate


<translate> The two of them saw the wuba red ochre here.


<translate> The Leichhardt tree is good.


<translate> You all see the dingo there.


<translate> We saw the liver in the bag.


<glossary> nganya-burra ; type=adjective ; domain=ceremony-magic-song <usage_example> That man is on trial


<translate> They two saw the wooden sword here.


<lexeme> mountain and river flowing from mountain


<translate> He saw the kurrujuwa sentry bird here.


<translate> The small conical shellfish is here.


<translate> You two saw the kawarr bloodwood tree there.


<translate> Before the dawn, in the coldest dark, the whole camp is silent and the fires burn low and red.

Wunkuwingku kariku, ngiki ngungul-ba, bayan narmba janka wuna, baya bada wajun kulbul.


<translate> The children turned back at the road.


<translate> The little children kept crying for their mother all through the long, cold, dark night.

Karrkay-karrkay banbadi ngamu-nka wujurr kalbay ngiki ngungul wubulku.


<translate> We two, not you, see the dulmbi umbrella palm here.


<lexeme> First bay south of Bloomfield River along coast


<translate> Say it while they are alive. The best words at a burying are the ones already heard.

Balka jana jurannya. Kuku yukil bajaku wulanmunyba jana kuku milka-jananmuny ngadiku.


<translate> The child took the billycan from the house.

Karrkay-ngku jungkalu bayan-muny wundin.


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


<translate> That clothing is not folded.


<translate> He saw the small sticks there.


<translate> The men put feathers on their heads and the women prepared food for everyone at the gathering.

Dingkar-dingkarangka dukulba bujur yijarrin, jalbu-jalbungku mayi ngaran jananka.


<translate> You and I saw the bamboo stick there.


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


<translate> You and I will hunt together tomorrow; you will track, I will spear; we will carry the meat back to our two camps; and our families will eat well.

Ngaliny wunkun muru balbi dungay; yundu jina wukurril, ngayu daman; ngaliny minya ngalinyanga bayan jambul-mundu wundil; ngalinyanga mula-mula jani nukal.


<translate> You two see the spear thrower there.


<translate> Dry-time fire is easy and dangerous, wet-time fire is hard and precious, the old man folded the whole year into one small teaching at the fire-drill: in the dry, one left-behind spark owns the whole ridge by dusk, in the wet, one dry heart of a log is worth a fat fish, so the fire law turns with the seasons, but the fire respect stands unmoving all year.

Baya marralba nyulu kaka-kari yinil-ji baja, baya yaruba nyulu dandi yukil bajaku baja, mukulungku dingkarangka wungar-jina wubulku balkan buban: marralba baya-buban bawanmuny nyubunbu bubu wangkar manil miyil-wujurr-wujurrku, yaruba wawu marral nyubun jukumuny nyulu yala kuyu wandul-ji, yalada kuku bayamuny murnil wungar-jinanji, yambada baya-yulmbarril janay warri-kari wungar wubulku.


<translate> The boy went to his cousin and asked to see the new spear up close, admired it honestly, and his cousin let him throw it once — and the ngujan was gone, replaced by a shared pleasure.

Karrkay nyungu yabaka dungan, kalka jirakal ngundu nyajinka babajin, yukil ngulkurr balkan, nyungu yaba nyulu yilbanka bawan nyubun — ngujan dungan, wawu-mini daji-way kadan baja.


<translate> The little children played by the water while the women dug for yams in the soft sand.

Karrkay-karrkay bana ngundu bundan, jalbu-ngka wukay jukar-a bakan wungar wubulku.


<translate> The children climbed high in the Moreton Bay fig, the old woman said, laughing among its great roots and branches that hang down like a second forest.

Karrkay-karrkay baril-baril wangkar daka, mukul-jalbu balkan, yajarri nyungu ngara yalbay dakil-jirr bada-bada wangkar yala juku-juku nyubun-baja.


<translate> The stupid young man with no sense walked alone into the dark scrub, not knowing the country.

Warru kiru-kari madja ngungul-ka nyubun-bu jilban, bubu nyulu binal-kari.


<translate> You two see the dijarr freshwater perch here.


<translate> The rhinoceros beetle is here.


<translate> I still remember the old song my grandfather sang to me when I was a small child long ago.

Ngayu binalku kariku kuku mukul ngayku kami-mu balka-nya-muny, ngayu karrkay buban kalbay-muny.


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

Nyulu ngarrbal ngangkal-ngangkal baralka


<translate> He sees the spear barb here.


<translate> The old man twirled the fire drill on the dry wood, and the first smoke rose up.

Mukul-dingkar-angka jimal juku marral-ba dama-murnin, kubu nyubun wandin-baja.


<translate> The boy's face went hot and he told the truth, and the old man nodded and said no more about it.

Karrkaymu walu wumbulmanda, nyulu yukil balkan, mukul dingkar dukul jurrkin, kari balkan baja.


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


<translate> The young men sang a song by the fire, and the old people heard them from the camp.

Warru-warru wulngku badin baya-nga, mukul-bama-ngku bayan-ba nyajin.


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


<glossary> kayil ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=hunting-fishing-gathering <usage_example> People hooked out crabs


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


<translate> When did the old people first come to live in this country long ago, the child asked, and the grandmother began a long slow story.

Bama mukul wanja-wanja nyubun-nya yinya bubu-ba kaday wuna-nka? karrkay nyajin, babi-ngku kuku marri yudal.


<translate> We see the little wallaby there.


<translate> You two see the oyster here.


<translate> The twins confuse everyone but their mother — she says even their footsteps have different names.

Ngawa-jambul bama wubulku milka-buyun-bungal, ngamu kari: nyulubu balkal jina bulamuny baja burri yindu-yindu-ji.


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


<translate> You saw the karrandal tree there.


<translate> Grandmother saw the bark outside.


<translate> Grandfather said to grandmother: "I know."

Kami-ngka babi-nda balkan: "Ngayu binal."


<translate> The old woman said the plants that stain and dye were treasured for the paint and the decorated things, for one bark gives a deep red, one root a strong yellow, one fruit a black, one clay mixed with sap a white that lasts, and she taught the girls to gather and prepare each color, so that the whole bright world of the paintings came out of the quiet plants of the scrub.

Wulbumanangka balkan mayi mula-daji nganja-daji baja yamba-yukil murbuy murni-yamba baja, warrur nyubun mula-mula yalbay dayal, bangkan nyubun makirr junkurr, mayi nyubun dandi, kambar nyubun jurrbu-ji murni-manda nyulu kalbaymuny, nyulu jalbu-buban milbin bangkanka murni-manilka nganja-jarray nyubun-nyubun, murbuy-yamba wubulku yilbay bubu nyulu majaji mayi karra-mabimuny kadan.


<translate> You two see the toadfish here.


<translate> He also cut a new woomera from hard wood, so the spear would fly further and strike harder.

Nyulu mirrba jirakal yakan juku junkurrmuny, kalka kalakalbay marra-warrinka, junkurrku damanka.


<translate> You all see the kawarr bloodwood tree there.


<translate> Mother cooked fish, ate, and then sat down.

