Preface
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.
A small amount is fine, but 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 "ng-" at the start of words.
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.
If you've forgotten a word or phrase that someone taught you,
don't be afraid to ask them again... it's better to ask again and use this to consolidate what you're learning.
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.
It is also appropriate to state the obvious, e.g. saying yire shop to someone who is heading towards the shop (a bit like saying "nice day!" when it is obviously the case).
| 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 |
|
| balekeno 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 |
|
| mah bonj |
ok we're done |
|
| 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.
| Kunwok |
English |
Comments
|
| ngaye nakamarrang |
I'm nakamarrang |
(give your skin name if you have one)
|
| ngudda yingale? |
Who are you? |
|
| yimulewarren ngudda |
Tell us about yourself |
mulewan = give a report
|
| baleh kunkurlah nguddangke? |
what's your skin? |
|
| nangale ngunwong? |
who gave it to you? |
won = give (your skin name)
|
| njale marneyime? |
what do I call you? |
(elicits a kinship term)
|
| baleh ngudda beh? |
where are you from? |
|
| baleh yidolkkang |
where did you grow up? |
|
| ngaye Melbourne beh |
I'm from Melbourne |
|
| ngadolkkang Darwin |
I grew up in Darwin |
|
| 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
|
| ngakarrme danjbik wurdurd |
I have three children |
(nakudji, boken, danjbik = 1, 2, 3)
|
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
|
| ngabomarnbun tea |
I'm making tea |
nga-bo-marnbun = I-liquid-make
|
| ngabokinje |
I'll put the kettle on |
bo-kinje = liquid-cook
|
| mambard |
billycan |
|
| yikurrmen mambard kukunak |
put the billycan on the fire |
ku-kunak = at-fire
|
| bowurlhmeng |
it's boiled |
bo-wurlhme-ng = liquid-be.hot-past
|
| kundjikka yikarrme? |
Do you have milk? |
|
| kundjikka kahdi kukedjewk |
There's milk in the fridge |
|
| kundjikka yidjare? |
Would you like milk? |
|
| mankung? / djukka? |
sugar? |
mankung = honey
|
| mankung kanwo |
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
|
Speaking
| Kunwok |
English |
Comments
|
| kunwok |
talk, word(s), language |
|
| yiwokdi kunwok |
you're speaking Kunwok |
yi-wokdi = you-speak
|
| yiwokdi yeledj |
speak slowly |
|
| ngaborlbme kunwok |
I'm learning Kunwok |
nga-borlbme = I-learn
|
| njale kayime "dog"? |
how do you say "dog"? |
ka-yime = it-says
|
| yuwn kandjekmiwon! |
don't laugh at me! |
kan-djekmiwon = you.me-laugh.at
|
| yimeng "hello" |
he/she said "hello" |
0-yime-ng = he/she-say-past
|
| ngabenmarneyimeng malaywi |
I told them this morning |
ngaben-marne-yime-ng = I.they-for-say-past
|
| ngadjawan bu ngare kumekke |
I'm asking him/her if I can go there |
nga-djawan = I-ask
|
| ngamulewarren ngaye |
I'm introducing myself |
nga-mulewa-rren = I-report-reflexive
|
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 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 |
|
| minj yimarnbun nakudji |
you can't do it alone |
|
| karribidyikarrmerren |
we're helping each other |
karri-bidyikarrme-rren = we-help-reciprocal
|
| 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! |
|
| kanbidyikarrimen! |
help me! |
kan-bidyikarrme-n = you.me-help-imperative
|
| karriyakwon |
we finished it |
karri-yakwon = we-finish
|
| ngabimbun timesheet |
I'm doing the timesheet |
|
Phonecalls
Note that the verb bun "strike" is often used to mean "call" or "ring".
