<translate> The child jumped over the log.


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

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


<translate> The crested pigeon is there.


<translate> The base of the big tree is wide and strong, and the green ants live all over it.

Juku yalbay dingal kalbay junkurr, munjurr wubul nyungu-ba wunay.


<translate> He saw the birinjil centipede here.


<translate> In the morning the child came out of the house.


<glossary> dumbarriji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> He broke his farm


<translate> The old man took the spear to camp.

Mukul-dingkar-angka kalka bayan-ka wundin.


<glossary> bambal ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=kinship <usage_example> I call her grandmother


<translate> The dog followed the hunter down the track to the water and came home again with him at dark.

Kaya balbi-bama wukurrin jina-burr bana-ka, ngundu nyunban bayan-ka wujurr-ba.


<translate> The young men built a new shelter on the high ground, and the old people sat in the shade and told them where the strong wood stands.

Warru-warrungku bayan jirakal ngaran wangkar bubungu, kamba-kamba wabarrba bundandan, jananda balkan juku junkurr wanjabu janay.


<translate> They returned home by a different road, going backward along the coast so as to visit the graves of the old people, and the whole journey took them past every place their grandparents had named.

Jana bayan-mundu nyunban baral yindubu, jana naka jalunba muku-muku dungan mukul jana wulanmu bubu nyajinka, jilba wubulku jana kanban bubu wubulku jana kami jana burri-maninmu.


<translate> The women dug for yams in the soft ground near the creek, following the thin vines down to the fat roots hidden deep in the earth.

Jalbu-jalbungka kawu bakan bubu bubanba wawubaja ngundu, kalal buban jirrkuman bada bangkan wandulka bubu badanga ngaki-jinya.


<translate> The magpie sings a beautiful song in the morning tree, and the old woman says its voice belongs to the country itself.

Dawa-dawa juku-ngu wunkuwingku wulngku-badil ngulkurr, wulbuman balkan nyungu kuku bubu-mu.


<glossary> ngakil ; type=noun ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> The old man stole the firewood


<translate> You and I see the ridge pole there.


<translate> The old woman said a grandmother often kept a special closeness with one particular grandchild, sometimes the one named for her own mother, sometimes simply the one whose spirit answered hers, and she would teach that child a little more, keep it a little closer, pass to it the deepest of the old knowledge, so that in every generation the long chain of women's learning found the next hands it needed through this quiet grandmother-to-granddaughter thread.

Wulbumanangka balkan babi nganga karrbal karra-kima nyubun jija-nka nyubunmuny, wungar nyubun kunjal nyungu-nyungu ngamumuny, wungar nyubun nganga jija nyungu wawu-milka nyungunji kuku-manilmuny, nyulu milbin jija yinya buban-baja, karrbal ngunduku baja, dayal nyungu binal dukurr bajaku, wungar-kadal nyubun-nyubunba karra kalbay jalbu nyungu binal manin mara jirakal wawu-manilmuny babi-mundu jija-jalbunka karra dandibu.


<translate> They saw the black spotted dart there.


<translate> You all see the ngurrkul fig tree here.


<translate> Grandfather put the stone on the old woman's foot.

Kami-ngka kulji yijarrin mukul-jalbu-ndu jina-nga.


<translate> You see the grass-tree resin.


<translate> You and I saw the wakuka bird there.


<translate> The old woman dug up the yam, washed it clean in the water, and cooked it in the hot coals.

Mukul-jalbu-ngka wukay bakan, bana-nga julurrin, baya-nga wajun.


<translate> Keep the children close by you in the dark, the old woman said, lest one of them wander down to the water alone and be lost.

Karrkay-karrkay yundu-ngka ngundu karrba wujurr-ba, mukul-jalbu balkan, nyubun bana-ka nyubun-bu dunga wula-nyji.


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

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


<translate> The child hides in the scrub; perhaps mother will see him.

Karrkay madja-nga ngaki-ji, nguba ngamu-ngku nyunguny nyajil.


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


<translate> A big thunderstorm came in the middle of the night.


<translate> You saw the ngarkay waterhen here.


<translate> They ground the seeds, made damper, and cooked it on the fire.

Jana diburr nyurrban, damba bungan, baya-nga wajun.


<translate> I saw the small sticks here.


<translate> You all saw the dilly bag there.


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


<translate> Grandmother gave liver to the child.


<translate> You all, listen to me! Your fathers gave this country to you; you must hold it, teach your children, and never let it go.

Yurra nganya milkabu nyaji! Yurranga nganjan-karra nyiku bubu yurranka dayan; yurra karrbal, yurranga karrkay-karrkay binal-bungal, kariku bawal.


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


<translate> I cook the fish first and then take it.


<translate> I see that wurmbariji scrub tree.


<translate> While the tide was low, the women walked far out on the reef, and they came back with baskets full of oysters and mussels.

Bana bada-nya, jalbu kala-kalbay kulji-nga jilban, jana kada baja balji nikar mukirriji yajin.


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


<glossary> yiringkurr ; type=noun ; domain=location-deixis <usage_example> The sun shines everywhere


<translate> The green leaves of the tea tree make a good healing drink for a very sick person.

Bijin birra jikan-jikan bana ngulkurr bunga-l, bama bambay-ka.


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


<translate> The heavy rain falls all day long and the creek rises up into a big brown flood.

Kaba yalbay wungar wubulku daran, wawubaja wandin, jalungkarr yalbay-ma-l.


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


<translate> The old woman said a fire with dry wood and a fire with wet wood are the difference between a warm night and a smoky, sputtering, miserable one, and she taught the children to always gather and store the dry wood in the good weather, for the person with a dry-wood store laughs at the rain while the storeless person shivers and curses it.

Wulbumanangka balkan baya juku-kiway-ji baya juku-duna-ji yindu-yindu yala wujurr wumbul wujurr kubu-ji, jirra-jirra, mumbu baja, nyulu karrkay-karrkay milbin yabarrka juku-kiway bangkal karrbal wungar yukilba, bama juku-kiway-karrban-ji nyulu yajarrin banamuny yambada karrban-kari bama nyulu yararrin mumbu balkanya.