Ngamu-ngku kuyu wajun, nukan, bundan-da.


<translate> Which part of the body works hardest? the children asked, and the old woman laughed and said: the hand says the hand, the foot says the foot, the eye says the eye, but the true word is the breath, for it never lies down, it works in the dark while all the others sleep, and it stops only once.

Wanjaku yamba bangkarrmuny nyulu junkurr bajaku murnil? karrkay-karrkay babajin, wulbuman yajarr-man balkan: marabu balkal mara, jinabu balkal jina, miyilbu balkal miyil, yambada kuku yukil nyulu wawu, nyulu kariku wunay, nyulu wujurrba murnil yamba yindu wubulku wunanya, nyulu janay nyubunbu nganga.


<translate> Gather the mangrove worms for the fish, thread them on the line, throw it past the rocks, and wait for the bream to bite!

Nganjamu kajulmuny munja kuyu-nka, makarrbu yijarri, kuljimuny yilba, kuyu bayka-nya bunda!


<translate> South wind, a dry week; east wind, wet feet — read the invisible rivers.

Muyar jibarrmuny, wungar marral: muyar nakamuny, jina yaru: nyaji wawubaja nyaji-karimuny.


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


<translate> They see the kalburiji bee there.


<translate> You and I see the stomach here.


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


<translate> You and I saw the binainyji fig-like fruit there.


<translate> Mother wants meat without bones.


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


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


<translate> You see the bamboo stick there.


<translate> He caught the possum by the tail and pulled it down, and it bit and scratched, but he held it fast and killed it quickly and cleanly.

Nyulu yawa banda karrban, bada kulban, nyulu baykan yirban, yambada nyulu junkurr karrban, kunin junkurr ngulkurr.


<glossary> kambal ; type=noun ; domain=location-deixis <usage_example> Get the food from the low (branch)


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


<translate> We two, not you, saw the bububay blacktip shark here.


<translate> You two see the thigh there.


<translate> Grandmother said to the girl: "Come to the fire!"

Babi-ngka jalbu-karrkay-anda balkan: "Baya-ngundu kada-y!"


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


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

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


<glossary> dakal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> he got on the truck


<translate> We saw the karrandal tree here.


<translate> I saw the bulnja frogmouth there.


<translate> That long wild yam is there.


<translate> Give the meat juice to the roots — throw nothing away, the fat is the best part.

Wuynkurr daya bangkanba, kari yamba yilba, wandul nyulu yukil bajaku.


<translate> I see the rhinoceros beetle here.


<translate> You all see the spear thrower there.


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


<translate> You and I saw the rainbow here.


<translate> You two saw the scorpion here.


<translate> A good yam ground feeds a family for the whole wet season, said the old woman, so we never take all and always leave some to grow.

Kawu bubu ngulkurr jawunkarra nukamanil buluriji wubulku, wulbumanangka balkan, yala ngana kari wubulku manil, kanbal bawal wandinka.


<translate> Do not point at the rainbow, she warned the children, and do not swim in the deep holes while it is in the sky.

Kari yiril milbi, nyulu karrkay-karrkay balkan, kari maraji bana badanga yiril jiringa janaynya.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the jungu-jungu white ant eggs 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> mambarril ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=transfer-possession <usage_example> You didn't let me go


<translate> We see the young cassowary there.


<translate> What will you do when the old man dies? We will sing his songs, keep his fire, and teach his name to the children; a man does not die while his people remember him.

Wanyu yurra bungay mukul-dingkar wula-ny-muny? Ngana nyungu burri yirrka, nyungu baya karrba, nyungu buri karrkay-karrkayka binal-bunga; dingkar kari wulay, nyungu bama nyunguny milka-nga karrbal.


<translate> Mother saw the bark in the bag.


<translate> In the wet season the women went to the swamp to gather water lily roots and seeds for food.

Buluriji jalbu-jalbu walngkanga dungan, kababinamu ngara diburr bangkanka mayika.


<translate> The great old fig tree by the river crossing is a meeting place for all the river people.

Baril-baril yalbay mukul wawubaja karangkal, bama wubul muru-ma-nka bubu yinya.


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


<translate> The child does not want the bitter root; she wants the sweet ripe fruit and the cool clear water.

Karrkay wukay buyun-ka kari wawu; nyulu mayi kulbul jiba-wulay-ka bana ngiki-ka wawu.


<translate> Sing out if you see the storm coming.


<translate> You see the spider shell here.


<translate> The large round oyster is here.


<translate> The wallaby came to the grass.


<translate> You saw the kaya-kaya dogs there.


<translate> And so another good day ended in the camp by the river, as so many had before and so many would again.

Yalaku wungar ngulkurr yindu dunganda bayanba wawubajanga, yala wubul ngadiku, yala wubul kadanyjiku baja.


<translate> He sees the dulmbi umbrella palm here.


<translate> You all saw the barinkan scrub bird there.


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


<translate> The shell back snail is here.


<translate> He sees the sea turtle here.


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

Ngayu kangkal bajurr-bangkan, nyulu cassette dumbarrinya


<translate> We see the large round oyster there.


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


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

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


<translate> The old woman said: we should have taught the young ones the plant names, but we waited too long, and now that knowledge has gone with the old people.

Mukulungku balkan: ngali warru-warru juku burri binal-bunga-nyaku, yambada ngali bada bundan; binal wubul mukul-mukul-ji dunganda.


<translate> I see the large mud clam here.


<translate> The young man went into the rainforest to spear a wallaby.


<translate> The old man sat all alone without his family, thinking of the ones who had died.

Mukul-dingkar nyubun-bu bundan jawun-karra-mundu, bama wula-nya-muny milka-bu bayka-l.


<translate> We, not you, saw the dukunjulu golden whistler there.


<translate> I saw the freshwater eel here.


<translate> The mujarr fig tree is here.


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


<translate> You all saw the bajabaja lizard here.


<translate> Kuku Yalanji has two we-twos, the old man taught the visitor: ngali is me-and-him — you stand outside it — and ngaliny is me-and-you, nobody outside; so listen for the little ny: it tells you whether you are inside the word or outside it.

Kuku Yalanjibu 'ngali' jambul karrbal, mukulungku dingkarangka ngarrbal milbin: 'ngali' nyulu ngayu-nyulu, yundu ngalkalba janay, 'ngaliny' nyulu ngayu-yundu, bama-kari ngalkalba, yalada milka-janay 'ny'-ka bubanka: nyulubu balkal yundu kuku dukurrba yambada ngalkalba.


<translate> The old man said the fire and the plant are old friends: the fire clears the old scrub, and the new green food springs up thick where the fire has passed.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: baya mayi-juku-jirr jawun ngadiku — baya-ngka madja wulman waju, mayi jirakal balbal daka wubul baya dunga-nya.


<translate> The little child was very afraid of the big black dog that barked loudly at the camp.

Karrkay buban yinil bajaku kaya yalbay ngunjil-ka, kaya yirrkan yalbay-bu bayan-ba.


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

Yundu juma ngangkay, ngayu yunundu junjuy milbil


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


<translate> We saw the jurriyan satin bower bird here.


