Aboriginal words - examples

| Origins: Australian Aborigines | Chris Illert CV | Proto-Australian Language | Traditional Aboriginal Languages | Words |

The following are Australian Aboriginal words and phrases as translate by Dr. Chris Illert. These examples are taken directly from his published works, and from examples derived by the present writer, often in consultation with Dr. Illert.

| Bundanoon | Cullingutti / Coolangatta | Gingenbullen | Koala | Platypus | Snowy Mountains |

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1. Platypus

* English - Platypus (1799)

* Scientific name - Ornithorhynchus anatinus

* Aboriginal - Mullangong (1891)

* Phonetic translation (root words) - malu : ŋ-gʊn : g(ʊn) - (Illert 2001)

* English translation (root words combined) - bubbly very thing / very bubbly thing (Illert 2001)

* English pronunciation - moola : ng-gayan : g

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2. Koala

* English - Koala

* Scientific name - Phascolarctos cinereus

* English translation (root words combined) - lethargic climber

* Aboriginal - goollaya-winy / koala

* Phonetic translation (root words) -

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2. Snowy Mountains

In 1837 Philip Gidley King, former crew member of the Beagle expeditions of the 1830s, recorded the Aboriginal name of the Snowy Mountains in southern New South Wales, as seen from a distance - munyang. His friend, the Reverend W.B. Clarke, also recorded the name during his visit in 1851-2 - moniong. Both men wrote down differently spelt words as the English equivalents of what they heard, yet both informants were referring to the same thing. Illert, using his 18 sounds and 56 words, identified the roots of the word heard by King as:

munyang - original Aboriginal as recorded

mʊ(ra) : nʊ(ra) : ŋ(uru) - Aboriginal phonetic breakdown by Illert

= maia : nhaia : ng = munyang - English phonetic

> great - yonder - bright thing - English translation

The three root-words identified above were able to be mixed around in their order to provide the same meaning, but a slightly different sounding word as heard by Clarke:

moniong

mʊ(ra) - nʊ(ra) - ŋ(uru)

= maia : nhaia : ng = numiong

> yonder - great - bright thing

This flipping of root words was revealed as a common use of Proto-Australian during the nineteenth century, and it is the reason it was thought that there were so many different languages, rather than variant uses of a basic language which could nevertheless be understood across a wide area. In the above instance, the far off view of the snow-covered mountains is described in terms of a bright thing in the distance.

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3. Bundanoon

A town on the New South Wales Southern Highlands (Illert 2022).

bʊ(ra) : n : dʊ(la) : ɳʊŋ

= baia : n : daia : naing

> between : thing : someone’s

i.e. where someone rests between places e.g., travelling to and from the Shoalhaven.

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4. Gingenbullen

A small mountain near Moss Vale, New South Wales (Illert 2007 & 2022). Identified as relating to the Gundungara lanaguage, Midthung idiom.

gʊn : gʊn : bulʊ : ŋ

= gayan : gayan : bulay : ng

>very : very: sick (dead) place // very : very : down/sick person

i.e. big burial site / burial mound.

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| Origins: Australian Aborigines | Chris Illert CV | Proto-Australian Language | Traditional Aboriginal Languages | Words |

Last updated: 17 October 2024

Michael Organ, Australia (Home)

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