<translate> That azure kingfisher is there.


<translate> The two boys made toy weapons from soft wood: a little boomerang, a little club, and a little shield; they had a play-fight and no one cried.

Bula karrkayngku baki-jarrngkurr juku kima-muny bungan: wangal buban, mirru buban, kunjuri buban; bula nguju kuni-wan, bama nyubun kari badin.


<translate> You all see the kurrkal shortcut there.


<translate> You gave me your knowledge, I gave you my strength; together we are stronger than either of us alone; that is why the old people joined us two.

Yundu ngaykunku yunu binal dayan, ngayu yununku ngayku junkurr dayan; ngaliny muru dandi bajaku nyubun-muny; yinya-nka mukul-mukulungku ngalinyan muru-bungan.


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


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


<translate> The smouldering log is here.


<translate> The children came to see that the whole of a wise life could be held in a few small words: take enough, give freely, want little, thank always, and never measure yourself against another.

Karrkay-karrkayangka nyajin wawu binalmu wubulku kuku buban kanbalba kujil: yukil mani, ngulkurr-bu daji, buban wawu, yabarrka ngulkurr balka, kari yundu-yundu bama yindumuny milbi-ji.


<translate> The old people read the whole country like this, she said — the flowers, the winds, the stars, all telling the same story of the turning year.

Kamba-kamba bubu wubulku yala nyajin, wulbumanangka balkan — nganka, muyar, dawar, yambayamba nyubun kuku balkal wungarmu murnimu.


<translate> You all see the red bream there.


<translate> Sea-turtle meat is softer than beef.

Minya ngawiya jarra-kima minya-ka bulki-ka.


<translate> Inside they laid soft grass and paperbark for beds, and the humpy was dry and warm even in the hardest rain.

Dukurr jana jikan buban buyku yijarrin dubalka, wurun marral wumbul, kaba junkurr bajaku yambada.


<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> They saw the snake at the camp.


<translate> The young man went off to hunt without his spear, and so he came home with no meat.

Warru balbi-ka dungan kalka-mundu, nyulu bayan-ka kadan minya-kari.


<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


<glossary> yala ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> he's like his father.


<translate> The man saw the smoke at camp.


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


<translate> When you drink cool water or sit in the shade of a big tree, the old people are with you, he said.

Yundu bana kiway nukanya, juku yalbaymu wabarrba bundanya, kamba-kamba yunuji, nyulu balkan.


<translate> Father left the meat in the shade.


<translate> The friend asked father about meat.


<translate> Never run from a snake and never step over it, the old man had taught them; wait, and let it go its own way.

Mukulungku dingkarangka jana milbin ngadiku: kari warri jarbamuny, kari wangkar dakal; maku-janay, jarba nyulu yala dungay.


<translate> The possum is sleeping in the tree.


<translate> There are many seeds in the bag.


<translate> Tomorrow we go to the river.


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


<translate> The white wattle is standing outside.


<translate> The child saw mother's navel.


<translate> That spear thrower is there.


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


<translate> Hunger talks first in the stomach, the old woman told the girls, a small quiet talk, and if you give it food then, a little food is enough, but if you walk on, the talk becomes big, and then the whole body becomes the stomach's servant and the eye sees only food.

Dakwuy balkal ngadiku jibara, wulbumanangka jalbu-buban milbin, kuku buban wunbu, kaki yundu mayi yalada dayal, mayi buban nganga yukil, yambada kaki yundu jilbal, kuku yalbay-mal, yalada bangkarr wubulku jibaraka murni-bama-mal, miyilbu nyajil mayi nganga.


<translate> The old woman said: you all are my family, and I am yours forever.

Kambangka balkan: yurra ngayku jawun-karra, ngayu yurranga baja.


<translate> They saw the jingajalka tree here.


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


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


<translate> You see the running water there.


<translate> The woman saw the dilly bag on the road.


<translate> The two girls walked along the road.


<translate> The old people told the dreamtime stories by the fire.

Kamba-kambangka ngujakura balkan bayanga.


<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> She had covered the fire with sand before she lay down to sleep.

Nyulu baya jukar-bu nandan, warngku-wuna-nyjiku.


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


<translate> The moon is also the counter of months, the old man taught the young men before the journey: tell your mother, if this thin moon grows full and then grows thin again, I am coming back, for the moon is a word-stick that all the people in every camp can read on the same night.

Kija nyulu wungar-milbil baja, mukulungku dingkarangka warru-warru milbin dunganka ngadiku: balka ngamunda: kaki kija bala yalbay-mal yalada bala-mal baja, ngayu kaday, kija nyulu kuku-juku, bama wubulku bayanba nyubun-nyubunba nyulu nyajil wujurr nyubunba.


<translate> You saw the balarri queenfish there.


<translate> The hook and line lay in the bag.


<translate> If you find honey in a tree, the old woman told the girl, then take only some and leave the rest, so there is more another time.

Kaki yundu wunba jukungu nyajil, wulbumanangka maralka balkan, yundu buban mani, kanbal bawa, wunba baja janay yindu wungara.


<translate> The two of them see the nikar oyster there.


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


<translate> The old man said to the child: "Sit down!"

Mukul-dingkar-angka karrkay-anda balkan: "Bunda-y!"


<translate> We stay at the water; perhaps the road is bad.

Ngana bana-nga bundanday, nguba baral buyun.


<translate> We turned back because the river was too big.


<translate> Talk to them, not about them — the ear grows where the word points.

Balka jananka, kari janamuny: milka yalbay-mal wanja kuku milbil.


<translate> You all saw the mangkurr-mangkurr garfish here.


<translate> The child put the stone in the bag.


<translate> Grandfather washed father's chest.


<translate> The young man hit himself on the arm by mistake.


