<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.


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


<translate> We saw the jimu grasshopper here.


<translate> You all see the sea turtle there.


<translate> The possum went up into the tree, and the dog waited down below.

Yawa wangkar juku-ngu dakan, kaya bada karrban.


<translate> The old woman said a person's kin obligations followed them everywhere and could be called upon at any time, so that a distant cousin arriving unexpectedly, hungry and in need, had a real claim that could not be refused, and though this could be a burden it was also the deepest security a person could have, for the same web that could call on you at any moment was the web you yourself could always call upon in your own hour of need.

Wulbumanangka balkan bama nyungu karra-yamba wukurrin nyungunji wubulku nyulu kunjan wungar wubulku, bangunji bayan-kiway kadanya kanban-kari, dakwuy wawu-mundu, karrbal kuku-junkurr yukil nyulu kari bawalmuny, yinya nyulu junkurr-yamba yambada nyulu baja wumbul dukurr bajaku bama karrbalmuny, jawun-karra nyubun nyulu yundunka kunjan wungar nyubun-nyubun nyulu karra yundu nyulu-nyulu nganga kunjalmuny nyungu wawu-wungara.


<translate> You and I saw the karrandal tree there.


<translate> The rain came in the night. The river got big. We stayed in the camp.

Kunarangkal kaba kadan. Wawubaja yalbayman. Ngana bayanba bundandan.


<translate> Tomorrow there will be more work: yams to dig, fish to catch, stories to tell.

Wunkun kirraji wubul: wukay bakanka, kuyu maninka, kuku balkanka.


<translate> Today the men go hunting in a car, not on foot; they carry a gun instead of a spear, but the old man still takes his spear-thrower, saying the old way never fails.

Nyiku-wungar dingkar-dingkar mudaka-nga balbil, kari jina-bu; jana marrkin wundil, kari kalka; yambada mukul-dingkarangka nyungu balur wundil, balkan: mukul-yalaku kariku buyun-mal.


<translate> You all saw the barka snake here.


<glossary> yuku ; type=adjective ; domain=dimension-size <usage_example> Bring all the meat home (don't cut it up and leave some)


<translate> They saw the pumice stone there.


<translate> I gave my brother my spear, but he lost it in the river, so now I hunt with his old one.

Ngayu ngayku yaba-nda ngayku kalka dayan, yambada nyulu wawubajanga bawan, ngayu nyungu kalka mukul-ji balbil.


<translate> The children found the bower bird's little avenue of sticks in the scrub, the old woman said, all decorated with shining stones and berries it had gathered.

Karrkay-karrkay jurriyan-mu juku-jandu buban madja-ba nyajin, mukul-jalbu balkan, kulji junda balbal-jirr wubulku nyulu bangka-nya-ba.


<translate> I sweep the house; perhaps a friend will come.


<translate> Many ducks swim quietly on the still water of the lagoon in the cool evening.

Nili-nili wubul bana-nga janji-l, wungar bada-nya ngiki-nga.


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


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


<glossary> wurrmay ; type=noun ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> Don't steal


<translate> After that, we light a fire.


<translate> The children came running when they smelled the honey, and everyone ate from their hands and laughed.

Karrkay-karrkay warrin kadan wunba nyajinya, jana wubulku mara nukan, yajarrin.


<translate> For whom did you carry this food so far? I carried it for my old mother; she cannot walk to the river any more, so I bring the fish to her camp.

Wanyanka yundu nyiku mayi kala-kalbay wundin? Ngayu ngayku ngamu mukul-ka wundin; nyulu wawubaja-nka kari jilbay, ngayu kuyu nyungu bayan-ka wundil.


<translate> The pair of hunting dogs, brothers from the very same mother, always ran side by side.

Kaya-bulal balbi-nka, yaba nyubun ngamu-mu, wungar wubulku muru warri.


<translate> The dog bit grandfather's shoulder.


<translate> To find the wild honey, the old man said, catch one small sugarbag bee at the flower and follow it, slow and patient, all the way home to its nest in the tree.

Ngamurr mani-nka, mukul-dingkar balkan, kuja buban nyubun nganka-ba mani jina-bu dunga, janka bundanday, juku nyungu janku-ka narmba.


<translate> The blue-tongue lizard is in the scrub.


<translate> The little child is laughing and jumping around the warm fire in the cool evening.

Karrkay buban yajarri-l jalama-l-jalama-l baya wumbul murru-murru wujurr-ma-nya ngiki-ba.


<translate> We two (not you) saw the three-pronged spear here.


<translate> You see the black beetle here.


<translate> This child is taller than that one, though they were both born in the same wet season.

Nyiku karrkay jarra-kalbay yinya-nka, yambada jana jambul bana-wungar nyubun-ba dakan.


<translate> You see the spear point here.


<translate> The two of them saw the kinga caterpillar there.


<translate> Grandmother left the bark at camp.


<translate> The old woman said the longest journey any person makes is not across country but across a life, from the first breath to the last, and the same rules hold: go steadily, carry little, help those you meet, learn the way from those ahead of you, and leave good signs for those behind.

Wulbumanangka balkan: jilbal kalbay bajaku bama nyubun bungal kari bubu naka-naka yambada wawu naka-naka, wawu ngadikumuny wawu bada bajakunku, kuku nyubun karrbal: yaba dunga, buban jarrakulba, bama yundu nyaji-wanmuny mara-daji, baral binal bama wangkarmuny, wari yukil bawa bama dumbay-mba.


<translate> They heard the sneeze there.


<translate> I saw the kaykay-kaykay children there.


<translate> You two see the waral stomach here.


<translate> They saw the fighting stick here.


<translate> The women dug the mussels from the sand with sticks and laid them in their paperbark before the tide turned.

Jalbu mukirr jukar-muny bakan juku-bu, nyungu buyku-ngu wunan yira jurrkin ngadiku.


<glossary> kural ; type=noun ; domain=location-deixis <usage_example> He swam under water


<translate> We two (not you) see the dilly bag here.


<translate> You and I see the kurrburrubun magpie there.


<translate> We saw the ngurrkul fig tree there.


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


<translate> I saw the freshwater turtle here.


<translate> "Which way did the wallaby run when the dog chased it down across the creek in the dark?"

Kadar wanjarr warrin, kaya-ngka nyulu kangan bada naka-naka wawubaja-burr ngungul-ba?


<translate> The octopus hides in a hole among the reef stones and grabs the small fish that swim past it.

Kurrija kulji-nga janku-ngu ngakijin, kuyu buban maraji-nya nyulu karrban.


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


<translate> They saw the jangkan swift there.


<translate> I have no money now, so I cannot buy the good sharp knife or the strong new dilly bag.

Ngayu mani-kari niji, ngayu naybu ngulkurr ngunyin jirakal junkurr kari mani.


<translate> You saw the kalkarrumbarr lizard here.


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


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


<glossary> mambarril ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=transfer-possession <usage_example> You didn't let me go


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


<translate> The old man said that a person who does not treat their own body well will not treat the country well either, for the body is the first country each person is given.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: bama nyulu nyungu bangkarr kari ngulkurr nyajil, bubu baja kari ngulkurr nyajil, bangkarr bubu ngadiku yala bama wubulku dajilmuny.


<translate> You see the fresh water snake there.


<translate> Grandad is scraping the spear smooth.


<translate> The dog is tame; the boy's temper is not — train the more dangerous one first.

Kaya minday: kuli bubanmuny kari: binal-bunga yinya yinil-baja ngadiku-ngurr.


<translate> He went hunting with a very old dog that could no longer run fast but still knew every track.

Nyulu balbin kaya mukul-baja-ji-ku, kari-baja jinbal warri, yambada jina wubulku binal.


<translate> They heard the trade wind here.


<translate> The grandmother kept red ochre and yellow ochre in two shells; on ceremony days she ground the ochre, mixed it with fat, and painted the dancers.

Babingka murbuy, makirr milbar jambul-bu karrban; bubu-wungar-a nyulu murbuy nyurrban, minya-wandul-bu bungan, wuri-bama julngkan.


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


<translate> The old men threw spears for fun.

Mukul dingkar-dingkar kalka yilban, kinkanya.


<lexeme> bad spirit in form of crocodile


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


<translate> Don't take the other man's net without his word, even to save a short time, even in the small rain, the old man said, flat as a stone, for a thing taken without a word slowly becomes a bad thing, and the river is long, but the talk about you is longer.

Kari mana makarr dingkarmuny yindumuny kuku-mundu nyungu, wungar bubanku baja, bana bubanba baja, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan dandi yala kulji, yamba maninmuny kuku-mundu nyulu buban-buban yamba-mumbu-mal, wawubaja nyulu kalbay, yambada kuku yundumuny nyulu kalbay-baja.


<translate> The green sea turtle was speared out beyond the reef by the best young hunter.

Yalnga warru ngulkurr-anda dama-jin, dulngku kudamundu.


<translate> I see the newly cleared scrub.


<translate> The old woman peeped around in the house, and the children did not see her.

Mukul-jalbu bayan-ba nuri-nuri-ji, karrkay-karrkay kari nyajin.


<translate> The bloodwood, the ti tree, and the white gum are all for the fire.

Babajaka, bikarrakul, bajar baja — jana kunjinku.


<translate> They saw the spotted eagle ray there.


<glossary> marra-warril ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> The kids went down river (when a floor was running)


<translate> The dogs are fighting again.


<translate> Mum told the children to wash their hands.

Ngamungku karrkay-karrkay balkan, mara julurrijinka.


<translate> Mother put the flower in the bag.


<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> You and I see the death adder here.


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


<translate> The man sat down, had a good feed of meat, and then had a long rest in the cool shade.

Nyulu dingkar bundan, minya-nga nuka-jin, wunan-da wabarr ngiki-nga.


<translate> The man is good with cattle.


<translate> That lady apple tree is here.


<translate> The bloodwood's red sap is a remedy for a sore, the old woman said.

Babajaka-mu ngala-ngala kalbal baji-ka, wulbumanangka balkan.


<translate> We see the grandfather there.


<translate> I saw the shooting star here.


<translate> You see the kakaji mangrove tree here.


<translate> The hunter's whole body was covered in sweat after the long, fast run through the thick scrub.

Balbi-bama bangkarr wubulku jila-warri-jirr, nyulu kalbay warri-nya madja-burr jinbal-baja.


