Kurdukadji, Alwanjdjuk, Ngurrurdu

May 1, 2015 By Filed Under: cultural text, environment, language Tagged With:

Kurdukadji, Alwanjdjuk, Ngurrurdu

Kurdukadji, ngal-ngeywern. Kunwinjku ngarri-ngeybun kurdukadji. Kundjeyhmi kabirri-ngeybun Alwanjdjuk dja Kuninjku Kundedjnjenghmi kabirri-ngeybun ngurrurdu.

Emu, she has many names. In Kunwinjku we call her kurdukadji. In Gundjeihmi they call her alwanjdjuk and in Kuninjku and Kundedjnjenghmi they call her ngurrurdu.

ngurrurdu Injalak

Mahni bim nga-nang kore Injalak. Kareh na-ngale bimbom? Kareh ngudda ngurri-bengkan. Kandi-bengdayhke ba ka-mak nga-ngeykurrme.

Manekke kun-dulk, man-kulurrudj, man-me ngalengarre ka-ngun mimno. Yi-nan bimbom man-kulurrudj. Kanjdji yi-bimnan man-kulurrudj dja mimno manbu ngale kurdukadji ka-djare ka-ngun.

bininjgunwok AT gmail.com

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man-kulurrudj

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Mahni djurra Wamud Namok bimbom. Ngurrurdu kun-burrk ngalengarre.

Kabirri-bolkbarung bu ka-bolkyakmen

September 16, 2014 By Filed Under: cultural text Tagged With: ,

Kabirri-bolkbarung bu ka-bolkyakmen

Painting things in ochre after someone passes away

If you live in Kakadu National Park or a town in Arnhem Land, you might notice that from time to time Bininj will mark trees, vehicles and buildings with red or yellow ochre lines. For most non-Indigenous people these marks will remain invisible and for others they will be incomprehensible, but it is a mortuary cultural practice that is very important to Bininj.

Here is a transcript in Gundjeihmi from Yvonne Margarula from the Mirarr clan in Jabiru explaining what these marks mean:

YM: Couple of months, might be like I say dird bogen o dird na-gudji,

two or three months (after someone dies)

Alright, gun-gurlk, yiman gun-nodjbe, gun-nodjbe arri-dulkdjobge, arri-dulkdjobge ....

Alright, we use clay, like red ochre, red ochre um we cut a line around the tree, we cut this line on the tree in clay

Arri-dulkdjobgeng, gun-gurlk nga-rrulkdjobge wanjh na-gohbanj ba-yakminj na-gohbanj nga-rrulkdjobkeng wanjh arri-re arri-warlbun maih arri-yawan djenj.

We paint a line in clay around the tree after when someone has died like when that old man [my father] died I painted a line of ochre around the tree and after that we can enter that area where he used to go so we too can go hunting or fishing again.

Arri-dulkdjobkeng gun-gurlk, barri-dulkdjobkeng gun-gurlk, na-gohbanj ba-yakminj dird danjbik, ba-rrulkdjobkeng gun-gurlk garlba wanjh arri-re arri-warlbun djenj arri-re maih arri-yawan ngarrban-gan family [rubs nose with hand] wanjh bonj arri-wohre.

After a person dies like when my father died, we paint clay rings around trees where he used to visit and then it is safe for us to go hunting or fishing or take our family around that place.

Here are some photos of these ochre mortuary markings:

In this video Kamarrang Jack Nawilil from Bolkdjam talks about this practice in the Mayali (or Kune) dialect of Bininj Gunwok. The video is subtitled but the Mayali transcript is below.