<translate> The old man said a boy raised with hardship and a boy raised without any becomes a different kind of man, for the one who has known cold and hunger and effort holds a strength the soft-raised one has never built, yet too much hardship breaks a child, so the old people gave the young just enough difficulty to grow strong on, and no more.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan buban dandi-ji warru-manin buban dandi-kari warru-manin yindu-yindu dingkar-manda, nyulu kiway-kiway dakwuy kirraji baja binalmuny nyulu junkurr karrbal jinbal-ji-bama kari ngadiku bunganmuny, yambada dandi wubul-yalbay karrkay kakal, bama mukul warru dandi buban dayan junkurr-mandanka, kari wubul-baja.


<translate> The strong young hunter came back from the north, walked up the beach, and sat down by the fire.

Warru balbi-bama junkurr kungkarr-muny kadan, jukar wangkar jilban, baya ngundu bundan.


<translate> Each year the moon dies and is born again many times, and so the old people count the turning seasons.

Wungar nyubun-ba kija wula wandi-baja wubul, yala mukul-bama-ngka wungar-iji bulur-iji nyaji-l.


<translate> They two saw the prawn there.


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


<translate> The dogs caught the goanna, the men thanked them, and shared the meat that evening.

Kaya-kayangka jadi karrban, dingkar-dingkarangka kaya-kaya ngulkurr balkan, minya dajin yilay-yilay.


<translate> After two moons the young man will come back home to the camp from the far country.

Kija jambul-muny warru bayan-ka kada-y-baja, bubu kalbay-muny.


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


<translate> You two see the salmon there.


<glossary> baru ; type=noun ; domain=body-part <usage_example> she is holding the child in her lap


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


<translate> The old woman said: the paperbark bark is very soft; the little children lie on it.

Mukulungku balkan: buyku dumbul jika bajaku; karrkay-karrkay dumbulbu wunay.


<translate> So the old man named the whole bird world for the boy — cassowary and cockatoo, kingfisher and dove, brolga and hawk and the little night-crying curlew — every one a teacher of the country.

Yala mukul-dingkarangka buyi bubu narmba karrkay-nka burri — kurranji kadanji-jirr, dabuy kuludu-jirr, kulbal jinabiju kuyir buban wujurr-banbadi-jirr — nyubun-nyubun bubu-mu binal-bama.


<translate> Whose good hunting dog is that, chasing the kangaroo into the thick dark scrub?

Wanya-mba kaya ngulkurr yinya, mayarriji madja junkurr-ka kanga-nya?


<glossary> ngamba ; type=adjective ; domain=perception <usage_example> They went into his house in his absence

Jana nyunguwunbu bayanba walan nyungungunbu ngambanga


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

Yundu jikan yanday-bunga ngayu juma yilbal


<translate> The whip snake is thin as a bootlace and moves faster than the eye can follow, the old man said, but its bite, though it burns, will not kill a grown person.

Jijirrbay dumbi yala karra bila miyil-muny-baja, mukul-dingkar balkan, nyungu baykal, wubul-bu yinbay-mani, kari bama yalbay kuni.


<translate> You two saw the mirrku kidney bird there.


<translate> The tide left fish in the sand pools.


<translate> Mother saw the freshwater turtle.


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

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


<translate> They saw the kalmbangarr black diver bird here.


<translate> They see the running water there.


<translate> Which one is your house — the one there beside the big tree?

Wanjinya yunu bayan — yinya juku yalbay karangkal?


<translate> The children sat in the shade.


<translate> Granny laughed and said: everything the country gives is sweet when you are hungry and the fire is good.

Babingka yajarrin, balkan: bububu dajil yambayamba jiba-wulay, yundu dakwuymba, baya ngulkurrbu.


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


<translate> One man walked into the dry country track-without and came back name-with — they call him Bana-Binal now, water-knower, for he read the country the old way: thirst-with but fear-without.

Dingkar nyubun jilban bubu marralku jina-kari, kadan baja kuku-ji: bamangka nyulu kunjal 'Bana-Binal' nyiku, nyulu bubu nyajin yalabu mukulbu, bana-dakwuy-ji yambada yinil-kari.


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

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


<translate> The cold wind cut through to the body, and the children moved closer to the fire.

Muyar ngiki bangkarr-ba kadan, karrkay baya ngundu warrin.


<translate> My mother dug a big hairy yam and cooked it in the hot ashes.

Ngayku ngamungka wukay yalbay bakan, nulu wumbul-ba wajun.


<translate> Her voice in song is like running water over stones, the old man said, and it carried far in the still night.

Nyungu kuku wulngku-ba yala bana wanarri kulji-burr, mukul-dingkar balkan, kala-kalbay janay wujurr janka-nga.


<translate> They took the spears and the dilly bags and set off east.


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


<translate> In the morning the children listened.


<glossary> yulmbarril ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=speech-communication <usage_example> The school children come from down south, all the people welcomed them

Jana school children nakamun kadarin, bamangka wubulduku jananin yulmbarrin


<translate> Grandmother asked grandfather about news.


<translate> The dilly bag lay in the shade.


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


<translate> My country is near the big mountain.


<translate> The child sees the spear-thrower.


<translate> He sat there on the rock and watched the sun go down over the sea.

Nyulu yinyay-mba bundan kulji-nga, wungar bada dunga-nya nyajin jalun-ba.


<translate> Did the children eat all the damper?


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


<translate> The old woman broke the dead branch for firewood by the camp.

Wulbuman dakil wulan dumbarrin baya-ka bayan karangkal.


<translate> The old man said: "Alright."


<translate> The old people knew this whole country like the flat palm of their own hand.

Mukul-bama-ngka bubu yinya wubulku binal, nyungu mara jirakal yala.


<translate> If you walk very quietly the old man taught, you come close enough to the wallaby to throw the spear.

Kaki yundu janka bajaku jilba, mukul-dingkar balkan, yundu kadar-ka ngundu kaday kalka dama-nka.


<translate> My father was the strongest and the fastest hunter of all the men of his own time.