<translate> The eel is long and strong and hard to hold, so the old man spears it against the bottom of the hole.

Mawul kalbay yaykarr, karrbal dandi, mukul-dingkarangka yinba-bu daman bana-jina-nga.


<translate> Over there, where the sky sits on the hills — that is tomorrow's walk.

Yarra, wanja jiri bundal bubungu wangkara: yinya jilba wunkunymuny.


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

Yundu manu sugar buyim-bunga, lolly kari


<translate> They saw the ground lizard here.


<translate> You saw the julbal tree there.


<translate> Who is coming to the fire tonight? — All of you, both of them, and me: the whole word-family.

Wanya kaday bayaka wujurrba? Yurra wubulku, bula jambul, ngayu baja: jawun-karra kukumuny wubulku.


<translate> The tree kangaroo climbed high into the rainforest tree and sat still among the thick green leaves.

Jarrabina juku kalbay wangkar dakan madja junkurr-ba, bundan janka birra balbal junkurr dindarra-nga.


<translate> They see the spear point here.


<translate> The woman put liver on the ground.


<translate> You all see the small conical shellfish there.


<translate> Maybe he is late, maybe he is hurt, maybe he found honey — we start walking at the second maybe.

Nguba nyulu badaku, nguba nyulu baykanmuny, nguba nyulu wunba manin: ngana dungay kuku jambulkungu.


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


<translate> The angry, strong dog chased the frightened little children away from the big meat by the fire.

Kaya kuli-ji, junkurr-ji, karrkay-karrkay buban yini-yini kangan minya yalbay-muny baya ngundu.


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


<translate> You and I see the fire here.


<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.


<glossary> kalbarr ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> They're going together (because they're intereted in each other)


Yinya-ngka kubarr-angka yalbay-ngka maral baykan.


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


<translate> I saw the kira baby girl there.


<translate> The old woman said if you speak in anger you will say the one thing that cannot be unsaid, so when the anger is on you, close your mouth and open your feet, walk until the heat leaves your blood, and speak only when you could speak the same words to a child.

Wulbumanangka balkan: kaki yundu dukul-wuribu balka yundu kuku nyubun balkal nyulu murruji murni-manilmu, dukul-wuri nyungu jibanga janaka, nyungu ngandal nanda, nyungu jina wangkar, jilba kiway nyungu mulamuny dunganya, balka nganga kaki yundu kuku nyubun karrkaynka balka.


<translate> The rains came, just as grandad had said, and the whole country turned green again.

Kaba kadan, yala kamingka balkan, bubu wubulku jirakalmanda baja.


<translate> The girls ate the sweet figs until they were full, there in the shade of the tree.

Jalbu-jalbu-ngka jilanji jiba-wula-wula nukan, yajin-man, juku wabarr-ba yinyay.


<translate> The children were not afraid, because the old people told stories all through the storm, laughing at the thunder.

Karrkay-karrkay kari yinil, kamba-kambangka kuku balkan jarramali wubulku, jabulbinaka yajarrinya.


<translate> The woman saw the fish at the sea.


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


<translate> He saw the jungarr marsupial native cat here.


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


<glossary> milka-marri ; type=adjective ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> They have peace about that


<translate> The children learned the weather the way they learned everything — by watching the old people, by listening, and by living it season after season.

Karrkay-karrkayangka wungar binalman yala jana yambayamba binalmanmuny: kamba-kamba nyajinya, milka-jananya, wungar murninya wubulku bundanya.


<translate> The boy asked: what is this stick for? The old man said: that is a fire-drill; you twist it fast on soft wood, the smoke glows, and the fire is alive.

Jawun-karrkayngku babajin: nyiku jaba wanyu-nka? Mukul-dingkarangka balkan: yinya baya-jaba; yundu juku kima-nga warri murnil, kubu dakal, baya juran.


<translate> Did you hear that lonely bird calling out in the deep of the night, the old woman asked, for that call is a sure sign of the rains coming soon.

Yundu buyi yinya wujurr dajali-ba yirrka-nya milka-janan? mukul-jalbu-ngku nyajin, yinya yirrka kaba kada-nya-mu nyaji.


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


<translate> They see the yinkunji fig tree there.


<translate> The parrot is standing outside.


<translate> Do not leave the meat in the sun, lest it go rotten.

Kari minya wungar-a bawa, nyulu kabu-ma-nyji!


<translate> The old man said this was the deepest question of all, and its answer lay in the oldest stories, which he would tell them that very night.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan yinya babaji bada bajaku wubulmuny, nyungu kuku kuku ngadikungu janay, nyulu jana balkal yinya kunarangkalji.


<translate> We, not you, saw the baringkan small bird here.


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


<lexeme> bad spirit in form of crocodile


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

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


<translate> After the sleep, they went on again.


<translate> Come with us! — With you-all I would go anywhere; with the grumbler, not even to the near tree.

Kaday ngananji! Yurranji ngayu dungay wanjaka baja, bamanji kuli-ji kariku jukuku ngunduku.


<translate> Who will carry the message to the northern camp? I will carry it; I am young and my legs are strong. And what shall I say to them? Tell them the ceremony begins at the next full moon.

Wanyangka kuku kuwa-bayan-ka wundil? Ngayu wundil; ngayu warru, ngayku jina dandi. Wanyu ngayu jananku balka? Jana balka bubu-wungar kija yalbay-mba yudal.


<glossary> buban ; type=noun ; domain=quantity-number <usage_example> I have only a little bit of money


<translate> Grandmother heard news from the house.


<translate> Grandmother saw the bird in the tree.


<translate> They saw the rhinoceros beetle here.


<translate> You two saw the jinkalmu snake there.


<translate> Go down to the water now and bring back some good fish for the old people to eat by the fire.

Bada dunga-y bana-ka niji, kuyu ngulkurr wundi mukul-bama-nka nuka-nka baya ngundu.


<translate> Lightning! The children got frightened.


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


<translate> He sees the wurarr-wurarr dragonfly there.


<translate> The woman put water in the baby's mouth.

Jalbu-ngku bana yijarrin ngawa-nda ngandal-ba.


<translate> Grandfather saw the whirlwind.


<translate> They saw the hair belt here.


<translate> He sees the ghost crab here.


<translate> The old woman asked the boy why he had shouted beside the sleeping baby.

Mukul-jalbu-ngku karrkay-anda babajin, wanyurrimun yundu yirrkan ngawa warngku wuna-nya ngundu-ba?


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


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


<translate> The old man is the grandfather of all those little children playing over there.

Mukul-dingkar nyulu kami karrkay-karrkay buban yinya wubul-mu.


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


<translate> You two saw the biwul snake there.


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


<translate> The green fruit slowly became ripe, fell to the ground, and the pigeons ate it there.

Mayi kulbul-kari kulbul-man, bubungu daran, wabul yinyabu nukan.


