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Traditional Language Used in Production

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Traditional Language Used in Production There were several dialects spoken within the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. They included the Gamilaraay, Yuwalaraay and Yuwalayaay dialects as spoken by members of the Kamilaroi (Gomeroi) nation. The Nganyaywana language was spoken by members of the Anaiwan (or Eneewin) nation, whose land extends south from the border with the Banbai nation (near Guyra) towards Uralla and westward towards Tingha. Other notable languages within the area included Yukumbal (Jukumbal), from the Bundarra/Tingha/Inverell area, and Ngarabal, which was spoken around the Glen Innes area.

This book uses and provides information on a few of the dialects spoken within the catchment. It is not intended for this book to be a language reference book, but the use of language names is included to help keep our language alive and for educational purposes. In some cases Aboriginal words have not been included as it has not been possible to collect detailed information on the relevant dialects.

This book uses words and references primarily relating to the Gamilaraay, Yuwalaraay, Yuwalayaay, Banbai and Nganyaywana dialects (White 2010 pers. comm.).

English Word Traditional Language / Dialect / Explanation

Aboriginal nation (Uralla/Bundarra / Armidale) district

anaiwan

axe (handle) birra (Yuwaalayaay)

axe (stone) birran.gaa (Yuwaalaraay) gambu (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) tila (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)yuundu (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

Aboriginal nation of the Guyra region Aboriginal language dialect (Guyra region)

banbai

bag man.garr (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)mangga (Gamilaraay)

bark nganda (Gamilaraay)

bark (of tree) tharraa (Gamilaraay)

bark canoe bunduurraa (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

bark container gumbilgal (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay)

bark throwing stick wagarraa (Yuwaalaraay)

bee’s wax mayaarr (Yuwaalaraay)

bird trap dhiilgulay (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

bone midjul (Yuwaalaraay)bura (Gamilaraay) buya (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

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bone needle (awl) nhingal (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

boomerang arkana (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan) arkanav (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan) bargan (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)barran (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) tua (Banbai)

boomerang (comeback/returning) gulagarranba (Yuwaalaraay)

boomerang (ceremonial/fighting) dhiinbaay (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

boomerang (fighting) bubarraa (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

bora message stick dhulu buurra (Yuwaalayaay)

box tree, white buxus sempervirens

bibil (Gamilaraay) yinav (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

brown gunagunaa (Yuwaalayaay)

bull roarer garrarana (Yuwaalaraay) gayandaay (Yuwaalayaay) murrumanamanaa (Yuwaalaraay)

bulrush (cumbungi) burrarra (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

burial ground dhanmurr (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) dhawunma (Gamilaraay)

camp area maraay (Yuwaalaraay)

canoe ganuu (Yuwaalaraay)nganda (Gamilaraay)

canoe (bark) bunduurraa (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

carved (sacred) tree dhiil (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

carving mubirr (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

ceremonial stick wilgu (Yuwaalayaay)

ceremonial/fighting boomerang dhiinbaay (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

cloak / coat guudii (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

clothing baya (Gamilaraay)

club bundi (Gamilaraay)raypila (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan) rularukara (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

club (fighting) (big) bugu (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

club (nulla nulla) guthurru (Gamilaraay)

club (pointed) murrula (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

club (shield) pikanga (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

club (small) gudhurru (Gamilaraay) guthurru (Gamilaraay)

club (throwing) wagarraa (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

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coat / cloak guudii (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

comeback/returning boomerang gulagarranba (Yuwaalaraay)

container (bark) gumbilgal (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay)

coolamon bin.guwi (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

coolamon (small) wirri (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

cover burriin (Yuwaalayaay)

death stone dhinagarralawaa (Yuwaalayaay) wuyugarralawaa (Yuwaalayaay)

digging stick (yam stick) ganaay (Gamilaraay)ganay (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

dilly bag gulay (Gamilaraay)

egg gawu (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

emu dhinawan (Gamilaraay, Yuwaalaraay, Yuwaalayaay) dinewan (Guyra source)moorin (Yukumbal)ngoorung (ngarabal)nuran (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)rrunyja (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)thinawan (Gamilaraay)uroanda (Banbai)

emu callers (decoy) buubuwin (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

emu feather gundiirr (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

emu spear munun (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

feather wirriil (Gamilaraay) wurriil (Gamilaraay)yadhaarr (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

fighting boomerang bubarraa (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

fighting club bugu (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

fighting hook lanyanga (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

fire wii (Gamilaraay) dhuu (Yuwaalayaay)inpa (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

firestick dhuuyaay (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) wiibiyaay (Yuwaalaraay)yiyabiyaay (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

fishing net gulay (Gamilaraay)

fish trap badi (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

fishing spear dhindi (Yuwaalayaay)

food mandha (Yuwaalaraay)yuul (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