Ngayku nganjan nyulu balbi-bama junkurr bajaku jinbal bajaku, dingkar wubulku nyungu wungar-muny.


<translate> I see the carpet snake here.


<translate> The old woman said the young leaves and shoots of many plants are food when nothing else is, for in the hungry gap before the fruit comes and after the roots run low, the soft new growth of the right plants can be gathered and cooked and will keep a family alive, so she taught the girls the emergency-foods that a full-bellied person forgets but a starving one must know.

Wulbumanangka balkan mayi nyubun-nyubun birra buban jurrbu baja mayi yamba yindu nganga-karinga, dakwuy-jandu mayi kadanya ngadiku bangkan bada-mandanya baja, mayi yukil nyungu jirakal kima bangkal wajunku jawun-karra wunay-manil, nyulu jalbu-buban milbin dakwuy-mayi bama jiba-yajin milka-wulanmuny yambada dakwuy-bama binalka.


<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.


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


<translate> You all see the fighting spear here.


<translate> One old word walks on two legs, the old man laughed: hand-loose names a generous person, from whose hand things come fast to other people, and it names another person too, from whose hand things just fall down, so when you hear it, look at the speaker's face, for the face gives the word its meaning.

Kuku mukul nyubun jilbal jandal jambulbu, mukulungku dingkarangka yajarr-man: mara-jalajala nyulu kunjal bama jaway, maramuny nyungu yamba bamanka yindu warri kaday, nyulu kunjal bama yindu baja, maramuny nyungu yamba nganga bada kaday, kaki yundu yinya milka-janay, nyaji walu balkal-bamamuny, walubu kuku dayal.


<translate> The girls swam this morning.


<translate> Are your brothers coming to the meeting? Yes, all the brothers and cousins are gathering, because the old man wants to divide the country.

Nyungu yaba-karra kada? Yuwu, yaba-karra bangunji-karra muru janan, mukul-dingkarangka bubu daji-way wawu.


<lexeme> that's nonsense, take no notice


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


<translate> The baby's tiny hands and tiny feet are soft and warm, with many little pink fingernails.

Ngawa mara buban jina buban kima wumbul, birri buban wubul.


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


<translate> The women dug up the poisonous yams that keep well, sliced them thin, wove a loose basket, packed the slices in it, sank the basket in the running creek and weighted it with a stone, left it a day and a night for the water to carry the poison away, lifted it out and tasted a piece, roasted the rest, and then stored the safe food for the lean season.

Jalbu juwal ngambuy nyulu ngulkurr karrbal bakan, buban-buban dakan, balji jimirr wukurrin, buban-buban dukurr-bu buwan, balji bana warri kuljinga bundan kulji-bu wangkar-manin, wungar wujurr baja bawan bana ngambuy kala-kalbay jarrakulbanka, wangkar-manin nyubun nganja-kangal, yindu wubulku dindan, yalada mayi yukil karrban dakwuy wungarka.


<translate> Bring dry wood to start the fire, and dig a pit to roast the meat!

Juku marral wundi baya jakalambanka, bubu baka minya dindanka!


<translate> We saw the kurrmaja larvae here.


<translate> The children shouted when they saw their father coming back with meat.

Karrkay-karrkay yirrkan, jana nganjan nyaji-nya, nyulu minya-ji kada-nya.


<translate> Granny is boiling tea; grandad is roasting fish; the kids are setting out the food.

Babingka diyi wajul; kamingka kuyu dindal; karrkay-karrkayangka mayi yijarril.


<translate> Grandfather saw the baby's shin.


<translate> They saw the jimalili lizard there.


<translate> You all saw the kujuway pigeon there.


<translate> The two of them see the ghost crab here.


<translate> The heavy stone axe belongs to the old man, but the little digging stick belongs to his good wife.

Warrbi kulngkul mukul-dingkar-mu, yamba juwal buban nyungu jalbu ngulkurr-mu.


<translate> Take a strong stick with you on the path, in case the vicious dog comes at you.

Juku junkurr mani yununji jina-nga, kaya kuli-ji kada-nyji yununku.


<translate> I have no cold; I got well again.


<translate> That cherry-like tree is there.


<lexeme> child who has just learned to talk


<translate> They saw the dukunjulu golden whistler here.


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


<translate> You two see the mijan wart here.


<lexeme> the point between Kangkiji and Kaway


<translate> You two saw the kungkun snake here.


<translate> On the coldest nights the whole family slept close together under the warm blankets.

Wujurr ngiki-baja jawun-karra wubul muru wunan, bilangkurr wumbul bada-ba.


<translate> The young man got the spear thrower.


<translate> You and I saw the dalmbal flathead here.


<translate> Father left the meat in the shade.


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


<lexeme> upper reaches of the Bloomfield River


<translate> You all see the water there.


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


<translate> The children practiced every day, watching the birds and the clouds and the way the wind moved the grass.

Karrkay-karrkayangka nyajil-nyajin wungar wubulku, buyi ngurrban, muyarbu jikan jurrngan wanjabu.


<translate> Before dawn the hunters set out to look for kangaroo tracks in the soft ground near the water.

Muduwajunyjiku balbibama dungan, mayarriji jina nyajinka bubu bubanba bana ngundu.


<translate> The mother's father is there.


<translate> The mother's brother took the boy out hunting, the old man said, and taught him the names of all the country and its waters as they walked together.

Kalnga-ngku karrkay balbi-nka wundi, mukul-dingkar balkan, nyulu binal-bungal bubu bana-jirr wubulku-mu burri jilba-jilba-nya jana.


<translate> You see the barramundi there.


<translate> I see the freshwater turtle here.


<translate> The cold is a quiet hunter, the old man said in the dark of the cold season: it never shouts like the storm, it comes in on soft feet while you sleep, and it takes the old and the small first, so cover the coals with sand, give the blanket to the other person, put the children between the grown sleepers, for warmth given away comes back doubled before dawn.

