Diary of ten years eventful life of an early settler in Western Australia and also A descriptive vocabulary of the language of the aborigines/A descriptive vocabulary of the language in common use amongst the aborigines of Western Australia/Part 1/A
A, long, as in Fāther; ă, short, or a, at the end of a word, as the first a in Mămma. See preface.
Ăb, or Ăp.—An abbreviation of Ăbbin. A particle which, when affixed to words, expresses to be, or to become; as Djulăp, Bugorăp, Garrangăb, to become bad, or a champion, or angry.
Ăbba—A word of friendly salutation with the natives about Augusta, accompanied by the act of rubbing the breast with the hand, and spitting at the same time. This was, perhaps, at first a superstitious ceremony on their part, to avert any evil consequences which might ensue from holding any communication with beings whom they probably, at that time, considered to be preternatural. There does not appear to be any established mode of salutation customary among themselves. To hold up the open hands is used now by the white and black people as a sign of amity; but this is chiefly to show that the hand is unarmed, or the disposition friendly. Green boughs were presented to the settlers at York, by the natives, on the occasion of their first interview.
Ăbbin—Getting; becoming. Gwabbăbbin, becoming good; Durdakabbin, getting well, recovering from sickness.
Adjo, p.p.—I, an imperfect pronunciation of Ngadjo.
Adjul—I will. See Ngadjul.
Ăk, or Ok—Of; an affix denoting possession–as Winatak Gatta, the head of Winat.
Allija, or Alli, pron.—It; that is it.
Amar, s.—A hole or pool of water in a rock. In many parts of the country, where there are no rivers nor springs, the water from the winter rains is retained in deep crevices or holes worn into the surface of the rock. These reservoirs are carefully noted, and are relied upon as the principal resources of the natives, in dry and rocky situations, during the summer months.
Ăn, or Annin—An affix used to express action, or the act of doing; as Gurad, short; Guaradan, shorten, or make short; Minytwallakannin, to put a new face on; to alter.
Ăng, affix—Of; from; out of; belonging to; and when the antecedent ends in a vowel, some consonant is often interposed for sound's sake; as Gabbi, water; Gabbilang, aquatic; Juko, Jukobang; Bilo, Bilorbang.
Anga, s.—The beard. See Nganga.
Anna, p.p.—Me. See Nganna.
Anya, p.p.—I. See Nganya.
Ăp, or Up—An affix used to denote a locality fit for, or used as, a resting place; as Mangaga ăp, the resting place at Mangaga.
Ardă, ad.—Gratuitously, without object; idly; merely; only; nothing particular. This is a word of very frequent use. What are you doing? Nothing. Where are you going? Nowhere. What do you want? Nothing. In all such cases Ardă is the proper answer.
| Ardak, ad. | } | Low down; downwards.—See Ngardak. |
| Ardăkăt V. |
Arndin, or Arndinyang, a.—(V.) Sick; ill; sore.