<translate> Which story is true? — Walk to the place and look with your own eyes; the country will judge both tellers.

Wanjaku kuku-jangkar manubaja? Jilba bubuku, nyaji miyilbu yundumunybu: bububu balkal-bama jambul nyajil.


<glossary> kayal ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> They eat raw meat


<translate> I saw the kalbali tall man there.


<translate> I brought the bag from the house.


<translate> They made a canoe from cottontree.


<translate> Work the spear smooth tonight; we leave under the morning star.

Kalka murni wujurrba, ngana dungay kurrubijal badabada.


<translate> You two saw the kalkamuku snake there.


<translate> We see the waral stomach here.


<glossary> mala bajaku ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> He's the one (who are the lollies)


<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 bird flew from the tree.


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


<translate> The children found a grub in the rotten log, pulled it out, roasted it on the coals, and shared it.

Karrkay-karrkay jambun juku kabungu nyajin, manin, ngunjilba dindan, daji-wanda.


<translate> When the wallabies came close, the hidden hunters rose up and threw their spears all at once, and two big wallabies fell and the rest bounded away.

Darrba ngundu kadanda, balbibama ngaki-jinmuny wandin, kalka yilban nyubunbu, darrba jambul yalbay wulan, kanbal warrin baja.


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


<translate> We see the small conical shellfish here.


<translate> The white man's knife cut faster than the old shell knife, so the people traded for it; but the old woman kept her shell knife, saying it never spoiled the taste of the fish.

Waybala-mu naybu warri yakan, warkal-naybu-ngadiku, bamangka dajiway; yambada mukulungku nyungu warkal-naybu karrban, balkan: warkal-naybu-ngku kuyu kariku buyun-bungal.


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

Jarba-bu karrkay kari baykan, karrkay ngulkurr.


<translate> "Who gave you that good meat and the sweet fruit that you are eating there by the fire?"

Wanyangka yundu minya ngulkurr mayi jiba-wulay dajin, yundu nuka-l baya ngundu?


<translate> If the tide is low at dawn, the old woman said, we walk the reef for shellfish; if it is high, we fish from the rocks; and if a big wind comes from the seaward side, we do neither but stay in camp and mend the nets.

Kaki bana bada muduwajungu, wulbumanangka balkan, ngana jalun-ba jina jubulka; kaki bana wangkar, ngana kuljinga kuyu manil; kaki wangkar yalbay naka-muny kaday, ngana jambulku kari, ngana bayanba bundan makarr ngulkurr-bungal.


<translate> We all, not you, see the straw-necked ibis here.


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


<translate> I see the father's sister there.


<translate> They see the mukukanka tree here.


<translate> The two of them saw the makarra streaky yellow ochre here.


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


<translate> The young man wants the woman from the coast for his wife, the old man said, so he has brought fish and turtle meat to her people.

Warru wawu jalbu jalun-mu-nka nyungu biwar-nka, mukul-dingkar balkan, nyulu kuyu ngawiya minya-jirr nyungu bama-nka kadan.


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


<translate> You two see the grasshopper there.


<translate> Many trees are standing there beside the camp.

Juku wubul yinyay janjanay bayan karangkal.


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


<translate> Everyone laughed — even granny!


<translate> You saw the julaji freshwater catfish there.


<translate> Put the baby on the blanket.


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


<translate> That crested pigeon is there.


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


<translate> They saw the shovelnose ray there.


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


<glossary> kulun ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> He didn't give any food because of selfishness


<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> You all see the jellyfish there.


<translate> We saw the blue-tongue lizard.


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


<translate> You and I saw the bujabay tree here.


<translate> Far out in the dark and the rain, one of the young men saw the small light of the fire on the shore.

Kalakalbay wujurrbu kabanga, warru nyubungku baya buban nyajin jalun ngundu.


<translate> The thunderstorms rise when the year turns hot and they grow stronger toward the wet, the old people say, and some things call them and some things turn them away, so the old man burned ironwood leaves when the sky stacked up black, and whether the storm heard the smoke or not, the camp stood quieter for the doing.

Jarramali wandil wangariji kadanya, nyulu junkurr-mal bana-wungarku, bama mukulungku balkal, yamba nyubunbu jana kunjal yamba yindubu jana murnil kala-kalbay, yalada mukulungku dingkarangka jujubala birra wajun jiri ngumbu-manya, jarramalibu kubu milka-janan yambada kari, bayan janan wunbu-baja murnilmuny.


<translate> The lady apple tree is there.


<translate> The old man said: do not think only of yourself; think of your brothers, your children, and your people; such a person becomes small and alone.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan: yundu kari nganga yununy milka-bu bayka; yunu yaba-karra, yunu karrkay-karrkay, yunu bama milka-bu bayka; yinya bama buban-mal nyubun-mal.


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


<translate> As a child I used to eat kangaroo, wallaby, possum, and echidna, all cooked in the hot coals.

Ngayu karrkay-nyja-ku minya mayarriji, kadar, yawa, ngangkin nuka-l-nuka-n, narmba ngunjil-ba wajun.


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


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


<translate> I saw the karrkurr frog here.


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


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


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

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


<translate> The youngest boy hit the mark first and grandad laughed with joy.

Yabajungku damanyarr, kami yajarrinda wawu-mini.


<translate> The small child cried for its mother all through the night.

Karrkay buban ngamu-ka badil wujurr wubulku.


<translate> The woman dropped the stick on father's shin.

Jalbu-ngku juku daray-manin nganjan-anda bibar-a.


<translate> You see the wankar tree here.


<translate> The men kept spearing around for fish while the tide was rising.

Dingkar-dingkar kuyu-ngu dama-n-dama-ji, yira daka-l.


<translate> The old man said the highest form of exchange is not goods for goods but gift for gift, where each gives freely without keeping count, trusting that over a lifetime the giving will balance, and it always does, and more.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: daji-way wangkar bajaku kari yamba yambaku, yambada dajil dajilku, wubulku ngulkurr-bu daji kari wubul nyajil, manu-baja-bungal wawu wubulmuny daji-way yukil-manyjiku, yabarrka yukil-manil, wubul-baja baja.


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


<translate> You all see the mudcrab there.


<lexeme> mountain and river flowing from mountain


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


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


<translate> We see the yawarr palm here.


<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> You saw the julaji freshwater catfish there.


<translate> We two, not you, see the black-tip shark there.


<translate> You all see the black bream there.


<translate> The old woman said the change of a green fruit into a ripe one cannot be rushed, and a person who picks the fruit early to hurry it finds only a hard sour thing that will never sweeten off the branch, so she taught that some changes have their own time and cannot be forced, that a child cannot be hurried into an adult nor a grief hurried into peace nor a raw skill hurried into mastery, and that wisdom includes knowing which changes you may push and which you must simply wait upon.

Wulbumanangka balkan yindu mayi jirakalmuny kulbulmuny nyulu kari warri-bungalmuny, bama nyulu mayi bangkal ngadiku warri-bungalka nyulu manil nganga yamba dandi ngambuy nyulu kariku jiba-wulay-mal dakil-karinga, nyulu milbin yindu nyubun-nyubun nyungu-nyungu wungar karrbal kari junkurr-bungalmuny, karrkay nyulu kari warri-bungal mukul-bama-nka wawu-mumbu warri-bungal wunbuku binal buban warri-bungal binal yalbay-ngka, wawu-yukil nyulu binal wanyu yindu yundu jurrngal wanyu yundu nganga maku-janalmuny.


<translate> You saw the kukur rat there.


<translate> You two saw the mawal bee there.


<translate> The old woman said: A person who cannot name their feelings is like a hunter lost in the dark striking out at shadows, but a person who knows their own heart walks in the light.

Wulbumanangka balkan: bama nyulu nyungu wawu murruji kunjal yala balbibama kilbaji wujurrbu wujurr kunil, yambada bama nyulu nyungu wawu binal wungara jilbay.


<translate> You sweep the whole house thoroughly!


<translate> When the stones were hot she raked out the coals, laid down a thick bed of wet green leaves, put the food on top — the wrapped fish, the yams, the meat — covered it with more wet leaves and then a thick blanket of earth, and sealed it so no steam escaped, and left it to cook slowly in its own heat.

Kulji wumbul janay-mba nyulu ngunjil bangkan, birra duna junkurr bada yijarrin, mayi wangkar daya — kuyu buwun, juwal, minya baja — birra duna wubul baja wangkar-manin, bubu junkurr baja, karra nyulu bana-kubu kari dungay, bawan nyulu nganga wumbulba buban-buban wajunku.


<translate> The men followed the wallaby's tracks, waited near the trees, threw their spears, and then carried the meat home.

Dingkar kadar jina wukurrin, juku ngundu bundan, kalka yilban, minya bayanka wundinda.


<translate> Stop it now! Don't hit the dog any more.


<translate> The person here is beautiful.


<translate> That man is from Wujal Wujal.


<translate> I saw the dulmbi umbrella palm here.


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


<translate> Big brother went fishing with a hook and line. He sat on the rock all day. He caught nothing.

Yaba dungan baduriji. Nyulu kuljinga bundandan. Nyulu yamba-kari manin.


<translate> We see the spoon bill bird here.


<translate> The big tree fell, a sharp crash came, and the birds flew out of the scrub.

Juku yalbay daran, kadil junkurr kadan, buyi-buyi madja-muny marra-warrin.


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

ngayu baduriji dungaka, yinya bubu babanka


<translate> In the morning the possums were gone.


<translate> He sees the karranda tree here.


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


<translate> Everyone in the camp helped to build the new shelter before the first heavy rains of the wet season came, the old woman said.

Bama bayan-mu wubulku mara-dajil wurun jirakal bunga-nka kaba yalbay kaba-wungar-mu kada-nyjiku, mukul-jalbu balkan.


<translate> Where did you find these sweet ripe figs, the old woman asked the girl, for I want very much to go to that same place myself the next day.

Yundu junda jiba-wulay kulbul yinya wanjamuny manin? mukul-jalbu-ngku jalbu nyajin, ngayu wawu bajaku yinya-ka dunga-nka ngayu-baja wungar yindu-ba.