Kiway nyulu balbi-bama wunbu, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bulur-iji wujurrba: nyulu kariku yirrkay yala jarramali, nyulu kaday jina kimabu yundu wunanya, nyulu manil mukul buban ngadiku, yalada ngunjil jukarbu nanda, kararr daya bamanka yindunka, karrkay-buban bunga bama-yalbay wunanya jambulba, wumbul dayanmuny nyulu kaday baja jambul-mal muduwaju ngadiku.


<translate> The mother told the littlest child: Wash your hands and face well, and wash behind your ears, because you were dirty from playing in the dust.

Ngamungka karrkay bubanka balkan: Mara walu ngulkurr julurri-jika, milka kudamundu julurri-jika, yundu mumbu jukarmuny kinkaymuny.


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


<translate> We see the freshwater turtle here.


<translate> He saw the bamboo spear stick there.


<translate> A pair of two young fellows went walking.


<translate> They saw the yikari hardened beeswax there.


<translate> At last the raft came in through the waves onto the sand, and the young men fell down safe and tired on the beach.

Marrakan kadan mulngku wubulmuny jukara, warru-warru daran ngulkurr, jana baja-burray jukara jalun ngundu.


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


<translate> Each year the moon dies and is born again many times, and so the old people count the turning seasons.

Wungar nyubun-ba kija wula wandi-baja wubul, yala mukul-bama-ngka wungar-iji bulur-iji nyaji-l.


<translate> Never mind, we will go again.


<translate> The possum eats flowers at night.


<translate> The old man asked the child: "Do you know this story?" The child said: "I know."

Mukul-dingkar karrkay-anda babajin: "Yundu yanyu kuku binal?" Karrkay-ngku balkan: "Ngayu binal."


<translate> The old people did not forget the old stories, and they taught them to every child.

Mukul-bama kuku kalbay kari milka-wula-y, jana karrkay wubul-ka milban.


<translate> Mother washes her hands before eating.

Ngamu mara julurri-ji, mayi nuka-nyjiku.


<translate> They gave clothes to the girl with no money.

Jana kambi dajin maral-anda mani-kari-nda.


<translate> The children were down there.


<translate> You see the freshwater turtle there.


<translate> I saw the karrkurr frog there.


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


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

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


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


<translate> The old man said the forest after rain is a different country, when the mushrooms push up overnight, the dry seeds sprout, the whole scrub breathes out a green wet smell, and food appears that was not there the day before, so the old people knew to walk the country hard in the days just after the first big rains, when it gave with both hands.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan majaji bana ngadiku bubu yindu, mayi jirakal wangkar wandin wujurr nyubunba, diburr kiway-kiway jurrbu-manda, majaji wubulku nganja jirakal duna ngaran, mayi wandin nyulu kariku ngunduka wungar ngadikungu, bama mukul binal bubu junkurr jilbanka wungar bada bana yalbay jirakalmuny ngadiku, nyulu dayanya mara jambulbu.


<translate> You and I saw the mangkurr-mangkurr garfish here.


<translate> They saw the barrbal black bream there.


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

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


<translate> After bathing in the cool running creek, the old people lay down to rest in the deep shade of the big fig tree, the old man said.

Wawu-janji-nya-muny bana-jandu ngiki-ba, mukul-bama wuna bundanday ngumbu-ngumbu dajali-ba juku dukal yalbay-mba, mukul-dingkar balkan.


<translate> You and I see the rainbow here.


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


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


<translate> Grandfather hears the thunder there.


<translate> The chest is a shelter built of rib-bones, the old man said, and deep inside it the breath lives like a fire that must never die, so if you go down into the water after turtle, fill that shelter slowly and deep before you go, and come up lest the fire grow small.

Damu nyulu bayan murninmuny mirrimarbu bajibaybu, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, dukurrba wawu wunay yala baya, nyulu kariku wulanyaku, yalada kaki yundu bada dungay banaka ngawuyaka, bayan yinya jakal-bunga buban-buban dukurrku dungay ngadiku, kaday wangkar baya buban-manyji.


<translate> Careful — that one is words-with but work-without.

Miyil-ji! Bama yinya kuku-ji yambada murni-kari.


<translate> The mud crab is in the water.


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

Nyulu karrkaymayi kunban ngamungku kandarrda dakay-manin


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

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


<translate> The little swallows fly low over the water just before the heavy rain comes down.

Mabal buban bana wangkar-a bada dunga-y, kaba yalbay kada-nyjiku.


<translate> You two see the posterior here.


<translate> You and I saw the kalngkan small mullet there.


<translate> Grandmother sang; meanwhile the children listened.

Babi-ngka wulngku badin, karrkay-karrkay nyajin-kuda.


<translate> When the flood came it covered the whole valley in brown water, and the trees stood like drowning people up to their necks.

Jalungkarr kadanya, bubu wubulku bana nandan, juku janay yala bama bana wulaynya jakay ngundu.


<translate> We see the scrub goanna there.


<translate> They saw the plum tree there.


<translate> You see the water gum tree there.


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

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


<translate> They two saw the stingray there.


<translate> The old woman kept lying awake the whole night, listening, because the wind kept moving in the trees like a person walking.

Mukul-jalbu wunanay wujurr wubulku, milka-janay, muyar jurrki-jurrki juku-ba yala bama jilba-nya.


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

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


<translate> We see the butcherbird here.


<translate> You all see the mangkurr-mangkurr garfish there.


<translate> The grandmother said: while you are young, learn the songs, because when the old people go, they take what they did not teach.

Babingka balkan: yundu warru bunda-nya, burri kuku binal; mukul-mukul dunga-nya, jana wundil jana kariku milbin.


<translate> We see the large round oyster here.


<translate> We see the sand whiting here.


<translate> Grandfather sees the whirlwind.


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

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


<translate> The women gathered the shellfish, and the men speared fish as well over by the reef.

Jalbu-ngka minya bangkan, dingkar-angka kuyu baja daman dulngku-ngu.


<translate> You two saw the mulumu dove here.