<translate> You saw the barka snake here.


<translate> By midday they reached the mangroves, where the men left the canoe and went in to look for mudcrabs.

Wungar wangkar janan, jana kajulba kadan, dingkar-dingkarangka marrakan bawan, walan kijuka.


<translate> The old woman said a child learns the world by asking what is that over and over, but a person becomes wise by learning to ask a deeper question of themselves: not what is that, but what am I not seeing, what am I assuming, what would change my mind, for the questions we turn outward make us clever and the questions we turn inward make us wise.

Wulbumanangka balkan karrkay bubu binalman babajilbu wanyu yinya jambulku wubulku, yambada bama binal-manda binalman babajinka kuku bada nyulu-nyulumuny: kari wanyu yinya, yambada wanyu ngayu kari nyaji, wanyu ngayu kuku-junkurr karrbal, wanyu ngayku milka yindu-manil, kuku ngana ngalanga wandiman ngana binal-manil kuku ngana dukurr-bu wandiman ngana wawu-yukil-manil.


<translate> He sees the bush fire there.


<translate> You two see the flathead here.


<lexeme> child who has just learned to talk


<translate> Mother sees the grass tree here.


<translate> Tomorrow the fish will be put in the sun to dry.

Wunkun kuyu wungara yijarril, marralmanka.


<translate> We all, not you, see the black-tip shark 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> The old woman brought bark from the house.

Wulbuman-angka dumbul bayan-muny wundin.


<glossary> marra-warril ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> The kids went down river (when a floor was running)


<translate> The big rock python is not poisonous, the old man said, but it is very strong and wraps around the wallaby and squeezes it until it cannot breathe.

Kabul yalbay kari baykal-buyun, mukul-dingkar balkan, yamba junkurr bajaku, kadar-ka murru-murru kaja, junkurr karrba wawu kunbayn-nya.


<translate> You and I saw the dakwurr-dakwun hammer bird here.


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


<translate> You and I saw the julaji freshwater catfish there.


<translate> You and I saw the ground here.


<translate> Three-sentence: Uncle speared a big fish. Granny cooked it in the earth oven. Everyone ate well that evening.

Kalngangka kuyu yalbay daman. Babingka wayjun kurrmanga. Jana wubulku ngulkurrku nukan.


<translate> That pheasant cuckoo is here.


<translate> You all see the marsupial native cat there.


<translate> The children asked the old man: "Who made all these good spears and shields long, long ago?"

Karrkay-karrkay mukul-dingkar babajin: Wanyangka narmba kalka ngulkurr kunjuri bungal kalbay-muny?


<translate> What did the two men bring back with them from the long hunt in the deep scrub, the children asked, running out to meet them.

Wanyu dingkar-jarra jambul balbi wumbul-muny bayan-ka wundin? karrkay-karrkay nyajin, jana-nka warri nyaji-nka.


<translate> The children asked what to do when a brother is unkind, and the old man said: A brother is not always kind, but he is always your brother; correct him when you must, forgive him when you can, but never, ever cut the cord.

Karrkay-karrkayangka babajin wanya ngaranka yaba mumbunya, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: Yaba kari yabarrka ngulkurr, yambada yabarrka yundu yaba; murni nyungu yundu wawunya, milka-wula nyungu yundu binalnya, yambada kari, kari yabarrka, kaji kudamundu bawa.


<translate> Look behind you on the way out, and the camp will look familiar on the way home.

Nyaji kudamundu dunganya, bayan nyulu binal-nyajil kadanya baja.


<translate> You saw the mukukanka tree there.


<glossary> duru-duru ; type=adjective ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> I'm puzzled about the engine


<translate> You two saw the karrandal tree there.


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

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


<translate> One hot afternoon a brown snake came into the camp, and the children ran and called out to the old people.

Yilay-yilay wumbulba jinkalmu bayanba walan, karrkay-karrkay warrin, kamba-kambanka yirrkan.


<translate> The children carried these teachings all their lives, and taught them to their own children, so that the knowledge of the animals and the plants was never lost from the country.

Karrkay-karrkayangka yinya kuku wundin wawu wubulku, nyungu karrkay-karrkay milbin, minyamu mayimu binal kari bubumuny kilban yabarrka.


<translate> The old woman's hands were clever, and she wove the dilly bag quickly and well.

Wulbuman-mu mara binal-baja, nyulu ngunyin bila ngulkurr bungan.


<translate> The two of them saw the karrmbil parakeet there.


<translate> They saw the scarlet robin there.


<translate> You two see the murrabal barramundi here.


<translate> When they agreed, there was a big gathering, and the two families exchanged gifts of food and tools.

Jana binalmanda, bama wubul kadan, jawunkarra jambulku mayi kalka dajiwan.


<translate> You all saw the jadi goanna here.


<translate> The two young men scolded each other over the broken spear.

Warru jambul murru-kanga-way, kalka dumbarrin-muny.


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


<translate> You saw the bajal bower bird there.


<translate> The blood ran down his leg and he could not walk, so his friends carried him back to the camp.

Mula jandalmuny badanga warrin, nyulu murruji jilba dungay, jawunkarrangka nyungu wundin bayanba.


<translate> The old man said a person should learn the trees the way they learn their kin, each with its name, its nature, its uses, its dangers, and its proper season, for the trees are the oldest inhabitants of the country and the people are the newcomers, so to walk respectfully among them, taking only what is given and harming as little as possible, is simply the good manners of a guest in an ancient house.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bama juku milbil yala jana jawun-karra milbil, nyubun-nyubun nyungu kuku, nyungu janka, nyungu yamba-yukil, nyungu yinil, nyungu wungar yukil baja, juku nyulu bama ngadiku bubumuny bama nyulu bama-jirakal, jana ngundu-mundu yulmbarrilbu jilbanka, nganga wanya dayanmuny manil buban-buban baja mumbu-bungalka, nyulu nganga bama-yindu kuku-yukil bayan mukul bajakungu.


<translate> We see the milbarakal tree here.


<translate> The old man said a person with fear and a person without fear are both dangerous in the hunt, for the one full of fear freezes or flees and gets others hurt, but the one with no fear at all takes mad risks and dies young, and the good hunter is the one in the middle, who feels the fear, respects it, and acts anyway with a steady hand.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan bama yinil-ji bama yinil-kari jambul mumbu-mabi balbilba, yinil-ji buwan nyulu janan yambada warri yindu buyun-bungal, yambada yinil-kari bajaku nyulu kanban junkurr manil wulal warru, balbi-bama yukil nyulu dukurr-bu, nyulu yinil milkabu baykal, wawu-karrbal, murni yambada mara junkurr-bu.


<translate> The two of them see the kalburiji bee here.


<translate> The child swept the ground for camp.


<translate> The thunderstorm struck the cow.


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


<translate> The clothing there is narrow.


<translate> The young cassowary follows along behind its mother on the narrow rainforest track.

Kurranji buban ngamu-mu kudamundu dunga-y, madja jina buban-ba.


<translate> You two see the straw-necked ibis here.


<translate> Grandmother washed the child's face with her hand.

Babi-ngka karrkay walu julurrin mara-bu.


<translate> The crown of the head is there.


<translate> Father washed the woman's ankle.


<translate> They ate until the stars came out.


<translate> They saw the bark belt here.


<translate> The boy kept spearing around for fish from the edge of the water.

Karrkay kuyu-ngu dama-n-dama-ji kalka-bu bana karangkal.


<translate> The frog sang all night in the water of the swamp, and its song was everywhere in the dark camp.

Karrkurr wulngku badi wujurr wubulku daburri-nga, nyungu wulngku bayan ngungul-ba wubulku.


<translate> You and I saw the grasshopper here.


<translate> The little bird that follows the honey-hunter and calls to lead him to the wild bees is treated with great respect, the old man said, for it keeps the ancient bargain: it shows the person the nest, the person opens it and takes the honey, and always leaves a good share of the comb for the bird, and a hunter who cheats the bird is never led to honey by it again.

Buyi buban nyulu wunba-balbi-bama wukurril balkan nyulu dabu-majaji-mundu jilbamanka nyulu yukil-bungal karrban, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, nyulu kuku ngadiku karrbal: nyulu bama janku milbil, bama kajal wunba manil, yabarrka mandi-mandi yukil buyinka bawal, balbi-bama nyulu buyi kulun-manil nyulu kariku wunba-mundu jilbaman jambulku.


<translate> That black tip shark is here.


<translate> The waterholes filled, the grass grew tall, and the animals came back to the good country.

Bana buray mumbajinda, jikan kalbaymanda, minya-minya kadan baja bubungu ngulkurrbu.


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


<glossary> yiljun ; type=noun ; domain=fauna-insect <usage_example> When the grasshopper sings, the wukay (type of yam) are ready


<translate> The old man said: a storm shows you the worth of good work, for the lazy camp is wet and cold tonight and ours is dry.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: jarramalibu yununda milbil kirrajimu ngulkurr, bayan daki-daki yaru kiway nyiku, nganamu marral.


<translate> Meanwhile, the pair of young men took off and ran west toward camp.

Bula warru-bulal jalaman-kuda, jalaman yarra-kuda bayan-ba kuwa warrin.


<translate> He saw the kanjal companion there.


<translate> They saw the big clam shell there.


<glossary> wanyurrinku ; type=interrogative ; domain=grammatical-particle <usage_example> Why did he laugh?


<translate> They are hunting in the scrub, and we will meet them at the creek.

Jana madja-nga balbil, ngana janangan wawubaja-nga nyaji-l.


<translate> The little boy climbed up the tall tree to look into the little bird's nest high above the ground.

Karrkay buban juku kalbay wangkar dakan, buyi buban-mu bayan nyaji-nka wangkar-wangkar bubu-muny.


<translate> The moon is the camp's clock and calendar, said the old man, marking the passing of the nights and the turning of the seasons.

Kija bayanmu wungar milbil, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, kunarangkal dunganya milbil, wungar murninya milbil.


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


<translate> The bright sun rose slowly over the far hills, and the whole wide sky turned red and gold above them.

Wungar balbal daka buban-buban jamba kala-kalbay-muny, jiri narmba yalbay kulbul-ma-n wangkar.


<translate> He saw the barka snake there.


<translate> That black diver bird is there.


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


<translate> The old woman said a good yam ground feeds the family for many seasons.