<translate> The azure kingfisher is here.


<translate> He called and called his old dog all through the night, but it did not come back to the camp.

Nyulu kaya mukul nyungu yirrka-l-yirrka-n wujurr wubulku, yamba kaya kari kadan bayan-ka.


<translate> Granny is teaching the girls about the bark.

Babingka maral-maral binal-bungal dubalka.


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


<glossary> mujal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=hunting-fishing-gathering <usage_example> Ngayu baya mujan


<translate> You and I saw the ngumbi bandicoot there.


<translate> The two men fought with clubs and shields; one struck with the waddy, the other blocked with the shield; neither man was hurt, and they laughed afterwards.

Bula dingkar mirru-bu, kunjuri-bu kuni-wan; nyubunji nala-nala-bu kunin, yindungku kunjuri-bu karrban; bula dingkar kari buyun, bula baja yajarrin.


<translate> The goose is standing outside.


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


<translate> The children slept close to the old people.

Karrkay-karrkay warngku wunan kamba-kambanda ngundu.


<lexeme> someone who is continually talking


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


<translate> The woman came back from the house.


<translate> The crab bit the child's shin.


<translate> You are stronger than me, so you carry the big log and I will carry the small one.

Yundu jarra-yaykarr ngaykunku, yundu juku yalbay wundil, ngayu buban wundil.


<translate> Long ago the people lived by the sea.


<translate> You two saw the binju snake there.


<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> We see the nyamun natural debris here.


<translate> When the wild apples ripen, many birds come to eat them in the morning.

Bulngkar kulbul-ma-nya, buyi wubul kaday nuka-nka wunkuwingku.


<glossary> balu ; type=adverb ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> let the tea get cool


<translate> Grandad tied cane in the tree for the children to play on.

Kamingka yibuy kajan jukungu, karrkay-karrkay kinkanka.


<translate> The old woman said the arrival of a new baby rearranged the whole kin-web a little, for the newborn made a woman into a mother or a grandmother, a man into a father or an uncle or a grandfather, an older child into a big brother or big sister with new duties, so that a single birth sent a small change rippling out along every thread of the family, and everyone shifted a little to make the new one its place.

Wulbumanangka balkan ngawa jirakal kadan jawun-karra wubulku yindu-manin buban, ngawa-buban bungan jalbu ngamu-mabi babi-mabi baja, dingkar nganjan-mabi kalnga-mabi kami-mabi baja, karrkay-yalbay yaba-yalbay babarr-yalbay yamba-yukil jirakal-ji, ngawa nyubun wandinya nyulu yindu buban jilba-manin karra wubulku jawun-karra nyubun-nyubunba, bama wubulku yindu buban janan ngawa jirakal nyungu jarray bunganka.


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


<translate> The old man said a group with an agreed leader and a group without one face a crisis in opposite ways, for the led group acts as one body in the sudden danger while the leaderless group scatters into argument and delay, and though the old people had no kings, they always agreed beforehand who would speak for all in the moment when there was no time to decide.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bama-wubul kuku-bama-ji bama-wubul kuku-bama-kari dandi yindu-yindu yala murni, kuku-bama-ji bama nyubun janka yala murni jarrba yinilba yambada kuku-bama-kari jana karra baji-way dandi baja, bama mukul kuku-yalbay-kari yala, jana yabarrka ngadiku karra wanya balkal wubulmuny wungar bada bajaku binalka.


<glossary> kumurr ; type=noun ; domain=time-deixis <usage_example> It's flower time now


<translate> The old people listen to the birds all through the day to know the time and the news: the magpie sings up the dawn, the friarbird grows loud when the trees flower, the pigeons come in to drink at the same hour each evening, and a bird that calls out of its proper time is telling the camp that something has changed in the country.

Bama mukul buyi ngaran wungar wubulku binalka wungar kuku-jarrakay baja: dawa-dawa muduwaju wulngku-badin, jaka junkurr-manin juku nganka-mandanya, bakamu kadan janga-nka nyubun wungar kunarangkal wubulku, buyi nyulu balkan nyungu wungar yukil-karibu nyulu bayan balkan yamba nyubun bubungu yindu-mandanmu.


<translate> Grandmother sat on the ground.


<glossary> mulka-warri ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> Do you feel ambitious?


<translate> The old man said a young man with respect and a young man without it are welcomed very differently into the men's business, for the respectful one is taught freely and quickly because the teaching is safe with him, while the disrespectful one is taught slowly and little, if at all, because knowledge given to a person without respect becomes a danger to everyone.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan warru yulmbarril-ji warru yulmbarril-kari yindu-yindu yala dingkar-kuku-mundu manil, yulmbarril-ji milbin yukil warri baja milbil nyunji yukil, yambada yulmbarril-kari milbin buban-buban buban baja, yambada kariku, binal dayan bama yulmbarril-karinka nyulu mumbu-manda bama wubulkunka.


<translate> That native companion is there.


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


<translate> After the burying we sat quietly for a long time, and nobody wanted to speak first.

Wawu-wula-muny ngana bundan wunbu kalbay, bama nyubunbu kari wawu-manin balkanka ngadiku-ngurr.


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


<translate> The child put the dilly bag on the ground.


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


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

Yundu manu sugar buyim-bunga, lolly kari


<translate> I see the karraway snail there.


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


<translate> The white wattle is standing at camp.


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


<lexeme> bad spirit in form of crocodile


<translate> Father saw the hook and line on the ground.


<translate> We see the crescent perch here.


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


<translate> The wet season is hotter than the cold season, and then the mosquitoes come thick along the river.

Bana-wungar jarra-wumbul ngiki-wungar-ka, yalada kamu wubul kadan wawubaja-nga.


<translate> Feed the camp dogs before dark, or sing with them all night — your choice.

Murramu-murramu mayi-daya wujurr ngadiku, yambada wulngku badi jananji wujurr wubulku: yundu mana.


<translate> The old man said fire is the best of servants and the worst of masters, so be its keeper every moment, for the moment you forget it, it stops serving and starts to rule.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: baya kirrajibama ngulkurr bajaku, kujibama mumbu bajaku, yundu nyungu kujibama yabarrka, yundu milka-wulanya nyulu kirrajil bawal, kujibama-manda.


<translate> The old man said the sea turtle is very old, older than the oldest person, and it carries the shape of the world on its patterned back.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: ngawiya wulman bajaku, wulman bama wulman narmba-muny, nyulu bubu-mu walu muku-ba jarra-kulba.


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


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


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


<translate> We saw the wallaby at the camp.


<translate> Long ago the eggs of the blue-tongue lizard lay in the dry river, and now two big rocks sit there.

Kalbay-muny bajabaja-mu diburr wawubaja marral-ba wuna-l, niji kulji jambul yalbay yinyay bunda-l.


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

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


<translate> Hang the meat high in the tree, so a dog cannot reach it, lest you wake to find the night's catch gone and nothing but tracks and a full-bellied dog asleep in the cool.

Minya jukungu wangkar kaji, kaya kari wandanyjiku, yundu wandinya minya kunarangkalmu dungan nyaji-nyji, jina nganga, kaya jibar-mabu wawu-jankanga warngku wunay.


<translate> You two saw the kalburiji bee here.


<translate> When the old man died, his family called him only by the kin name.

Mukul-dingkar wula-nya, jawun-karra-ngka nyunguny kunjan kuku-jawun-bu-baja.


<glossary> balu ; type=adverb ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> let the tea get cool


<translate> You see the bamboo spear stick there.


<translate> The stingray is in the water.


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


<translate> If the tide is low at dawn, the old woman said, we walk the reef for shellfish; if it is high, we fish from the rocks; and if a big wind comes from the seaward side, we do neither but stay in camp and mend the nets.

Kaki bana bada muduwajungu, wulbumanangka balkan, ngana jalun-ba jina jubulka; kaki bana wangkar, ngana kuljinga kuyu manil; kaki wangkar yalbay naka-muny kaday, ngana jambulku kari, ngana bayanba bundan makarr ngulkurr-bungal.


<translate> The two young men pulled out the bamboo, wrapped it up, and went on their way once again.

Warru jambul-angka nambarr kulban, kajan, dungan-baja.


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


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


<translate> We see the rock python here.


<translate> You all saw the munungkul ground pigeon there.


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

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


<translate> You and I see the goose here.


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


<translate> My own elder brother taught me to swim and to spear the fish in the river, the old man said, when I was still a very small child myself.

Ngayku yaba-ngku nganya binal-bungal maraji-nka kuyu dama-nka bana-jandu-ngka, mukul-dingkar balkan, ngayu karrkay buban-baja-nya.


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


<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> You all see the milmarr cane there.


<translate> The old man said the apple-tree by the creek is old, older than any person, and it has fed the people here for longer than the stories tell.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: bulngkar juku bana ngundu wulman, wulman bajaku bama narmba-muny, nyulu bama-nka mayi dajin marri kuku-muny.


<translate> With his strong arm the man speared the fish in the deep water.

Dingkarangka wakuy junkurr-bu kuyu daman bana-dukurr-ba.


<translate> You two see the murrkul tree here.


<translate> She sang the old song exactly like this, the old people said, the same way it was sung long ago at the big meetings.

Nyulu wulngku ngadiku yala-ku murrunmani, mukul-bama balkan, yala-rrku murunman kalbay-muny muru yalbay-mba.


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


<translate> You and I see the grass wallaby there.


<glossary> mala bajaku ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> He's the one (who are the lollies)


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

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


<translate> The two of them saw the dakwurr-dakwun hammer bird here.


<translate> He saw the makirr yellow ochre there.


<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.


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

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


<translate> That man does not know this country, and he cannot find the hidden water holes.

Yinya dingkar bubu yinya kari binal, nyulu bana ngaki-nya kari warrmba-bunga-l.


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


<translate> My country and your country are not the same; a big river runs right between the two.

Ngayku bubu yunu bubu kari yala; wawubaja yalbay jambul dindarra-nga warri.


<translate> You all see the three-pronged spear there.


