Lesson 3

Pronunciation: nj
We know this sound in English with words like "onion", "junior", "vignette". We have it at the start of some words too, like "new" (UK and Australian English), and "gnocci". Speakers of Spanish will know this sound as ñ.


 * nja.le what
 * nja.med what-cha-ma-call-it
 * njok.me to bark
 * njonj njonj aww cute!

The challenge is to pronounce "nj" at the end of a word. Try to hear the "nj" when Kamarrang says nonsense syllables man, manj, man, manj... Notice how the vowel is slightly different before the "nj" (sounds a bit like "ay"). Try this yourself, copying Kamarrang. Do it slowly and pay attention to how your tongue makes the "nj" sound.

RECORD THESE WORDS


 * kunj kangaroo/s'
 * djenj fish
 * bonj finished
 * bi.ninj man/men (male/s, aboriginal/s regardless of gender, human/s)
 * yak.minj finished
 * ya.wu.rrinj youth/s
 * kun.kanj meat
 * kun.manj taste
 * kun.ronj water
 * kun.berl.nginj clapsticks

Third podcast
Listen to the podcast here or get it from one of the feeds (SoundCloud, iTunes, PlayerFM).

Here are some of the phrases you heard:

RECORD THESE PHRASES


 * ngud.da, nja.le yi.marn.bun What are you doing/making?
 * nga.marn.bun kun.madj I'm making a basket
 * yid.dok Is that so?
 * nga.dja.re nga.wok.di kun.wok I want to speak kunwok
 * na.nga.le yi.ngey.yo What is your name? (na.nga.le who (masc), ngal.nga.le ''who (fem))
 * nga.ye ngal.ka.ngi.la I'm Ngalkangila
 * ngud.da ba.leh beh? Where are you from?
 * nga.ye kun.ba.rla.nja beh I'm from Gunbalanya
 * bo.rled.mi.ken other side



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.

Learning skin names
Last week you learnt the sequence of three skin names that includes yours (or your sister's if you're male). You just need to add one more, and you will have completed your first cycle of skin names. Pick just one of the following four, depending on your skin name and location.

Your job this week is to memorise the sequence.

QUIZ