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gamilaraay Kamilaroi Nation language dialect.Consists of two parts: ‘gamil’ meaning ‘no’ and ‘araay’ meaning ‘having’, that is ‘the people who have gamil for no’.

grain guli (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

grindstone (large) dhayurr (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

grindstone (small) giba (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

gum tree yarraan (Gamilaraay) rala (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

hand mara (Gamilaraay) mala (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

handle (axe) birra (Yuwaalayaay)

hook (fighting) lanyanga (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

hunting spear anpelanga (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan) (anbelang - written in the original source) mirringamu (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

initiation ground buurru (Gamilaraay)gunaba (Gamilaraay)

jagged spear mambarinya (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)mirringamu (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

kangaroo bandaarr (Grey) (Gamilaraay)bawurra (Red) (Gamilaraay) groman (Ngarabal)imbandja (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)imbanja (Guyra Sources)imbonda (Guyra Sources)imbawnda (Banbai)gingger (Banbai)kooamon (Yukumbal) mpunya (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)mpwantja (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)wambun (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

kangaroo rat (bettong) milaya (Yuwaalayaay)dhurrawaay (Gamilaraay)gunharr (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)thuRaway (Gamilaraay) minta (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan) para (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

knife mambul (Yuwaalaraay) nhaayba (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) nhaayibu (Gamilaraay)

knife (stone) impunta (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)magal (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

koala guda (Gamilaraay)

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medicine dhalbin (Yuwaalaraay)

message stick dhulu (Gamilaraay)maang (Gamilaraay)

message stick (bora) dhulu buurra (Yuwaalayaay)

nganyaywana Aboriginal language dialect (Anaiwan Nation)

needle (bone) (awl) nhingal (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

nest gaarimay (Yuwaalayaay)walaay (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

net bag gulay (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) luya (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

net, fishing gulay (Gamilaraay)

ngarabal Aboriginal nation of the Glen Innes district. Aboriginal language dialect (Glen Innes region)

nulla nulla (club) guthurru (Gamilaraay)

peg yiya (Yuwaalayaay)

poison stick bugiyaa (Yuwaalaraay)gadhiigurrii (Yuwaalayaay)

possum muthay (Gamilaraay) pwila (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

rain dhama-y (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) gali (Gamilaraay) gali baarri (Gamilaraay) yungkara (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan) yuuruu (Gamilaraay) yuuyuu (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) yuuyuu bundaa-gi (phrase) (Yuwaalayaay) dhama-y (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) baarri-y (Gamilaraay)

rain-making stone wuudalay (Yuwaalayaay)

red guwaymbarra (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

red ochre guuwarr (Yuwaalayaay)

reed dhariil (Gamilaraay)thariil (Gamilaraay) mwanta (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

returning/comeback boomerang gulagarranba (Yuwaalaraay)

river bagaay (Gamilaraay) bagay (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay)gaawaa (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

river bank baga (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay)

root warran (Gamilaraay)

rope buurr (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) nhimin (Gamilaraay)yurrugu (Yuwaalaraay)

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sacred (carved) tree dhiil (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

sacred stone gabarraa (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

seed dhinggal (Yuwaalaraay)yiya (Yuwaalayaay) yurrul (Yuwaalaraay)

scar mubirr (Yuwaalayaay)yurrun (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

scraper gayn (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

shell waa (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

shield burriin (Gamilaraay)yiilaman (Yuwaalaraay)llemen (Guyra source)

shield (broad) burriin (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

shield (club) pikanga (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

sinew dhunbil (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)gugirrii (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

sinew string dhunbilyabi (Yuwaalayaay)

spear anbilang (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan) bilaarr (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) dhu-rri (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) gyinba (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)mumbiriny (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)pikora (Banbai)thu-gi (Gamilaraay)

spear (ceremonial) wilgu (Yuwaalayaay)

spear (emu) munun (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

spear (fishing) dhindi (Yuwaalayaay)

spear (hunting) anpelanga (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

spear (jagged) mambarinya (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)mirringamu (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

spear (shield) intuta (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

spear (thrower) (woomera) muRula (Gamilaraay) wamara (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan) wamara (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

spear (war) kyanpa (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

spirit (human) dhubayn (Yuwaalaraay)dhuwi (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) milaygiin (Gamilaraay) munhibarabin (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) wanda (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) yulanbay (Yuwaalaraay) yuurrila (Yuwaalayaay)