<translate> The old man said the young trees are the camp's true wealth, worth more than any store of food, for a food-store is eaten and gone while a stand of young trees becomes a hundred years of food, medicine, and tools for children not yet born, so he made the boys plant and protect the seedlings of the good trees wherever they camped, as a gift forward to the unborn.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan juku buban nyulu bayan yamba-yukil ngadiku, ngulkurr-baja mayi-karrban wubulmuny, mayi-karrban nukal bada janji juku buban-wubul nyulu kulur wungar mayi kalbal kalka baja karrkay kariku warru-mandanmunynka, nyulu warru-warru bungal karrbal juku-buban yukil wubulku wanja jana bayan bungan, daji ngadiku-mundu kari-warru-mandanmunynka.


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


<translate> Mother got up to see the child.


<translate> That person there is generous.


<translate> With his sharp ears the child heard the dingo far away in the night.

Karrkayangka milka dandi-bu murramu ngaran kalbay-mba wujurr-ba.


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


<translate> The barking came from the house.


<translate> You all see the freshwater eel there.


<translate> We see the exposed place here.


<translate> The rain fell down and down for many days, one heavy day after another, until the river flooded.

Kaba daran daran daran wungar wubul-muny, jururr kulngkul, wawubaja yalbay-ma-nyjiku.


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


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

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


<translate> The flat-tailed ray is there.


<translate> You two see the mukukanka tree there.


<translate> On the clearest nights the old man showed the children the stars and told them the names and the stories written there.

Kunarangkal ngulkurr bajaku mukulungku dingkarangka karrkay-karrkay dawar milbin, burri kuku jiringa balkan.


<translate> Old man, were you ever fear-with? — Every so-called fearless man is fear-with; he is only also feet-with.

Mukul dingkar, yundu yinil-ji ngadiku? Bama 'yinil-kari' nyubun-nyubun nyulu yinil-ji, nyulu jina-ji baja nganga.


<translate> He sees the kaya-kaya dogs there.


<translate> The old woman said: I am old and can no longer hunt or weave or carry water, and yet the young still feed me and keep my fire, not because I am useful, but because I am theirs, and one day they will be old, and their children will do the same, and so the wheel turns and no one is ever thrown away.

Wulbumanangka balkan: Ngayu mukul, ngayu kari balbil wukurril bana wundil, yambada warru ngayku nukamanil baya kujil, kari ngayu yukilmuny, yambada ngayu jananka, nyubun wungara jana mukul-manda, nyungu kangkal yinya baja ngaral, yala murni murninya bama nyubun kari kudamundu yilbal yabarrka.


<translate> You all see the hillside there.


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

Jana carpenter-carpenterangka bayan ngaral-ngaral


<translate> The old woman said the crow watches everything and remembers, and if you are cruel to one crow, the whole mob will know your face and scold you for years.

Mukul-jalbu balkan: kalbu wubulku nyaji-nyaji milka-karrba, kaki yundu kalbu nyubun-ka buyun-mal, kalbu narmba yundu walu binal, yirrka-yirrka wungar wubul.


<translate> The young man got tree bark used as vine.


<translate> The old man said the day is finished, the fire is low, the children are asleep; now the old people may talk of the things not spoken by day.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: wungar kunbayn, baya bada, karrkay-karrkay warngku; niji mukul-bama kuku wungar-a balka-nya-kari balka.


<translate> We built a big fire on the beach so the fishermen could see home.

Ngana baya yalbay ngaran jukara, dingkar-dingkarangka nyajinka.


<translate> You see the burnt patch of grass there.


<translate> The child asked: why does the sun go down? The old man said: it goes to sleep in the sea, and it climbs out again in the morning; ask it no more, just watch and learn.

Karrkayngku babajin: wanyurringku wungar bada dungay? Mukul-dingkarangka balkan: nyulu yalmba-nga wuna dungay, wunkun daka baja; kariku baja babaji, nyaji nganga, binal-ma.


<translate> The old man said the snakes come out most in the warm wet season when the frogs are many, and the old people watch the ground with every step then.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: jarba ngalkal wubul kaba-wungar wumbul-ba yirku-yirku wubul-nya, mukul-bama bubu nyaji-nyaji jina nyubun-nyubun-bu.


<translate> And so the country and its people go on together, as they have since the very first morning.

Yalaku bubu bamaji dungay baja, yala ngadiku muduwajuny nyubunmuny.


<translate> We, not you, saw the jadamu bananas there.


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

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


<translate> Do not leave the fish or the meat out uncovered in the day, the old woman warned, or the flies will lay their eggs and the maggots will spoil all of it by night.

Kuyu minya baluda ngalkal-ba wungar-a wandi, mukul-jalbu balkan, marra-warri karrkay wandi, kandal wubulku kabu-bungal wujurr kada-nyjiku.


<translate> That shoulder blade is here.


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


<lexeme> want something but can't get it


<translate> This is my spear, that is your dilly bag, and those are his dogs.

Yanyu ngayku kalka, yinya yunu ngunyin, yinya-rriny nyungu kaya-kaya.


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


<translate> The old woman said a mother-in-law and her son-in-law, kept carefully apart by the avoidance rule, could still work together for the family across that distance, each providing for the same grandchildren, each honoring the other precisely by keeping the respectful gap, so that theirs was a bond expressed not through closeness but through a lifelong careful courtesy, and the old people said this distance protected a peace that too much closeness might have broken.

Wulbumanangka balkan biwul nyungu dunyu-karrkay, jibarr-jibarrbu ngundu-kari-manin, jambul nyubunji jawun-karra bungal yinya-mundu, jambul dayal jija nyubun-nyubunku, jambul nyaji-wayka yulmbarril jibarr-jibarr karrbalbu, karra jana nyungu nyulu kari ngundu-mundu yambada wawu-kalbay yulmbarril kima-mundu, bama mukul balkan jibarr-jibarr yinya kaka-kari karrban ngundu bajaku kajalmuny.


<translate> Mother brought the child to the house.


<translate> The sun climbs out of the sea, walks along the sky road, and falls behind the western ranges, the old woman traced it for the little ones with her arm: the sunrise belongs to the fishers, the high sun to the shade, the sunset to the cooking fires, and every person can learn the time by looking at the length of their own shadow.

Wungar dakal jalunmuny, jilbal jiri-baralburr, daray manjal kuwamuny badabada, wulbumanangka yinya milbin karrkay-bubanka wakuybu: wungar-dakal nyulu kuyu-bamamuny, wungar wangkar wabarrmuny, wungar-daray baya-wajumuny, bama nyubun-nyubun wungar binal-mal nyajinya wabarr nyungu-nyungu kalbay.


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


<translate> We (my brothers and I) speared many fish; we cooked them by the water; the old people came to us; and we gave the fish to them.

Nganjin kuyu wubul daman; nganjin bana ngundu wajun; mukul-mukul nganjinanda kadan; nganjin jananka kuyu dayan.


<translate> They see the kawarr bloodwood tree here.


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


<translate> They saw the scarlet robin here.


<translate> He sees the small conical shellfish here.


<translate> Grandmother roasted the wild yam.


<translate> You two see the rock python there.


<translate> We see the crescent perch here.


<translate> The dog followed me home; it slept beside me; in the morning it hunted with me; that dog is mine now.

