A Modern View of an Ancient Language
Although there are no fluent speakers of the Aboriginal language dialect for Ballina and the Lower Richmond River area, there have been recent attempts to revive the language, given its importance to the culture and heritage of Aboriginal people today.
In 1892 Rev. H. Livingstone published a short grammar and vocabulary of the language which he called ‘Nyug’ [Nyung], a word said to mean ‘what’ or ‘something’.
Many of the Bundjalung-Yugambeh language chain dialects from the greater regional area are known by a word peculiar to their specific area of use.
A name used to identify the Aboriginal people of this localised area is Nyungbal. This is a derivation of their dialect name. Linguists identify that the Bundjulang-Yugambeh language chain contained between 12 and 24 dialects.
The selection of words and phrases as shown here are chosen as examples of recorded language from this specific local area. The spelling and pronunciation may vary to greater or lesser degree from the neighbouring language dialects.
Numerals
Strictly speaking, the language has only two words for numerals, Yaburu and Bula. By doubling and repeating these numerals counting can be carried on to a limited extent.
Yaburu ‘One’
Bula ‘Two’
Bulai-yaburu ‘Three’
Bula-bula ‘Four’
Bula-bulai-yaburu ‘Five’
Bula-bula-bula ‘Six’
Gananbihn ‘Many’
Words and phrases sourced from Livingstone 1892
Berrin ‘The south, the south people’
Kokin ‘The north, the north people’
Binnug ‘An ear’
Birre ‘Fly away’
Bugge ‘Fall’
Buma or Bumga ‘Strike, beat, fight, kill by fighting’
Dukki ‘Dead’
Duggerrigai ‘White man’
Duggerrigaigun ‘White woman’
Garre ‘Dance’
Kujin ‘Red’
Kunle ‘Know, here, feel, smell’
Nyugga ‘The sun’
Nyuggal-gerry ‘Summer’
Wurrig ‘Cold’
Wurrigbil ‘Winter’
Webara ‘A fire, firewood, a camp’
Woram ‘Sleep’
Worambil ‘Sleepy’
Yerrube ‘Sing’
Yerrubil ‘Song’
Minyugalela we ‘What are you doing?’
Yogum gai unduru-mullela ‘I am doing nothing.’
Gaoi wanye monno webara gaia kunjilligerry ‘I would like you to light that fire for me.’
Kubberry gai paian ‘I am hungry today.’
Kukully gai ‘I am here.’
Words sourced from Ryan 1963
Tumcut ‘The ocean’
Tucki ‘Eel’
Cumbalum ‘Place where flathead fish were caught.’
Bingin ‘Turtle’
Wunagum ‘Shark’
Munkel munkel ‘Place where oysters had been eaten.’
Booroogum ‘Land crab’
Mulligem ‘Bream (fish)’
Mungagun ‘Gum trees’
Poonow ‘Bloodwood tree’
Tyeebin or Teven ‘The place of the stinging tree’
Nooroi ‘Climbing vine’
Buckombil ‘The bean tree’
Bomgongung ‘Place of light’
Myollgun ‘Sunrise’
Kyibum ‘The moon’
Bullaburra ‘Blue sky, fine weather’
Mindura ‘Mosquito’
Moogoon ‘Beetle’
Nuggai ‘Bee’
Cudyea ‘Place of honey’
Boorabec ‘Native bears (koala)’
Boondaburra ‘Platypus’
Boggadura ‘Tiger snake’
Woounbea ‘Black snake’
Cabul ‘Carpet snake’
Wangoon ‘Bush turkey’
Kinnibil ‘The swan’
Bellawan ‘Crest cockatoo’
Meebun ‘Hawk’
Tumerah ‘Pelican’
Maarah ‘Black duck or wood duck’
Parrabum ‘Flock pigeon’
Bullen Bullen ‘Battle or fight’
Koona ‘Battlefield, fight, blood running from a wound’
Uralba ‘A place thick with quartz stones’