<translate> Why did people get two ears and only one mouth? a girl asked, and the old woman laughed a little: so that a person would listen twice and speak once, and she said too: the ear never closes, but the mouth can close itself, and that is one teaching with two roads.

Wanyurrinku bama milka jambul manin ngandal nyubun nganga? jalbu-buban babajin, wulbuman yajarr-man buban: bama nyulu milka-janay jambulku yambada balkal nyubunbu, nyulu balkan baja, milka kariku nandaji, yambada ngandal nyulu-nyulu nandaji, yinya milbil nyubun, baral jambul.


<translate> How many children went with them to the corroboree last night?

Wanjarrinya karrkay jana-nji warrma-ka dungan wujurr-a?


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


<translate> The country cleans itself, said the old man. Watch and learn.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: bubu julurrijil. Nyaka, binalmaka.


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


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


<translate> The bats hung upside down in the fig tree all day, and at dusk they flew off toward the river.

Mali binanjinga walngkan wungar-wungar, wungar bada-nya jana wubul dungan wawubaja-mundu.


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


<translate> I see the juku-juku bronzewing dove there.


<translate> It is your turn to sit; I will sweep the ground.


<translate> Grandmother saw father's chest.


<translate> You and I saw the dilly bag here.


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

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


<translate> Cover the food well before you sleep, lest the dogs get at it in the night or the ants find it by morning and carry the whole meal away grain by grain.

Mayi ngulkurr nanda-ngarr warngku wunanyjiku, kaya kunarangkal nuka-nyji, minya wunkuwingku nyaji-nyji, mayi wubulku wundal dunga-nyji nyubun-nyubun.


<glossary> jungku ; type=noun ; domain=physical-property <usage_example> Queenie's house is on the end


<translate> We see the kurunkal mangrove here.


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


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


<translate> I see the shovelnose ray here.


<lexeme> upper reaches of the Bloomfield River


<translate> Up went the smoke, down came the rain, and between them the day did its work.

Wangkar dungan kubu, bada kadan kaba, dindarraba wungarbu murni nyungu murnin.


<translate> The children ate fish and turtle eggs until they slept.

Karrkay-karrkayangka kuyu diburr nukan, warngku wunanda.


<translate> You all see the whip snake here.


<translate> The old man said grief is love with nowhere to go, and the more you loved the heavier the grief, so a heavy grief is not a thing to be ashamed of but the measure of a great love.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: jiba-badi wawu jirray wanja-kari, yundu wawu jirray wubul-baja, jiba-badi dandi-baja, jiba-badi dandi kari milka-murrujimu, yambada wawu jirray yalbaymu dandi.


<translate> The children stood watching the old man cooking the goanna in the hot ashes, the old woman said, waiting hungrily for the sweet meat.

Karrkay-karrkay janjanay nyaji-l-nyaji-n, mukul-dingkarangka jadi waju-l-waju-nya kubu wumbul-ba, mukul-jalbu balkan, dakuy-bu bunda minya jiba-wulay-nka.


<translate> That story is told the same today as it was long ago, the old woman said, and its deep bones have never changed at all.

Yinya kuku-jangkar balka niji yala-rrku kalbay-muny, mukul-jalbu balkan, nyungu bajibay dajali kari yindu-mal bajaku.


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


<translate> I see the jawurraji ant bed there.


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


<translate> The tree kangaroo lives high in the rainforest canopy and moves slowly through the branches at night, and it is very hard to find and harder to take, so a hunter who brings one home is greatly praised, but the old people say never take too many, for they are few and slow to breed and a country can be emptied of them in one careless generation.

Jarrabina majaji-juku wangkar bada wunay buban-buban juku-mara wukurril wujurr, nyulu nyajinka dandi bajaku maninka junkurr baja, balbi-bama nyulu nyubun bayan-mundu jarrakulban yulmbarril yalbay, bama mukul balkan kariku wubul mani, jana buban jana buban-manda kari jiwarril bubu jana-muny yamba-kari-manda nyubun wungar binal-karibu.


<translate> You two see the morning star there.


<translate> The mother shouted to the children from the camp, but she did not leave the fire she sat by.

Ngamu karrkay-karrkay-nka yirrkan bayan-mundu, kari baya-muny dungan.


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


<translate> Give the spear to that one — he is the best hunter here.

Kalka yinyay-anda daji — nyulu balbi-bama ngulkurr-baja yaluy.


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


<translate> The camp dogs know the people.


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

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


<translate> The old man said the crocodile lies as still as a floating log for a long time, then takes the wallaby or the dog at the water's edge in one great rush.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: bilngkumu janka wuna yala walmba bana-ba warri-nya marri, yinyamun kadar kaya-jirr bana ngandal-ba nyubun-bu bila mani.


<translate> The old woman said the oyster holds its meat behind a hard shell, so you break it open on a stone.

Wulbumanangka balkan julul nyungu minya milbar dandi dukurr-ba karrbal, yundu kulji-nga dumbarril.


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


<translate> The children ran out one after another to see the two hunters bringing home the big fat pig.

Karrkay-karrkay jururr wanarrin, balbi-bama jambul bikibiki yalbay wundi-nya nyaji-nka.


<translate> The Moreton Bay fig tree is big.


<translate> The father carried the tired child home on his shoulders through the dark scrub.

Nganjanangka karrkay baja-burray bayan-ka binda-nga wundin madja-nga wujurr-ba.


<translate> The girl laughed at grandfather.


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


<translate> The best part of the whole day was the night, when the work was done and the stories began by the fire.

Wungar wubulmu ngulkurr bajaku kunarangkal, kirraji dunganmuny, kuku badinya bayanga.


<translate> You two saw the yirku-yirku frog there.


<translate> I am sorry for the very sick child.

Ngayu jiba-badi karrkay-anka bambay-baja-nka-ku.


<translate> The old man showed the boys how to find the mud clams by their breathing holes.