MAYALI

[00:00:00.21]
nani

[00:00:02.14]
Laik nga-mulemulewan

[00:00:04.08]
laik Mayali-beh

[00:00:05.48]
nani

[00:00:07.10]
laik namarnde ka-rrowen

[00:00:10.04]
yiman ka-yime beywurd ngarrku

[00:00:12.19]
o yiman na-badjan ngarrku

[00:00:15.07]
laik yiman ka-yime ngadjadj ngarri-yime

[00:00:17.23]
yiman ka-yime mamamh ngarri-yime

[00:00:21.20]
laik ka-rrown nane kun-buya ka-rradjke

[00:00:24.13]
mekim klia laik ka-marnbun

[00:00:26.35]
ka-bolkmakmen

[00:00:28.23]
nani nawu

[00:00:30.07]
laik wardi laik Bininj Bininj laik minj warrbo ka-ngun

[00:00:36.04]
kayakki

[00:00:40.05]
ka-marnbun nomol kun-red

[00:00:42.30]
ka-marnbun kun-buya laik ka-yakmen

[00:00:47.21]
laik ka-rrowen yiman ka-yime beywurd ngarrku yiman ka-yime ngadjadj

[00:00:51.28]
yiman ka-yimem mamamh

[00:00:52.32]
yiman ka-yime kakkak

[00:00:55.32]
Nane ka-yakmen kun-buya

[00:00:57.43]
Yiman ka-yime ngarr-bolkmardadahme

Bonj

That is all.


Ngarridurndeng Djokay

November 29, 2013 By Filed Under: community news story, cultural text Tagged With:

Ngarridurndeng Djokay

Going back to Djokay

The Warddeken Land Management rangers work on the Arnhem Land Plateau looking after the Warddken Indigenous Protected Area. In 2013 they located a rock shelter in the Mann River district called Djokay. Some of those rangers remembered going there as children, accompanied by their parents or grandparents. Linguist Murray Garde went there in 1993 accompanied by Kodjok Nawurrbbarn and Wamud Namok. Both those old men have now passed away. When we were there in 1993 we made audio recordings of Kodjok and Wamud giving a commentary on the history of Djokay and the meaning of the many paintings on the walls and ceilings of the shelter. Murray told the Warddeken Rangers about those old recordings. With the assistance of the Indigenous Heritage Program we all went back to Djokay in October 2013, taking the 1993 recordings with us. When we located the shelter, we played the recordings of those two old men telling us about this important place.

Nawu ngad Warddeken Ranger, ngarri-durrkmirri kore kunred ngadberre, kuwarddewardde ngarri-bolknahnan. Boyen ngarri-bolkngalkeng kun-wardderurrk Djokay ka-bolkngeyyo. Kun-kare ngarri-wam kumekke bu ngarri-yahwurdni, korroko, kobohbanj bani-bokenh na-kudji na-mardku dja na-kudji na-ngarradjku ngandi-bolkbukkang. Bolkkime ngandi-bawong berrewoneng. Bulanj Murray 1993 nungka dorrengh ngarri-wam dja banbani-wokmey dja bani-yolyolmeng Djokay bu korroko barri-wam barri-yoy kumekke. Dja mak bim kumekke bedda bani-bokenh bani-yolyolmeng bim bu ka-bimdihbimdi kumekke Djokay. Ngarri-bekkang, recording nungkah Bulanj banbani-wokmey wanjh ngarri-djawam bu kam-re kan-wokbukkan ngadberre. Boyen ngarri-djarrkwam ngarri-durndi Djokay wanjh ngarri-wokbekkang recording nawu korroko Bulanj banbani-wokmey kore Djokay wanjh ngarri-borlbmeng kun-red. Bu ngarrban-bekkang, yiman barri-yawoyhdarrkidni kore ngad, Djokay. Worro.

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An-ngale makka kah-ngeyyo? part 2

May 15, 2013 By Filed Under: cultural text, environment, language, plants, vocabulary

An-ngale makka kah-ngeyyo? part 2

What's this plant called? part 2

Here is the transcript for the plant identification video in the previous post.

[00:00:00] Ma!
OK

[00:00:02] An-bunbarr ngurrurdu kabarri-kerribun.
They use the Corynotheca lateriflora herb to cook emu in ground ovens.