| Kunwok |
English |
Comments
|
| yoh |
yes? |
when answering, else just "hello"
|
| nangale ngunewokdi |
who do you want to talk to? |
ngune-wokdi you.two-talk
|
| ngudda nangale / ngalngale |
who are you? (male / female) |
|
| med, ngayawan |
wait, I'll look for him/her |
|
| minj ngunewokdi, wam (dowen, warlbom) |
you can't talk he/she is gone (sick, went hunting) |
|
| minj kahdi bolkkime |
he/she isn't here now/today |
|
| yimwokngimen wolewoleh o malaywi |
call this afternoon or tomorrow |
|
| yirohrokmen (number) |
try this number |
|
| wokmadbom bu minj yimbuyinj |
I was waiting for you but you didn't call |
|
| ngamwokngimi wolewoleh |
I was calling you yesterday |
|
| ngarohrokmeni kanewokdiwirrinj |
I was trying to talk to you |
|
| yimbu ngudda yimwokngimen |
you call me |
|
| yimre kanmang |
come and get me |
kan-mang = you.me-get
|
| baleh yihdi? |
where are you? |
yi-h-di = you-immediate-stand
|
| ngahdi kore kunred |
I'm at home |
|
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 bit 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-rri-nj = I-hand-hit-reflexive-past
|
Playing cards
| Kunwok |
English |
Comments
|
| ngurrimray karridirri kunkod |
you (all) come, we're playing cards |
kunkod = cards (from paperbark)
|
| karridirri ABC / Instant |
we're playing ABC / Instant |
|
| ngadjobke kad |
I'm shuffling the cards |
djobke = cut (i.e. cut cards)
|
| yidjobkemen |
shuffle them |
djobke-men = cut-imperative
|
| ngakadmang |
I'm picking up the card/s |
mang = get, collect
|
| yikadma |
get the card/s |
ma = get.imperative (from mang = get, collect)
|
| ngaye / ngudda wali |
my/your turn |
or: ngaye manwali = my turn
|
| ngakadmang |
I'm picking up the card/s |
mang = get, collect
|
| yiwewemen kad |
deal the cards |
we-we-men = throw-redup-imperative (throw repeatedly)
|
| ngadilhme kad |
I'm dealing the cards |
dilh (from English "deal")
|
| yikarrme … (djenj) ? |
Do you have … (djenj) ? |
|
| yo, ngakarrme … (djenj). |
Yes, I do have … (djenj). |
|
| larrk, minj ngakarrme … (djenj) . |
No, I don’t have … (djenj). |
|
| ngakukwarrewong |
I lost |
|
| ngadowen |
I've got no luck |
|
| moken |
the pile |
|
| budda ten |
full house |
(ABC game)
|
| mayla |
nothing |
(ABC game)
|
| ngaye ngardduk rowk |
I win |
|
| ngawinhmeng |
I won |
winhme = win (from English "win")
|
On the road
| Kunwok |
English |
Comments
|
| ngurribidbu karrire |
you (all) get in and let's go |
|
| werrk karrire |
hurry up, we're going |
|
| nangale kakanemkarrme? |
who's driving? |
ka-kanem-karrme = pres-ear-hold (he/she drives)
|
| 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
|
| yibolhkadjung |
follow the road |
yi-bolh-kadjung = you-road-follow
|
| karridjowkke |
we're crossing over (the river) |
|
| karridjalrohrokme |
we'll keep trying |
karri-djal-rohrokme = we-still-try (we're driving til we find what we're looking for)
|
| ngabolkbengmidjdanj |
I forgot the place |
nga-bolk-bengmidjdanj = I-country-forgot
|
| ngabolkngeyyawan |
I'm searching for the place name |
nga-bolk-ngey-yawan = I-country-name-search
|
| manbolhwarre |
wrong road, rough road |
|
| kuwarre |
wrong place, bad place |
ku-warre = loc-bad
|
| konhda kabolkmak |
here is a good place |
ka-bolk-mak = it-country-good
|
| ngudda yibebmen! |
get out |
|
| dengebelngdanj kadberre |
we've got a flat tyre |
|
| ngamwam nayinj bu minj yidiwirrinj |
I came to see you but you weren't there |
|
| madbom kunkuyeng bu minj yimrayinj |
I waited for you for a long time but you didn't come |
yi-m-ra-yinj = you-towards-go-irrealis
|
Dangerous places
| Kunwok |
English |
Comments
|
| kamak ngare? |
Can I go there? |
|
| kamak, yiray |
It's good, go |
|
| larrk, yuwn yire |
No, you can’t go |
|
| kunbolk djamun |
Sacred place (e.g. for men only) |
|
| daluk bedberre kundjurle |
Shelter for women only |
women-theirs-shelter
|
| bininj minj kabirrire |
Men can’t go there |
|
| minj yire, ngalyod kahyo |
Don’t go there, Rainbow Serpent is there |
ngalyod – Rainbow Serpent (usually around water bodies)
|
| kunbolkbang, mimih kahyo |
A spiritually dangerous place. A mimih spirit is there. |
kubolkbang – spiritually dangerous place
|
| kunbolkwarre, kinga kahyo |
A dangerous place (not spiritually). A crocodile is there. |
kunbolkwarre – physically dangerous place
|
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.