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spirit-haunted stone nguruma (Gamilaraay)nguuma (Yuwaalayaay)

stick (bark throwing) wagarraa (Yuwaalaraay)

stick (ceremonial) wilgu (Yuwaalayaay)

stick (poison) bugiyaa (Yuwaalaraay)gadhiigurrii (Yuwaalayaay)

stone maarama (Gamilaraay) maayama (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) ngurrala (Yuwaalaraay) rula (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)yarrul (Gamilaraay)

stone (axe) birran.gaa (Yuwaalaraay) gambu (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) mawkaw (Guyra source)mugung (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)tila (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)wa’gara (Guyra source)wakara (Ngarabal)wakur (Yukumbal)yuundu (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

stone (death) dhinagarralawaa (Yuwaalayaay) wuyugarralawaa (Yuwaalayaay)

stone (knife) impunta (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)magal (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

stone (magic) muuliyaay (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

stone (rain-making) wuudalay (Yuwaalayaay)

stone (sacred) gabarraa (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

stone (spirit-haunted) nguruma (Gamilaraay)nguuma (Yuwaalayaay)

string buurr (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

string bag gulay (Gamilaraay)

tadpole nguuluwi (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

termite baamagaaliyan (Yuwaalayaay)

throwing stick (club) wagarraa (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

tomahawk mukanga (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan) dhamiyaa (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) giirgal (Yuwaalayaay)

tuber variety tampanta (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

waddy (toy club) rakuna (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan) budhal (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

wood wugan (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) impara (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

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woomera wamara (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan) wamara (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay)

yamstick (digging stick) muRula (Gamilaraay) dhiinbaay (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) ganaay (Gamilaraay)ganay (Gamilaraay) (Yuwaalaraay) (Yuwaalayaay) ganay (Guyra source)koonee (Yukumbal)kunnai (Banbai)naya (Nganyaywana-Anaiwan)

yellow gidjiirr (Yuwaalaraay)

yukumbal Aboriginal language dialect. (Bundarra/Tingha/Inverell regions).

yuwalaraay Aboriginal language dialect (Kamilaroi Nation).From yuwaal (old word for ‘no’) and -araay (with, having). That is having yuwaal for ‘no’.

yuwalayaay Aboriginal language dialect (Kamilaroi Nation).From yuwaal (old word for ‘no’) and -araay an irregular form of the suffix –iyaay (with, having). That is having yuwaal for ‘no’.

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References and Recommended Reading(Including ethnographic texts and early explorers’ reports)

Binns, R. and McBryde, I. (1972) A Petrological Analysis of Ground Edge Artefacts From Northern New South Wales. Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra.

Black, L. (1941) Burial Trees, self published.

Black, L. (1941) The Bora Ground, self published.

Black, L. (1942) Cylcons – The Mystery Stones of the Darling River Valley, self published.

Briggs-Smith, N. (1999) Winanga Li – Moree Mob Volume One. Northern Regional Library and Information Service, NSW.

Briggs-Smith, N. (2003) Burrul Wallaay (Big Camp) – Moree Mob Volume Two Northern Regional Library and Information Service, NSW.

Burnum Burnum (1988) Aboriginal Australia – A traveller’s guide. Angus & Robertson, North Ryde, NSW.

Cunningham, A. (1827) Journal. In Lee, I. (1925) Early Explorers in Australia. Methuen, London.

Dargin, P. (1976) Aboriginal Fisheries of the Darling-Barwon Rivers. Brewarrina Historical Society, Brewarrina, NSW.

Edwards, R. (1972) Aboriginal Bark Canoes of the Murray Valley. Rigby, Adelaide.

Etheridge, R. (1918) The Dendroglyphs or Carved Trees of New South Wales. Sydney University Press, NSW.

Fennell, M. and Grey, A. (1974) Nucoorilma. A. & Bernard van Leer Foundation & University of Sydney, Dept. of Adult Education, Sydney.