[00:00:05] Burdah
Golden Eye-grass (Curculigo orchioides)

[00:00:06] Mani an-karnbirr.
This is Acacia oncinocarpa.

[00:00:09] Mani njale...
This is whatsisname.

[00:00:10] Terrah: An-djalh kun-yarl.
The bark is for making string.

[00:00:11] An-djoh
Acacia difficilis

[00:00:12] Terrah: Kunj barri-biddukkani, ngurrurdu.
They used it to tie up the arms of kangaroos and emu (legs).

[00:00:13] Woh, namekke.
Yes, that's right.

[00:00:14] Mani njamed, an-ngunngun.
This is whatsit, an-ngunngun.

[00:00:16] Nguyungu.

?

[00:00:18] Mani njamed, an-marnanj.
This is whatsisname, red-flowered kurrajong.

[00:00:23] An-kawalh.
?

[00:00:23] An-dudjmi.
Green plum (Buchanania obovata).

[00:00:26] An-djedj.
Kapok bush (Cochlospermum fraseri).

[00:00:27] An-korlh.
Cocky apple (Planchonia careya).

[00:00:29] Mani...
This plant...

[00:00:31] Terrah: An-bunbarr.
Corynotheca lateriflora.

[00:00:32] Speaker 3: eh ee!
No!

[00:00:33] Njamed, an-djungkurrk.
Whatsit, Gardenia fucata.

[00:00:35] Terrah:

[00:00:36] Mani njamed, ... an-lerrelerre
This is whatsit... Bossiaea bosseaeoides.

[00:00:40] An-bulu.
Xanthostemon paradoxus.

[00:00:41] Djarduk.
Bush apple (Syzygium suborbiculare).

[00:00:43] karrbirlk, karrbirlk
Merremia.

[00:00:44] bunbarr
Corynotheca lateriflora

[00:00:46] Mani njamed...
This is whatsit...

[00:00:47] speaker 3: (inaudible) yerre dja mani njamed...
already, so what's this one...

[00:00:50] speaker 3: mani yi-ngeybom man-yungki
You already said this one.

[00:00:51] Terrah: Mani yi-ngeybom mula!
Mum, you said the name of this one!

[00:00:53] speaker 3: yoh, mani yi-ngeybom,
yes, you said this one,

[00:00:55] Terrah: An-ngale mak yi-ngeybom bu bolkkime?
What was that name you said just now?

[00:00:57] speaker 3: bu korroko yi-ngeybom
you already said it

[00:00:58] Mahni, manu?
This one here?

[00:00:59] Terrah: yo
yes

[00:00:59] Manu nuk man-ngamed (> manu-uk)...
This is whatsisname...

[00:01:01] someone: man-bulngbulng
Acacia gonocarpa

[00:01:02] bulngbulng
Acacia gonocarpa

[00:01:03] Yo, an-bulng... an-bulngbulng
Yes, Acacia gonocarpa

[00:01:05] bulngbulng
Acacia gonocarpa

[00:01:06] Terrah: yo
yes

[00:01:06] Lillian: Dja baleh nga-ngeywarrewong.
So I made a mistake with the name.

[00:01:07] Terrah: (ka-djekme 'laughs')

Bonj.

That is all.

An-ngale makka kah-ngeyyo?

March 30, 2013 By Filed Under: cultural text, environment, language, plants, vocabulary

An-ngale makka kah-ngeyyo?

What's the name of that plant?

Ma, ngurri-wokbimbu! A transcription exercise.

Note that the Kundedjnjenghmi dialect of Bininj Kunwok is used in this video (spoken on the Arnhem Land plateau around Manmoyi).

In this video made by Warddeken Land Management Ltd (and used with their permission here) you can hear Ngal-wakadj Lillian Guymala from Manmoyi teaching younger family the names of plants that grow in the rock country. If you want to know the English or scientific names of these plants, you can contact us (on the main menu contact tab). The transcript is for you to complete. All of the words are given below in the list after the transcript template, you have to pick them out of the list and fit them into the blanks after the time code. We have started the first few lines and the outline of some words. Now watch the video and see how you go. We'll post our version of the transcript (with English translation) in a later post.

