Gamilaraay conversation script by Charlotte Ward and Keri James, as part of their work in Gamilaraay 2 (AUST2008) at ANU, a two-week intensive course held during the winter break. The script has directions for making a video. Part of the task was to include grammatical features of Gamilaraay, such as the inclusive/exclusive pronoun distinction and the ‘associated eating’ verb suffix.

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C: Yaama baawaa. Gaba nginda?

C: Hello sister, are you good?

 

K: Yawu, gababan.gaan ngaya. Gaba nginda?

K: Yes, I’m really good. Are you good?

 

C: Gamilbala, yuulngin ngaya.

C: No, I’m hungry.

  

K: Ngarragaa. Yananga ngali dhaligu.

K: Poor thing. Let us go eat.

 

C: Yananga ngali Cafegu, ngiyarrma ngali dhali. Yaa, dhamaylanha (Girrinilgu yananhi…)

C: Let’s go to the café, there we will eat. Hey/oh, it’s raining!    (goes to the window…)

 

K: Dhamaylandaay, gamilnga ngaya yanay.

K: If it’s raining, I will not go.

 

C: Yanangabala ngali kitchen.gu, ngamiligu ngali minyagaa balanhiidha ngarriylandaay.

C:  Let’s go to the kitchen, to see what is in the fridge.

 

K: Gamil, yanangabala nginda balanhiigu, guwaalanga nganunda dhurraluwingindaay.

K: No, you go to the fridge and tell me when you return.

 

K: (Calls out…) Ngay yuul Gaadhaya!

K: Bring me food!

 

C: Ngaayaybaay, yinggilbala nginda.

C: OK, but you’re lazy.

(C leaves and goes to fridge and then returns with food for herself).

 

K: Dhalaa yuul ngay? Gamilaanda ngaama yuul gaanhi?

K: Where’s my food? Why didn’t you bring food?

 

C: Dhalaabay ngaya yuul. Galibala ngaya dhaay gaanhi, ngarugigu nginda.

C: I ate all the food.  I have brought water for you to drink.

 

K: Wamba nginda!

K: You’re crazy/an idiot. 

(we hit each other – then stop).

 

C: Bumalaylanhi ngali.

C: We were hitting each other.

 

K: Yawu. (look at camera) bumalaylanhi ngalinya.

K: We were hitting each other. (This section has inclusive and exclusive pronouns)

 

C: Madja Keri.

C: Sorry Keri.

 

K: Madja Charlotte.

K: Sorry Charlotte.

 

C: Madja ngaliyuu ginyi

C: Both of us are sorry.

 

K: Yanay ngaya Kitchen.gu.

K: I will go to the kitchen.

(Goes to kitchen and then comes back).

 

K: Yuul ngalingu nginu nhama.

K: Food for me and you.

 

C: Giirr ngali nginda yuul dhali.

C: Me and you will eat some food.

(they eat the food and then vomit –off camera!).

 

K: Dhaldaay ngali dhinggaa, wiibidhanhi ngali.

K: We ate the meat and then we got sick (because of the meat).

 

C: Gamilbala, ngadhan.gaa milgin ngarungindaay, wiibidhanhi ngali.

C: No, we drank the milk and got sick, I think.

 

K: Galibala ngarunga! Barraay, gali ngay wuudhaya.

K: Drink water! Quick, give me water.

(We drink water). 

 

C: Giirrnga ngaya gaba gidhanhi.

C: I feel better now.

 

K: Burumagubula ngaya gali wuudhay .

K: I will give the dog water as well.

 

C: Dhalaa buruma?  

C: Where is the dog?

 

K: Dhalaawaayaa. Gamil ngaya ngamiy.

K: I don’t know where the dog is. I have not seen it. 

 

C: Ngaarrimanha, nguuguubaldanha nguru minyagaa.

C: She is chewing something over there!

 

K: Gabanha, wana ngali yanay ngamiligu!

K: Oh no, let’s go and see!

 

C: Nguwama nguru biiba nguuguubaldanha.  Wanagidjay.  Kipper, Buruma gagil, garriya biiba nguuguubaldaya – wanaa!

C: She’s there and she’s chewing the paper! Bad dog Kipper, stop chewing the paper – you mustn’t do it!

 

K: Kipper, barraay dhaay ‘nanga.  Wana ngiyaniyuu yurrulgu yanawaabali.  Yiyalngabala baluwaa dhamaylanha.

K: Come here quickly Kipper.  Let’s all go to the bush.  It is only showering now.

 

C: Gadhabal!  Gamilaa?  Wana ngiyani yarraaman ngamilday.

C: Wonderful!  Why not?  Let’s visit the horse.

(Cut to horse, dog and paddock)

 

K: Gamiluunha ngaya ngamildanha.

K: I can’t see her yet.

 

 C: Gamiluunga baadidhi wurunga.  Ngayawaanda wurugi.

C: Don’t go into the paddock yet.  I will go in first.

 

K: Ngaayay.  Ngaarrimanhabala ngaya ngamildanha.  Dhirrabuu nhama yarraaman ngamiyaanha.

K: OK.  I see her now over there!  That horse looks totally flash.

 

C: Badidha ganmaymayaanhi Poppy, yarraaman ngay, burumagunha ngay gaawaandaay.

C: A few days ago, when my dog chased it, my horse Poppy got caught in the fence.

 

K: Yilaadhu gaba Poppy?

K: Is Poppy OK now?

 

C: Yawu, gaba ngaama.

C: Yes, she’s good.

 

K: Gaan.giilinyi ngaya yuul Poppygu.

K: I brought food for Poppy.

 

C: Yawu, gaba. Wuuna ngurungu yuul.

C: Yes, good. Give her the food.

 

K: Ngaayaybaay.

K: OK.

(Gives Poppy carrots).

 

C: Giirr maaru!

C: Good job!

 

C: Yilaa gundhigu ngiyaniyuu yanawaabali, ngadhan.gaa dhamangaylandaay.

C: We will all go home soon, because I think it will rain again this afternoon.

 

K: Gaba, yananga ngali!

K: Good, let’s go!

*****

 

Gamilaraay will be taught (AUST1001, INDG2003) as an intensive in Sydney, January 14-21, 2019, as part of the Australian Indigenous Languages Institute.