Lesson 2

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Learning skin names
Here we learn the remaining four female skin names (pick the western or eastern version depending on your location).

Western skin names
These are the ones to use if you live in the Gunbalanya or Jabiru areas.

ngal.wa.mud → ngal.nga.rridj → ngal.ka.ma.rrang → ngal.bu.lanj → ngal.wa.mud

Remember that "rr" is pronounced like a short d.

Eastern skin names
These are synonymous skin names to use if you live in the Maningrida, Bulman, or Pine Creek areas.

kodj.djan → be.linj → ba.nga.rdi.djan → ka.li.djan → kodj.djan

Suppose you have a friend whose skin is kodjdjan. Her girls will be belinj and her mother will be kalidjan. If she travels west, she will be called ngalwamud.

Learning the skin names
You've now seen all eight female skin names, two cycles of four. The challenge is to learn them! Here's how to start, if you have a skin name yourself. (If you don't have a skin name you can just pretend for now.)


 * 1) learn to pronounce your own skin name (and listen out for it when people call you)
 * 2) if you're male, learn your sister's skin name (visualise your biological sisters and imagine addressing them)
 * 3) learn your mother's skin name
 * 4) learn your daughter's skin name (or your sister's daughter if you're male)
 * 5) finally, if you're sitting with someone, ask how their mother or daughters are going

For example, if you're ngalwamud, learn this sequence of three skin names: ngalbulanj → ngalwamud → ngalngarridj

Then, if you're talking to ngalwamud, ask where her children are with "baleh ngalngarridj?" or ask how her mum's getting on with "ngalbulanj kamak?"

Make a recording of these three skin names in sequence, or write down the names and attach photos of your own balanda family, or invent a quiz, or practice with others.

Do whatever necessary to get these three words down!

Simple words
These words are easy to pronounce as they only use sounds that are common in English. Pay attention to the pronunciation of vowels. Try writing the words, then click "reveal" to see the correct spelling.



And try some more words:



These words are useful and easy to pronounce. Your challenge is to commit them to memory.

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 "nanga". Then we'll break it into separate syllables "na" and "nga" and say them over and over.

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, ngalekke her's, nganabbarru buffalo, ngalyod rainbow serpent.

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.

Some useful verbs

 * ngare I go
 * ngabongun I drink
 * ngamadbun I wait (for it)
 * ngadjare I want it
 * nganan I see it
 * ngabengkan I understand (also ngaburrbun)

Podcast

 * ngare nganan, yire yinan I go to see him/her/it, you go to see him/her/it
 * yawurrinj baleh nabulanj? guys, where's Nabulanj?
 * ngawam, yiwam, wam I went, you went, he/she/it went
 * ngabengkan, yibengkan I understand, you understand (also ngaburrbun, yiburrbun)
 * ngamadbun, yimadbun I wait, you wait
 * ngadjare, yidjare I want it, you want it
 * ngadjare ngabongun kukku I want to drink water

Hanging out
Think of places and times where you can spend time interacting with Aboriginal people. Examples are a bench outside the shop, or a morning walk when people are on their way to the shop or to work. Plan to spend a little time in those places this week.

Things to try this week

 * 1) make 10-20 second recordings of people saying the words; use the recordings to review pronunciation (charge your phone and install a voice recorder; set it to save files using automatic numbering and edit the filenames to something meaningful later)
 * 2) try to find an opportunity to sit with people (hint: buy one of the locally available sarongs and carry it with you, so you can sit on the ground with locals)
 * 3) memorise the cycle of skin names and have another learner quiz you