Kaya nganya bayan-mundu wukurrin; nyulu ngaykundu wunan; wunkun nyulu ngaykunji balbin; yinya kaya ngayku.


<translate> You two see the crocodile there.


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


<translate> He saw the kurranday seagull here.


<glossary> jarrabina ; type=noun ; domain=fauna-mammal <usage_example> Nyungkul Yalanaji


<translate> We see the marrka calm sea here.


<translate> I saw the durra caterpillar there.


<translate> The most important thing in any camp is the fire, and someone must always keep it alive through the night.

Yamba ngulkurr bajaku bayanba baya, bama nyubungku yabarrka baya kujil kunarangkalji.


<translate> I drank water after the meal.


<glossary> yirri-damal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> My tank is leaking


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


<translate> The two of them see the large mud clam there.


<translate> The old woman said the small flowers of the scrub are not useless prettiness but the promise of the fruit to come, and a person who reads the flowering can already count the season's harvest weeks before it ripens, so she taught the girls to walk through the flowering scrub not just seeing the beauty but reading the future written all across it in white and yellow and red.

Wulbumanangka balkan nganka buban majaji nyulu kari yilbay yamba-yukil-kari yambada mayi kadalmuny kuku-junkurr, bama nyulu nganka ngaral nyulu ngadiku wungar mayi binalka wungar buban ngadiku nyulu kulbul-mandanya, nyulu jalbu-buban milbin majaji nganka-mabi jilbanka kari nganga yilbay nyajinka yambada wungar-kadal ngaral juku wubulku jarranmuny kambar makirr mula-mula baja.


<translate> You all see the king parrot here.


<translate> The always-angry person is there.


<translate> What did you make today? — A digging stick for mother, and a smaller one for my little sister, so she leaves mother's one alone.

Wanyu yundu bungan nyiku? Juku bakalmuny ngamunka, buban-baja jinkurrku ngaykumunyku, nyulu ngamumuny bawanka.


<translate> They saw the baliji people there.


<translate> That old man is completely deaf; he does not hear the children calling out his name.

Yinya mukul-dingkar milka-kari; nyulu karrkay nyungu burri yirrka-nya kari milka-jana-l.


<translate> The old man gave the prize — a good new spear — to the careful one, not the quick one.

Mukulungku dingkarangka mayi ngulkurr — kalka jirakal — dajin wunbunka, kari jinbalka.


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

Ngayku naybu wanjabu; yundu junjuy nyajin baya karangkal?


<translate> Her country was quiet and good.


<translate> String-making has its own hard line, the old woman reminded the girls at the fire: bark first of all, then into the water, then split, then roll on the thigh, then tie the two into one, and a girl who rolls before she splits makes a rope that remembers her hurry every single time it breaks.

Karra-murni nyulu jina dandi nyungu-nyungu-ji, wulbumanangka jalbu-buban milbin bayanga: warrur-ngurr, yalada bananga yijarrika, yalada dumbarrika, yalada murni wabanga, yalada jambul kaja nyubunku, jalbu-buban nyulu murnil dumbarrinka ngadiku, karrabu nyungu warri-warri milka-binalku dumbarrijinya nyubun-nyubunbu.


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


<translate> They saw the grass tree here.


<translate> Two men quarrelled over a hunting ground, and their anger grew hot and fast like a grass fire, and hard words passed between them that could not be unsaid.

Dingkar jambul balbi-bubuka kuni-wan, jana dukul-wuri wumbulmanda junkurr yala baya jikanba, kuku junkurr jana ngundu dungan kari murnilnyjiku.


<translate> The old man carved a message-stick, cut with marks for each camp along the road; the messenger carried it north to call the clans to the big meeting.

Mukul-dingkarangka duburan-jaba yakan, nyubun-nyubun bayan-nka jalbu-ngu; yirrka-bamangka kuwa-nga wundin, bama wubul yalbay-muru-nka yirrkan.


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


<translate> The middle child slept in the middle, and kept the peace just by lying there.

Karrkay dindarramuny wunan dindarraba, nyulu kaka-kari karrban wunanybu nganga.


<translate> The children went very fast.


<translate> I heard grandmother's words.


<translate> At dawn the morning star shines bright and clear in the pale eastern sky.

Muduwaju kurrubijal jiri-nga balbal bunda-l ngulkurr.


<translate> Do not make the child afraid of the water; make him respectful of it — one drowns swimmers, the other raises them.

Kari karrkay yinyil-kanga bananka: binal-bunga nyulu yulmbarrinka: nyubunbu maraji-bama bana manil, yindubu jana wandi-bungal.


<glossary> narmba ; type=adjective ; domain=quantity-number <usage_example> All the people came


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


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


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


<translate> You two see the queenfish here.


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

Jana truckmundu warrin warrin, warrin, jana yilkinga.


<translate> A good spear-thrower sends the spear flying far and straight, not like the bare hand alone.

Balur ngulkurr-bu kalka kala-kalbay marra-warri jinbal, mara nyubun-bu kari yala.


<translate> The old woman said the fire is where the day comes to rest: the hunting done, the food cooking, the people drawing in from the edges of the country to the one warm center, and it is here, in the good tiredness after the meal, that the stories are told and the children learn who they are and where they come from.

Wulbumanangka balkan: baya wanja wungar mara-kunbanka kaday: balbil dumban, mayi wajunya, bama bubu wular-muny ngundu-mundu dukurr-bu wumbul nyubunku kadan, yinya, mayimuny wawu-wula-y yukilba, jangkar balkan karrkay-karrkay binal jana wanyu jana wanjamuny kadanmu.


<translate> Mother put the spear on the road.


<glossary> ngarra-yilbal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> He passed me (while driving along)


<translate> I saw the barinkan scrub bird there.


<translate> The little ones are asleep — talk quietly.

Ngawa-ngawa warngku wunay — wunbuku balka!


<translate> He sees the large mud clam here.


<translate> The women sang and the men danced.

Jalbu-jalbu wulngku badin, dingkar-dingkar wurin.


<lexeme> the Aboriginal camp at Thompson Creek


<translate> Long ago the moon was a man who made all the women at the big waterfall.

Kalbay-muny kija nyulu dingkar-baja, nyulu jalbu wubul bana-yalbay-ba bungan.


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


<translate> I see that wurmbariji scrub tree.


<translate> You two see the kalburiji bee here.


<translate> The old man laughed at the girl.


<translate> Grandmother sees the rain there.


<translate> Take the bag lest the food fall.


<translate> You all see the windbreak there.


<translate> He whispered very quietly to the frightened child so that the wild pig would not hear them.

Nyulu yayngkar janka bajaku karrkay yini-yini-nka, bikibiki kuli kari nyaji-l jana-nka.


<translate> The two of them saw the yiki owl there.


<translate> The right hand of the river is rocky; the left is kind to canoes — rivers are handed like people.

Jurrubiji wawubajamuny kulji-ji: jakuji kima marrakannka: wawubaja mara-ji yala bama.


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


<translate> This good dog is faster than that other one, and it always catches the kangaroo first.