Wulbumanangka balkan bambayal-bubu ngulkurr jawun-karra daji-l wungar wubulku.


<translate> The newly cleared scrub is here.


<translate> Do not run on the hard, sharp stones with your bare feet, child, or you will fall and hurt yourself.

Balu, karrkay, yundu kulji junkurr-ba kari warri jina buban-bu, yundu dara-y kaka-ma-nyji.


<translate> The big paperbark tree is there.


<translate> He sees the bamboo spear stick here.


<translate> The old man said the fig tree had fed the people since before anyone could remember, and it belonged to no one and to all.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: binanji juku bama nukamanil ngadiku bajaku, kari nyubunmu, bama wubulkumu.


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


<glossary> janay ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=posture-rest <usage_example> The children are standing in front of the school

Jana kaykay-kaykay janjanay jakalba school


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


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


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


<translate> We brought firewood from the house.


<translate> The old man said, cook the food well and give it to the children.

Mukul-dingkar balkan, mayi ngulkurr waju, karrkay-karrkay-nka daji.


<translate> I was frightened by the crocodile.


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

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


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

Store nandajinjiku, yalanguwimburr dunday


<glossary> kayal ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> Leave that fruit, it's still green


<translate> All through the wet season the frogs kept singing and the rain kept falling, day after day, night after night.

Kaba-wungar-a karrkurr balka-l-balka-l, kaba daran daran, wungar jururr, wujurr jururr.


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


<translate> He saw the durra caterpillar there.


<translate> The black diver bird is here.


<translate> You and I see the mawul eel there.


<translate> The child hears a song from far away.

Karrkay-ngku wulngku kalakalbay-mundu nyajil.


<translate> They two see the bamboo spear stick there.


<translate> The old dog ate first, then slept by the coals all day — he has earned his place in the order.

Kaya mukul nukan ngadiku-ngurr, wunanda ngunjil ngundu wungar wubulku, nyulu murni-jina nyungu maninmuny.


<translate> They lit a big fire on the beach and cooked the fish there.

Jana baya yalbay wajun jukara, kuyu wayjunda yinyay.


<translate> You two saw the banamu snake here.


<translate> He went up the mountain and looked at the country.


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

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


<translate> A canoe is a promise between wood and water, the old woman spoke over the new hull: the wood promises to hold, the water promises to carry, the paddler promises to respect them both — and when one promise breaks, all three swim.

Marrakan nyulu kuku-dandi jukumuny bananka, wulbumanangka balkan marrakan jirakalba: jukubu kuku-dandi dayal karrbanka, banabu kuku-dandi dayal wundinka, bamabu kuku-dandi dayal jambul kujinka, kaki kuku-dandi nyubun dumbarril, kulur wubulku maraji.


<translate> We see the dikirr waterlily here.


<translate> At sunset grandmother stayed at the camp.


<translate> We will stay at the camp if a strong wind comes.

Ngana bayan-ba bundanday, kaki muyar junkurrji kaday.


<translate> You all saw the walkarr goanna there.


<translate> Mother left clothes in the shade.


<translate> Send the children to get more firewood.


<translate> All through the wet season the frogs kept singing and the rain kept falling, day after day, night after night.


<translate> The old woman said every child should be taken on one long hard journey before they are grown, not for any place at the end of it, but so that they learn in their own legs and their own hunger what their people endured, and carry that knowing for the rest of their lives.

Wulbumanangka balkan: karrkay wubulku jilbal nyubun kalbay dandinga maninka nyulu warru-manda ngadiku, kari bubu dumbay-mba yamba, yambada jana binalka nyungu jadalba nyungu dakwuy-mbu wanya jana bama kilban, yinya binal karrbal wawu wubulmuny.


<translate> The freshwater turtle sleeps in the mud at the bottom of the waterhole through the cold dry season.

Ngujay kambal-kambal-ba bana-jina-nga wunay ngiki dukurr-wungar-a wubulku.


<translate> You two see the seashore here.


<translate> I see the seashell headband.


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


<translate> In the morning the children played in the water.

Wunkuwingku karrkay-karrkay bananga kinkan.


<lexeme> the Aboriginal camp at Thompson Creek


<translate> The old woman said the body was a gift and a responsibility, given clean at birth and meant to be given back clean at the end, well used but never wasted.

Wulbumanangka balkan bangkarr dajil kirrajiji, dajil dayirr karrkaymanda, bawanka dayirr baja ngadiku bajaku, ngulkurr kirrajin yambada kari kilban.


<translate> The two of them saw the wuju grass sponge here.


<translate> Grandmother roasted the candlenut.


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


<translate> Grandad built a small fire and sat beside it.

Kamingka baya buban ngaran, bayanga bundanda.


<translate> We learned our manners from the animals: patience from the ibis, sharing from the dogs, silence from the fish, and laughter from the kookaburra — the first teachers never left.

Ngana murni-jina minyamuny binalman: wawu-karrba birmbamuny, wambaji kayamuny, wunbu kuyumuny, yajarr kururrungkamuny: milbil-bama ngadiku kariku dungan.


<translate> We see the king parrot there.


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


<translate> I will go fishing at dawn to get fish for my children.

Ngayu wunkuwingku wawubaja-ka dunga-y, kuyu mani-nka ngayku karrkay-nka.


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

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


<translate> You see the spear barb here.


<translate> And so the young men learned the greatest law of the sea: honour it, listen to those who know it, and you will always come home.

Yalaku warru-warru binalman jalunmu yala yalbay bajaku: ngulkurr-bunga, milka-jana bama nyulu binal, yundu yabarrka bayanba kadan.


<translate> I see the small conical shellfish there.


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

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


<translate> The frog says the rain's name all night, and the rain always comes at last to hear its song — patience with a name attached.

Yudaybu burri kabamuny balkal wujurr wubulku, kaba kadal yabarrka badaku wulngku nyungu milka-jananka: wawu-karrba burri-ji.


<translate> The stringybark tree is there.


<translate> Why do the old people say lest so often? a girl asked, and the old woman showed her on her fingers: eat slowly lest the food stand in the throat, watch the sky lest the storm catch you, give meat to the others lest the camp grow cold, and then she said: the little word lest is a shelter built out of other people's sorrows.

Wanyurrinku bama mukulungku balkal kuku 'nyji' wubulku bajaku? jalbu-buban babajin, wulbumanangka birribu milbin: nuka buban-buban mayi jananyji manungu, nyaji jiri jarramalibu yununy maninyji, minya daya bamanka yindunka bayan kiway-manyji, yalada nyulu balkan: kuku buban 'nyji' nyulu bayan murninmuny wawu-mumbumuny bama yindumuny.


<translate> You see the war spear there.


<translate> They saw the grey March fly there.


<translate> Whose child is this, wandering wet at sunset? — Everyone's, until his own mother comes.

Wanyamuny karrkay yanya, jilbal yaru wungar-daraymba? Bama wubulkumuny, ngamu nyungu-nyungu kadanyjiku.


<translate> The man asked the old woman: "Is that fish?" The old woman said: "No."

Dingkar mukul-jalbu-ndu babajin: "Yinya kuyu?" Mukul-jalbu-ngku balkan: "Kari."


<translate> I see the freshwater crocodile here.


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

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


<translate> Did the two groups make a trade? Yes — we gave them spears and dilly bags, they gave us shells and ochre, and both sides were satisfied.

Bama jambul daji-wan? Yuwu — ngali jananda kalka balji dayan, jana ngananda nikar bajar dayan, jambul ngulkurr-man.


<translate> The bird flew from the tree.


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


<translate> We saw the munungkul ground pigeon here.


<translate> You see the spider shell there.


<translate> You and I saw the birukay egg yolk here.


<translate> My cross-cousin married into the family across the river; now when we meet, we are both kin and joking-partners, and the two countries are joined.

Ngayku kambanmu mula-mula wawubaja yindu-ngu manyarr-bungan; ngali muru nyaji-way, ngali mula-mula kambanmu baja, jambul bubu muru-man.


<translate> He thought about his dead mother all night long and could not sleep at all.

Nyulu milka-bu baykan nyungu ngamu wula-nya-mu wujurr wubulku, kari warngku wuna-l.


<translate> The two of them saw the kujuway pigeon here.


<translate> We see the jumper ant there.


<translate> The young men speared many fish, but the big groper got away into the deep water.

Warru-ngku kuyu wubul daman, yamba wara yalbay bana dukurr-ba dungan-baja.


<translate> The friend laughed at mother.


<translate> The women made a shelter from paperbark.


<translate> You saw the yarrka bee here.


<translate> The children asked what holds a people together when hard times come and there is not enough for everyone, and the old woman said: In good times, generosity; in hard times, the memory of generosity, and the sure knowledge that these times too will pass, and the giving will resume.

Karrkay-karrkayangka babajin wanya bama nyubun karrbal wungar dandi kadanya mayi kari yukil bama wubulmu, wulbumanangka balkan: Ngulkurr wungara, ngulkurr-bu daji; dandi wungara, ngulkurr-bu dajinmu binalku, binal yukil yinya wungar baja dungay, daji-way baja wandin.


<translate> You and I see the squid here.


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


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


<translate> What did you find in the deep hole under the big paperbark tree? — I found many fat grubs.

Wanyu yundu janku dukurr-ba juku yalbay bada-ba warrmba-bungan? Ngayu kurran wubul warrmba-bungan.


<translate> You hear the chewing sound here.


<translate> The old man said the roots of the water-lily lie in the mud of the swamp, sweet and white, and the women wade in to feel for them with their feet.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: nganka-bana bangkan jukul-ba wuna daburr-ba, jiba-wulay balbal, jalbu-jalbu bana-ka janji jina-bu nyaji.


<translate> You and I saw the kajimarra food here.


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


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


<translate> The old man said these two brothers are not alike at all: one is quiet like deep water, the other loud like a falling tree.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: yaba jambul yinya kari yala nyubun-nyubun: nyubun janka yala bana dajali, nyubun yirrka yala juku dara-nya.


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


<translate> You and I saw the karrandal tree there.


<translate> You saw the jadi goanna here.


<translate> They saw the freshwater turtle here.


<translate> The dog ate meat in the grass.


<translate> Tell someone where you are going and when you will return, so that if you do not come back they will know where to look, and will not search the wrong country for days.