[00:00:00] Someone: Ma!

[00:00:02] Lillian: An-bunbarr, ngurrurdu kabarri-kerribun.

[00:00:05] Lillian: B_ _ _ _ _

[00:00:06] Lillian: M _ _ _  an-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:09] Lillian: M_ _ _  _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:10] Terrah: An-_ _ _ _  kun-_ _ _ _

[00:00:11] Lillian: An- _ _ _ _

[00:00:12] Terrah: K_ _ _   barri-_ _ _ _ _ _ _  ng_ _ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:13] Lillian: Woh, namekke.

[00:00:14] Lillian: Mani njamed, an-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:16] Lillian: Ng_ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:18] Lillian: M_ _ _ nj_ _ _ _ an-_ _ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:23] Lillian: An-_ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:23] Lillian: An-_ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:26] Lillian: An-_ _ _ _ _

[00:00:27] Lillian: An-_ _ _ _ _

[00:00:29] Lillian: Mani...

[00:00:31] Terrah: An- _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:32] Speaker 3: eh ee

[00:00:33] Lillian: njamed an-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:35] Terrah: an-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:36] Lillian: M_ _ _ nj_ _ _ _, an-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:40] Lillian: an-_ _ _ _

[00:00:41] Lillian: Dj_ _ _ _ _

[00:00:43] Lillian: k_ _ _ _ _ _ _, k_ _ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:44] Lillian: b_ _ _ _ _ _

[00:00:46] Mani njamed...

[00:00:47] speaker 3: (inaudible) yerre dja mani njamed...

[00:00:50] speaker 3: mani yi-ngeybom man-yungki

[00:00:51] Terrah: Mani yi-_ _ _ _ _ _ _  M_ _ _!

[00:00:53] speaker 3: yoh, mani yi-ngeybom,

[00:00:55] Terrah: An-ngale mak yi-ngeybom bu bolkkime.

[00:00:57] speaker 3: bu korroko yi-ngeybom

[00:00:58] Mahni, manu?

[00:00:59] Terrah: yo

[00:00:59] Lillian: Man-nuk man-_ _ _ _ _ _

[00:01:01] someone: man-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[00:01:02] Lillian: b_ _ _ _ b _ _ _ _

[00:01:03] Terrah: Yo, an-bulng... an-b_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[00:01:05] Lillian: b_ _ _ _ b _ _ _ _

[00:01:06] Terrah: _ _

[00:01:06] Lillian: _ _ _  b_ _ _ nga-_ _ _ _w _ _ _ _w_ _ _

[00:01:07] Terrah: (ka-djekme 'laughs')

Here is the word list of all words used in the transcript.

an-bulngbulng

An-bulu

An-bunbarr

An-bunbarr

An-djoh

An-djedj

An-djoh

an-djungkurrk

An-dudjmi

an-karnbirr

An-kawalh

An-korlh

an-lerrelerre

an-marnanj

An-ngale

an-ngunngun

baleh

barri-biddukkani

bu bolkkime

bu korroko

bulngbulng

bulngbulng

bunbarr

Burdah

dja

Dja

Djarduk

eh ee

kabarri-kerribun

karrbirlk

karrbirlk

Kunj

kun-yarl.

Ma!

Mahni

mak

man-bulngbulng

man-bunbarrmani

Mani

Mani

Mani

Mani

Mani

Mani

mani

mani

Mani

mani

Mani...

man-ngamed

manu

Manu

man-yungki

mula

namekke

nga-ngeywarrewong.

ngurrurdu

ngurrurdu

Nguyungu

njale...

njamed

njamed

njamed

njamed

njamed...

njamed...

nuk

Woh

yerre

yerre

yi-ngeybom

yi-ngeybom

yi-ngeybom

yi-ngeybom

yi-ngeybom

yo

Yo

yo

yoh

Bonj. That is all.

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