Kaya yinya ngulkurr jarra-jinbal kaya yindu-nka, nyulu mayarriji niji karrban.


<translate> The old man rubbed the sweet warm fat on his son's sore back leg by the fire.

Mukul-dingkar-angka minya wumbul warru jina kaka-nga julngkan, baya ngundu.


<translate> The old man came from my place with me; he stayed in my camp; I gave him my own spear; and he taught me the songs of the country.

Mukul-dingkar ngaykundumuny ngaykunji kadan; nyulu ngayku bayanba bundan; ngayu nyulu ngayku kalka dayan; nyulu nganya burri bubu-mu binal-bungan.


<translate> Ask the old dilly-bag expert about the dilly bags, for she knows best of all how to weave them.

Babaji mala-ngunyin-da ngunyin-ka, nyulu binal ngunyin bunga-nka ngulkurr bajaku.


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

Nyulu ngankuku dungan ngayu letter kariku kunbay-manin


<translate> "Which one of these two spears is the good one, the long straight one or the heavy hard one?"

Wanjinya kalka jambul-mu ngulkurr, kalbay jinbal yamba junkurr kulngkul?


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


<translate> The two of them saw the bajalji python there.


<translate> The liver and the guts of the fat kangaroo are given to the old people, who like them best.

Mayarriji wandul-jirr jiba julbi baja mukul-bama-nka daji, jana wawu bajaku.


<translate> The path was long and hard, but at last we came to the big river as the sun went down.

Jina kalbay junkurr-baja, yamba niji ngana wawubaja yalbay-ka kadan, wungar bada-nya.


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


<translate> The two of them saw the jalkay salmon here.


<translate> They see the ngajay small crayfish here.


<translate> The children learned that precaution is not fear but knowing: you do not cover the fire because you are afraid of it, but because you understand it, and understanding is the truest safety there is.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman nyaji-ngarr kari yinil, yambada binal: yundu baya kari nanda yundu yinilmuny, yambada yundu binalmuny, binal yinil-kari bajaku yukil.


<translate> Father sees the swamp there.


<translate> They gathered mussels and threw them.


<glossary> balibali ; type=adjective ; domain=physical-property <usage_example> The house is leaky, the water is coming in


<translate> If there is no water along the road, take the billycan.

Kaki bana kari baral-darr, jungkalu wundi.


<translate> The men tracked the honey by following a single bee back and forth until it led them to a hollow tree, marked the tree, made a smoky torch to quiet the bees, climbed up and cut into the hollow, took out the dark comb dripping with honey, left some for the nest, and then came down and shared it around, still warm from the sun.

Dingkar-dingkar wunba wukurrin minya-buban nyubun walanya wukurrin dukul juku dimbirr-mundu jilbamanin, juku burri-manin, kubu-jimal bungan dandi janka-bungalka, wangkar dakan dimbirr-bu dakan, mandi-mandi wujurr wunba-bu jinbal-manda manin, buban bawan juku-bayanka, yalada bada kadan daji-wan, wumbul wungara baja.


<translate> The children learned that warmth shared is warmth doubled, and cold faced together is only half as cold.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman: wumbul dajiwanmuny wumbul jambulmanil, kiway jambulku nyajinmuny kiway buban nganga.


<glossary> dingkal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> You knead the damper


<translate> We see the dingki tree there.


<translate> The two of them see the jalan sea urchin there.


<translate> In the evening the sun goes down into the sea, and the cool night comes over the quiet camp.

Wujurr-ma-nya wungar jalun-ka bada dungan, ngiki wujurr kaday bayan janka-nga.


<translate> The girl's mother prepared the ground seed food on the flat stone all morning.

Jalbu buban-amu ngamu mayi diburr kulji jirakal-ba bungan wunkuwingku wubulku.


<translate> I heard the song from far away, coming through the tall trees along the winding river.

Ngayu wulngku kala-kalbay-mundu nyajin, juku kalbay-burr kadan wawubaja-burr.


<translate> The muddy swamp is full of frogs and water birds in the middle of the wet season.

Daburri buyun karrkurr buyi-bana baja wubul, kaba-wungar dindarra-nga.


<translate> He sees the mawal bee there.


<translate> You and I see the jumper ant there.


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


<translate> At dawn the men speared barramundi in the deep part of the river, standing very still on the sand bank.

Wunkuwingku dingkar judi daman wawubaja dukurr-ba, jukar-a janka janan.


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


<translate> They see the fire stick here.


<translate> The bingkajiri tree is there.


<translate> The children learned to read the flight of the bees to find the honey, watching which way they flew heavy and slow toward their home at the end of the day.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman dabumu yala nyajinka wunba nyajinka, jana nyajin dabu wanjaka jalaman dandi buban-buban nyungu bayanka yilay-yilay.


<translate> The old man held up two stones and said: this hard one is like a man's word — once given, it does not break or change.

Mukul-dingkarangka kulji jambul wandin, balkan: yinya junkurr yala dingkar-mu kuku — nyubun-bu dajin, kari dumbarri, kari yindu-mal.


<translate> The child brought the school words home, and grandmother traded one old word for each of them — both bags went home full.

Karrkaybu kuku school-muny wundin bayanka, babingka kuku mukul nyubun dayan nyubun-nyubunka: balji jambul dungan bayanka jakal-ji.


<translate> The man took off the clothes.


<translate> The child washed grandfather's body.


<translate> You and I saw the star here.


<translate> We see the sugar glider here.


<translate> The shovelnose ray is there.


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


<translate> The children caught the small crabs in the mud where the mangroves grow.

Karrkay-karrkay-angka wurru-bulan buban manin kambal-kambal-ba kajul karangkal.


<translate> In the early morning many birds call out loudly all through the thick scrub.

Wunkuwingku buyi wubul yirrka-y yalbay-bu madja-nga wubulku.


<translate> He sees the grass wallaby there.


<translate> The man left the charcoal in the bag.


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


<translate> We two, not you, saw the barinkan scrub bird here.


<translate> The old woman said no child raised knowing a hundred relatives ever truly believes themselves worthless, for a person who is loved by many cannot easily be persuaded that they are nothing.

Wulbumanangka balkan: karrkay nyulu jawun-karra wubul binalji kambanmuny kari yabarrka nyulu-nyulu yamba-kari binal, bama nyulu wubulbu wawu jirray janay kari junkurr binal-manil nyulu yamba-kari.


<translate> They see the wurarr-wurarr dragonfly there.


<translate> We see the madu sea pine here.


<translate> From there you can see the whole camp and the smoke of the fires.

Yinyay-muny yundu bayan wubul nyajil, baya-mu kubu-baja.


<translate> The stinging tree is standing at camp.


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


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


<translate> You saw the yarrkay-yarrka group of children here.


<translate> You and I see the hillside here.


<translate> That willie wagtail is there.


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


<translate> They two saw the freshwater turtle there.


<translate> I sweep and clean the house in case my friend comes.

Ngayu bayan kidal, dayirr-bungal, kunka ngayku jawun kada-nya-mun-ku.