Bama balka wanjabu yundu dungay, wanjawanja kadan, kaki yundu kari kada jana binal wanjabu nyajinka, jana bubu mumbungu nyaji-nyji wungar wubulka.


<translate> We stayed at camp; meanwhile rain fell.


<translate> The child did not sleep in the night; he cried.

Karrkay wujurr-ba kari warngku-wunan, badin.


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


<translate> You all see the black cockatoo here.


<translate> I saw the old woman crying quietly by the evening fire, the old man said, and I went and sat down beside her and said nothing at all.

Ngayu mukul-jalbu nyaji-n, janka badi-badi-nya buri-ngka wujurr-ma-nya, mukul-dingkar balkan, ngayu dunga bunda nyungu ngundu-ba, kari nyubun-bu balka.


<translate> You saw the julurr-julurr moomoo bird here.


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


<translate> What kind of dress do you like the best — the one with the pretty red flower pattern?

Yundu wanjanguy-ngku kambi-ka wawu, nganka-nganka-jirr-ka?


<translate> I see the baldy gum tree here.


<translate> They see the kangaroo rat here.


<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.


<translate> The big crocodile lay still on the muddy bank, watching the animals come down to drink.

Bilngkumu yalbay bana karangkal janka wuna-l, minya nyaji-l bana-ka kada-nya.


<translate> The old man's eyes were sore from watching the bright glaring water all day long, the old woman said, so he sat down in the deep shade.

Mukul-dingkar-mu miyil kaka, bana balbal nyaji-l-nyaji-nya wungar narmba, mukul-jalbu balkan, nyulu bunda ngumbu-ngumbu dajali-ba.


<translate> We see the black bean tree there.


<translate> Sharpen the axe before the work asks for it, mend the net before the torn place grows big, tie the spear-point before the hunt tests it, the old man said the one lesson three ways, for the mend made early is a small word, and the mend made at the end is a long story.

Warrbi junkurr-bunga murni nyulu babajinyjiku, makarr murni yukil dumbarrinmuny yalbay-manyjiku, kalka-murru kaja balbil nyulu nyajinyjiku, mukulungku dingkarangka milbil nyubun balkan kulurbu, murni murninmuny ngadiku nyulu kuku buban, murni murninmuny badaku nyulu kuku-jangkar kalbay.


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

Dingkarangka karrkay dakandin kuli-kadanymundu


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

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


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


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


<translate> You all saw the junbirr lizard here.


<translate> Give the food to them, for they have travelled a long way.

Mayi jananka daji, jana kalbay-muny jilban.


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

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


<translate> People shouted from down there.


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


<translate> You saw the dijarr freshwater perch here.


<translate> I see the dulmbi umbrella palm here.


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


<translate> Mum is calling out from the house.


<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> They two see the tongs there.


<translate> You and I see the black cockatoo here.


<translate> We see the madu sea pine here.


<translate> The bark of the tea tree, when it is ground up, takes the pain out of a sore.

Bijin-juku-mu buyku nyurrban, nyulu kaka manin baji-muny.


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


<translate> We see the mud oyster there.


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

Yundu manu sugar buyim-bunga, lolly kari


<translate> They saw the yellow March fly here.


<translate> Mother sees the mountain peak there.


<translate> The two found Leichhardt fruit there.


<translate> That many-pronged fish spear is there.


<translate> Take the bark in the wet season, she says.


<translate> The fire is hot — mind the little ones!


<translate> Grandmother saw the stone on the road.


<translate> The men made the long spears, the boomerangs, the clubs, and the shields, all from the hard wood.

Dingkar-angka kalka kalbay, wangal, mirru, kunjuri narmba bungal juku junkurr-muny.


<translate> You all saw the jinkalmu snake there.


<translate> He saw the jinabiju goshawk there.


<lexeme> The Daintree side of Rocky Point


<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> They saw the yirku-yirku frog there.


<translate> The two of them saw the bulnja frogmouth here.


<glossary> dalkil ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=manipulation-impact <usage_example> I gave her the name Carol


<translate> Last time a dog tipped one over!


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


<translate> You two see the mawal bee here.


<translate> Grind the dry seeds on a flat stone to make the food for everyone.

Diburr dandi nyurrba kulji-nga, mayi bunga-nka bama wubul-ka.


<translate> This one is the flying fox, she said. This one is the two brothers.

Yanyu kambi, nyulu balkan. Yanyu yaba yabaju.


<translate> The old woman gathered the salt from the dried rock-pools at the top of the beach, the old man said, and traded it far inland for stone and ochre.

Mukul-jalbu-ngku kalkil bana-mabi marral-muny jukar wangkar-a bangka, mukul-dingkar balkan, bubu kala-kalbay-ka daji kulji murbuy-jirr.


<translate> He sees the fire stick there.


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


<translate> Slowly the leg grew strong again, and in the end he could walk and run and climb as before.

Buban-bubanku jandal junkurrmanda baja, nyulu jilba dungay, warri, dakal yala ngadiku.


<translate> They saw the kurkunbay butcherbird here.


<translate> You see the small ant bed there.


<translate> That crested pigeon is here.


<translate> What is that big dark thing lying so still on the sand over there, the little child asked, looking hard across the wide beach.

Wanyu yinya yalbay ngumbu janka wuna-nya jukar-a yinya-ka? karrkay buban nyajin, jukar kala-kalbay-mba nyaji-nyaji junkurr.


<translate> I saw the old woman crying quietly by the evening fire, the old man said, and I went and sat down beside her and said nothing at all.

Ngayu mukul-jalbu nyaji-n, janka badi-badi-nya buri-ngka wujurr-ma-nya, mukul-dingkar balkan, ngayu dunga bunda nyungu ngundu-ba, kari nyubun-bu balka.


<glossary> kala-jalamal ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> He jumped over (the mud) on the rocks


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

Yala-yalaku jarramali kadan, nyulu ngakijin


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


<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 two see the small bat here.


<translate> The children came to understand that all his rules and cautions were not the fussing of an old man but the distilled wisdom of everyone who had not lived to pass it on, spoken by the one who had.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman nyungu kuku nyaji-ngarr wubulku kari mukul dingkarmu milka-badil, yambada bama wubulku jana kariku nyiku janay balkanka wulanmuny binal, bama nyulu janaymuny balkan.


<translate> Where are the men hunting today — in the scrub or by the river?

Dingkar wanjabu balbil wungar-a — madja-nga, wawubaja-nga?


<translate> The old man had told the story before the children fell asleep.

Mukul-dingkar balkan, karrkay warngku-wuna-nyjiku.


<translate> Grandmother saw the saltwater crocodile.


<translate> Who is that woman walking along the beach with all the little children? — She is my mother.

Wanya yinya jalbu, jukar-a karrkay-karrkay-ji jilba-dunga-y? Nyulu ngayku ngamu.


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

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


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

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


<translate> I am afraid of the wild angry man, who lives alone up in the dark country.

Ngayu yinil kuli-baka-nka, dingkar kuli yinya wunay nyubun-bu wangkar bubu ngungul-ba.


<translate> When they finally saw the smoke of their own camp rising in the distance, the children began to run ahead, calling out, and the dogs heard them and came racing down the track to meet them, and everyone's tiredness fell away.

Jana dukul nyajinya nyungu bayanmu kubu kala-kalbay-mba wandina, karrkay-karrkay wangkar warrin, kunja, kaya jana ngaran baralba warri kadan maku-warrilka, bama wubulkumu wawu-wula-y badaka dungan.


<translate> The old woman said the wet season is the hungry time, when the yams are watery and the fruit not yet ripe, and the people wait and are lean.

Mukul-jalbu balkan: kaba wungar-iji dakwuy-wungar, bambayal bana-jirr, mayi kulbul kariku, bama bunda buban-ma-l.


<translate> The old man still keeps his dead father's fighting spear, wrapped in soft paperbark.

Mukul-dingkar-angka nyungu nganjan wula-nya-mu murrangkal karrban, warrur kima-ba kajan.


<translate> The father asked the mother about food, and the mother said the yams were ready now.

Nganjan-angka ngamu-ndu babajin mayi-ka, ngamungku balkan, bambayal jani niji.


<translate> They see the barracuda there.


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


<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.


<translate> The two found fish at the river.


<translate> The child saw the blue-tongue lizard on the ground.


<translate> You and I see the pumice stone there.


<translate> I saw the bamboo stick here.


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


<translate> The woman found the bag in the house.

Jalbu-ngku balji warrmba-bungan bayan-ba.


<translate> The old hunter thanked the kangaroo's spirit, for a hunter takes life only to feed the camp.

Balbibama mukulungku mayarrijimu dubu balkan ngulkurr, balbibama minya yarkin-bungal nganga bayan nukamaninka.


<translate> The old man said: the sea gives us food every day, so we must always look after it.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan: jalun nganangan mayi daji-l wungar wubul-a, ngana nyunguny kuji-l baja.


<translate> The women tied the bags shut with cane.


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

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


<translate> You and I see the crocodile there.


<translate> I see the kajarrbi clam shell here.


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


<translate> They two see the spear barb here.


<translate> The black bean tree drops big heavy nuts that must be soaked long in the running water.

Baway diburr yalbay kulngkul daran, bana warri-nya-ba kalbay-baja wunay-ka.


<translate> The old woman's long grey hair hung loose down over her thin shoulders.

Mukul-jalbu mungka ngungul-ngungul kalbay bada-baja wunan, wabarr karangkal.


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


<translate> Grandmother sweeps the ground for the camp.


<translate> The hinterland is high and dry, but down by the sea the land is wet with the rising tides.

Jibarr wangkar marral, yamba jalun bada bubu duna bana-bu.


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


<translate> I would have eaten that fish, the old man said, pushing it far away, but it is rotten, and he told the boys: the smell said no before the tongue said yes, so when the two speak differently, believe the elder brother, for the smell has kept this family alive longer than the tongue has.

Ngayu minya yinya nukanyaku, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, nyulu jurrngan kala-kalbay, yambada nyulu kabu, nyulu buban-buban milbin: jilabu balkan kari nyabil balkanya yuwu ngadiku, kaki jambul yindu-yindu balkal, kuku-junkurr-mana yaba, jilabu jawun-karra karrban juran kalbay-baja nyabilmuny.


<translate> The woman saw the shark in the water.


<translate> That crested pigeon is there.


<glossary> marra-warril ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> The kids went down river (when a floor was running)


<translate> He sees the wooden sword there.


