Wurrekangurr - Yarkuwa Language Application

Nyakiladiyaty! kanintyang waku mirkuk tyirri-tyirrity-kity larnuk.

Look everyone! the crow is stealing an egg from the willie-wagtail's nest

Pronunciation:

Say: nyahk-il-ahd-ii-yarty! kahn-inty-ahng wahk-uu miirk-uuk tyirr-ity-kity larn-uuk.

Notes:

Vowels: Standard - 'a' as in ‘car’ or ‘path’, ‘i’ as in ‘hill’, ‘u’ as in ‘put’.
Consonant 'ny' (palato-nasal) combine 'n' and 'y' while top of tongue touches hard palate plus nasal vibration. (Avoid the English 'nee' as in 'many') - 'ty' (palatal stop) - combine 't' and 'y' while tip and blade of tongue touches hard palate and stops the breath. (Note: 'tch' is close but different to 'ty'.) - 'ng' (velar-nasal) combine 'n' and 'g' while back of tongue touches soft palate plus nasal vibration, - 'rr' roll or trill tongue.

Literal Meaning:

lit. Look everyone! steal-ing crow-doer egg willie-wagtail-'s camp-his (nest).

Shows:

Noun, Noun ending - do-er word - (k)u, Noun ending - his/her/its - (k)uk, Verb ending - happening now - ang, Verb ending - ordering more than one person to do action - atiyaty or iyaty, Verb head-word

Explanation:

Call to action - 'Nyakiladiyaty!' (Look everyone!) followed by a description of what is happening. Notice the use of 'ku' (do-er ending) on the end of 'wa'. Also 'larnuk' has a variation on the noun possessive ending '(k)uk'. 'Lar' (camp, home, shelter, nest).

Learning Focus:

Communication, Describing

Learning Exercise:

Phrase Sentence:

Sentence

Words Associated:

kanintya - to steal

nyakila - to look, to watch

wa - crow or raven

mirrkuk, mirkuk - egg (its)

tyirri-tyirrity - willie wagtail

lar - camp, home, bark shelter

Topics:

Animals - Birds, Communication - Describing, Communication - order or direction

Age Guides:

Yr 7-9, Yr 10-12, Advanced

Reference:

Phrase Detail