<translate> The old man said nothing on a creature is wasted, and the fat most of all: the fat of the goanna and the possum and the fish is the richest food of the lean time, rendered slowly over gentle heat and stored, and a spoon of it in the cold months does more than a whole meal of lean meat, so the fat is guarded and shared with the old first.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: minyanga yamba nyubun kari kudamundu, wandul wubulku bajaku: jadi kambi-mabi kuyu baja wandul mayi jiba-wulay bajaku dakwuy wungarmu, wumbul buban-bu buban-buban balamu-manin karrban, wandul buban kiway-kiway wungara ngulkurr-baja minya jiba-kari wubulmuny, wandul yabarrka kujil mukulnka ngadiku daji-way.


<translate> The leaves from that tree are dry.


<translate> We saw the snake in the grass.


<translate> They heard the halloo there.


<translate> That bukunjarra tree is there.


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


<translate> Good rope takes patience and strong hands, he said, but it lasts many years and holds a man's weight over deep water.

Karra ngulkurr wunbu manil, mara junkurr, nyulu balkan, yambada wungar wubulku janay, bama dandi kujil bana badanga wuyar.


<translate> You two saw the yawa possum here.


<translate> You and I see the toadfish here.


<glossary> bangkal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=transfer-possession <usage_example> When I went to Brisbane, I got (gathered) toys and clothing for my younger brothers

ngayu Brisbane dungan, toy, kambi bangkal-bangkan yabaju-karragna


<translate> The child left the axe in the bag.


<translate> The tame one envies the bush one on calm days, and pities her in the storm.

Minya munabu ngura-nyajil minya bubumuny wungara wunbuba, dukul-kulnkul-mal jarramaliba.


<translate> We (not you) are the seaside people; you all are the scrub people.

Nganjin jalun-ji-warra; yurra maja-ji-warra.


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

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


<translate> The boy caught many little fish on a line with a small sharp bone hook.

Warru-ngku kuyu buban wubul baduri badur buban jinbal-ji karrban.


<translate> Little one, a secret is not a stone you swallow; it is a seed — plant it with the right person, or it grows crooked.

Bubanku, kuku ngakijinmuny kari kulji yundu yurmbilmuny: nyulu diburr: yijarri bamanda yukilanda, yambada nyulu yalbay-mal mumbu.


<translate> He saw the karkunbay stockwhip bird here.


<translate> The old man asked grandmother about meat.


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


<translate> They saw the jimalili lizard here.


<translate> You two see the rock python here.


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


<translate> The old woman cannot see the small track now, for her tired eyes are old and weak in the dark.

Mukul-jalbu jina buban kari nyaji-l niji, nyungu miyil warngku-warngku mukul ngungul-ba.


<translate> He cried out before he died, the old people still tell of the man taken at the river crossing, and that cry turned back the three young men following behind him, so they say: a person's last word is the truest thing he leaves his people.

Nyulu yirrkan wulanyjiku, bama mukulungku yabarrka balkal dingkarmuny bana-baralba maninmuny, kuku yinyabu warru kulur wukurrinya murnin baja, yalada jana balkal: kuku bada bamamuny nyulu yamba yukil bajaku jawun-karranka.


<translate> So the children came to see the whole country as one great living thing that fed them and taught them and held them, and they loved it as they loved their own mother.

Yalaku karrkay-karrkay bubu wubulku nyajin yala yamba nyubun wawuji yalbay, nyulu jana nukamanil, milbin, kujin, jana wawu-jirray yala jana nyungu ngamu wawu-jirray.


<translate> You and I see the warrabuka yam there.


<translate> They saw that madu sea pine.


<translate> The old woman gently held the sick baby's little head in her own two hands.

Mukul-jalbu-ngka ngawa bambay dukul buban nyungu mara jambul-bu ngulkurr karrban.


<translate> The children carried food to the old people who could not walk to the fire, as they were taught.

Karrkay-karrkayangka mayi wundin kamba-kambanka, jana murruji jilba dungay bayaka, yala jana milbinya.


<translate> I see the light-coloured clothing.


<translate> The grandmother said there are four living generations in the camp: herself and the old man, their children now grown, their children's children, and the newest babies, and she had watched the pattern turn four times like the seasons.

Babingka balkan: bama jambul-jambul bubu wawu bayanba: nyulu-nyulu mukul dingkar baja, nyungu kangkal nyiku yalbay, nyungu kangkalmu kangkal, ngawa jirakal, nyulu nyajin murni jambul-jambul murninya yala wungar.


<translate> You all see the mukukanka tree here.


<translate> We see the burnt patch of grass here.


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


<translate> That clothing there is not folded.


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


<translate> You all saw the mawu grass there.


<translate> They see the mawal bee here.


<translate> They saw the barka snake there.


<translate> The hunter came from the north, but he watched the whole plain from the top of the hill.

Balbi-bama kungkarr-muny kadan, yamba bubu narmba nyajin jamba-mundu.


<glossary> kaki ; type=particle ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> When/if you go, close the gate


<translate> You and I see the mullet there.


<translate> The old man cut into the tree and pulled out the dark sweet sugarbag honey, the old woman said, comb and wax and grubs together, and shared it among all the children.

Mukul-dingkarangka juku baka, ngamurr ngumbu jiba-wulay ngalkal mani, kuja-mu bayan wandul karrkay-jirr muru, mukul-jalbu balkan, karrkay-karrkay wubulku-nka daji.


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


<translate> The man took the bark from the ground.


<translate> You two saw the jadi goanna here.


<translate> They saw the wooden sword here.


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


<translate> The two of them see the kubu-kubu tadpole here.


<lexeme> sharp corner in the upper reaches of Daintree River


<translate> The people of that country, who had two languages, spoke both the coast tongue and the inland tongue.

Bama bubu yinya-mu kuku jambul-jirr, jalun kuku jibarr kuku jambulku balkan.


<translate> You two saw the mayfly here.


<translate> Grandfather spoke to the child.


<translate> The friend asked father about meat.


<translate> Wipe the sweat and the saliva from the sick child's hot face with a soft, wet cloth.

Jila-warri nyumba baja karrkay bambay walu wumbul-muny mani, kambi kima bana-jirr-bu.


<translate> The women and children hunted bandicoots in the daytime, following their small tracks through the long grass to the burrows where they slept.

Jalbu-jalbu karrkay-karrkay kulngu balbin wungara, jina buban jirrkuman jikan kalbaymba, bakanka wanja jana warngku wunay.


<translate> The two of them saw the kuran case-moth larva there.


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


<glossary> walu-murumal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> I'm annoyed, too much noise


<translate> After grinding the seeds all the long morning, the old woman began at once to bake the good bread in the hot coals, the old man said.

Wawu-murni-nya-muny diburr wunkuwingku narmba, mukul-jalbu-ngku yudal niji-bu mayi ngulkurr waju-nka kubu wumbul-ba, mukul-dingkar balkan.


<glossary> binju ; type=noun ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> tea that is too strong


<translate> The men set the big fish net across the creek and waited for the tide to go out.

Dingkar-angka makarr yalbay wawubaja-nga bundan, bana bada dunga-nya maku-janan.