<translate> Which axe for the honey tree? — The small one; the big axe is for dead wood, the small axe for living doors.

Wanjaku warrbi juku wunbanka? Buban: warrbi yalbay jukunka wulanka, warrbi buban baral-ngandalka juranka.


<translate> They see the scrub goanna here.


<translate> Granny met them at the beach.


<translate> Grandfather saw the stingray in the water.


<translate> The old man said follow the flowers to find the food: when the wattle blooms, the fish are fat; when this tree flowers, the yams are ready to dig.

Mukul-dingkar balkan: nganka nyaji mayi warmba-nka — nganka yinya kulbul-ba, kuyu wandul; juku yinya nganka-ba, bambayal baka niji.


<glossary> bada-bada ; type=locational ; domain=location-deixis <usage_example> The paper is under the table


<translate> You two saw the bajarr fern leaves here.


<translate> The old man tested the young hunter with a hard question before letting him go out alone: when you find two sets of tracks crossing, how do you know which is older, which animal is bigger, which way each was going, and whether the beast is still near or long gone? And the young man had to answer every part before the old man nodded.

Mukulungku dingkarangka warru-balbi-bama babajin kuku dandibu ngadiku nyulu nyulu-nyulu dungayka: yundu jina jambul nyaji-way manilnya, wanjarr yundu binal wanyu mukul, wanyu minya yalbay, wanjaburr nyubun nyubun dunganmuny, yambada minya nyulu ngundu yambada kala-kalbay dunganmuny? Warru nyulu balkan yamba wubulku ngadiku mukul nyulu kuku-yukil-manin.


<translate> In the deep wet the camp turns inward like a closed hand, the old woman said: the rivers own the country, the paths have become water, so the wet is the making season — string, nets, spear-points, songs — and the person who can sit busy in the rain walks out rich when the sun returns.

Bana-wungara dukurrba bayan murnil dukurrku yala mara nandanmuny, wulbumanangka balkan: wawubajabu bubu karrbal, baral bana-mal, yalada bana-wungar nyulu murni-wungar: karra, makarr, kalka-murru, wulngku, bama nyulu bundal murni-ji kabanga nyulu jilbal ngalkalku yamba-ji wubul-ji wungar kadanya baja.


<translate> They see the jingajalka tree here.


<translate> That marngkil ti tree is there.


<translate> You saw the bayil jungle perch there.


<translate> Goanna is good fat meat, said the old man, but you must cook it well on the coals.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan: jadi minya ngulkurr, yambada wayju ngulkurrku nulungu.


<translate> You and I saw the kurrujuwa sentry bird there.


<translate> "Do you know that old man standing by the fire? Or is he a stranger come from another country?"

Yundu yinya mukul-dingkar binal, janay baya ngundu? Nyulu bama yindu, bubu yindu-muny kadan?


<translate> He saw the mirrki kidney bird here.


<translate> They saw that marrabal ti tree.


<translate> You two see the sandfly there.


<translate> That black tip shark is there.


<translate> You saw the grasshopper here.


<translate> The proud young man kept standing tall at the meeting and speaking too long, and the old people kept looking at the ground and saying nothing.

Warru yalbay-baka janjanay muru-ba, balka kalbay bajaku, mukul-bama nyaji-nyaji bubu bada-bada, yamba-kari balka.


<translate> The old man asked grandfather about news.


<translate> My mother's father taught me to read the sky, my father taught me to track, and my uncle taught me to make spears — each kinsman gives a different gift.

Ngayku ngaji nganya binal-bungan jiri nyajinka, ngayku nganjan jina wukurrinka, ngayku kalnga kalka bunganka — mula-mula wubul nyubun-nyubun binal dayal.


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


<translate> They saw the kakaji mangrove tree here.


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


<translate> The sky was cloudless and the country waterless; it was a long, hard, dry, and hungry time.

Jiri ngungul-kari, bubu bana-kari; wungar kalbay marral kaka, dakwuy.


<translate> You saw the barka snake there.


<translate> The two old men sat quietly by the fire, saying nothing, listening to the noise of the tall trees.

Dingkar jambul janka bundan baya ngundu, kuku-kari, juku kalbay-mu nyurra nyaji-l.


<translate> You two see the bush fire there.


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


<translate> Mother went to camp with clothes.


<translate> You two see the toadfish here.


<translate> You see the nyumbil coolibah tree here.


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


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


<translate> The two of them see the yarrka bee here.


<translate> The tree with leaves stands there.


<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 duck in the scrub.


<translate> Is there water in the billycan?


<translate> He ran fast and caught the wallaby.


<translate> My grandmother's country and my grandfather's country meet at this big river.

Ngayku babi-mu bubu ngayku kami-mu bubu baja wawubaja yalbay yinya-nga muru-ma-l.


<translate> We ate fish, damper, and honey by the fire.


<translate> The child's big head is sore.


<translate> The two boys keep eating at the yams near the fire.

Karrkay-bulal wukay-mba nuka-n-nuka-ji baya ngundu-ba.


<translate> They see the kookaburra there.


<translate> For many days the young man could only sit in the shade, but the old people brought him food and told him stories.

Wungar wubulku warru wabarrba nganga bundanday, yambada kamba-kambangka nyungu mayi wundin, kuku balkanya.


<translate> Rain fell, the water rose, and then wind came.

Kaba daran, bana yalbayman, muyar kadan-da.


<translate> The stringybark tree is there.


<translate> He saw the bujil-yiran ibis here.


<translate> The mullet swim in a big group near the sandy bank in the early morning.

Kalngkan wubul-baja janji jukar karangkal wunkuwingku.


<translate> Grandfather saw the wallaby.


<translate> From the shade of the big tree the old man watched the whole camp and knew all that was done.

Juku yalbay wabarr-mundu mukul-dingkar bayan narmba nyajin, narmba yalama-nya binal.


<translate> You all saw the diwalngku bird there.


<translate> Don't push your little brother!


<translate> You see the striped water snake here.


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


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


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


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


<translate> You and I see the frog there.


<translate> You saw the jimalili lizard there.


<glossary> kijar-kijar ; type=noun ; domain=bodily-mental-state <usage_example> My leg was asleep


<translate> If the water is too cold, the children will not swim in the creek.

Kaki bana ngiki-baja, karrkay kari wawubaja-nga maraji.


<glossary> kumbir ; type=adjective ; domain=bodily-mental-state <usage_example> I'm better now, after being sick


<translate> The cassowary eats the fruit, carries the seeds in its belly to new ground, and the big trees stand where it walked — the forest follows that bird.

Kurranjibu junjun nukal, diburr wundil jibanga bubuku yinduku, juku yalbay janay wanja nyulu jilban: jukubu birrabu wukurril minya yinya.


<translate> I thought rain was coming, but wind is coming.


<translate> Why did you take the camp dog right inside the shelter, the old woman asked crossly, you should have left it outside in the cool of the night.

Wanyurri-mbu yundu kaya wurun-ba wundin? mukul-jalbu-ngku kuli-bu nyajin, yundu nyulu ngalkal-ba bawa-nyaku wujurr ngiki-ba.


<lexeme> the point between Kangkiji and Kaway


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


<translate> From whom did you get this good spear? I got it from my grandfather; he made it long ago from hard wood, and now it is mine.

Wanyandamuny yundu nyiku kalka ngulkurr manin? Ngayu ngayku kami-muny manin; nyulu ngadiku juku dandi-muny bungan, ngayku.


<translate> The children kept hitting at the grass with sticks.

Karrkay-karrkay jikan-ba kuni-n-kuni-ji jaba-bu.


<translate> Grandmother put food in the bag.


<translate> He sees the black-tip shark here.


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


<translate> They two see the boomerang there.


<translate> I carry the baby on my back all day long lest it cry for its mother.

Ngayu ngawa jarrakulba-l muku-ngu wungar wubulku, banbadi-nyji ngamu-ka.


<translate> When the frogs suddenly all fall silent in the night, the old woman warned, then a snake is moving among them in the dark, and you must build the fire up.

Yirku-yirku wubulku nyubun-bu yirrka kunbayn wujurr-ba, mukul-jalbu balkan, jarba jana-nga mara-warri ngumbu-ba, yundu buri yalbay bunga.


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

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


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


<translate> The man saw the wood in the scrub.


<translate> They saw the kurmba-kurmba lizard there.


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


<translate> You saw the jabil lizard there.


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


<translate> The dog did not follow the tracks, for the rain had washed them away.

Kayangka jina kari wukurrin, kaba-ngka julurrin-muny.


<translate> The mother built the fire up high and wrapped the little children in warm paperbark close to the coals.

Ngamungka baya wangkar ngaran, karrkay-karrkay buban nandan buyku wumbulbu ngunjil ngundu.


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


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

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


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


<translate> They two see the shield there.


<glossary> jarra-jarra ; type=adjective ; domain=dimension-size <usage_example> They were grown up in the head (mind)


<translate> The women gathered broad leaves to put under the food in the fire.

Jalbu bindi bangkan, mayi bada baya-nga wuna-nka.


<translate> The bloodwood has very hard wood, and people got spears and digging sticks from it.

Babajaka-mu juku dandi-baja, bama kalka juku-baka manin juku-muny.


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


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


<translate> The white crane stands quiet in the shallow water of the swamp, then spears a fish with its long head.

Dulku daburri bana-buban-ba janan, janka wubul, yalada kuyu dukul-kalbay-bu daman.


<translate> We saw the sand crab in the water.


<translate> A pair of trees is standing there.


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

Karrkay buban ngamu-ka badil wujurr wubulku.


<translate> Come and sit beside me here by the warm fire, and tell me the news from the northern camp.

Kada-y bundal ngayku karangkal yala baya wumbul ngundu, kuku kungkarr bayan-mu balka-y.


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


<glossary> yuku ; type=adjective ; domain=dimension-size <usage_example> Bring all the meat home (don't cut it up and leave some)


<translate> That running water is there.


<translate> The young man left the axe in the shade.


<translate> The children were given their chores — gathering firewood, minding the babies, and helping the old ones — before they could play.

Karrkay-karrkay nyungu yamba manin: juku bangkanka, ngawa-ngawa nyajinka, kamba-kamba mara-dajinka, kinkanyjiku ngadiku.


<translate> Father saw the freshwater turtle.


