Lesson 1

Goals
In this lesson you will:


 * learn how to greet people
 * learn basics of pronunciation
 * learn some simple vocabulary
 * start learning skin names
 * pick up some learning tactics

Greeting People
Listen to the first podcast. It was recorded in Kabulwarnamyo, a remote West Arnhem homeland, with one of the traditional owners.

Listen out for the following words. We put dots between the syllables for now, to help with pronunciation.


 * ka.mak good (as a question, are you good?, or a statement, I'm good)
 * ba.leh yi.re? where are you going? (the h represents a glottal stop)
 * nga.bolk.nan I'm (just) looking around (the ng is often silent!)
 * nga.re I'm going
 * nga.wok.di kun.wok I'm speaking Kunwok (Kunwinjku)
 * ba.lan.da whitefella (or whitefella language)
 * ku.red home or camp
 * yoh yes
 * larrh no
 * kan.dji.kan.dji waterhole (literally, low ground)
 * wo.le.wo.leh afternoon
 * mah ok
 * bo.bo bye

Learn these words. Try making new phrases with them. Check your pronunciation with a local.

Vowels
Bininj Kunwok has just five vowels and their pronunciation does not vary. Read about the vowels in our Pronunciation Guide.




 * wak.wak crow
 * de.lek white paint
 * bik.bik pig
 * bo.bo bye
 * du.ruk dog

word-initial ng
English speakers know this sound from words like sing, sang, sung. The challenge is to learn how to produce this sound at the start of words. It takes practice.

The first step is to become aware of what your tongue does to produce this sound. We'll try this by repeating a nonsense word. We'll do it in three stages:


 * 1) "nanga nanga nanga" (notice what your tongue is doing)
 * 2) "na-nga-na-nga-na-nga" (join up the words and speak slowly; try to say the ng at the start of the following syllable)
 * 3) "na nga na nga na nga" (break them up into separate words)

Here are the "ng" words we've heard so far: ngare I go, ngawokdi I speak, ngabolknan I'm looking around. Here's some more: ngaye I, ngudda you, ngalyod rainbow serpent, ngadburrung sibling, ngalng yabby. As before, check your pronunciation with a local. If possible, record someone saying these words slowly, so you can listen to them later.

Some skin names
ngal.wa.kadj → ngal.ba.nga.rdi → ngal.ka.ngi.la → ngal.ko.djok → ngal.wa.kadj

nga.rridj.djan → ka.manj → bu.lanj.djan → wa.mud.djan → nga.rridj.djan

more, incl audio

My Network Map
On a blank sheet of paper draw three concentric circles. Add the names of people to the sheet as follows:


 * inner circle: Write the names of Aboriginal friends who you are able use the language with. You're comfortable with these people and don't mind taking risks as you get started in the language. They are also comfortable with having you sometimes listen in on their conversations.
 * next circle: Write the names of Aboriginal people who you interact with regularly. These are prospects. After some practice and some confidence building, you feel ok about trying to use the language with them. Soon, they may be in the inner circle.
 * next circle: Write the names of Aboriginal people you interact with occasionally, but who you don't yet feel comfortable with. Be mindful of them, and be sure to acknowledge them when you see them. Don't be shy.
 * outer area: Think of anyone else who might be interesting to talk to. Perhaps they're an elder with significant cultural knowledge.

Finally, think of some times and locations where you can spend time where you are more likely to meet Aboriginal people, such as a bench outside the shop, a morning walk when people are on their way to the shop or to work. Make a note of the times and places. Plan to make a habit of spending time in those places.

Things to try this week

 * 1) listen to the first podcast at least twice, practice with people
 * 2) make recordings of people saying the words; use the recordings to review the pronunciation
 * 3) memorise the cycle of skin names and have another learner quiz you
 * 4) buy one of the locally available sarongs and carry it with you, so you can sit on the ground with locals
 * 5) read about How to learn and start keeping a learning journal