Mukul-dingkarangka warru-karra binal-bungan baymbay warrmba-bunga-nka nyungu janku-bu.


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


<translate> The stringybark tree is there.


<translate> You all saw the birinjil centipede there.


<translate> You and I see the chin here.


<translate> Mother went to camp with clothes.


<translate> They see the deep water here.


<translate> Hold the child's hand lest he fall into the deep water.

Karrkay-mu mara karrba, nyulu bana-dukurr-ba dara-nyji!


<translate> What tree is standing there?


<translate> He kept coming to the fire every night until the story was finished.

Nyulu kankaday bayaka wujurr nyubun-nyubunba kuku-jangkar kunbay-maninyjiku.


<translate> We see the scrub goanna there.


<translate> The old woman said if you must leave a fire and come back to it, do not put it out but bank it: rake the coals into a tight heap, cover them with a thick blanket of ash, and they will hold their heat under there through a whole day, and you will blow them back to flame in a moment when you return.

Wulbumanangka balkan: kaki yundu baya bawal nyunbanka baja, kari wula bunga yambada bajar bada karrba: ngunjil bangka buban-mandaku, bajar wubul junkurr bada wangkar-manil, jana wumbul karrbal bada wungar wubulku, yundu wangar daji wula-mundu nyunbanya buban-buban.


<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 child put a flower in mother's hand.

Karrkay-ngku nganka yijarrin ngamu-ndu mara-nga.


<translate> Granny is teaching the children language.

Babingka karrkay-karrkay binal-bungal kukuku.


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


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


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

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


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

Kaday dimbiku: walu bayanmuny muyar wubulku nyiku.


<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> They set out to follow the honey-bird, which flies a little way and waits, then flies again, leading the follower from tree to tree until it stops at the hollow where the wild honey is, and there they made a fire and took the comb.

Jana wamba-jujubala wukurrin, nyulu buban wandin maku-janay, wandin baja, nyulu jilba-bama jukungu jukungu maku-wukurrin dukul kanbanya juku dimbirrba wanja wamba wunay, yinya jana baya wangkan wamba manin.


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


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


<translate> You and I see the yarrka bee there.


<translate> The young man washed his face.


<translate> The moon rose over the open ground.


<translate> In that empty camp with no people, no dogs, and no fire, only the cold wind lived on.

Yinya bayan bama-kari, kaya-kari, baya-kari, muyar ngiki nyubun yinyay wunay.


<translate> One child was not left hungry.


<translate> The child saw grandmother's ankle.


<translate> Don't leave the axe in the rain; the wood swells and the edge goes bad.

Kari warrbi bawa kabanga: juku yalbay-mal, dirra mumbu-mal.


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


<translate> The little bird was snatched by the hawk from right beside the water hole.

Buyi buban kalin-kalin-anda nyarrma-jin, bana karangkal.


<translate> You two saw the freshwater turtle here.


<translate> Every bag has its own story, the old people say.

Kamba-kambangka balkal: balji wubulku kukuji.


<translate> Carrying fire is an old and careful skill, for a lost fire means cold food and a hard night far from home.

Baya wundinka yala ngadiku wunbu, baya kilbanmuny mayi kiway, kunarangkal dandi bayanmuny kalakalbay.


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


<translate> I take water; perhaps the sun is hot.


<translate> The two women took over the ground oven completely.


<translate> I see the light bellied black snake.


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


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

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


<translate> Many flies gathered on the piece of meat that lay drying in the hot afternoon sun.

Marra-warri wubul minya-nga muru bundan, minya wungar-a marral-ma-nya.


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


<translate> When the old grandmother died, the whole camp mourned for many days, the old woman said, for she had held all the old knowledge of the women within her.

Babi mukul wula-nya-muny, bayan narmba badi wungar wubul, mukul-jalbu balkan, nyulu jalbu-mu binal kalbay-muny wubulku karrba-nya.


<translate> He sees the jinjay tree there.


<glossary> diburr ; type=noun ; domain=flora-plant <usage_example> They got lots of scrub hen eggs


<translate> They saw the whirlwind here.


<translate> He saw the spear point here.


<translate> The scorpion hides under the flat rock and stings hard with its long curved tail.

Biringal kulji jirakal bada-ba ngaki-ji, nyulu junkurr-bu bayka-l.


<translate> You all see the posterior here.


<translate> The oyster answers every wave the same way: it holds on. Some knowledge is one word long.

Jululbu mulngku nyubun-nyubun balkal jina nyubunbu: nyulu karrbal dandi. Binal nyubun-nyubun nyulu kuku nyubun nganga.


<translate> You two see the miral water scum here.


<translate> We see the nganyil haze here.


<translate> You and I saw the kurrmaja larvae there.


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

Mukulungku dingkarangka kalka yurrin, kajan, wungara yijarrinda.


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


<translate> You all see the kurkunbay butcherbird there.


<translate> The young man happened to step on my foot.


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


<translate> Mother cooked food in the shade.


<translate> My whole body is sore — I worked all day.


<translate> They saw the jiwurrmal pheasant cuckoo there.


<translate> The bottlebrush tree is standing in the scrub.


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


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


<translate> The old woman set the fish-net across the narrow creek-mouth at high tide, and by low tide it was heavy with catfish and garfish.

Mukul-jalbu-ngku makarr kaja wawubaja ngandal buban-ba balar-a, ngajal-ba nyulu kulngkul julaji kalu-jirr.


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


<glossary> nganjar ; type=adverb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> The child come to have some icecream (he didn't ask for it, just stayed to see if he would get some)

Nyulu karrkay nganjar kadan ice cream nukanka


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


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


<translate> Many flies gathered on the piece of meat that lay drying in the hot afternoon sun.


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

Ngayu kari nyajin, ngurrbalda yalbaynja kanbin


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


<translate> The little kingfisher is much smaller than the crow, but it dives faster than any other bird.

Milman buban jarra-buban-baja waja-ka, yambada nyulu jarra-jinbal buyi yindu wubul-ku bada daran.