| Kunwok |
English |
Comments
|
| kamak bu ngundinan bolkkime! |
nice to see you all today! |
|
| ngudda kamak? |
are you (all) good? |
|
| kamak yiyoy? |
did you sleep well? |
|
| ngurriyerrka |
all sit down |
|
| ngurringudmen |
all be quiet |
|
| ngurridolkka |
all stand up |
|
| kandibekka |
all listen |
|
| ngudda warridj |
you too . |
|
| karribiddokme rowk |
let's all clap hands |
|
| ngurribiddjirridjburren |
wash your hands |
ngurri-bid-djirridjbu-rren = you-hand-wash-reflexive
|
| yiyidmeburren? |
did you brush your teeth? |
yi-yidme-burren = you-teeth-beat
|
| yibawo! |
stop that! |
|
| yibidbawo! |
don't touch that! |
|
| yimray! |
come! |
|
| yirohrokmen! |
try it! |
|
| yiburlumerren |
you're doing it well / showing off |
yi-burlume-rren you-praise-reflexive
|
| kanyolyolmen |
tell me/us about it |
|
| ngurribidyikarrmerrimen |
help each other |
ngurri-bidyikarrme-rri-men = you.pl-help-reflexive-imperative
|
| yuwn yibidbun |
don't climb it |
|
Collecting Pandanus
| Kunwok |
English |
Comments
|
| karrire karrimang kunngobarn |
Let's go and get pandanus |
also karri-ngobarn-mang = we-pandanus-get
|
| balekeno karrire? |
When will we go? |
|
| yibenbengdayhkemen daluk |
Let the women know |
yiben-bengdayhke-men = you.them-inform-imperative
|
| ngalngale kamre? |
Who is coming? |
ngal-ngale = fem-who
|
| yimka manmarli |
Bring the pandanus hook |
yi-m-ka = you-towards-carry.imperative (you bring)
|
| yibomey kukku? |
Have you got water? |
yi-bo-mey = you-liquid-get.past
|
| ngamang mudika |
I'll get the truck |
|
| karribenkan daluk |
Let's take the women |
karriben-kan = we.them-carry (in the vehicle)
|
| baleh kabirrihdi? |
Where are they? |
|
| kanbukka njale yiyime |
Show me what you're doing |
kan-bukka = you.me-show.imperative
|
| yiyirrme |
You're stripping it |
yi-yirrme = you-it.strip
|
| karrimang kala |
Let's collect colour (ochre, bark) |
karri-mang = we-it.collect
|
| kadungyibme karridokme |
The sun's going down, let's head off home |
ka-dung-yibme = it-sun-descend
|
Emotions
| Kunwok |
English |
Comments
|
| nganjilngmak |
I feel good |
nga-njilng-mak = I-feeling-good
|
| nganjilngwarre |
I feel bad |
nga-njilng-warre = I-feeling-bad
|
| nganjilngmarnbun |
I'm cheering him up |
|
| ngakangemak |
I'm happy |
nga-kange-mak = I-heart-good
|
| ngamarrmarrni |
I'm happy |
|
| ngakangewarre |
I'm sad |
nga-kange-warre = I-heart-bad
|
| ngakukdowen |
I'm bored |
|
| ngadjurrkwon |
I'm getting excited |
|
| ngangukruy |
I'm angry |
nga-nguk-ruy = I-belly-burn
|
| ngakangebakke |
I'm attracted to him/her |
|
| ngakangerayekwon |
I'm encouraging him |
nga-kange-rayekwon = I.him-heart-make.strong
|
| kayiddung |
He's speaking harshly |
|
| kayidwern |
He's a troublemaker |
|
| njale ngunbayeng? |
What's wrong? |