<translate> The old woman said a marriage with children and a marriage without them are both good and both hard, and she would not let the childless couple be pitied or shamed, for she said they carry the whole camp's children in a different way, as the ones with time and hands to spare, and a wise camp gives its orphans and its extra work to the childless with-love, not with-shame.

Wulbumanangka balkan dunyu karrkay-ji dunyu karrkay-kari jambul yukil jambul dandi, nyulu kari dunyu karrkay-kari mumbu-bungal bikirr-bungal baja, nyulu balkan jana bayan wubulku karrkay karrbal yindu yala, bama wungar mara-ji buban baja, bayan binal karrkay-ngamu-kari kirraji yindu baja karrkay-karinka dayal wawu-jirray-ji, kari bikirr-ji.


<translate> The king parrot is a bird of bright red, the old man said, and it moves quietly through the canopy eating the small figs and berries.

Karrambil buyi ngala-ngala balbal-jirr, mukul-dingkar balkan, nyulu juku wangkar-a janka jilba binanji junda buban nuka.


<translate> The women cracked the black bean nuts with a heavy stone by the fire.

Jalbu-jalbu-ngka baway darka dumbarrin kulji kulngkul-bu baya karangkal.


<translate> Father got a spear, saw a pig, and then went.

Nganjan-angka kalka manin, bikibiki nyajin, dungan-da.


<glossary> walngkal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=posture-rest <usage_example> The log is floating on the water


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


<translate> You all saw the walkarr goanna there.


<translate> We built the big fish weir together over three days at the narrow place in the creek: we cut and carried many stakes, we drove them into the mud in a wide V pointing downstream, we wove branches between them into a tight fence, we left a narrow gate with a trap-basket at the point, we opened the gate at the falling tide, we took the trapped fish each morning, and then kept the weir mended and fed the whole camp from it all season.

Ngana kuyu-makarr yalbay bungan nyubun-nyubunji kulur wungar bana buban-mandanga: ngana juku wubulku dakan jarrakulban, ngana janka-mundu bada yijarrin naka-naka bada-mundu, ngana juku-murru dukurr-bu wukurrin janka junkurr-bu, ngana jina buban bawan kuyu-jina bada-mundu, ngana jina kajan bana bada dunganya, ngana kuyu manin muduwaju wubulku, yalada makarr murni karrban bayan wubulku dayan wungar wubulku.


<translate> They see the grass wallaby here.


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


<translate> The child saw the moon at night.


<translate> They saw the jalkay salmon here.


<translate> The girls found honey near the big rock.

Maral-maralangka wunba nyajin kuljinga ngundu.


<translate> The angry man hit the dog hard with a heavy stick, and it ran off crying into the scrub.

Dingkar-angka kuli-ji kaya kunin junkurr juku kulngkul-bu, kaya badi wanarrin madja-ka.


<glossary> jarmbil ; type=noun ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> The boat is drifting


<translate> You and I see the oyster there.


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


<translate> A child with a mother wants for nothing, the old woman said, but a motherless child must be a mother to itself too early, and this is why the whole camp becomes mother to an orphan, so that no child is ever truly left motherless, for a group that lets its motherless children go hungry has forgotten the first law of being people together.

Karrkay ngamu-ji yamba nyubunku kari wawu-manil, wulbumanangka balkan, yambada karrkay ngamu-kari nyulu-nyulu ngamu-manda ngadiku bajaku, yinya jawun-karra wubulku ngamu-manda karrkay-ngamu-karinka, karrkay nyubun kariku bajaku ngamu-kari bawal, jawun-karra nyulu karrkay ngamu-kari dakwuy bawal nyulu milka-wulan kuku ngadiku bama nyubunji janaymu.


<translate> You two saw the biru-biru rainbow bird there.


<translate> Grandfather sees the deep water there.


<translate> Mother went to the mountain with the baby.


<translate> The baringkan small bird is here.


<translate> The doves and the pigeons ate the fallen seeds together on the open ground, and none of them fought.

Kuludu bakamu diburr daran nukan muru bubu-yaral-ba, jana kari kuli-ma nyubun baja.


<translate> You saw the kurkunbay butcherbird there.


<translate> The old woman was very happy when all her grandchildren came back to the camp.

Mukul-jalbu wawu-mini bajaku, karrkay narmba nyungu bayan-ka kada-nya.


<translate> If you always leave enough behind when you gather, the old woman said, the country will feed you and your children forever.

Kaki yundu kanbal wuna-nya bangka-nya, mukul-jalbu balkan, bubu yundu-nka karrkay-jirr mayi dajil wubulku.


<translate> The old man went down to the river in the early morning to look for the big fat fish.

Mukul-dingkar bada dungan wawubaja-ka wunkuwingku, kuyu yalbay wandul nyaji-nka.


<translate> We saw the bujabay tree there.


<translate> You saw the durra caterpillar there.


<translate> He saw the jiwal-jiwal kingfisher here.


<translate> He walks like an old man now, slow and bent, though once he ran like the wind across the open plain.

Nyulu jilba yala mukul-dingkar niji, buban-buban bangkarr-baka, yamba kalbay-muny nyulu wanarri yala muyar bubu ngalkal-burr.


<translate> They see the jalnji tree there.


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


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


<translate> The policeman did not see me because he was asleep.

Buliman-angka nganya kari nyajin, nyulu warngku-wuna-nya.


<glossary> dalngarri ; type=noun ; domain=fire <usage_example> I have to go to the toilet


<translate> You two saw the yarrka bee here.


<translate> He sees the black snake there.


<translate> Then, in the old days, the country was full of game, and nobody in the camp went hungry at all.

Yinyamun, wungar mukul-ba, bubu minya wubul-jirr, bama kari dakwuy bayan-ba.


<translate> He saw the bujabay tree there.


<translate> Two horses that did not belong together ran off in their own different ways to the river.

Yarraman jambul wawubaja-nga wanarrin, bula yindu-yindu kala-kalbay-ka.


<translate> The goose is standing at camp.


<translate> As the children walked home through the grass, the biggest boy stopped suddenly and held up his hand.

Karrkay-karrkay bayanba dunganya jikanba, karrkay yalbay bajaku janan jinbalku, mara wangkar manin.


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


<translate> The young man asked mother about the spear.


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


<translate> You all saw the dukunjulu golden whistler there.


<translate> The two of them saw the munungkul ground pigeon there.


<translate> I see the newly cleared scrub.


<translate> We see the julbal tree there.


<translate> The canoe carried four people across the river; the paddle snapped halfway, so the men pushed with their hands and the current carried them to the far bank.

Kaljan bama jambul-jambul wawubaja-nga wundin; birungubay jambul-bu murrngan, dingkar mara-bu yungan, bana-ngku jana yindu-ngu wundin.


<translate> We saw the woman only after she had already come right into the camp.

Ngana jalbu nyajin, wawu-wala-nya-muny bayan-ka.


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


<translate> The big tide comes in fast over the mud flats, and the little fish swim close to the sand.

Yira yalbay jinbal-baja kada-y, kuyu buban jukar ngundu janji-l.


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


<translate> The old man said a small gift given with love is bigger than a big gift thrown down without care, and the child understood.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: mayi buban kuru-jirr dajin yalbay bajaku, mayi yalbay kuru-kari darin-muny, karrkay binalman.


<translate> We see the grandmother here.


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


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


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


<translate> The old people shared out all the meat.


<lexeme> mountain and river flowing from mountain


<translate> We two, not you, saw the wakumba tree canopy here.


<glossary> mara-kunbay ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=posture-rest <usage_example> I stop working on Sunday


<translate> Let us all go down to the sea now to catch the big green turtles beyond the reef.

Ngana wubul jalun-ka dunga-y niji, ngawiya yalbay dulngku-ngu karrba-nka!


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


<translate> The old woman said do not swim in the deep water, for the big crocodile lives on the far bank.

Mukul-jalbu balka, kari janji-l bana dajali-nga, bilngkumu yalbay daburri kala-kalbay-mba wunay.


<translate> The men roasted the big yams in the hot coals until they were soft.

Dingkar bambayal yalbay dindan baya wumbul-ba, kima-mal ngadiku.


<translate> The men pulled the big log out of the river.

Dingkar-dingkarangka juku yalbay kulban wawubajamuny.


<translate> Everyone carried something home: fish, roots, honey — and the smallest one carried the story of the day.

Bama wubulku yamba wundin bayanka: kuyu, bangkan, wunba, buban bajakubu kuku-jangkar wungarmuny wundin.


<translate> The children were down there.


<translate> The dog's long red tongue hung right out of its wide mouth over its sharp white teeth.

Kaya nyabil kalbay ngandal kalbay-muny bada wunay, dirra jinbal balbal wangkar-a.


<translate> You see the turtle spear point there.


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

Nyulu karrkay mambarrin schoolbu dunganka


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


<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


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


<translate> If the road is bad, we will stay at the camp.

Kaki baral buyun, ngana bayan-ba bundanday.


<translate> The old woman called the children in a loud voice to come and eat the good meat by the fire.

Mukul-jalbu karrkay-karrkay yirrkan yalbay-bu, jana kada-nka minya ngulkurr nuka-nka baya ngundu.


<translate> You and I see the moon here.


<translate> The eldest brother spoke for the whole family at the great meeting, the old man said, for he was the eldest of them and knew all the old law.

Yaba yalbay-angka bama-mu wubulku-nka balka burri yalbay-mba, mukul-dingkar balkan, nyulu yaba wubulku-muny binal yalaku kalbay-muny narmba.


<translate> You and I see the grasshopper here.


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


<translate> Mother saw the fish spear on the open ground.


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


<translate> They are tired of the noise.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the kurrujuwa sentry bird here.


<translate> You and I see the liver here.


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


<translate> Grandad watched the clouds all day and said the big rains would come before the moon was full.

Kami ngurrban nyajin wungar wubulku, balkan: kaba yalbay kaday, kija yalbaymanyjiku.


<translate> You all saw the rainbow here.


<translate> You see the ngadil hickory tree there.


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


<translate> Granny cooked the wallaby in the earth oven with the yams.

Babingka kadar wayjun kurrmanga wukayji.


<translate> You all saw the mountain there.


<translate> The grass-tree resin is there on the spear.


