Saturday, 9 July 2016

Aboriginal Vocabulary from Baandee of Carnamah

In 1904 and 1905 anthropologist Daisy Bates travelled around Western Australia interviewing Aboriginal people on language, customs and kinship. Among those she interviewed was an Aboriginal man from Carnamah named Baandee.

She recorded Baandee's language as the Carnamah dialect of the Yeerathoo wongi language. She asked what were the native names of tribes in the district and Baandee responded "Dhowarngoo". The full list of definitions and answers gathered from Baandee are listed below.


Man, his relationships, etc.
Aunt - Ajjarree, yajjerree, mungarn
Blackfellow - Nyoongara
Blackwoman - Moonee
Brother - Koorda
Brother-in-law - Ngabbaree
Daughter-in-law - Ngarreea
Father - Mamma
Father-in-law - Kangoo
Grandfather - Kammee
Grandmother - Kammee
Husband - Moojee
Man - Yoongara
Mother - Yannee
Mother-in-law - Ajjarree, mungan
Niece - Maiooroo
Orphan - Yannee gootoo
Sister - Eego
Sister-in-law - Moojee, koojoo
Son - Kajjoo
Uncle - Kangoo
White Man - Jeengo, moondung
White Woman - Jeengo, moondung
Widow - Mooneegootoo, moojee gootoo
Widower - Mooneegootoo, moojee gootoo
Wife - Moojee
Woman - Moonee

Notes on margins of book 
One - Koonjee
2 - Kootharra
Three - Karjerdee
East - Marloo yerra
Yes - Goa
No - Weerdee
Sun - Karrong
Moon - Weelarra
Stars - Beendeeding
Wrong class marriage - Jeeda
Thin - Beedelgarra
Back of neck - Muggangoo goola
Quick - Goora goora; yeelaaree;
Upright-method of making fire (drill) - Yooagarra
I - Ngadha
You - Noondoo
He - Baaloo
You sit-down there - Noonda nannala nyinna
Over there - Naandoo
Here - Nanna
Come here - Yoolun yarra
Parts and Functions of the Body
Ankle - Darnda, yarnda
Arm (upper) - Warngoo
Back - Wandajeeree, wattoo
Beard - Ngarnga
Blood - Ngooba
Bone - Mamboo
Breast, breasts - Meemee
Calf of Leg - Weerdow wandoo
Cheek - Ngangoo
Chest - Meedoordoo
Cry, to - Karroorain, woolar inya
Drink, to - Gabbee ngaala
Ear - Koolga
Eat, to - Ngaala
Elbow - Nyooan
Eyebrow - Dhoodha
Eyelash - Kooroo nganba
Eye - Kooroo
Fat - Karnoo
Finger - Marreejee
Foot - Jinna
Hair - Mugga ngoonya
Hand - Marrajee
Head - Mugga
Heart - Koordoodoo
Heel - Yandalga, daaja
Hip bone - Katteejee
Instep - Jinna wardoo
Kidney - Jooboo
Knee - harda
Leg - Weeda, werda
Lip, lower - Yeera galbee
Liver - Kammardee, maieree
Lung - Babbar, thaaroo
Mouth - Yeerajee
Nape of the neck - Nanga
Navel - Nyeerool
Neck - Nyanga
Nose - Mooldha
Perspiration - Ngoodee
Perspire - Ngoodee
Pregnant - Boorrja koolingoo
Rib - Beembee
Seeing - Nowa, now'wa
Skin - Mandooin
Sleep - Goobalyeeree, goobalyarreegoo
Smell, to - Booga, barndeeya
Sneeze, to - Jinyer gooa
Speak, to - Wonga jeeree
Spit, to - Thamba gwernee gwa
Teeth - Yeerajee
Thigh - Doowel
Throat - Kogul
Tongue - Thaalain
Walk, to - Wanyee
Wink, to - Ngabboort ngalgooa