<translate> The woman tricked the man by lying.


<translate> The stupid young man with no sense walked alone into the dark scrub, not knowing the country.

Warru kiru-kari madja ngungul-ka nyubun-bu jilban, bubu nyulu binal-kari.


<translate> The dog bit the child's hand.


<translate> We saw the deep water there.


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


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


<translate> They see the king parrot there.


<translate> They walked the coast road at low tide when the sand was firm, watching for the tracks of the turtles that come up the beaches at night, and where they found the tracks they dug and found the eggs buried in the warm sand.

Jana jalun baral jilban bana badanya wanja jukar junkurr, jana nyajil ngawiya jina nyulu jalunba wujurr wandina, wanja jana jina nyajin jana bikan ngawiya kabul nyajin jukar wumbulba kunjinmu.


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


<translate> You two saw the pumice stone there.


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


<translate> You and I see the kawarr bloodwood tree there.


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


<translate> The two young men swam out beyond the reef to the deep blue water where the big turtles feed on the drifting weed.

Warru jambul-angka dulngku-muny kala-kalbay-ka maraji, bana dajali jiri-mu-ba wanja ngawiya yalbay wayul warri-nya nuka.


<translate> The little child kept peeping into the dilly-bag to see the honeycomb, and the old woman kept slapping the small hand away, laughing.

Karrkay buban nuril-nuril ngunyin-ba, ngamurr nyaji-nka, mukul-jalbu mara buban dama-dama kanga, yajarri.


<glossary> wawu-daki ; type=adverb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> He wants to live alone


<translate> Slowly the old man grew stronger, and after a while he could sit up and eat a little food again.

Buban-bubanku mukul dingkar junkurrmanda, nyulu bundandan, mayi buban nukan baja.


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


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

Dingkarangka karrkay dakandin kuli-kadanymundu


<glossary> kalbarr ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> They're going together (because they're intereted in each other)


<translate> The oak tree drops its nuts in the cold season, and the scrub turkeys eat them.

Dalban-juku nyungu darka daray-manil ngiki-wungar-a, jarruka nukal.


<translate> They see the kakaji mangrove tree here.


<translate> The children understood then why the old people would never take more than they needed, and why they thanked the animals and the plants, and why they wasted nothing.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman yalada wanyurringku kamba-kamba kari wubul manil nyungu wawumuny, wanyurringku minya mayi ngulkurr balkan, wanyurringku nyubun kari yilban.


<translate> By the time the first rain came that night, the whole family sat dry and warm inside, listening to it fall.

Kaba kadanya yinya kunarangkal, jawunkarra wubulku dukurr bundandan marral wumbul, kaba badinya milka-jananya.


<translate> My head hurts — I'll lie down in the shade.

Ngayu dukul kaka — ngayu wabarrba wunay.


<translate> That wood there is not rotten.


<translate> The old woman said: The tall tree was once the smallest seed, and the biggest man was once the smallest baby, so never laugh at what is small, for small does not stay small.

Wulbumanangka balkan: Juku kalbay ngadiku diburr buban bajaku, dingkar yalbay ngadiku ngawa buban bajaku, kari yundu yajarril yamba bubanka, buban kari buban janay yabarrka.


<translate> The old woman said to the young wife: your husband's people are your people now, but never forget where you came from.

Wulbumanangka manyarr buban balkan: yunu dunyumu bama nyiku yunumu bama, yambada kari milka-wula wanjamuny yundu kadan.


<translate> We see the cockatoo crest here.


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


<translate> Father washed mother's upper leg.


<translate> The roots of this vine are good medicine for a sore stomach.

Yanyu maya-mu ngara ngulkurr dukunjaka, jibar bambay-nka.


<translate> The father teaches his son to hunt and to make the spear, the old man said, while the mother teaches the daughter to weave the dilly-bag and to dig the yams.

Nganjan-ngku warru-kangkal binal-bungal balbi-nka kalka bunga-nka, mukul-dingkar balkan, ngamu-ngku jalbu-kangkal binal-bungal ngunyin jaba-nka bambayal baka-nka.


<translate> I take water in case there is no water along the road.

Ngayu bana wundil, kunka bana kari baral-darr.


<translate> They saw the kakaji mangrove tree here.


<translate> Grandmother sweeps the ground for the camp.


<translate> She walked all the way to the far camp without any shoes on her two sore feet.

Nyulu bayan kalbay-ka jilba-dungan jina-kambi-mundu, jina jambul kaka-ji.


<glossary> jarrabina ; type=noun ; domain=fauna-mammal <usage_example> Nyungkul Yalanaji


<translate> The old man said to the boy: "When the hot season comes, where will we two find the ripe fruit and honey?"

Mukul-dingkar-angka karrkay balkan: Wumbul-wungar kada-nya, ngali wanjabu mayi kulbul wunba mani?


<translate> When the heavy wet-season rains come, the rivers run full and the whole dry country turns lush and good.

Kaba kulngkul kaday, wawubaja yalbay-ma-l wanarri, bubu narmba marral ngulkurr-ma-l.


<translate> You see the woomera butt there.


<translate> The woman searched around for yams but got nothing.

Jalbu wukay-mba nubi-nubi-ji, kari mani.


<translate> The person there is generous.


<translate> You and I see the windbreak here.


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

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


<translate> A man with a good spirit and true words is a man that all the people follow and listen to.

Dingkar wawu ngulkurr-ji, kuku yukil-jirr, yinya dingkar bama narmba wukurri, nyaji-l.


<translate> You and I see the black-tip shark there.


<translate> The man saw liver in the shade.


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

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


<translate> You and I see the wubali yam there.


<translate> You all saw the baringkan small bird there.


<translate> The boys threw all afternoon until their arms ached.

Dabalangka kalka yilbalyilban yilay-yilay, mara kakamarinda.


<translate> You two saw the jirabay lizard there.


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


<translate> The dog is sitting beside me, and the child is standing near you.

Kaya ngaykundu bundan, karrkay yunundu janay.


<translate> We, not you, saw the kurranday seagull here.


<translate> They saw the balarri queenfish there.


<translate> The old man did not shout or scold; he simply said that a lie is a heavy thing to carry.

Mukul-dingkar kari yirrkan kari murru-kangan, nyulu janka balkan jurril kulngkul minya.


<translate> Grandfather takes the child so that the child will be happy.

Kami-ngka karrkay wundi-l, wawurrwawurr-ma-nka.


<translate> Granny pulled it out by the tail!


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


<translate> He sees the julbal tree here.


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


<translate> It's going to rain — look at those clouds.


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


<translate> When they returned, the old woman went straight to the graves of her parents and sat with them a long while telling them everything she had seen, for she said the dead travel with us on every journey, riding quiet in our memory, and it is only courteous to tell them of the country when we come home.

Jana kadanya, wulbumanangka mula-mulamu bimu-mu wulanmu dungan yaral bundan kalbay jananka wubulku nyulu nyajinmu milbin, nyulu balkan: bama wula ngananji jilbal wubulku, janka wunay ngana milkanga, yukil yala jananka bubu balkanka ngana bayan-mundu kadanya.