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


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


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


<translate> Grandmother told the girl to look after the baby at the shallow water, and the girl held that job like a hot coal in her two hands, never looking away, for the old law of the water is short: the one who watches a child must be older in the eyes than in the years.

Babingka maral balkan, ngawa kujinka bana bubanba, maralangka murni yinya karrban yala ngunjil wumbul marabu jambulbu, kariku nyajin yinduku, kuku mukul banamuny nyulu buban: bama nyulu karrkay nyajil, nyulu mukul-baja miyilba wungarmuny.


<translate> They saw the forest kingfisher here.


<translate> Did the old man see the big snake near the camp? — No, he did not see it at all.

Mukul-dingkar-angka jarba yalbay bayan ngundu nyajin? Kari, nyulu kari nyajin.


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


<translate> You and I see the smoke here.


<translate> The old man hardened the stick.


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


<translate> I see the jinjay tree there.


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


<translate> Grandmother saw the dog outside.


<glossary> ngangkal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> I found him here without expecting him


<translate> The little girl covers herself with the warm blanket in the cold, dark night.

Maral buban kararr wumbul-bu nanda-ji, wujurr ngiki-nga.


<translate> You all see the blanket here.


<translate> The night owl called from the dark tree, the flying foxes screeched overhead, and the whole camp was full of the sounds of the bush at night.

Kalkuy jukungu wujurrbu balkan, kambi wangkara yirrkan, bayan wubul kuku madjamuny wujurrbu yajin.


<translate> The grandmother said: we women hold the food-knowledge; we teach it to our daughters, not to the men; through us the children are always fed.

Babingka balkan: ngana jalbu mayi-binal karrbal; ngana ngananga kangkal jalbuka binal-bungal, kari dingkarka; ngananda karrkay-karrkay mayi dayal ngadiku-ngadiku.


<translate> Grandad told us a story from the old days. We listened by the fire.

Kamingka kuku balkan ngadikumuny. Ngana milka-janan bayanga.


<translate> My grandmother knew many old songs, and she sang them softly to us when we were small children.

Ngayku babi wulngku mukul wubul binal, nyulu badi janka ngana-nka, ngana karrkay buban-muny.


<translate> You and I saw the baban angelfish there.


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


<translate> Mother laughed at grandfather.


<translate> The children picked the fruit from the tree.

Karrkay-karrkayangka mayi manin jukumuny.


<translate> You and I see the smoke there.


<translate> You and I see the domestic turkey here.


<translate> You see the jinjajalka tree there.


<translate> The woman cut herself with a knife while cutting meat.

Nyulu jalbu naybu-bu yakajin, minya yaka-l-yaka-nya.


<glossary> dukurr ; type=noun ; domain=location-deixis <usage_example> Rain is coming. Put the baby inside.


<translate> You see the boxwood tree here.


<translate> The mopoke called out in the night.


<glossary> kunbayn ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> Today is break-up day; school's finished now

Nyiku break-up day, kunbayn yundu school


<translate> 'Do not go near the deep water where the big crocodile lives,' the old woman said to the frightened children.

'Kari kada-y bana dajali ngundu, bilngkumu yalbay yinya wunay,' mukul-jalbu-ngku karrkay yini-yini-nka yalaman.


<translate> In the morning the men built up the fire and the women made damper.

Wunkuwingku dingkar-dingkarangka baya ngaran, jalbu-jalbungku damba balkan.


<translate> The old woman dug the yams out of the hard ground with a strong wooden digging stick.

Mukul-jalbu-ngku wukay bubu junkurr-muny bakan juku junkurr-bu.


<translate> They see the grass wallaby here.


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


<translate> Granny cooked the yams in the hot ashes. They tasted good.

Babingka wukay wayjun nulungu wumbulngu. Ngulkurr nukajin.


<translate> The seaside people ate the fish and the turtle, but the hinterland people ate kangaroo and yam.

Jalun-warra bama kuyu ngawiya nukal, yamba jibarr-warra bama mayarriji wukay nukal.


<translate> The grass seeds are gathered and ground into food when the yams are gone.

Jumul-jumul bangka, nyurrba mayi-ma-nka, bambayal kari-nya.


<translate> The child was the first to find the track.

Karrkay-ngku nyulu-ngurr jina warrmba-bungan.


<translate> You two see the death adder here.


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


<translate> The old woman spread the soft possum-skin blanket over the sleeping little children.

Mukul-jalbu-ngka bilangkurr kima karrkay-karrkay wuna-nya-nga nandan.


<translate> After the first heavy rain the green frogs called out loudly all through the wet night.

Kaba nyubun yalbay-muny karrkurr wubul yalbay-bu yirrkan wujurr wubulku.


<translate> Happiness sneaks in through the small doors: warm food, a dry blanket, a child asleep on your arm.

Wawu-mini walal baral-ngandalburr bubanburr: mayi wumbul, kararr marral, karrkay wunanya wakuyba yundumunyba.


<glossary> jakal ; type=noun ; domain=physical-property <usage_example> Fill the bucket up with water


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


<translate> We see the jukar-warra whirlwind here.


<translate> We put the broad green leaves down on the ground first, and then the meat on top of them.

Ngana birra kalbay jikan-jikan bubu-ba yijarrin niji, baja minya wangkar-a.


<translate> The children hid themselves in the long grass and waited very quietly.

Karrkay-karrkay ngakiji bilanji kalbay-mba, janka-baja karrban.


<translate> The black scrub goanna is in the scrub.


<translate> His heart is strong and good, but his liver is sick, and the old doctor cannot heal him.

Nyungu wubul junkurr ngulkurr, yamba nyungu jiba bambay, mukul murri-ngka nyulu kari ngulkurr-mani.


<translate> I saw her, that woman, down at the creek this morning.

Ngayu nyunguny nyajin, yinya jalbu, wawubaja-nga wunkuwingku.


<translate> The old man said: One wallaby feeds the family for one day; two feed them for two days; but three left to rot feeds no one and brings sickness on the hunter.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: Darrba nyubun jawunkarra nukamanil wungar nyubunka; jambul wungar jambulka; kulur bawan kabumanka nyubun kari nukamanil, balbibamaka bambay wundil.


<translate> Grandfather put the axe on the ground.


<translate> He is well now after being sick.


<translate> I see the sugar glider there.


<translate> The children played; meanwhile father sat near the fire.

Karrkay-karrkay kinkan, nganjan baya ngundu-ba bundan-kuda.


<translate> The young man brought fish and turtle to his wife's father for many long seasons, the old man said, exactly as the old law of marriage requires of a man.

Warru-ngku kuyu ngawiya-jirr nyungu biwar-mu ngalayan-nka wundi wungar-jarra wubul, mukul-dingkar balkan, yala dunyu-mu yalaku kalbay-muny balka.


<translate> The old woman said one big earth oven feeds a whole camp better than twenty small cooking fires, not only because it saves wood and work, but because everyone eats from the one oven, and eating from the same oven makes people one, while twenty separate fires make twenty separate families who have forgotten they are one people.

Wulbumanangka balkan: kurrma yalbay nyubun bayan wubulku daya ngulkurr-baja waju-bayan buban wubulmuny, kari juku kirraji buban-manilmu nganga, yambada bama wubulku kurrma nyubunmuny nukal, kurrma nyubunmuny nukal bama nyubun-manil, waju-bayan wubul yindu-yindu jawun-karra wubul yindu-yindu bungal jana milka-wulan jana nyubun bama.


<translate> The cooked meat with fat was good.


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


<translate> Mother said: "You two spear it with a digging stick!"

Ngamu-ngku yalaman: "Yubal juwal-da dama!"


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


<translate> Grandfather saw mother's ankle.


<translate> You saw the murma wasp here.


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


<translate> The old woman said the country can be changed for better or worse by the people who live on it, for careful burning makes the country open and rich and full of game, but careless burning makes it barren, over-hunting empties it, but leaving the young trees makes it full again for the grandchildren, so that the people were never just passengers on the land but changers of it, and every generation handed on a country made a little better or a little worse by their own hands.

Wulbumanangka balkan bubu yindu-bungal yukilku mumbuku baja bama nyulu ngunduku wunaymuny, waju yukilbu bubu ngalkal-bungal yamba-yukil jakal-bungal minya-ji baja, waju-mumbubu bubu mayi-kari-bungal, balbil-mumbu bubu nganga-bungal, yambada juku buban bawalbu bubu jakal-bungal baja jija-karranka, bama nyulu kari nganga bundal-bama bubungu yambada yindu-bungal-bama, wungar-kadal nyubun-nyubun dayan bubu yukil buban-buban yambada mumbu buban-buban jana nyungu marabu murninmuny.


<translate> Don't eat that fruit; it is not yet ripe and it will only hurt you badly.

Kari nuka mayi yinya! Nyulu kayal-baja, yununy kaka-mani-l junkurr.


<translate> You all see the archerfish there.


<translate> The young man went secretly.


<translate> You see the balmbalka tree here.


<translate> I see the hickory tree here.


<translate> As night fell the old man raked the coals into a tight heap and banked the fire under ash, the family gathered close in the warm circle, the children begged for a story and he told the old one about the two brothers and the moon, the little ones fell asleep against their mothers, and then one by one the grown ones lay down until only the old man sat watching the coals.

Wujurr kadanya mukulungku dingkarangka ngunjil buban-mandaku bangkan bajar bada baya karrban, jawun-karra dukurr-bu wumbul ngunduka bangkan, karrkay-karrkay jangkarnka babajin nyulu ngadiku balkan yaba jambulmu kambimu baja, buban-buban jana ngamungu wunan, yalada nyubun nyubun mukul-warru wunan dukul mukul nyubun bundan ngunjil nyajil.


<translate> I see the kangaroo rat there.


<translate> The children learned which fruit is good to eat and which seed will make you very sick.

Karrkay-karrkay-angka binalman, wanjinya mayi ngulkurr nuka-nka, wanjinya diburr bama bambay-bunga-l.


<translate> The child knows how to weave a dillybag.


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


<translate> The old man said quiet words are good, but shouting words make trouble.

