Before I go any further, let's start with the most common word you need to pronounce: Ngaanyatjarra.
You'll see that a lot on this site and it's a bit of a mouthful for a beginner.
Naah - nyuh - durruh, with the emphasis on the Naah and the "nuh" kept short.
Because, I, the author of this page am still a learner of the Ngaanyatjarra language, I have only provided some very basic instructional videos to get you started. My language teacher advised that I do not present myself as a role model for pronunciation, so please understand that I am probably speaking with a very heavy accent compared to the correct pronunciation.
This book is the most comprehensive written record to guide you into learning the Ngaanyatjarra Language
It is available for sale here: https://wangka.com.au/product/ngaanyatjarra-ngaatjatjarra-to-english-dictionary/ (I am not affiliated with the site that sells this book)
Dorothy Hackett, the author of the language book is also one of two major contributors and translators for the Warburton Bible Project, also called the Ngaanyatjarra Bible Project. She was also the co-author of the dictionary listed above. The Ngaanyatjarra Bible Project commenced in the 1960s and was only completed in 2008. The dictionary was completed as a "side project" that was a necessary translation tool for the completion of the Bible. Ms Hackett has since passed away, but her contribution to a Bible in the Ngaanyatjarra language is an extraordinary gift that will provide a language learning tool that will withstand the test of time.
This beginner language book was developed with the intention of assisting incoming staff to get familiar with the Ngaanyatjarra language as well as providing important cultural information.
This is an important early lesson, I am now quoting from the text:
Taboo Names and Words
When someone dies, his or her name is no longer used. Anyone who had that name or any name that sounded like it is no longer used. Instead they are called Kunmarnarra or the shorter form Kunmarna. Because over time many people come to be called Kunmarnarra, people adopt new names. They may choose another English first name or they may choose to be known by their initials such as BB (or Double Bee). Others chose to be known as Mr or Mrs X which is not the means of having a formal name, but another way of adopting a name that sounds different from their previous name that has become taboo.
This video provides a practical demonstration of the Ngaanyatjarra language, showcasing common phrases and pronunciation.
Here's a few very common words from lesson 1 in this language book:
Yuwa = yes
Wiya = no
Somewhat confusingly to the beginner, yuwa means hello if offered as a greeting. Yuwa walykumunu = "hello, it's good to see you"
On its own, walykumunu means "good"
The Bible is something of a "Rosetta Stone" for people wanting to find their way into a new language. The website for the Bible project has also made this language learning aspect clear and provided some useful language tips for the beginner
Begin quote from https://aboriginalbibles.org.au/ngaanyatjarra/
General Language Information
The Ngaanyatjarra language is spoken by 1,200 people in the Warburton Ranges in Western Australia.
https://aboriginalbibles.org.au/ngaanyatjarra/There is no 'f', 'h', 's', 'v', 'x' or 'z' sounds in the Ngaanyatjarra language however there are 3 't' sounds (symbolised by 't', 'tj' and 'rt') there are 2 'r' sounds (symbolised by 'r' and 'rr') and 4 'n' sounds (symbolised 'n', 'rn', 'rn', 'ny' and 'ng').
The Ngaanyatjarra language only has four words for numbers, these are; kutju 'one'; kutjarra 'two'; marnkurrpa 'three' or 'a few' and pirni 'many'. Larger numbers are made by combining the smaller numbers, eg Kutjarra-kutjarra ('four'), kutjarra-marnkurrpa ('five').
The Ngaanyatjarra Bible is available for free via this site: https://aboriginalbibles.org.au/ngaanyatjarra/
This is how I learned my first 100 words of the Ngaanyatjarra language. We fitted this poster to a common area of the house and regularly used the words and invited local friends over to see if we were saying the words properly. Available for purchase from here: https://wangka.com.au/product/100-words-in-ngaanyatjarra-poster/
Disclaimer: I am providing this link for informational purposes only and am not affiliated with or commercially benefiting from the Wangka website.| English Word | Ngaanyatjarra Equivalent(s) |
|---|---|
| Aunt | kurntili |
| Boy | minarli, tjitji (child) |
| Brother | kurta (elder brother), marlanypa (younger brother), kurtararra (brothers, plural) |
| Child | tjitji |
| Daughter | yurntalpa, or use tjitji (child) if unsure |
| Father | mama |
| Girl | kungka (female person), tjitji (child) |
| Grandchild | tjamu (grandfather, grandson), kaparli (grandmother, granddaughter) |
| Grandfather | tjamu |
| Grandmother | kaparli |
| Husband | kurri |
| Man | wati |
| Mother | ngunytju |
| Special Relative of pre-initiate | yirrkapiri |
| Sister | tjurtu (elder sister), tjami (younger sister) |
| Son | katja |
| Uncle | kamuru (maternal uncle, mother's brother) |
| Wife | kurri |
| Woman | minyma |
| Young | tjitji (child, young person) |