Projects
Bundgalung Language
This is part of my study in Bundjalung language with Drew Holten Roberts at the Eora Centre,Sydney, an initiative of the Aboriginal community that is now part of TAFE (Technical And Further Education).
Here is my attempt at listening to A conversation in Bundjalungand adapting this to introduce myself to a friend (Sabine) in a hypothetical conversation. I provide a recording and transcript, using a personal version of phonetics to indicate the sounds of Bundjalung language. I credit Sabine, a fellow student at Eora, for getting me started on this in class. Her expertise in linguistics helped me work out ways to listen and record. However I take full responsibility for errors in my interpretation documented here!
Me:
Ngi wala! (Hello!)
Sabine:
Ngi wala! (Hello!)
Me:
Bugul bladen? (Are you well?)
Sabine:
Ngya gala bugul. (I am good.)
Bugul bladen? (Are you well?)
Me:
Nyogembe, warrhin! (No, cold.)
Sabine:
Yoweh, waddin. (Yes, cold.)
Ngar ngari walah? (What's your name?)
Me:
Nyar ngari Lisa - Gurlie. (My name is Lisa - Gurlie.)
Sabine:
Nya ngeri Sabine. (My name is Sabine.)
Jornabu butcha? (Where you from?)
Me:
Jornabu butcha Norfolk Island. (I am from Norfolk Island.)
Sabine:
Norfolk Island?
Me:
Yaway! (Yes!)
Sabine:
Bugulbe! Norfolk Island! (Good! Norfolk Island)
Jornabu butcha Germany. (I am from Germany.)
Me:
Bugulbe! (Good!)
Nya gala wadjung. (I am mother.)
Balabu jarjums, jangan, biningai. (I have two children, a girl and a boy.)
Sabine:
Bugulbe! (Good!)
Onya gala yambala when. (I am going now.)
Me:
Ngabebu. (See you later)
Sabine:
Ngabebu. (See you later)

Here I am with my mother,
around 1950.