Mukul-dingkar balkan, kuku janka ngulkurr, yamba kuku yirrka-yirrka buyun.


<translate> Uncle showed the young men the good fishing places.

Kalngangka bubu ngulkurr milbin warru-warrunda, kuyuku.


<translate> I saw the dog on the ground.


<translate> They see the bandicoot here.


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


<translate> That mass of vines is there.


<translate> I saw the dulmbi umbrella palm here.


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


<translate> In the afternoon the shadows grow long, and the old man turns back towards the camp and the fire.

Wungar bada dunga-nya, ngungul kalbay-ma-l, mukul-dingkar bayan-ka baya-ka nyunban.


<translate> The boneless meat lay in the bag.


<translate> The old woman warmed herself and the sick child by the fire all night.

Wulbuman wumbul-bunga-ji, karrkay bambay wumbul-bungan baya-nga wujurr wubulku.


<translate> The old man showed the boy how to throw the spear straight with the woomera.

Mukul-dingkar-angka warru milban, wanjarr-ku kalka jinbal balur-bu mumal.


<translate> We saw the mirrki kidney bird here.


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


<translate> You see the bamboo spear stick there.


<translate> The tea-tree by the swamp gives good bark, the old man said, soft and wide, for wrapping the baby, for the roof of the humpy, and for carrying fire.

Bijin juku daburr ngundu dumbul ngulkurr dajil, mukul-dingkar balkan, ngulban yalbay, karrkay kaja-nka, ngura-nka, baya jarra-kulba-nka.


<glossary> jiray ; type=adjective ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> I have a craving for a smoke


<translate> Mother laughed at grandmother.


<translate> The seeds fell from the flower and grew into small new trees after the rain.

Diburr nganka-muny daray, juku buban yalbay-mal kaba-muny.


<translate> Those people came from far away to dance at the big corroboree.

Yinya-rriny kalbay-muny kadan, malkarri yalbay-ka warrma-ka.


<translate> The old man said the tree that a person is born under, or that stands at the place of their conception, is that person's own tree for life in the old way of thinking, so a person and a tree could be tied together, the person caring for that tree and drawing strength from it, and he said this was not mere fancy but a way of teaching every person that they are rooted in the living country.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan juku bama nyulu ngundu wandinmuny, yambada janan nyungu jarray-bubungu, nyulu bama nyubun nyungu-nyungu juku wawu kalbay-mba ngadiku-kuku milkanga, bama juku baja nyubun-nyubunji kajal, bama juku yinya kujil junkurr manil ngundumuny, nyulu balkan yinya kari yilbay-kuku nganga yambada yala bama wubulku milbil jana bubu wula-mabinga bangkan-ji.


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


<translate> They saw the kalkarrumbarr lizard here.


<translate> Big brother caught two eels.


<translate> You and I see the dingo here.


<translate> Grandad is telling a story about the big water.


<translate> They see the ngadil hickory tree here.


<translate> They carried the two wallabies back to the camp on poles, and there was good meat enough for every family for two whole days.

Jana darrba jambul bayanka wundin jukuji, minya ngulkurr janay jawunkarra wubulku wungar jambulka.


<translate> Mother saw the dog in the scrub.


<translate> You two saw the durra caterpillar here.


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


<translate> They saw the jama tree there.


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


<translate> He saw the mirrku kidney bird here.


<translate> The old woman's back is bent low now with the many long years of hard, hard work.

Mukul-jalbu muku bada-baja niji, nyulu wungar kalbay wubul junkurr-junkurr-muny mukul-ma-n.


<translate> You saw the mulumu dove there.


<translate> Read the tide before you promise fish, the old woman taught the boastful young man: at low tide the reef gives mussels and the crab holes stand open, at high tide the net does the working, and between the two stands the strongest hour, when the water turns and every swimming creature moves, so promise fish after you have looked at the water, not before.

Yira nyaji kuyu balkanka ngadiku, wulbumanangka warru kuku-yalbaynka milbin: ngajalba kulji dayal mukirr, kiju bayan janay ngalkal, balara makarrbu murni murnil, jambulba janay wungar junkurr bajaku, bana murninya minya maraji-bama wubulku dungay, yalada balka kuyu bana nyajinmuny badaku, kari ngadiku.


<translate> They see the king parrot here.


<translate> That marrabal ti tree is there.


<translate> The liar's fire needs wood every night; the truth sleeps and wakes warm.

Bama warmbijilmuny baya nyungu juku wawu-manil wujurr nyubun-nyubunba: manubaja wunay, wandil wumbul.


<glossary> badi ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> the dogs were howling because their master left them


<translate> Did you go with your brother? No, I stayed in the camp; I should have gone with him.

Yundu yaba-ji dungan? Kari, ngayu bayanba bundan; ngayu yaba-ji dunga-nyaku.


<translate> The old woman had only three teeth left, so she could not eat the hard, dry wallaby meat.

Mukul-jalbu dirra kulur karrba niji, nyulu kari minya marral junkurr nuka-l.


<translate> I see the dakaldakal trochus shell here.


<translate> The children helped carry the stones and fetch the water, and everyone worked together in the shade.

Karrkay-karrkayangka mara-dajin kulji wundinka, bana maninka, jana wubulku kirrajin wabarrba.


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


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


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

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


<translate> The old woman taught the young girls to dig with care, lest they break the long yam and lose the sweetest part below.

Mukul-jalbu-ngku maral-maral balkan: janka baka, bambayal kalbay dumbarri-nyji, mayi jiba-wulay bada-bada wula-nyji.


<translate> You all see the whip snake here.


<translate> The flowers are out — the bees are coming.


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


<translate> We see the boxwood tree there.


<translate> My name is my mother's gift; your name is your grandfather's road — carry them clean.

Burri ngayku daji ngamumuny, burri yunu baral kamimuny: wundi jana yukilbu.


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


<translate> We see the kakarr grass here.


<translate> We see the sucker fish here.


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

Nyulu karrkaymayi kunban ngamungku kandarrda dakay-manin


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

Nyulu bikibiki yinyilji karida, mindayda


<translate> The old woman with a dilly bag full of berries and roots walked slowly back up the hill.

Mukul-jalbu ngunyin mayi-jirr, jamba wangkar jilban buban-buban.


<translate> The hollow trunk is there in the tree.


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

Hankangka wawu yungal-yungal motorka jirakalka


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


<translate> Yesterday the children came back to camp.

Yilayku karrkay-karrkay bayan-ka kadan-baja.


<translate> The men keep spearing around for fish at the river.

Dingkar-dingkar kuyu-ngu dama-n-dama-ji wawubaja-nga.


<translate> You all see the squid there.


<translate> The dog is guarding the camp.


<translate> The two of them saw the juku-juku bronzewing dove there.


<translate> Grandad keeps his fire burning all the time.


<translate> The old woman is building up the fire for cooking.


<translate> He saw the juku-juku bronzewing dove here.


<translate> The shelters stayed dry — the men had built them well.

Bayan-bayan marral — dingkar-dingkarangka ngaran ngulkurrku.


<translate> You see the waterfall there.


<translate> They saw the jadi goanna there.


<translate> You saw the nakawarra bee there.


<translate> He saw the wuju grass sponge there.


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


<translate> This spear and that spear over there are the same; both are straight and hard and sharp.

Kalka yinya kalka yinyay yala, jambul jinbal junkurr jinbal-baja-ku.


<translate> Walk straight through the dark scrub and you will come to the big river before the sun goes down.

Madja ngungul yimba-y, yundu wawubaja yalbay-ka kadan wungar bada dunga-nyjiku.


<translate> The old man asked the boy whose tracks these were on the sandy river bank.

Mukul-dingkar-angka warru babajin, wanya-mba jina yinya wawubaja jukar-a.


<translate> We saw the makaji onion plant here.


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


<translate> The young man is chasing the pig.


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


<translate> Father saw the black crow in the scrub.


<glossary> badamal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=posture-rest <usage_example> You bend your head down


<translate> The crab bit father's chest.


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


<translate> You all see the nyirribulu appendix there.


<translate> Grandfather saw the black bean tree outside.


<translate> We pulled the fish in one after another.


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


<translate> Honey is sweeter than the ripe fruit, so the children always run to the flowering tree first.

Kawar jarra-ngulkurr mayi kulbul-ka, karrkay wubulku juku-nganka-ka warri wungar-nyubunmuny.


<translate> The children looked at the stars in the night.

Karrkay-karrkayangka dawar nyajin kunarangkal.


<translate> Wait for me, take the billycan in case there is no water along the road.

Kaku, jungkalu wundi, kunka bana kari baral-darr.


<translate> He sees the dakaldakal trochus shell here.


<translate> I see the kalburiji bee here.


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

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


<translate> The old woman said the surest sign that a person has truly changed is not what they say but what they now do easily that once was hard, for anyone can declare themselves changed, but only the deed proves it, so when a once-selfish person gives without being asked, when a once-fearful person acts calmly in danger, when a once-lazy person rises before the sun by simple habit, then the change is real, having gone all the way down from the words into the hands.

Wulbumanangka balkan milbil-yamba dukurr bajaku bama nyulu bajaku yindu-manin nyulu kari wanyu jana balkal yambada wanyu jana nganga kaka-kari murnil ngadiku dandi janaymuny, wanya nyulu-nyulu balkal nyulu yindu-manin, yambada nganga murni-bu milbil, bama ngadiku-jakay-dandi nyulu dayal babaji-kari, bama ngadiku-yinil nyulu wunbu murnil yinil-ba, bama ngadiku-junkurr-kari nyulu wandil wungar ngadiku yabarrka, yinya yindu nyulu bajaku, jilban bada bajaku wubulku kukumuny maraka.


<translate> We see the grandfather there.


<translate> He saw the kurranday seagull there.


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


<translate> The boys practiced all afternoon until each of them could make fire on his own.

Dabalangka baya ngaran yilay-yilay wubulku, jana wubulku baya ngaranyjiku nyulurrku.


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


<translate> Walk slow and flat on the sea stones, the old man taught, and look twice at every stone, lest the stonefish poke you the way it poked old Sore-Foot long ago, for the points of the sea hide themselves among plain stones, and the hurrying foot cries longest.

