Learning Vocabulary

This page contains a variety of suggestions for how to learn vocabulary. Perhaps some of these will work for you.

Associations

These are associations between Kunwok words and English expressions... the more ridiculous, the more memorable!

• kaluk nan means "see you later": think of saying goodbye to someone, and waving a garlic naan
• manmorlak is the Kakadu plum: think of holding a Kakadu plum for "more luck"
• birrhme is to sweep: think of the sound made by a straw broom as "birrh"
• durndeng is to return: the first thing you do when returning is turn, which is close to "durn"

You can even do this for parts of words, e.g.:

• man- is the vegetable prefix: think of a man who likes his vegetables (or who behaves like one)
• yi- is the second person marker, you: think of old English "ye"

Move your body

Learn words while moving your body at the same time. You could as a speaker to give commands and you do the action. This is also known as total physical response.

• yidolkka! stand!
• yiyerrka! sit!
• yibirrhmen! sweep!
• yiborledmen! turn around!
• yilobmen! run!
• yiborrkkemen! dance!