<translate> The loud cicadas sing in the trees all through the hottest part of the day, the old woman said, and when they suddenly stop, the whole scrub goes strangely quiet.

Kurrmbal wubul juku-ba yirrka wungar-iji wangkar-wangkar-a, mukul-jalbu balkan, jana nyubun-bu yirrka kunbayn-nya, madja narmba janka yindu-mal.


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


<translate> I saw the big kangaroo out on the plain, but the man with the spear did not see me at all.

Ngayu mayarriji yalbay nyajin bubu-ba, yamba dingkar kalka-jirr-angka nganya kari nyajin.


<translate> The women made new dilly bags and mended the old ones, and the girls learned the weave stitch by stitch.

Jalbu-jalbungku ngunyin jirakal ngaran, ngunyin ngadiku ngulkurr-bungan, maral-maral binalman yala buban-buban.


<translate> Father left the charcoal on the ground.


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


<translate> The children learned to look closely at every plant — the shape of the leaf, the look of the fruit, the smell of the root.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman mayi wubulku wunbu nyajinka: birramu yala, mayimu yala, bangkanmu nyajil.


<translate> They see the jalan sea urchin here.


<translate> You see the kunkun periwinkle there.


<translate> Mother sees the morning star here.


<translate> He sees the spear barb there.


<translate> Grandmother sat on the ground.


<translate> The little one is afraid of the dark — leave the fire burning.


<translate> The two of them see the dulmbi umbrella palm here.


<glossary> kayal ; type=adjective ; domain=value-quality <usage_example> Leave that fruit, it's still green


<lexeme> bad spirit in form of crocodile


<translate> The sky is the one book that never wears out and never lies and never closes, said the old man, and it is open to everyone who lifts their eyes.

Jiri nyubun kuku kari dumbarril yabarrka, kari warmbijil, kari nandal yabarrka, mukulungku dingkarangka balkan, bama wubulku nyajil miyil wangkar manilmuny.


<translate> The woman saw the Leichhardt tree.


<translate> You and I see the large mud clam here.


<translate> After the rain a big rainbow stood in the sky, one foot in the sea and one on the hill.

Kaba-muny yiril yalbay jiri-nga janay, jina nyubun jalun-ba, nyubun manjal-ba.


<translate> The black goanna is not vicious, but its teeth are bad.

Walkarr kuli-ji kari, yamba dirra buyun.


<translate> The freshwater eel is in the water.


<translate> The rumor ran around the camp three times and came home tired and thinner — feed stories only what they have earned.

Kuku-warri bayan murnin kulurbu, kadan baja baja-burray bala-baja: mayi-daya kuku-jangkar nganga wanyu jana maninmuny.


<translate> When the cold dew lies heavy at dawn, the old woman knows the cold season has truly come at last.

Bulur kulngkul wunkuwingku wuna-nya, mukul-jalbu binal bulur-iji yala kaday nguymal.


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


<translate> We see the ghost crab there.


<translate> The women kept digging and digging in the soft ground by the swamp, and their dilly-bags filled slowly with the long white roots.

Jalbu-jalbu baka-baka bubu daburr ngundu, nyungu ngunyin warmba buban-buban ngara kalbay balbal-jirr.


<translate> I see the nikar oyster here.


<translate> The storm came at night. Everyone stayed inside the house. In the morning the sun came out again.

Jarramali kadan kunarangkal. Jana wubulku kananga bundandan. Wunkuwingku wungar wandin baja.


<translate> You and I saw the kurmba-kurmba lizard there.


<translate> You all saw the jumper ant here.


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

Kaki bana kari, ngali bubungu bakal, bana maninka.


<translate> The children cracked the nuts open on a flat stone by the fire.

Karrkay darka dumbarrin kulji-nga baya karangkal.


<translate> You and I saw the kurranday seagull here.


<translate> That night the boy gave the first and best piece of meat to the oldest woman in the camp, as is right.

Yinya kunarangkal karrkayangka minya ngulkurr bajaku wulbuman kamba bajaku dajinyarr, yala yukil.


<translate> My spear is bigger than yours.


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

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


<translate> They played on it all afternoon.


<translate> The zamia nut was the hardest food of all to make safe, and it took the women three whole days of soaking and pounding and washing to take the danger out.

Barka mayi junkurr bajaku ngulkurr-manka, jalbu-jalbungka wungar kulur kalbay bananga yijarrin, dudan, julurril, yinil kudamundu manin.


<translate> A big tree had fallen across the path in the night, and the men cut it up for firewood.

Juku yalbay daran jinanga kunarangkal, dingkar-dingkarangka juku yakan bayaka wubulku.


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


<translate> The two boys took the dog hunting. They saw a wallaby but the dog chased a bandicoot instead.

Bula dabalangka kaya wundin, minyaka. Jana kadar nyajin, kayangka kulngu kanganda.


<translate> You two see the charcoal here.


<translate> The little fish are rather many in the shallow water, the old man said, but very many in the deep pool, so set the net where the water is dark.

Kuyu buban jarra-wubul bana buban-ba, mukul-dingkar balkan, yamba wubul-baja-ku bana dajali-ba, makarr kaja bana ngumbu-ba.


<translate> You all saw the jirabay lizard there.


<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> We, not you, saw the bajalji python there.


<translate> Where is your father? He went with my uncle; the two of them will come back tomorrow; bring the meat to them when they arrive.

Wanja nyungu nganjan? Nyulu ngayku kalnga-ji dungan; bula wunkun kada baja; minya bulanka wundi bula kada-nya.


<translate> Auntie is teaching the girls to weave dilly bags.

Bimayngka maral-maral binal-bungal, balji wukurrinka.


<translate> With what did you cut the meat, with no knife? I cut it with a sharp shell. And with what did the old people cut before the shell? They used a sharp stone from the river.

Wanyurrinju yundu minya yakan, naybu-mundu? Ngayu warkal jalngkun-du yakan. Wanyurrinju mukul-mukul warkal ngadiku yakan? Jana kulji jalngkun wawubaja-mu-bu yakan.


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


<translate> If the fish does not come, what will we eat? If it does not come, we will dig for roots.

Kaki kuyu kari kaday, wanya ngali nukanka? Kaki kari kaday, ngali bangkan bakanka.


<translate> They see the miyilabu mangrove tree there.


<translate> We stay at the camp before wind comes.

Ngana bayan-ba bundanday, muyar kada-nyjiku.


<translate> We saw the wooden sword here.


<translate> The old woman poked her foot.


<translate> Tomorrow perhaps a thunderstorm will come.


<translate> That long white road of stars across the sky, he said, is the smoke of the ancestors' fires, camped along the great river.

Yinya dawar jina kalbay jiri wubulku, nyulu balkan, kamba-kamba baya kubu, jana wawubaja yalbay ngundu bundanmuny.


<translate> Nothing in the water was wasted either, said the old woman: the root, the seed, the stem, and the flower all had their use.

Bananga yamba kari bawal baja, wulbumanangka balkan: bangkan, diburr, jaba, nganka, yambayamba nyungu yala.


<translate> They see the waterfall there.


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

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


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


<translate> You and I saw the spring there.


<translate> The women carried the water back to the camp in big bark containers slung on strong rope.

Jalbu-ngku bana wundin bayan-ka dakil yalbay-mba, karra junkurr-bu karrban.


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

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


<translate> I go to the sitting old man.

Ngayu dungay wulman-anda bundanda-nya-mun-bu.


<translate> How did you ever catch so very many fish in a single short morning, the children asked, staring wide-eyed at the full heavy dilly-bag.

Wanjarr yundu kuyu wubul bajaku nyubun wunkuwingku buban-ba manin? karrkay-karrkay nyajin, ngunyin warmba kulngkul miyil yalbay-bu nyaji-nyaji.


<translate> You and I see the charcoal here.


<translate> They saw the three-pronged spear here.


<translate> You two see the jadalangka animal leg here.


<translate> What did those men get from the sea today?

Wanyu dingkar yinya jalun-muny manin wungar-a?


<translate> He saw the duburan directional sign there.


<translate> Feed the stranger first even in the lean time, the old woman held the line: the food you give walks out and comes back doubled, the hidden food rots in its bag, and no camp ever went hungry from a shared yam.

Ngarrbal-ngurr mayi-daya wungar dakwuyba baja, wulbumanangka kuku dandi karrban: mayi yundu dayalmuny nyulu dungay kaday baja jambul-mal, mayi ngakijinmuny nyulu kabu-mal baljinga, bayan nyubunbu kariku dakwuy-man juwalmuny wambajinmuny.


<translate> The two dogs ran after the fat pig, chasing it down the hill and across the muddy creek.

Kaya jambul warrin bikibiki wandul kudamundu, kangan bada jamba-muny naka-naka wawubaja buyun-ka.


<translate> The children learned that you must always tell someone where you are going and when you will return, and never change your route without leaving word, for the country is large and a searcher who does not know where to look may as well not search at all.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman yundu yabarrka bama yindunka milbil wanjabu yundu dungay wanju yundu nyunbay, kari nyungu baral murni kuku kari bawal, bubu yalbay, nyaji-bama nyulu murruji binal wanjabu nyajinka nyulu yala kari nyajilmu.


<glossary> yalayayku ; type=demonstrative ; domain=manner <usage_example> Get this kind of food


<translate> When the fire had burned right down, only the grey ash and black charcoal were left.

Baya kunba-y-manin, bajar ngungul-ngungul ngunjil baja janka bundan.


<translate> He saw the bujabay tree here.


<translate> He sees the murrkul tree here.


<glossary> badur ; type=noun ; domain=hunting-fishing-gathering <usage_example> I'm fishing (sitting with hook and line)


<translate> Grandfather saw the stone at the camp.


<translate> You saw the barinkan scrub bird here.


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


<translate> A man with a good spear, a spear-thrower, and a shield is a man ready for the hunt in the morning.

Dingkar kalka ngulkurr-jirr, balur-jirr, kunjuri-jirr, yinya dingkar balbi-nyaku wunkuwingku.


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

Dingkarangka karrkay dakandin kuli-kadanymundu


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


<translate> They see the waterfall here.


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


<translate> He saw the walkarr goanna there.


<translate> His grandfather died in the hot season.


<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 young man went to the mountain.


<translate> You all see the black bream there.


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


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


<translate> Grandfather left the flower outside.


<translate> They waited at the camp until dark.