Jilba buban-buban jalun kuljinga, mukulungku dingkarangka milbin, nyaji jambulku kulji nyubun-nyubun, murrajabu yununy bakanyji yala nyulu jina-baji bakan ngadiku, murru jalunmuny ngakiji kulji ngangaba, jina warri-warri nyulu badi kalbay bajaku.


<translate> I saw the ngarkay waterhen here.


<translate> The old man's spear point was made from the hard leg bone of a big kangaroo.

Mukul-dingkar-mu kalka biyul mayarriji yalbay jina junkurr-muny bungan.


<translate> The old man taught the boy every bird's call, so that even in the thick scrub with his eyes shut he could name each one by its voice alone.

Mukul-dingkarangka karrkay buyi wubulku-mu yirrka balkan, madja junkurr-ba miyil nandal-nya-ba nyulu buyi nyubun-nyubun yirrka-bu nyubun-bu burri.


<translate> Which one is your house — the big one near the water, or the small one up on the ridge?

Wanjinya yunu bayan? Yalbay bana ngundu, yamba buban wangkar-a?


<translate> The two men fought each other; I stood between them; I took the spear from them; and I sent them both home.

Bula dingkar kuni-wan; ngayu bula jambul-bu janan; ngayu kalka bulandamuny manin; ngayu bulangan bayan-mundu yungan.


<translate> You two see the barramundi here.


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

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


<translate> That small conical shellfish is here.


<translate> I saw the bujarr-bujarr bird there.


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

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


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


<translate> The girl saw the dog in the house.


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


<translate> They saw the white-tailed rat here.


<translate> Father asked the girl about the mango.


<translate> The light-coloured hair is there.


<translate> I see the crescent perch here.


<translate> The women walked a long way to the good yam ground, dug all afternoon, and carried the heavy bags home in the dark.

Jalbu-jalbu jilba dungan kalakalbay wukay bubungu ngulkurrbu, bakan yilay-yilay, balji yalbay wundin bayanba wujurrbu.


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


<translate> The fish net lay at the sea.


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


<translate> Every morning before the sun was high, the whole family went down to the river to wash themselves in the cool clear water.

Wunkuwingku wubulku wungar wangkar wandinyjiku, jawunkarra wawubajaka bada dungan julurri-jinka bananga kiway dayirr.


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


<translate> The old woman said to truly know a creature you must watch it in every season and every hour, not just when you are hunting it: watch where it sleeps and where it drinks, what it fears and what it eats, how it raises its young and how it dies, for only then do you hold the whole creature in your mind, and only then are you fit to take its life with respect.

Wulbumanangka balkan minya nyubun binalka bajaku yundu nyaji wungar wubulku wungar wubulku, kari nganga yundu balbilnya: nyaji wanja nyulu wunay wanja janga, wanya nyulu yinilman wanya nukal, yala nyulu buban warru-manil yala nyulu wulal, yaladaku yundu minya wubulku karrbal milkanga, yaladaku yundu yukil nyungu wawu maninka yukil-bungalbu.


<translate> The young man laughed at the children.


<translate> The two of them saw the kalngkan small mullet here.


<translate> The scrub turkey is standing outside.


<translate> The old woman said feeding people is the oldest love and the plainest, older than any word for love: before a mother can say she loves her child she has already fed it a thousand times, and long after fine words are forgotten the body remembers who fed it when it was small and helpless, so if you would show love and do not have the words, cook, and serve, and that is a language everyone understands.

Wulbumanangka balkan: bama dayal wawu-jirray ngadiku bajaku yukil bajaku, kuku wawu-jirraymuny ngadiku: ngamu nyulu balka nyulu nyungu karrkay wawu jirray ngadiku nyulu yabarrka daya wubulku, kuku yukil milka-wulanmuny dumbay-mba bangkarr binalku wanyu nyulu daya nyulu buban junkurr-kari janay-mba, kaki yundu wawu-jirray milbinka yundu kuku murruji, waju, daya, yinya kuku bama wubulku binal.


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


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


<translate> The old man said that young man is rather clever but this old woman is very wise, and cleverness and wisdom are not the same thing at all.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: yinya warru jarra-binal, yamba yinya mukul-jalbu binal-baja-ku, binal buban binal yalbay-jirr kari nyubun bajaku.


<translate> I see the mukukanka tree there.


<translate> That person there is tricky.


<glossary> junkurr-murubuku ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> He talked earnestly


<glossary> dikarr ; type=noun ; domain=ceremony-magic-song <usage_example> Someone made mcdea sick with magic. The doctor took it out.

Bamangka nganya bambay-bungun, dikarrda. Doctorangka dikarr manin


<translate> The deaf old man watched the speaker's mouth and understood the words.

Mukul-dingkar milka-dudu-ngku bama-mu ngandal nyajin, kuku binalman.


<translate> I saw the bamboo stick there.


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


<translate> That large mud clam is here.


<translate> The girls danced behind the women.

Maral-maral wurin kudamundu jalbu-jalbunda.


<translate> Grandad pointed to the morning star.


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


<translate> They saw the duck in the scrub.


<translate> The boy asked: What is this track, and this one, and this little one here? And his father named each animal for him one by one.

Karrkayangka babajin: Yinya jina wanyu, yinya baja, yinya buban nyiku? Nyungu dingkarangka minya wubulku burri milbin nyubun-nyubun.


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


<translate> We see the hickory tree there.


<translate> You saw the freshwater eel there.


<translate> You two see the dikirr waterlily here.


<glossary> yalaymbu ; type=temporal ; domain=time-deixis <usage_example> He missed the fish. By this time we should have been eating (it)

Byulu minya nyundan. Ngana yalaymbu mukanyakuda


<translate> You saw the kandal maggot there.


<translate> If the child is hungry, mother gives food.

Kaki karrkay dakuy, ngamu-ngku mayi dajil.


<translate> They see the marsupial native cat here.


<translate> The children hid themselves in the long grass and waited very quietly.

Karrkay-karrkay ngakiji bilanji kalbay-mba, janka-baja karrban.


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

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


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


<translate> The men hunted the sea turtle out beyond the reef in the deep water.

Dingkar-angka yalnga balbin dulngku kudamundu jalun dukurr-ba.


<glossary> kunbayn ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> Today is break-up day; school's finished now

Nyiku break-up day, kunbayn yundu school


<translate> Why do the old people talk about the sky-things so much? the young man teased, and the old woman did not laugh: because the weather is the country talking about food, water, travel and shelter all at once, so weather talk is not small talk, it is the country's oldest message-stick, and you pay for it only with the ear.

Wanyurrinku bama mukulungku jiri-yambaka balkal wubulku bajaku? warrubu yajarr-ji babajin, wulbuman kari yajarr-man: jiri-yamba nyulu bubu balkanya mayika banaka jilbanka bayanka nyubunji, yalada kuku jiri-yambamuny nyulu kari kuku buban, nyulu kuku-juku mukul bajaku bubumuny, yundu dayal milka nganga.


<translate> The old man warmed himself by the fire in the cold night.

Mukul-dingkar wumbul-bunga-ji baya-nga wujurr ngiki-nga.


<translate> You two saw the dilly bag there.


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


<translate> Are you angry with me? — Not angry, little one; worried. They wear the same face at first.

Yundu dukul-wuri ngaykunka? Kari dukul-wuri, bubanku: wawu-buyun. Jambulbu walu nyubun karrbal ngadiku.


<translate> You two see the kurrujuwa sentry bird here.


<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.


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

Kalka yaluy wuna, ngunyin yinyay juku karangkal karrba.


<translate> The old people carried the black bean nuts to lie soaking in the creek for many hours.

Mukul-bama-ngka baway diburr wawubaja-nga wunay-ka wundin, wungar kalbay-baja.


<translate> I saw the dalmbal flathead here.


<translate> You and I see the frill necked lizard here.


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


<translate> By evening the raft was finished and the men pushed it into the water to see if it would float.

Yilay-yilay marrakan ngulkurrmanda, dingkar-dingkarangka bananga jurrngan, nyajinka wangkar bundandal kari.


<translate> You and I see the sea turtle there.


<translate> You two saw the walkarr goanna there.


<translate> We see the large round oyster there.


<translate> The little girl was not afraid of dying anymore, and she went to sleep holding the old man's hand.

Maral buban kari yinil wulaka baja, nyulu warngku wunan mukulmu mara karrbanya.


<translate> The wood there is not thick.


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


<translate> We, not you, saw the birukay egg yolk there.


<translate> The navel is the little mark of the first rope, the old woman told the girls: before any breath, the mother fed the child through that cord, blood to blood, so every person carries in the middle of their own body the mark of once having been part of another person, and that is why nobody rises into the world a stranger.

Wurra nyulu jina buban karramuny ngadikumuny, wulbumanangka jalbu-buban milbin: wawu wubulku ngadiku, ngamungku karrkay mayi-dayan karraburr yinya, mula mulaka, yalada bama nyubun-nyubun karrbal bangkarrba dukurrba nyungu-nyungu jina, nyulu ngadiku yamba bama yindumuny, yinya wanyurrinku bama kariku wandil ngarrbal.


<lexeme> want something but can't get it


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


<translate> My grandmother knew many old songs, and she sang them softly to us when we were small children.

Ngayku babi wulngku mukul wubul binal, nyulu badi janka ngana-nka, ngana karrkay buban-muny.


<translate> That yam is not ripe yet; leave it in the ground until the wet season comes.

Yinya bambayal kariku kulbul; bawa bubu-ngu, bana-wungar-ka.


<glossary> nyinyi ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> That is child is crying for nothing, he's a sook


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


<translate> The old woman ground the seed, roasted the cake, dug the sweet root, and split the black-bean, and by dusk the whole camp was fed and warm by the fire.

Mukul-jalbu-ngku diburr murni, mayi waju, ngara jiba-wulay baka, baway dumbarri, wujurr-ma-nya bayan narmba mayi-jirr wumbul baya ngundu.


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


<translate> The women waited at the camp all afternoon for the men to come back from the long hunt.