Animals
Animal (generic) - Thooroo
Anteater - Nyingarn
Bandicoot - Koondee
Cat, native - Barjerda
Dingo - Dhoothoo, ngoobanoo
Flying fox (bat) - Bunjagoorda
Kangaroo, generic - Yowarda
Kangaroo, brush - Koorra
Kangaroo, young, in pouch - Koolooin
Mouse - Booberung
Opossum, Black - Ngoorra, waioorda
Opossum, Grey - Goomal, waioorda
Wallaby - Wadhoo

Birds
Bird (generic) - Jeedamin
Bird's egg - Wardalja
Bustard, Wild Turkey - Bardoora
Cockatoo, Black, red tail - Deerandee
Cockatoo, White, northern var. - Minnajee
Cockatoo, Black, white tail - Ngoolya
Cockatoo, Galah, grey and pink - Beeaagoo
Crow - Kaala
Duck - Boonjagoorda; karbagoora (white necked)
Eagle - Warrida
Emu - Yallabeeree
Magpie - Koorbardoo
Parrot, Twenty-eight - Bilbal
Pigeon - Mainbee
Swan - Goodhoo (Dandarraga word, koorooloo)

Fishes
Crayfish - Eejalla
Fish (generic) - Winilya

Reptiles
Iguana, long-tailed - Kardar

Insects
Beetle - Meenjeen

The Elements, etc.
Moon - Weelarra
Seeds, of plants - Weetoo
Star - Beendeeding
Sun - Karrong

General Vocabulary
Autumn - Boonara
Quick, quickly - Goora goora, yeelaaree
Ill (sick) - Bērangwin
Jealous - Jindoo, jindoo
North - Yabbaroo
Quickly - Goora goora, yeelaaree
Spring (season of) - Bingara
Summer - Walbunga
There - Naandoo
Two - Kootharra
Winter - Wondonga

Short Sentences
I am not afraid of you - Ngatha wai wēyen ngabbeea
What are you afraid of? - Now noondoo waia ngabbeea
He is asleep - Goobalyeeree
That is very bad - Nanna thardoo
You are bad - Noondoo thardoo
He is my brother - Ngannung koordatha
That is my brother - Ngannung koordatha
Bury him - Thardarla
Where do you come from? - Wandha gardee noondoo wanyeemung
What is the name of your country? - Wandha noonung boothoor
He is dead - Yingaring
You are deceiving me - Noondoo waiamba
What are you doing? - Noondoo yaarun
Make a fire - Wajjan wowajella
Get along - Batha wanyee
Get up - Kanjarree wanyee
Give me - Yooa
Give it to me - Yooa
Go before me - Koordandha yerra
Go behind me - Watoonga wanyee
Go there - Boorndoo wanyee
I do not know - Gooandal bajja
Lie down - Ngaaree
Stay with me - Noonda nannala nyinna


Questions

Native modes of burial in district? Lying down facing east, right thumb nail and finger burnt, tied up, hair cut off and burnt, meero at head. Some place head north, some south and some west.

Native names of tribes in district? Dhowarngoo

Native foods in district? Karnoo, maajee, mungarda weetoo (seed), gooraara weetoo.

Method of obtaining water from trees, roots, etc.? Koordan - gum tree trunk.


Peedungoo man, Kardoomooroo, married Wooborr, and has issue - Ngannoonga, m.
Ngannoonga married Beeannee, and had issue - Dhooligoo, m., Ningenberdee, m., Munjajee, f.
Dhooligoo, m. married Meengoo, I. and has issue - Joombeena, m., Wamminya, f.
Meengoo is Baadeemaia. 


Songs of Meengoo

I
Nganning kaangaa
Nganning kaangaa
Walla walla
Langoo warbalaa
Kangara langaa.

II
Jooalgarra nangaa
Karreea kooler
Munda boogun


Source: Section XII, 2B, 20 - Native Vocabulary. Southwestern District. Baandee or Manninggoo of Carnamah in Series 12, Section XII, 2B, 20 of the Daisy Bates Digital Archive from The Barr Smith Library at the University of Adelaide.

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