<translate> The two brothers are like two spears from the one hand — thrown together, flying the same way to the same mark.

Yaba jambul yala kalka jambul mara nyubun-muny — dama-l nyubun-bu, wanarri nyubun-ba juku nyubun-ka.


<translate> You and I saw the kurrubal freshwater cod there.


<translate> You see the scarlet robin there.


<translate> The dogs pushed through the grass after the bandicoot.


<translate> They saw the kunjarri palm there.


<translate> This man gave food to the child.

Yalu-ngku dingkar-angka mayi dajin karrkay-anka.


<translate> They saw the kurrujuwa sentry bird there.


<translate> You two see the nakawarra bee there.


<translate> You all saw the bayil jungle perch there.


<translate> The friend laughed at father.


<translate> What is that big dark thing lying so still on the sand over there, the little child asked, looking hard across the wide beach.

Wanyu yinya yalbay ngumbu janka wuna-nya jukar-a yinya-ka? karrkay buban nyajin, jukar kala-kalbay-mba nyaji-nyaji junkurr.


<translate> You and I see the dabway bird there.


<translate> The palm stands in the scrub.


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

Karrkay-karrkayangka mayi manin jukumuny.


<translate> You two saw the kalbawurr cypress-pine pitch here.


<translate> The children must never point at the rainbow serpent, or the big rain will surely come.

Karrkay-karrkay-angka yarru kari milba-l mara-bu, kaba yalbay kada-nyji.


<translate> What else do you want me to teach you now, the old man asked the boy, now that you already know how to hunt and to make a good spear.

Wanyu-baja yundu wawu ngayu yununy binal-bungal niji? mukul-dingkar-angka karrkay nyajin, yundu niji binal balbi-nka kalka ngulkurr bunga-nka.


<translate> You and I saw the prawn there.


<translate> You see that wuymbariji scrub tree.


<translate> Only the old man stayed awake by the fire a while longer, watching the coals and thinking of the old days.

Mukul dingkar nganga janay bayanga baja, ngunjil nyajinya, wungar ngadiku milka-bu baykanya.


<translate> My father's father is very old; he sits in the shade all day and tells the children the old stories of the country.

Ngayku kami mukul bajaku; nyulu wabarrba bundan wungar-wungar, karrkay-karrkayka kuku ngadiku bubu-mu balkal.


<translate> I see the young cassowary here.


<translate> When the water went down at last, the people came back to a changed country and began the slow work of making a new camp.

Bana bada dunganda ngadiku, bama kadan baja bubu yindungu, badil kirrajin buban-buban bayan jirakal ngaranka.


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


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

Ngayu bana wundil, kari jungkalu dumbarrin.


<translate> A storm is coming — let's go home!


<translate> You two saw the three-pronged spear there.


<translate> We see the black bream there.


<translate> In the nut season the women gathered the hard nuts that fall from the tall trees near the water.

Barka wungara jalbu-jalbungku barka junkurr bangkan, juku kalbaymuny daranmuny bana ngundu.


<translate> You saw the barinkan scrub bird there.


<translate> You two saw the deep water there.


<translate> The young man was tall and strong, firm in the back and quick on his feet.

Warru kalbay junkurr, nyungu muku dandi, jina-nga bila.


<translate> We hear the sharp sound there.


<translate> That blue mountain parakeet is here.


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


<translate> The two of them saw the jiwurrmal pheasant cuckoo there.


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


<translate> The pair of young men went walking to the river.

Warru-bulal jambul wawubaja-nga jilba-dungan.


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

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


<translate> The women wove the string dilly bags to carry the yams and shellfish home.

Jalbu-ngka ngunyin karra-bu bungan, wukay minya baja bayan-ka wundi-nka.


<translate> Why does the order matter, if all the work gets done? the clever boy pushed back with words, and the old woman gave him the fish that had stood unwashed all through the cooking of the food, and after one mouthful he said quietly: teach me the order — and the camp laughed for three days.

Wanyurrinku murni-jina yalbay, kaki murni wubulku kunbay-manil? buban miyil-ji jurrngan kukubu, wulbumanangka nyulu kuyu dayan julurril-kari janaynmuny mayi wajunya, wawu-nyubun-muny nyulu balkan wunbu: milbi ngaykunka murni-jina, bayan yajarr-man wungar kulurku.


<translate> They see the mura tree here.


<translate> I see the kakaji mangrove tree there.


<translate> Mother's country is at the river.


<lexeme> child who has just learned to talk


<translate> This child is taller than that one, though they were both born in the same wet season.

Nyiku karrkay jarra-kalbay yinya-nka, yambada jana jambul bana-wungar nyubun-ba dakan.


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

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


<translate> You saw the murma wasp here.


<translate> We hunted all day long and caught many animals, and everyone ate well that night.

Ngana wungar wubulku balbin, minya wubul karrban, bama wubul ngulkurr nukan wujurr-ba.


<translate> You all see the mulumu dove there.


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


<translate> The sea-urchin has sharp black spines that break off in the foot, the old woman warned, so watch the reef-floor and step only on the bare rock.

Jalan jarran ngumbu junkurr-jirr jina-ba dumbarri, mukul-jalbu balkan, dulngku bada nyaji, kulji balbal-ba nyubun-bu jina wandi.


<translate> You all see the dikirr waterlily there.


<translate> You saw the bujabay tree here.


<translate> The waterless country in the long dry gave the people no food and no water at all.

Bubu bana-kari marral-wungar kalbay-mba, bama-nka mayi-kari bana-kari narmba.


<translate> At first light, when the wood was damp with dew, the old man crouched over the fire-drill and spun it patiently between his palms until the first thread of smoke rose, and he fed it dry grass and bark until the flame took hold.

Muduwajungu, juku bana-jangkarrbu duna janay-mba, mukulungku dingkarangka jimal-murnil ngundu bundan mara jambulba kalbay dama-murnin dukul kubu ngadiku wandinya, nyulu daya kima janka wawun kiway-kiway wula manin.


<translate> The women carried the heavy dilly bags full of shellfish slowly up the steep beach.

Jalbu-ngka ngunyin kulngkul minya-jirr jukar wangkar-a buban-buban wundin.


<translate> Grandmother went to the scrub with the baby.


<translate> I saw the kalburiji bee there.


<translate> The old man said the country itself is the greatest teacher of all, greater than any person, for it never lies.

Mukul-dingkarangka balkan bubu nyulu-bu binal-bunga-bama jarra-yalbay wubul-ku, jarra-yalbay bama wubul-ku, nyulu kariku kuku-kari balkal.


<translate> Feed the stranger first even in the lean time, the old woman held the line: the food you give walks out and comes back doubled, the hidden food rots in its bag, and no camp ever went hungry from a shared yam.

Ngarrbal-ngurr mayi-daya wungar dakwuyba baja, wulbumanangka kuku dandi karrban: mayi yundu dayalmuny nyulu dungay kaday baja jambul-mal, mayi ngakijinmuny nyulu kabu-mal baljinga, bayan nyubunbu kariku dakwuy-man juwalmuny wambajinmuny.


<translate> You all saw the mullet there.


<translate> You all see the grasshopper there.


<translate> You two saw the jumul-jumul grass seeds here.


<translate> You saw the nakawarra bee here.


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


<translate> The old people listened near the fire.


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


<translate> You all saw the karrandal tree here.


<translate> Mother cut the meat with a knife.


<translate> You all saw the junbirr lizard here.


<translate> At sunset grandmother stayed at the camp.


<translate> The grandmother said: the possum sleeps in the tree all day and comes out only at night, so if you want possum meat you must hunt after dark.

Babingka balkan: yawa jukungu wunan wungar-wungar, wujurrbu nganga dungay; kaki yundu yawa minya wawu, yundu balbi wujurrbu.


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


<translate> The leaves on the tree are very big.


<translate> The old woman showed the girls exactly how long to pound and when the nut paste was ready.

Wulbumanangka maral-maral milbin: wanjawanja dudal junkurrku, wanjawanja barka ngulkurrmanda.


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


<translate> The old people say the country speaks in dreams to the ones who have listened all day first.

Bama mukulbu balkal bubu balkal bijarrbu bamanka milka-jananmunyka wungar wubulku ngadiku.


<translate> You two see the dukul-barangkal flathead fish here.


<translate> The men speared the kingfish and the queenfish from the rocks all morning, and carried a heavy string of them back to the camp at noon.

Dingkar-dingkar-angka danbal balarri-jirr kulji-muny dama wunkuwingku wubulku, kuyu karra kulngkul bayan-ka jarra-kulba wungar wangkar-wangkar.


<translate> Your two spears are sharp, but my one spear is stronger.

Yunu kalka jambul jalngkun, yambada ngayku kalka nyubun junkurr-baja.


<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.


<translate> The old woman's morning has run in one order for many wet seasons: stir the fire first of all, put the water on, wake the children while it warms, wash the small faces, then eat, and then the day may do whatever it wants, for the person who holds the first hour is never wholly held by the left-over day.

Wulbuman muduwaju nyungu warrin jina nyubunburr bana-wungar wubulku bajaku: baya-ngurr murni, bana yijarrika bayanga, karrkay wandi-bunga bana wumbul-manya, walu buban julurrika, yalada nuka, yalada wungar murnil wanyu nyulu wawu-manil, bama nyulu wungar-buban ngadiku karrbal, wungar bawanmunybu nyulu kariku wubulku karrbal.


<translate> The striped water snake is here.


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


<translate> The children ran to their mother's father, calling him by the kin name.

Karrkay-karrkay ngaji-nka warri kadan, nyunguny kunjan kuku-jawun-bu.


<translate> What is that big bird eating up there in the very top of the tall paperbark tree? — It is eating figs.

Wanyu yinya buyi yalbay-angka juku wangkar-a nuka-l? Nyulu jilanji nuka-l.


<translate> The first fish was small, but the second was much bigger, and the third was the biggest of all in the deep pool.

Kuyu nyubun buban, yamba kuyu jambul-mu yalbay bajaku, kuyu jambulumbul-mu yalbay wubulku-muny bana dajali-ba.


<translate> We (my family, not you) live on this side of the river; they live on the other side; the two groups meet at the ford; and we trade meat with them.

Nganjin nyiku wawubaja-nga wunan; jana yindu-ngu wunan; jambul bama muru nyaji-way bana-ngundu; nganjin jananji minya daji-way.


