The first challenge for a balanda learner of Kunwok is to get used to the idea that there's no words for hello or thank you. We like to discuss the weather with strangers, but here in West Arnhem, there's not much to discuss, except to remark on it being quite cold if the overnight temperature falls sub-20!
When speaking with people, it is good to limit eye contact.
Sustained eye contact may come across as domineering.
Bininj differ in how comfortable they feel with strangers,
so pay attention to how much eye contact you're receiving, and don't give more than that.
You'll probably need help to pronounce these phrases correctly.
Beginners struggle with the "ng-" words, and it's usually fine to not pronounce it.
So, avoid the hurdle and leave it out to start with.
For more on pronunciation see the pronunciation guide and the podcasts.
You might find a bininj who is prepared to help you with pronunciation.
Greetings
When greeting people, you'll probably be the one to initiate the interaction.
If you're not an outgoing kind of person, you'll have to pretend!
It is appropriate to show curiosity about where people are going and what they are doing, even if you only just met them.
Kunwok
English
Comments
ngudda kamak?
are you good?
(use with any size of group)
yoh, kamak
yes, good
baleh yire?
where are you going?
(said to just one person)
ngare shop
I'm going to the shop
(it's ok to include English words)
yire kakbi
you're going north
(fine to state the obvious)
yimdurndi
you've come back
baleh keno yimdurndeng
when are you coming back?
ngawarnyak wak
I can't stand the crows
mah bonj, ngare
ok, I'm going
yire
you're going
nan kaluk
see you later
(use with any size of group)
bobo
goodbye
Introductions
Here your challenge is to get over needing to know someone's name.
Learn their skin name, and optionally the kinship term you use for them, and try to just use that.
Don't be afraid to ask the same question again next time you see someone.
It's better to ask again and use it to consolidate what you're learning.
Once you know people, you might ask if you can sit with them.
Kunwok
English
Comments
ngaye nakamarrang
I'm nakamarrang
(give your skin name if you have one)
ngudda yingale?
Who are you?
baleh kunkurlah nguddangke?
what's your skin?
nangale ngunwong?
who gave it to you?
(your skin name)
njale marneyime?
what do I call you?
(elicits a kinship term)
baleh ngudda beh?
where are you from?
ngaye Melbourne beh
I'm from Melbourne
kamak ngayerrkan?
good if I sit?
(i.e. may I sit)
baleh kayime wurdurd yikarrme?
how many children do you have?
baleh kayime = how many
Cuppa Tea Time
Kunwok
English
Comments
tea yibongun?
Would you (singular) like some tea?
yi-bongun = you.sg-drink (bo-ngun = liquid-eat)
tea ngurribongun?
Would you (plural) like some tea?
ngurri-bongun = you.pl-drink
ngabokinje
I'll put the kettle on
bowurlkeng
it's boiled
kundjikka?
milk?
djukka?
sugar?
kanwo djukka
give me sugar
kan-wo = you.me-give.imperative
kanbowo kundjikka
give me milk
kan-bo-wo = you.me-liquid-give.imperative
nja
here
passing the tea, milk, sugar
Working together
Another adjustment when learning Kunwok is all the long words, e.g. karridjarrkdurrkmirri,
which can be broken down into karri-djarrk-durrkmirri (we-together-work).
Note that we generally don't translate "do this with me" literally, but rather say "you and me we will do it".
Kunwok
English
Comments
baleh ngurriyime?
what are you doing / will you do?
(to a group)
baleh yiyime ngudda?
what are you doing / will you do?
(to one person)
yibimbun
you're painting/writing it
yimilebun
you're weaving it
yidulkdadjke
you're cutting wood
yi-dulk-dadjke = you-tree-cut
yikaru!
dig it!
yimang mandengiyi
you're fetching the vehicle
karridjarrkdurrkmirri
we're working together
karri-djarrk-durrkmirri = we-together-work
karribebbehdurrkmirri
we're working separately
karri-bebbeh-durrkmirri = we-separately-work
ngawarrewong
I made a mistake
werrk!
hurry up!
yeledj!
slow down!
med!
wait!
karriyakwong
we finished it
karri-yakwo-ng = we-finish-past
ngabimbun timesheet
I'm doing the timesheet
Phonecalls
Kunwok
English
Comments
yoh
yes?
when answering, else just "hello"
nangale yidjare yimarnewokdi
who do you want to talk to?
ngudda nangale / ngalngale
who are you? (male / female)
med, ngayawan
wait, I'll look for him/her
wam / dowen
he/she is gone / unwell
minj kahdi bolkkime
he/she isn't here now/today
yimarnewokngimen wolewoleh / malaywi
call this afternoon / tomorrow
yirohrokmen (number)
try this number
Ailments
Kunwok
English
Comments
ngamarrwedoweng
I'm hungry
nga-marrwe-dowe-ng I-hunger-sick-past
ngakombukdoweng
I'm thirsty
nga-kom-buk-dowe-ng I-throat-dry-sick-past
njale ngunbayeng?
what's wrong?
lit. what's biting you?
baleh ngunnjamedmeng?
what happened to you?
ngun-njamedmeng = it.you-somethinged
kanmarneyolyolmen
tell me about it
ngakodjbabang
my head hurts
nga-kodj-babang = my-head-hurts (substitute other body parts)
ngakodjke
I'm tired
also nga-mim-kodjke = my-eyes-tired
ngabondjek
I'm cold
ngaladmen
I'm hot
ngadjare ngayo
I want to lie down
ngaworrkoluy
I fell out of a tree
ngadengelurlmeng
My foot is swollen
birndu nganberlbayeng
A mosquito bit my arm
ngan-berl-baye-ng = it.me-arm-bite-past
ngaberlbakmeng
I broke my arm
nga-berl-bakme-ng = I-arm-break-past
ngabiddorrinj
I hit my hand
nga-bid-do-rr-inj = I-hand-hit-reflexive-past
On the road
Kunwok
English
Comments
ngurribidbu karrire
you (all) get in and let's go
werrk karrire
hurry up, we're going
kandikan Jabiru
you (all) take me to Jabiru
(remember "kan" is pronounced like English "gun")
yibolkbengkan baleh yire?
do you know where you're going?
yi-bolk-bengkan = you-country-know
karrire kumekke
let's go there (pointing)
karrire djarre
go further / keep going
karri-re djarre = we-go far
yibolkkadjung
follow the road
yi-bolk-kadjung = you-country-follow
karridjalrohrokme
we'll keep trying
karri-djal-rohrokme = we-still-try (we're driving til we find what we're looking for)
ngabolkbengmiddanj
I forgot the place
nga-bolk-bengmiddanj = I-country-forgot
ngudda yibebmen!
get out
dengebelngdanj kadberre
we've got a flat tyre
In the classroom
Note that expressions involving yi- are addressed to an individual, while those with ngurri- are addressed to a group.
Feel free to replace yi- (you singular) with ngurri- (you plural) and vice versa, as needed. You can also use karri- (we all) if the expression includes the speaker.
