 Author: Meme McDonald and Boori Monty Pryor
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, 1999 Cover and text photographs by Meme McDonald. Cover reproduced with kind permission of Allen & Unwin. McDONALD, Meme & PRYOR, Boori Monty
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The Binna Binna man Word Bank
Girragundji is the boy's totem. In Aboriginal society you would be given your totem at birth. Your would be given a totem depending on your mother's and father's totems, and your language. For example, I would take my totem from my mother, whose totem is the black snake. I would either be given the black snake totem or something related to the black snake. This meant that I had to protect my totem, so that it protected me. I would not be allowed to kill or eat my totem.
| Boori's language words |
Meaning |
Aboriginal words eg Wiradjuri language |
| eungee/hairyman |
spirit/quinkins |
birik ghost, spirit
wandang a bad spirit
|
| migaloo |
Non-Aboriginal all Aboriginal languages have a word or words for non-Aboriginal people, men or women. |
gabaa is said to have come from the English term government. |
| jalbu |
Woman - all Aboriginal languages have a word or words for term woman. |
- Inarr woman
- Inarrgang girl
- Migay girl, woman marriageable young woman
- Migay-gang young woman unmarried
|
| murris |
Aboriginal people all Aboriginal groups in Australia had their own language name. |
The Aboriginal nation that I belong to is called the Wiradjuri. In NSW we have around 70 Aboriginal language groups/nations. |
| mooyu |
bottom |
buubuul or dhuula |
| dhunghai |
take off, to go |
yanaay |
| yumba |
aunty's hut |
balaan aunt, guunji - hut |
| boodgies |
farts |
buurray |
| beargin |
don't know |
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| gulmra |
toilet |
giliwaa geel, guunang |
| yidinji |
next door tribe |
garriya |
| munyard |
bush murri |
ngaarrabang poor thing, poor fellow |
| nungas |
Aboriginal people |
buudhang, koori also means the colour black |
| wongy |
nuts |
gwaangi mad silly |
| yibulla |
Watch |
ngaaga |
| bibras |
clap sticks |
barrgan, balgaang boomerang used as clap sticks |
| whitefulla medicine |
grog/alcohol |
weejali |
| durries |
smokes |
biyaga tobacco, buundha cigarette |

Meanings of other words used throughout the story |
Listed below is a list taken from the book, these words are spoken and written in Aboriginal English |
| Mission/Reserve |
most Reserves or Missions have Aboriginal names |
whitefulla |
non-Aboriginal |
| deadly |
is often used by Aboriginal people to describe something that is great |
cause |
because |
| sorry business |
refers to times when someone has passed away |
fulla |
fellow |
| dot |
bottom |
sis |
sister |
| Elders |
respected people of your nation |
mob |
group |
| bullymen |
cops |
gammin |
pretend |
| small house |
lock up |
cus |
cousin |
| big house |
jail |
m'face |
my face |
Activities
Can you find the names of Missions/Reserves in NSW and their meaning?
Can you find any other words in Aboriginal English? Write them down with the English version |
youse |
you people |
| gawn |
gone |
| eh |
hey |
| aw |
oh |
| s'pose |
suppose |

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