"Yes," in the dialect of the Lake Hindmarsh people, is Nyei; in that of the Yarra Yarra tribe, Ngie; in that of the Coast tribe, Um-um; but in that of the Upper Loddon it is Yea-yea.
"No," is Wur-rag at Lake Hindmarsh; on the Yarra it is Ta-goong; at Western Port, N'uther; and on the Upper Loddon, Low-nee-rong.
"Hark!" in the dialect of the Yarra natives is Ngarrngak.
"Hush!" "Hark!" is Ur! Ur! amongst the Melbourne people.
"Hark!" "Listen!" is Thooamee! in the dialect of the Coast tribe; and "Behold!" "Be still!" is Noo-gee! A hoot—a shout of contempt—is, in the language of the same people, T'thee waugh! and when they call to each other "to come on," "to follow"—as an invitation—they say N'ya-alingo! I have heard this call in the bush, and the sound is musical and clear.
"Wait!" "Stop!" at Western Port is Burra!
When sorrowful, they express their sorrow by a sound like Yah!
When highly delighted, I have heard old men utter a prolonged sound like Ng-ng-ng.
In the north-western part of Victoria "Listen!" is Goorrongy! "Stop!" "Hark!" is Tyerrickee! and "Ah!" "Oh!" Nyoo!
In the Western district "Wait!" or "Stop a bit!" is Warma! or Detpa!
Mr. A. W. Howitt, in reply to enquiries, gives the following information:— When pleased, the natives cry Ko-ki (Gippsland), and Ki (Cooper's Creek). Grief is expressed by a shrill howl like Eaw. It is almost impossible to convey an idea of the sound by any combination of letters. Mr. Howitt says he has heard it at Cooper's Creek and also in Gippsland.
When joyful, they say Yackatoon (Gippsland), a word which Toolabar, a native of Gippsland, could not translate. When slightly hurt, as when a finger is cut or bruised, they cry Ko-ki! (Gippsland).
They call to each other thus: Yangi! (I say! Hollo!) (Gippsland); the reply being Bow! (Ay! ay!); or (at Cooper's Creek) Copperow! which is equivalent to "Come here!" the answer being Abbo. The latter word is also used as a token of assent. The term Gow, of the Cooper's Creek blacks, is used as a salutation, and may be equivalent to the term "All right," or the "Welly good" of the Chinaman.
"Yes," is Nga; and "No," Ngatbun (Gippsland).
"Yes," at Cooper's Creek, is Gow or Abbo; and "No" is Watta.
An interjection of assent to a speaker is Mut-ta-tang, "Talk again;" and one of dissent may be Mut-jet-bollan, "Talk lies," or Ngatbun, " No."
Wukunda-da-tchuta is equal to "My word! a fine fellow!"
Wunnoo-but-kun has no precise meaning, but is used to express surprise at a great number. For instance, when a black sees a very large mob of cattle coming towards him, he cries Wunnoo-but-kun!
Mr. Gason says that, at Cooper's Creek, Koopia is used in calling a child, equivalent to "Come, child!" that Kulie signifies "That's enough, I have said it, that's sufficient;" and that Choo is an exclamation used to draw attention to an object.