Jalbu-jalbu bayanba maku-janan yilay-yilay wubulku, dingkar-dingkar kadanyjiku minyamuny kalakalbay.


<translate> The old woman said: you belong to your mother's country and your father's country; both are yours; hold them both, and give them both to your children.

Mukulungku balkan: yundu yunu ngamu-mu bubu, yunu nganjan-amu bubu; jambul yunu; yundu jambul karrba, jambul yunu karrkay-karrkayka daya.


<translate> You two saw the spear point here.


<translate> The old men talked for a long time and agreed the trade was good for both camps.

Mukul dingkar-dingkar balkan wungar wubulku, jana binal: yanyu ngulkurr jambulka.


<translate> When the candle nut tree flowers, the old people know that the big wet season is coming.

Bilar nganka-ma-nya, mukul-bama binal kaba-wungar yalbay kada-nya.


<translate> The tall blue mountain stands far away to the north, above the winding river.

Manjal kalbay jarra-jarra kungkarr-a janay, wawubaja wangkar-a kala-kalbay.


<translate> Your back is sore from gathering firewood yesterday.


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

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


<translate> The young man asked mother about the spear.


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


<translate> You and I see the blanket there.


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


<translate> I washed myself in the cold creek at dawn, hid my food from the dogs, and then went out to hunt.

Ngayu wawubajanga kiway julurri-jin wungar wangkara, ngayku mayi kaya-muny ngakin, balbi dungan.


<glossary> babal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=perception <usage_example> While I'm cooking the food I'll taste it for salt

ngayu mayi wayjul-wayjul, babal saltmunku


<translate> The forest kingfisher is here.


<translate> We split the long straight lawyer cane to weave the strong dilly bags and baskets.

Ngana kaku jinbal kalbay kulban, ngunyin junkurr bunga-nka.


<translate> The water gum tree grows right at the very edge of the creek in the wet lowland ground.

Dakumbar wawubaja karangkal-baja janay, bubu kima kaba-wungar-a bada.


<translate> We see the yellow March fly here.


<translate> The thunderstorms rise when the year turns hot and they grow stronger toward the wet, the old people say, and some things call them and some things turn them away, so the old man burned ironwood leaves when the sky stacked up black, and whether the storm heard the smoke or not, the camp stood quieter for the doing.

Jarramali wandil wangariji kadanya, nyulu junkurr-mal bana-wungarku, bama mukulungku balkal, yamba nyubunbu jana kunjal yamba yindubu jana murnil kala-kalbay, yalada mukulungku dingkarangka jujubala birra wajun jiri ngumbu-manya, jarramalibu kubu milka-janan yambada kari, bayan janan wunbu-baja murnilmuny.


<translate> He saw the kalkamuku snake here.


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

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


<translate> The father-in-law gave the young man a good hunting spear.

Ngalayin-angka warru kalka ngulkurr balbi-mu dajin.


<glossary> ngujungu ; type=noun ; domain=manner <usage_example> I pretend/play I'm a horse


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

Bulimanangka nyungun jururr-jururr kunin


<translate> The deep green valley lies between the two big mountains, full of thick rainforest.

Kangku dukurr manjal jambul-ba wunay, madja junkurr wubulku.


<translate> The old woman roasted the fat grubs on the coals for the hungry children.

Wulbuman jambun yalbay dindan baya-nga, karrkay mayi-kari-nka.


<translate> The echidna dug into the ground with its claws, and when the dog came it hid itself in the earth.

Ngangkin bubungu bakan jina-bu, kaya kada-nya, nyulu bubungu ngakiji.


<translate> We, not you, saw the mirrku kidney bird here.


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


<translate> The old man ate the sweet fruit, and the child wanted the same one, so the old man split it and gave her half.

Mukul-dingkarangka mayi jiba-wulay nukan, karrkay-angka mayi nyubun wawu, mukul-dingkarangka dumbarri-l dajin jalbu-nka jambul-muny.


<translate> You see the wurru-bulan small crab there.


<translate> You saw the bamboo spear stick here.


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


<translate> They came in from the hunt at sunset, they washed the fish, they cooked, and then they ate — the old man said the little story again and again, for that one sentence carries the shape of a whole good day: work first, then fire, then food, and the word then is a quiet law that holds the string.

Jana kadan balbilmuny wungar-daraynya, jana kuyu julurrin, wajun, nukanda, mukulungku dingkarangka kuku-jangkar buban balkan baja baja, kuku nyubun yinyabu wundil jina wubulku wungar yukilmuny: murni ngadiku, yalada baya, yalada mayi, kuku 'yalada' nyulu kuku wunbu, nyulu karra karrbal.


<translate> I saw the yalnga turtle there.


<translate> You and I saw the bilbil-bilbil gecko there.


<translate> The cyclone came in from the sea and blew down the big trees near the camp.

Wadjal jalun-muny kadan, juku yalbay bayan ngundu muyar-bu daran.


<translate> You and I saw the wooden sword there.


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

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


<translate> The young man is lazy and no good for work.


<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> A boy told a lie about a broken spear, saying the dog had done it, but the old man knew the truth.

Karrkayangka kalka dumbarrin, warmbijin: kayangka dumbarrin, yambada mukul dingkar yukil binal.


<translate> They saw the paperbark here.


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

Nganjin ready jilba dunganka, yundu juwaku bundanday


<translate> You see the maya vine there.


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


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


<translate> Grandmother happened to smash the yam to tiny pieces while she was digging carelessly.

Babi-nda wukay dirka-bunga-jin, bubu baka-l-baka-nya.


<translate> You saw the mirrku kidney bird here.


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

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


<translate> They see the jumper ant there.


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


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

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


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


<translate> The child wants to hide, but mother saw him.

Karrkay wawu ngaki-ji-nka, kari ngamu-ngku nyunguny nyajin.


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


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


<translate> We see the reflection there.


<translate> I see the umbrella palm here.


<translate> You see the older sister here.


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


<translate> They see the morning star there.


<translate> The big eagle flew high above the hills, turning in wide slow circles as it watched for food.

Buyi yalbay marra-warri wangkar-wangkar jamba, jurrki-l murru-murru buban-buban mayi nyaji-l.


<translate> The good singer sang a song.


<translate> He sees the marril ti tree here.


<translate> The pineapple-plant grows low and sharp-leaved in the open scrub, the old woman said, and its fruit is sweet but hard to reach past the spines.

Banabul bubu bada-ba wuna birra jarran-jirr madja-ba, mukul-jalbu balkan, nyungu mayi jiba-wulay yamba mani buyun jarran-muny.


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


<translate> We two, not you, see the marsupial native cat there.


<translate> The cane must soak in the water first.


<translate> We, not you, saw the karrkurr frog there.


<translate> They should have written down the boundaries the old way, walking them together every few years and telling the stories that fixed them, the old man said, but they trusted memory alone, and memory bends toward the one who tells it, and now two families claim the same ridge, and no living person can say for certain who is right.

Jana bubu-jina milbi-nyaku ngadiku yala, jilba-wan nyubun-nyubunji wungar wubulmuny jangkar balkan jana bunganba, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, yambada jana milka nganga karrban, milka nyulu janji bama nyulu balkalmu-mundu, nyiku jawun-karra jambul yumal nyubun babajil, bama nyubun murni kari balka wanyu yukil.


<translate> That night a big storm came, and lightning flashed above the whole range of mountains.

Yinya kunarangkal jarramali yalbay kadan, balbay balbajin wangkar manjalba.


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


<translate> The old man's back is bent and sore now, and he cannot stand up straight or walk up the hill.

Mukul-dingkar muku kaka niji, nyulu jinbal janay kari, jamba wangkar jilba kari.


<translate> The cat stretches itself in the warm sun after it has eaten.

Buji jika-ji wungar wumbul-a, nuka-ny-muny.


<translate> The old man said a good hunter waits quietly and never rushes the kangaroo.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan balbi-bama ngulkurr janka karrbal, kariku mayarriji warri-bungal.


<translate> You two see the kookaburra there.


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


<translate> On top of the ridge you own your eyes; down in the gully you borrow your ears.

Wuyara yundu miyil yundumuny karrbal: bada-badaba yundu milka manil.


<translate> The man saw the bottlebrush tree outside.


<lexeme> that's nonsense, take no notice


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

Jana carpenter-carpenterangka bayan ngurangurangan


<translate> And so the grandmother finished, and she held the child's head and said: Now you know your people. Wherever you go and whatever happens, you are never alone, and you are never nothing, for you are one of us, and we are many, and we love you. Never forget it.

Yalaku babingka bawan, nyulu karrkaymu walu-wangkar karrban, balkan: Nyiku yundu binal yundu bama. Wanjabu yundu dungay wanya kadanya, yundu kari nyubun nganga, yundu kari yamba-kari, yundu ngana nyubun, ngana wubul, ngana yundu wawu jirray. Kari yabarrka milka-wula.


<translate> The man speared a big turtle out on the reef, dragged it up onto the sand, turned it on its back, carried it to the camp on a bark sheet, dug the earth oven and heated the stones, cooked the turtle whole in the ground, and then shared the rich meat with everyone in the camp that evening.

Dingkar ngawuya yalbay jalun-ba daman, jukarmundu wangkar jarrakulban, muku-mundu murni-manin, wawun-birra-nga bayan-mundu jarrakulban, kurrma bakan kulji wumbul-manin, ngawuya wubulku bubungu wajun, yalada minya jiba-wulay bama bayanba wubulku daji-wanda kunarangkal.


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


<translate> They saw the dukunjulu golden whistler there.


<translate> Say I-don't-know with a straight back — it is the strongest sentence in the language, the old woman said.

'Ngayu binal-kari' balka muku dandi-ji: kuku junkurr bajaku kukungu, wulbumanangka balkan.


<translate> They roasted the meat in the ground oven.


<translate> They saw the jiwurrmal pheasant cuckoo here.


<translate> You two saw the balarri queenfish here.


<translate> The shelters stayed dry — the men had built them well.

Bayan-bayan marral — dingkar-dingkarangka ngaran ngulkurrku.


<translate> They saw the jinabiju goshawk there.