Holdaway, S. and Stern, N. (2004) A Record in Stone – The Study of Australia’s Flaked Stone Artefacts. Aboriginal Studies Press, Canberra and Museum Victoria, Melbourne.

Howell, R. (1981) The History and Culture of the Jukambal Language Group – Inverell District. NSW Department of Education.

Howell, R. (1982) The History and Culture of the Aboriginal People of the Ashford District. NSW Department of Education.

Howitt, A. (1904) The Native Tribes of South-East Australia. Macmillan, London.

Journal of the Anthropological Institute, “The Bora or initiation Ceremonies of the Kamilaroi Tribe” Part 1. Vol 24, 1895 pp 411-427; Part 11. Vol 25 1896 pp 318-339.

Long, A. (2005) Aboriginal Scarred Trees in New South Wales – A Field Manual. Department of Environment and Conservation, NSW.

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Long, A. and Von Strokirch, T. (2008) Lost But Not Forgotten – A Guide to Methods of Identifying Aboriginal Unmarked Graves. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Macpherson, E. (2007) My Experiences in Australia. Being Recollections of a Visit to the Australian Colonies in 1856–7. Dodo Press, UK.

Mathews, R. (1917) ‘Description of Two Bora Grounds of the Kamilaroi Tribe’ Journal of the Royal Society of NSW.

McCarthy, F. (1976) Australian Aboriginal Stone Implements. Australian Museum Trust, Sydney.

McBryde, I. (1974) Aboriginal Prehistory in New England. Sydney University Presss, NSW.

Millis, R. (1992) Waterloo Creek. McPhee Gribble, Ringwood, Victoria.

Mitchell, T. (1839) Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia with Descriptions of the Recently Explored Region of Australia Felix, and of the ‘Present Colony of New South Wales – 2 Volumes. Google eBook. Accessed 28 April 2012. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=NoIrAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Moorehead, A. (1966) The Fatal Impact – The Invasion of the South Pacific 1767–1840. Harper & Row, New York.

Office of Environment and Heritage (2012) Atlas of NSW Wildlife. Accessed 15 May 2012. http://www.bionet.nsw.gov.au/

O’Rourke, M. (1995) Raw possum and salted pork: Major Mitchell and the Kamilaroi Aborigines. M.J. O’Rourke in association with Plowpress.

Pardoe, C. (undated) The Prehistoric Burial at Collarenabri. Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Manuscript.

Parker, C. (1905) The Euahlayi Tribe – A Study of Aboriginal Life in Australia. Dodo Press.

Reynolds, H. (1981) The Other Side of the Frontier. History Department, James Cook University.

Reynolds, H. (1987) Frontier History Department. James Cook University.

White, H. (2008) Crosswords – Dictionary and Thesaurus of the nganyaywana, yukumbal, ngarabal, banbai, yuwalaraay, yuwalayaay and gamilaraay dialects. Unpublished document, Inverell, NSW.

Wyndham, W. (1890) “The Aborigines of Australia” Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of NSW, Vol 23 pp 36-42.

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Who Can I Talk To?

Local Aboriginal Land Council contacts Anaiwan LALC (Inverell/Tingha) Ph: 02 6723 3022 Fax: 02 67233 023

Armidale LALC Ph: 02 6772 2447 Fax: 02 6772 2048

Ashford LALC Ph: 02 6725 4411 Fax: 02 6725 4422

Collarenebri LALC Ph: 02 6756 2150 Fax: 02 6756 2103

Glen Innes LALC Ph: 02 6732 1150 Fax: 02 6732 6413

Guyra LALC Ph: 02 6779 1803 Fax: 02 6779 1593

Moombahlene LALC (Tenterfield) Ph: 02 6736 3219 Fax: 02 6736 1486

Moree LALC Ph: 02 6751 1127 Fax: 02 6751 1116

Mungindi LALC Ph: 02 6753 2622 Fax: 02 6753 2709

Toomelah LALC Ph: 07 4676 2348 Fax: 07 4676 2011

Border Rivers-Gwydir CMAInverell (Head Office) Ph: 02 6728 8020 Fax: 02 6728 8098

Moree Ph: 02 6757 2550 Fax: 02 6757 2568

Armidale Ph: 02 6773 5269 Fax: 02 6773 5288

Glen Innes Ph: 02 6732 2992 Fax: 02 6732 5995

Goondiwindi Ph: 07 4671 4302 Fax: 07 4671 2965

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Map showing the Local Aboriginal Land Councils within the Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority area.