ngun-bayeng = it.you-bite
|
| njale ngunngun |
What's wrong? |
ngun-ngun = it.you-eat
|
| njaleken yinalkbun? |
why are you crying? |
|
| ngankangemey |
it touched me |
ngan-kange-mey = it.me-heart-get
|
| yinahnarrimen |
look after yourself |
yi-nahna-rri-men = you-watch.over-reflexive-imperative
|
| yinjilngbuhbuhmen |
take heart (?) |
yi-njilng-buhbuhmen = you-feelings-inflate
|
Food and food preparation
| Kunwok |
English |
Comments
|
| yiddok, nahni karringun? |
Do you eat this? |
yiddok – a term which introduces a question
|
| yo, manmanjmak |
Yes, it’s tasty. |
|
| ngadjare |
I like it. |
|
| ngawarnyak |
I don’t like it. |
|
| baleh karriyimowon karrikinje? |
How do we prepare this food? |
karri-yimowon = we-it.do, karri-kinje = we-it.cook
|
| bukkan |
I will show you. |
|
| kamak bu bidyikarrme? |
Can I help you? |
|
| karrire karriyawan manme |
We go get/search for food. |
|
| karrire karriyawan djenj |
We go get fish / we go fishing. |
|
| karrire karriyawan mayh |
We go get animals / we go hunting. |
|
Preparing damper
| Kunwok |
English |
Comments
|
| kandidjdjawa |
Damper, flour |
|
| ngabidjibme (kandidjdjawa dja kukku) |
I stir (flour and water). |
|
| ngadurnme |
I knead. |
|
| ngawirrkwirrkme |
I clean it from sand. |
wirrkme = scrape
|
| ngadadjdadjke kandidjdjawa |
I slice the damper. |
|
| karridjarrkngun |
We eat together / we share the damper. |
karri-djarrk-ngun = we-together-eat
|
Preparing meat
| Kunwok |
English |
Comments
|
| karrikinje kunkanj |
We cook meat. |
|
| karrimuddurrkdurrkmang |
We get rid of feathers or hair. |
karri-mud-durrk-durrk-mang = we-feathers/hair-redup.-pull out
|
| karrinjambebke |
We take the guts out. |
karri-njam-bebke = we-guts-take out
|
| karrikinje kore kunak |
We burn it on fire. |
kinje = burn, cook
|
| karribebke |
We take it out (from fire). |
|
| karrikinje kore kunkerri |
We cook it in ground oven. |
|
| karribarrkbun kunkod |
We cover it with paperbark. |
|
| karrimadbun kunyirrke kakbakme |
We wait until fire cools down. |
karri-madbun = we-wait, kunyirrke = coals, kakbakme = become dark
|
| karrimadbun karung |
We wait until it’s cooked. |
ka-rung = it-cooked
|
| kadjolengmen |
It’s cooked. |
ka-djolengmen = it-become cooked
|
| karringun |
We eat. |
|
To do
- country (kunbolk, kunred)
- family (bininj, daluk, namud, wurdurd, mawahmawah)
- leave-taking (woknan, kamak ngarriwokdanj)
- at the arts centre (njale yimarnbun?)
- sorry business (bolkwarreminj, ngarribidkurrmeng)
- outstation life (duruk yingudmen, djenj karrire, ngayawan kunyerrng ngaworrkme)
- church (yiwarrudj, karriwayini, karriburlume)
- fire and burning
- cars and road safety
- hunting
- stripping bark and bark painting
- jobs, ranger work
- food and food preparation (buburru, ngabiddjibme)
- (requests welcome)