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


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

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


<translate> They had finished the food before their father woke up.

Jana mayi kunbay-manin, nganjan wandi-nyjiku.


<translate> You and I see the ngadil hickory tree here.


<translate> Let the dog go now, the old man said, it will follow the blood and find the speared wallaby for us in the thick scrub.

Balu kaya niji dunga, mukul-dingkar balkan, nyulu mula jina-bu kadar dama-nya ngana-nka mani madja junkurr-ba.


<translate> If anyone happens to see the ripe mangoes on the tree, bring them back to the camp!

Mayngku kulbul juku-ngu nyaji-ji, mana bayan-ka!


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


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


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


<translate> Tomorrow wind will come from the sea.


<translate> When the meat was cooked, they took the meat out.


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


<lexeme> want something but can't get it


<translate> Don't shout so loudly near the camp, or you will frighten the little sleeping children!

Kari yirrka-y yalbay-bu bayan ngundu! Yundu karrkay-karrkay yinil-mani-l!


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


<translate> You saw the bujil-yiran ibis there.


<translate> Put the eggs carefully on the plate.

Diburr mumbar-abu-ku bulin-ba yijarri-ka!


<translate> The young men were afraid and did not know the way back, for the rain hid the land from their eyes.

Warru-warru yinil, kari binal yala bayanba, kababu bubu ngakin jana miyilmuny.


<glossary> nyarrmal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> Snatch it quickly from his hand


<translate> They two saw the boomerang there.


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


<translate> You see the cockatoo crest here.


<translate> You all see the dilly bag here.


<translate> The young man brought sand from camp.


<translate> You and I see the waterfall here.


<translate> In the good years the yams are many and fat, but in the dry years they are few and thin, and the people move on to the sea.

Wungar ngulkurr-ba bambayal wubul wandul, yamba wungar marral-ba bambayal buban kanbal, bama jalun-ka dunga-y.


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


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

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


<lexeme> The Daintree side of Rocky Point


<translate> The old man gave the baby his grandfather's name, and the mother said it was good.

Mukul-dingkarangka ngawa burri dalkin kami-mu, ngamungku ngulkurr balkan.


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


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


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


<translate> I saw the duburan directional sign there.


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


<translate> You and I see the jirimandi coconut tree here.


<translate> The sand goanna ran fast across the hot sand and climbed up the big paperbark tree.

Jadi jukar wumbul-burr jinbal-baja warri, juku yalbay-ngu dakan.


<translate> Let the turtle meat cook slowly right through in the ground oven, the old woman said, do not hurry it off the hot stones too soon.

Balu ngawiya minya bubu-ba waju narmba, mukul-jalbu balkan, baluda nyiku-nyiku-bu kulji wumbul-muny mani.


<translate> The man hit the wrong dog by mistake when he was aiming at the snake.

Dingkar-angka kaya yindu kanban kunin, jarba-nka kuni-nya.


<translate> You and I saw the jalkay salmon there.


<translate> The man put the meat in the bag.


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


<translate> The deep sea beyond the reef is dark blue and full of big fish and green turtles.

Jalun dajali dulngku-muny ngungul-ngungul, kuyu yalbay ngawiya baja wubul.


<translate> You two saw the jimalili lizard there.


<translate> The old man said hunger is a hard teacher but a true one: the child who has never been hungry does not know the worth of a full belly, so a season of scarcity, hard as it is, teaches the young what no full-bellied lecture ever could, and the old who lived through the great hungers valued every mouthful for the rest of their long lives.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: dakwuy milbi-bama dandi yambada yukil: karrkay nyulu kariku dakwuy nyulu murruji binal jiba yajinmu dandi, wungar mayi-karimu, dandi nyulu janay, milbil warru yamba jiba-yajin balkalmu kariku milbilmu, mukul jana dakwuy yalbaymuny janay jana kujin mayi nyubun-nyubun wawu kalbay wubulmuny.


<translate> You all see the possum there.


<translate> The snake went into the ground.


<translate> You all saw the mayfly there.


<glossary> kiji-kijiyal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> He is tickling the child


<translate> The old man chopped a straight piece of hard wood to make a good new fighting spear.

Mukul-dingkar-angka juku jinbal junkurr nyandan, murrangkal ngulkurr bunga-nka.


<translate> The woman left the bag outside.


<translate> The boy learned to make cord the whole rainy afternoon: he stripped the long fibres from the inner bark, chewed the ends soft, split them into even threads, rolled two threads together against his thigh into a tight cord, joined new fibre in as each length ran out, wound the finished cord into a ball, and then proudly showed the old man three whole arm-lengths of good strong string.

Buban karra bunganka binalman bana wungar dukurr-bu: nyulu karra kalbay kambi-dukurrmuny bakan, dumbay jinbal nunkan, kakan karra nyubun-nyubun yala, karra jambul nyungu jadinga murni-manin junkurr-bu, karra jirakal karra nyubun dumbay dunganya, karra dumban buban-bunga murnin, yalada wawu-minibu mukul milbin mara-jina kulur karra junkurr yukil.


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


<translate> Only two of the many hunters came back to the camp before the dark night fell down.

Balbi-bama wubul-muny jambul bayan-ka kadan, wujurr ngungul dara-nyjiku.


<translate> The children looked at the stars in the night.

Karrkay-karrkayangka dawar nyajin kunarangkal.


<translate> You all saw the baban angelfish there.


<translate> As night fell the old man raked the coals into a tight heap and banked the fire under ash, the family gathered close in the warm circle, the children begged for a story and he told the old one about the two brothers and the moon, the little ones fell asleep against their mothers, and then one by one the grown ones lay down until only the old man sat watching the coals.

Wujurr kadanya mukulungku dingkarangka ngunjil buban-mandaku bangkan bajar bada baya karrban, jawun-karra dukurr-bu wumbul ngunduka bangkan, karrkay-karrkay jangkarnka babajin nyulu ngadiku balkan yaba jambulmu kambimu baja, buban-buban jana ngamungu wunan, yalada nyubun nyubun mukul-warru wunan dukul mukul nyubun bundan ngunjil nyajil.


<glossary> bala ; type=adjective ; domain=physical-property <usage_example> You became skinny from not having enough food


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


<translate> You saw the bajalji python here.


<translate> The old man said even a person's whole way of being can change if they truly will it, though this is the slowest and hardest change of all, for a mean person can become generous, a coward brave, a liar honest, but only through years of small acts each pushing against the old habit, so he told the young never to say a person cannot change, but rather that changing the deep self is the longest journey a person can undertake, and the most worth the walking.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bama nyungu yala wubulku yindu-mal kaki nyulu bajaku wawu-manil, yinya buban-buban dandi bajaku yindu wubulmuny, bama jakay-dandi nyulu dayal-bama-mal, yinil-bama junkurr-mal, kuku-mumbu-bama kuku-jirakal-mal, yambada nganga wungar wubulku buban-buban yamba-murni bubanbu nyubun-nyubun yala mukul jurrngal, nyulu warru milbin kariku balka bama nyulu kari yindu-manmuny, yambada wawu dukurr yindu-bungal nyulu baral kalbay bajaku bama nyulu jilbalmuny, yukil bajaku jilbanmuny.


<translate> You see the kalbariji tree there.


<translate> The tired old dog lay quietly in the shade, too weak to follow the hunters.

Kaya mukul baja-burray wabarr-ba janka wunay, bambay-baja, kari wukurri-l balbi-bama.


<translate> The wound with pain is the one that is healing, the old woman told the frightened boy, but the wound without pain, gone cold and numb, is the one to fear, for pain is the body speaking and a body that has gone silent about its own hurt is a body in the deepest trouble, so she was glad, not sorry, that his cut still hurt.

Buyun kaka-ji nyulu kalbal-mabi, wulbumanangka buban yinil-ji balkan, yambada buyun kaka-kari, kiway-manda, nyulu yinilmanka, kaka nyulu janka balkal janka nyulu dandi-manda nyungu buyunmuny nyulu janka dukul-yamba bada bajaku, nyulu wawu-mini, kari mumbu, nyungu janka-kaka kaka janji.


<translate> You see the shovelnose ray here.


<translate> You see the milbarkal tree here.


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


<translate> The clothes lay in the camp.


<glossary> walku ; type=adverb ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> I went right past the house


<translate> They see the kunkun periwinkle here.


<translate> They see the jirimandi coconut tree here.


<translate> You all saw the stingray there.


<translate> Why are you hiding yourself in the grass? A big goanna frightened me, and I am waiting for it to go away.

Wanyurrinku yundu jikanba ngaki-ji? Bajuy yalbay-ngka nganya yinil-kangan, ngayu bundal nyulu dunga-nyjiku.


<translate> Wait for all the words, and then pick up your anger.

Janay kukunka wubulkunka, kuli yalada mana.


<translate> The two men fought with clubs and shields, and then one of them fell down hard.

Dingkar jambul mirru-ji kunjuri-ji kuni-wa-y, yalada nyubun bada daran.


<translate> We two, not you, see the straw-necked ibis there.


<translate> They two saw the mullet there.


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


<translate> You all saw the makaji onion plant there.


<translate> You and I saw the mirrku kidney bird here.


<lexeme> upper reaches of the Bloomfield River


<translate> The parrot is standing in the scrub.


<translate> Which wallaby is that? — A darrba; the jumar is smaller and keeps to the deep timber.

Wanjaku minya yinya? Darrba: jumar buban-baja, nyulu janay juku dukurrba.


<translate> He sees the black snake here.


<translate> You all saw the jalkay salmon there.


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


<translate> My younger sister married into the Bloomfield people and lives there now.

Ngayku jinkurr wujalwujal-arra-nga manyarr-man, yinya-nga wunay niji.


<translate> The old man heard the soft, soft sound with his good ears in the quiet of the night.

Mukul-dingkar milka ngulkurr-bu nyajin, wujurr janka-ba kinka buban-buban.


<translate> The girls dug up a lot of small pipis in the wet grey sand at the edge of the sea.

Maral-maral-angka bulkiji wubul jukar duna-nga bakan, jalun karangkal.


<glossary> nyandal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> He chopped firewood for me