<translate> The woman took the fire stick from the ground.


<translate> The old man looked at himself in the still water of the pool and saw an old face where once a young man's face had been.

Mukulungku dingkarangka nyulu-nyulu nyajin bana jananga, nyungu walu ngadiku nyajin, wanja warru walu janaymuny.


<translate> My younger brother follows me everywhere I go in the country.

Ngayku yabaju nganya wukurril bubu wubulku, ngayu wanja-baja dunga-nya.


<translate> While the man was cleaning the fish, the dog sat close by watching, wanting the heads.

Dingkar kuyu janji-nya, kaya ngundu bundan nyajil, nyulu dukul wawu.


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


<glossary> kalkandiji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=physical-property <usage_example> You hang on to (your) work, don't pull out

yundu workmunbu kalkandijika, kari kulbajika


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


<translate> My younger sister married a man from the coast; now she lives far away, but she comes back each dry season to see our mother.

Ngayku jinkurr dingkar jalun-ba-amu dunyu manin; nyulu kala-kalbay wunan, yambada wungar-wungar kada baja ngali ngamu nyajinka.


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


<translate> The old woman showed the young mother how to carry and settle a fretful baby: she wrapped it firmly in the soft bark, held it upright against the warmth of her body, walked slowly with a swaying step, hummed the low quieting song, watched for the moment the little eyes grew heavy, laid it down without waking it, and then sat close by until she was sure it was deeply asleep.

Wulbumanangka karrkay-ngamu milbin yala ngawa jiba-badi jarrakulbalka janka-bungalka: nyulu kambi jinbalbu junkurr buwan, wangkar karrban nyungu bangkarr wumbul ngundu, buban-buban jilban jibul-jibul jinabu, kuku janka buban wangan, bundan dukul miyil buban dandi-mandanya, wunaman kari wandi-manilbu, yalada ngundu bundan dukul nyulu binal nyulu wujurr-bu wunanmu.


<translate> You saw the grasshopper here.


<translate> The two of them saw the mangkurr-mangkurr garfish here.


<translate> We two, not you, saw the munungkul ground pigeon here.


<translate> The woman went to the tree with father.


<lexeme> want something but can't get it


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


<translate> My spear is sharp and straight, and with it I always spear the fast kangaroo.

Ngayku kalka jinbal junkurr, ngayu mayarriji jinbal wungar wubulku dama-l.


<translate> He saw the walmbi-walmbiji left-handed person there.


<translate> One morning, many days later, the boy stood still and threw true, and a wallaby fell by his spear.

Nyubun wunkuwingku, wungar wubulku dunganmuny, karrkay janan wunbu, yilban yaral, darrba daran nyungu kalkabu.


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


<translate> The dugong feeds on the sea grass in the shallow water near the shore.

Biwuy jalun-bilanji nuka-l bana buban jalun karangkal.


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

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


<translate> We all, not you, saw the spear barb there.


<translate> This is why we tell the old stories, said the old man, so the knowledge of rare and terrible things is never lost between the times they come.

Yala ngana kuku ngadiku balkal, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, yamba yinil kadan buban binal kari kilbanka wungar wubulku jana kadanya ngundu.


<translate> The two women, who always went everywhere together, burnt the dry grass on the hillside.

Jalbu-bulal-angka jikan marral wajun jamba-nga, bula wungar wubulku muru jilba-nya.


<glossary> milka-dalkay ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> The dead person remembered about his wife


<translate> The dog stood watching the wallaby feeding on the grass at the edge of the scrub, the old man said, and it did not move a single step.

Kaya janjanay nyaji-l-nyaji-n, kadar nuka-nuka-nya jikan-ba madja ngandal-ba, mukul-dingkar balkan, nyulu kari nyubun-bu jina wandi.


<translate> They saw the waterfall here.


<translate> You and I see the river there.


<translate> I saw the jiwurrmal pheasant cuckoo there.


<translate> We see the kurrujuwa sentry bird here.


<translate> Grandmother was the first to cook food.


<translate> You all see the mullet there.


<glossary> ngaluri ; type=noun ; domain=fire <usage_example> The flames leap up from the fire


<lexeme> mountain and river flowing from mountain


<translate> My mother wove a strong basket from the vine to carry the yams home.

Ngayku ngamungka ngunyin junkurr bungan maya-bu, bambayal bayan-ka wundi-nka.


<translate> The elder sister carried her tired little sister on her back when the small one could walk no further on the long journey, the old woman said.

Babarr-angka jinkurr buban baja-burray muku-ba jarra-kulba, karrkay buban jilba-nka kari-rrku jilba wumbul-ba, mukul-jalbu balkan.


<translate> The old man had a good feed of meat, and then he slept in the shade.

Mukul-dingkar minya-nga nuka-jin, wabarr-ba wunan.


<translate> He sees the jajikal screw palm there.


<translate> They see the ngurrkul fig tree here.


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


<translate> That is the man's new spear.


<translate> You saw the bajal bower bird here.


<translate> They see the yarrka bee here.


<translate> They saw the jumper ant here.


<translate> The woman put leaves in the bag.


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


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


<translate> You two see the swamp there.


<translate> The old woman helped her look, and together they found the bag under a bush where it had fallen.

Wulbumanangka mara-dajin nyajinka, jana jambul nyajin ngunyin juku badanga, wanja daranya.


<translate> The old woman said the inner country was as wide and various as the outer country, with its own seasons and winds, its own storms and its own calm bright days.

Wulbumanangka balkan: wawu bubu yala yalbay yindu-yindu bubu badabadamuny, nyungu wungar, nyungu muyar, nyungu jarramali, nyungu wungar janka balbajil.


<translate> The two women dug the earth oven, put the food inside, sealed it with earth, and then it cooked well.

Jalbu jambul kurrma bakan, mayi dukurrbu yijarrin, bububu nandan, jani-manda.


<glossary> bibi ; type=noun ; domain=body-part <usage_example> The baby is crying, he wants to feed


<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