<translate> They saw the sea turtle here.


<translate> They saw the bingkajiri tree there.


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


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

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


<translate> The woman wove a dilly bag and carried the fruit in it; when the bag was full she hung it on a branch and rested in the shade.

Jalbungku ngunyin wukurrin, mayi ngunyin-ba wundin; ngunyin yajin-manya, nyulu juku-ngu karrban, wabarr-ba mara-kunban.


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


<translate> They see the whip snake there.


<translate> The mothers and the fathers went to the meeting to talk about the young children's future.

Ngamu-karra nganjan-karra malkarri-ka dungan, karrkay-karrkay-mu wungar kada-nya-mu balka-nka.


<translate> Bring me some paperbark from the scrub. Yes, I will bring it to you.

Buyku ngayku wundi madjamuny. Yuwu, ngayu yundunka wundil.


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


<translate> You two see the crocodile there.


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


<glossary> mambarril ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=transfer-possession <usage_example> You didn't let me go


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


<translate> He sees the julbal tree here.


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


<translate> You two saw the spear barb here.


<translate> They saw the deep water there.


<translate> The black palm stands there.


<translate> In the wet season the river rose and covered the sand, so everyone moved camp up behind the big rocks.

Buluriji wawubaja yalbayman, jukar nandanda, jana wubulku jurrkijin wangkar kulji yalbaymba kudamundu.


<lexeme> someone who is continually talking


<translate> The child has a sleep if he is tired.

Karrkay warngku-wunay, kaki nyulu bangkarr bajaburray.


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


<translate> Mosquitoes bit the children.


<translate> You see the freshwater prawn here.


<translate> The child is getting quite sick.


<translate> The dog stole the meat from the fire and ran into the scrub.

Kayangka minya ngakin bayamuny, madjanga warrinda.


<translate> On the last evening of the long gathering everyone worked together to prepare the farewell feast: the hunters brought in the last of the smoked meat, the women uncovered the great earth ovens full of food, the young ones carried it all to the central ground, the old ones took the honored places, we ate and gave thanks and named the ones who had travelled far, we sang the parting songs as the fire burned low, and then at dawn the many families packed and scattered back to their own countries carrying the whole gathering inside them.

Kunarangkal bada bajaku bangkarr-yalbaymu bama wubulku nyubun-nyubunji kirrajin bawa-mayi bunganka: balbi-bama minya kubu-manin bada bajaku daya, jalbu kurrma yalbay kajan mayi buwanba, warru-warru dukurr-bu wubulku jarrakulban, mukul bubu-yukil manin, ngana nukan wawu-mini balkan bama kala-kalbaymuny jilbanmu burri, ngana bawa-jangkar balkan baya bada dunganya, yalada muduwajungu jawun-karra wubulku murni-manda nyungu bubu-mundu wandin bangkarr wubulku dukurr-bu jarrakulban.


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

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


<translate> You went to the river; I followed you; I gave the spear to you; and now your dilly bag is full of fish.

Yundu wawubajanga dungan; ngayu yununy wukurrin; ngayu kalka yununku dayan; yunu balji kuyu-bu yajin.


<translate> You see the wuymbariji scrub tree there.


<translate> They saw the waddy club here.


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


<translate> The magpie screeched again and again at the little dog, guarding its eggs on the ground.

Dawa-dawa-ngka kaya buban yirrka-y-yirrka-y, diburr bubu-ngu nanda-l.


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

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


<translate> The Moreton Bay fig tree is good.


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

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


<translate> Grandad watched the young men making spears.

Kamingka warru-warru nyajin, kalka balkal-balkanya.


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


<translate> At the low tide the old women walk out on the reef to gather the shellfish.

Ngajal-ba wulbuman-wulbuman dulngku-ka jilba, mukirr bangka-nka.


<translate> You see the striped water snake here.


<translate> You hear the clap sound here.


<translate> I saw the mawul freshwater eel there.


<translate> They saw the striped water snake here.


<translate> I would have caught the big one, every fisherman says, and the old woman laughs at them all: the line was too thin, the sun was in my eyes, the bank was wrong — but the caught fish is the only one the camp can eat, so praise the small caught one, not the big escaped one.

Ngayu kuyu yalbay bangkanyaku, balbi-bama nyubun-nyubun balkal, wulbuman yajarr-mal jananka wubulku: badur bala bajaku, wungar miyilba ngayku, jalkar mumbu, yambada kuyu maninmuny nyulu nyubun nganga bayanda nukalmuny, yalada yulmbarrika kuyu buban maninmuny, kari kuyu yalbay warrinmuny.


<translate> Father saw the saltwater crocodile.


<translate> You and I see the fingernail here.


<translate> You see the kuray-kuray tree there.


<translate> He sees the dulmbi umbrella palm there.


<translate> He called out to me from far away, and I heard his words across the wide, deep river.

Nyulu ngayku-nka yirrkan kala-kalbay-mundu, ngayu nyungu kuku nyajin wawubaja kalbay naka-naka.


<translate> You two get grass for the soup.


<translate> You two saw the murma wasp here.


<translate> You and I saw the jumper ant here.


<translate> We saw the marril ti tree there.


<lexeme> The Daintree side of Rocky Point


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


<translate> They saw the wankar tree here.


<translate> The little birds make their nest high up in the hollow of the old blood wood tree.

Buyi buban bayan bunga-l babajaga mukul dimbirr wangkar-a.


<translate> We saw the spear point here.


<glossary> wuban ; type=adjective ; domain=physical-property <usage_example> pulled with all our strength


<translate> No, Aboriginal people, pay attention!


<translate> When the first light comes in the cold dawn, the little birds wake and call in the tall trees.

Balbal wunkuwingku ngiki-ba kada-nya, buyi buban wandin yirrka-l juku kalbay-mba.


<translate> That folded clothing is there.


<translate> You all see the fire stick there.


<translate> Keep the children close, lest they wander far into the big scrub.

Karrkay karangkal karrba, jana madja yalbay-mba kala-kalbay dunga-nyji!


<translate> The black scrub goanna is big.


<glossary> warmbill ; type=transitive-verb ; domain=cognition-emotion <usage_example> The people don't believe the Pastor


<translate> The old man stayed in the scrub with the baby.


<translate> The old people are cold — bring them blankets.

Kamba-kamba kiway-kiway — kararr wundi jananda!


<glossary> bajaku ; type=adverb ; domain=manner <usage_example> They got very much food from the store


<translate> The old man said a spearhead with a barb and one without are made for different game, for the barbed point holds the fish that would slip a smooth one, but the smooth point drives deeper into the big land animal and pulls free for a second throw, so a wise hunter carries both and reads the quarry before he chooses which spear to carry to the water or the plain.

Mukulungku dingkarangka balkan kalka-murru jinil-ji jinil-kari yindu-yindu minya yindu-yindunka bungal, jinil-ji nyulu kuyu karrbal nyulu jinil-kari jarrbamuny, yambada jinil-kari nyulu wangkar dungay minya-yalbay bubungu jarra dungay bada bawal jambul-yilbalku, balbi-bama yukil jambul jarrakulbal minya ngaral nyulu kalka wanya jarrakulbalka bananmundu yaral-mundu baja.


<translate> They saw the mungari kaori pine there.


<translate> The man saw bark in the shade.


<translate> The old woman said a good marriage is not a fixed thing but a long slow changing of two people into a shape that fits together, for two who wed as separate young people, over many years of shared trouble and shared joy, slowly grind against each other like two stones in a river until each is worn to fit the other, and she said this is why the old people did not expect young couples to fit at once but trusted the slow changing that the years would do.

Wulbumanangka balkan dunyu-manil yukil nyulu kari yindu-kari yambada yindu buban-buban kalbay jambul bama nyubun-nyubunmuny jina nyubunku nyubunji murrbamuny, jambul dunyu-manin bama-warru yindu-yindu, wungar wubulku mumbu-yamba yajarr-yamba, buban-buban yurril nyubunji yala kulji jambul wawubajanga yalada nyubun-nyubun murrba-mal nyubunji, nyulu balkan yinya wanyurrinku bama mukul kari wawu-manin warru-dunyu murrba nyubunji ngadiku yambada kuku-junkurr-manin yindu buban-buban wungar nyulu murninmuny.


<translate> Hook or spear for this water? — Hook; the fish here have already seen too many shadows.

Badur yambada kalka bananka yanyanka? Badur: kuyubu wabarr wubulku nyajin ngadiku.


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

Axe dudu bajaku; jalngkun-bunga filemundu.


<translate> Who is that man standing over there by the big tree?

Wanya yinya dingkar juku yalbay-mba janay?


<translate> The man's shoulder is strong.


<translate> The children learned the names and the ways and the tracks and the calls of every animal in the country, one by one, over many seasons of watching and listening.

Karrkay-karrkayangka binalman minyamu burri, yala, jina, kuku wubulku bubungu, nyubun-nyubun, wungar wubul kudamundu nyajinya milka-jananya.


<translate> You see the karranda tree there.


<translate> The child saw the black bean tree.


<translate> We see the mingur tree here.


<translate> On a fine clear day the whole sky is blue and not one cloud can be seen anywhere.

Jiri ngulkurr-baja wungar-a, ngurrban nyubun kari nyaji-ji.


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


<translate> The men cut the tree open and lifted out the honey.

Dingkar-dingkarangka juku yakan, wunba maninda.


<translate> I slept the whole night at my elder brother's camp far up the winding river.

Ngayu wujurr wubulku wunan yaba-ndamun-bu bayan-ba, wawubaja wangkar-a kalbay-ka.


<translate> They saw the nyumbil coolibah tree here.


<glossary> yalkaji ; type=intransitive-verb ; domain=motion-travel <usage_example> He's limping with sore on his feet

Nyulu yalkan-yalkan-yalkaji, jina bajiji


<translate> Come and sit by the fire — it's cold outside.

Kaday, bayanga bunday — ngalkalba kiway-kiway.


<translate> The young man asked the old hunter about the best way to make a straight, strong spear.

Warru-ngku balbi-bama mukul-da babajin, kalka jinbal junkurr bunga-nka ngulkurr-ka.


<translate> They see the jirimandi coconut tree here.


<translate> The two snakes wrap around each other in the grass when they mate.

Jarba bula kaja-way bilanji-nga, dukurr-wungar-a.