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Guwaabal 5 Gumbulgaban / The Bustard (plains turkey)


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  In the right-hand column the story is broken down into individual sentences. The first line is in Yuwaalaraay, the third is an English 'free' translation. The second line is an 'interlinear' translation; it shows the various parts of each Yuwaalaraay word (verb, noun, suffix etc). By examining this line you can see how words and sentences are built in Yuwaalaraay.
Go back to Version 1 or go to the Notes page to find out the background to the story.

00
Dhinawan
bulaarr-nha
Gumbulgaban
emutwo-that.therebustard
The Emu and the Bustard
01
Dhinawan burrul dhigayaa gi-gi-la-nhi,
emu big bird be-continuous-Past
Emu was the big bird,
02
nhama-nha
burrul dhuurranmay.
that,the that.there big chief
and the chief of all.
03
Gumbulgaban buul warra-nhi.
bustard jealous stand Past
Gumbulgaban [the turkey] was jealous.
04
Gumbulgaban ngambaa-dhi burrul buul warra-nhi
bustard mother[?] big jealous stand Past
dhinawan ngambaa-dhi.
emu mother from
That gumbulgaban mother was really jealous of the emu mother.
05
Baayan nguu ngarra-lda-ndaay
soon he/she see-continuous-Rel.suff
ganunga bara-y-la-ndaay
they>2 fly-continuous-Rel.suff
ngarribaa, barraay banaga-y-la-ndaay.
up quickly run-continuous-Rel.suff
When she saw them flying around overhead and running quickly.
06
Gumbulgaban-du winanga-y-la-nhi dhirra-wan.gaan-nha
bustard doerto think continuous Past flash very that.there
gi-gi-la-nhi,
be continuous Past
The Gumbulgaban thought that they were really flash,
07
dhinawan-du bungun nguungu biiwanma-lda-ndaay.
emu doerto wing her/his show.off continuous Rel.suff
those emus showing off their wings.
08
Gumbulgaban-du winanga-y-la-nhi:
bustard doer.to think continuous Past
Gumbulgaban was thinking:
09
"Gulaarr ngaya-nga guwaa-li dhinawan gimbi-la
how? I now say Future emu do command
"What will I say to the emu
10
waal nginda dhuurranmay gi-gi-la-y-gu."
no,not you[1] chief be continuous Future purpose
so that she won't be the chief any more."
11
Baayan nguu winanga-nhi bungun
soon he/she think Past wing
garra-y-gu, waal-nha bara-y-la-y-gu.
be.cut Future purpose no,not that.there fly continuous Future purpose
Then she thought to get the emu's wings cut, so she couldn't fly.
12
"Waal-badhaay ngaya burrul gi-gi-la-nha
no,not might I big be continuous Present
buma-li-gu-nha.
hit Future purpose that.there
"But I am not big enough to fight that emu.
13
Ngaya-badhaay-nga wagi guwaa-li,
I might then lie tell Future
What if I tell her a lie,
14
Maayrr ngay bungun gi-gi-la-ndaay."
no.none my wing be continuous Rel.suffix
that I have no wings?"
15
Yilaa nguu ngarra-y dhinawan 'naa-waa-ndaay.
then he/she see Past emu come moving Rel.suff
Then she saw the emu coming.
16
Gumbulgaban yilawa-nhi, bungun nguu wuu-nhi,
bustard sit Past wing he/she go.into Past
nguwalay baayan ngarra-nhi banya[?]-duul.
here soon look Past stump?? little
Gumbulgaban sat down and tucked her wings in. Now she looked as if she just had stumps of her wings.
17
Baayan bulaarr-nha guwaa-la-y-la-nhi:
soon two that.there talk each.other continuous Past
The two of them started talking.
18
Gumbulgaban-du guwaa-y:
bustard doerto say Past
Then Gumbulgaban said:
19
"Minya-gu nginda waal bungun-dhalibaa gi-gi-la-nha?
what? purpose you[1] no,not wing without be continuous Present
"How come you haven't got rid of your wings?
20
Ganunga dhigayaa bara-y-la-nha.
they>2 bird fly continuous Present
All the birds fly.
21
Waal bungun-nginda dhuurranmay.
no,not wing wanting chief
The chief doesn't need to have wings.
22
Maayrr ngay bungun gi-gi-la-nha.
no.none my wing be continuous Present
I've got no wings.
23
Ganugu nganha-laa dhuurranmay gimbi-li."
they>2 me then chief do Future
So now they will now make me the chief."
24
Dhinawan-du guwaa-y: "Giirr nginda bungun-biyaay."
emu doerto say Past really you[1] wing with
The emu said: "But you have got wings."
25
[Gumbulgaban:] "Waal."
no,not [Bustard:]
"No."
26
'Naa-nhi dhinawan nguungu gulii-ya.
go Past emu her/his husband.wife to
The emu went to her husband.
27
Baayan bulaarr-nha badha-nha gi-nyi.
soon two that.there bitter that.there get Past
Then the two of them were really upset.
28
"Bungun-badhaay ngali garra-y; waal gumbulgaban
wing might we2 cut[self] Future no,not bustard
dhuurranmay gi-gi."
chief be Future
"We might cut our wings, the Gumbulgaban will not be chief."
29
Dhinawan-du gunidja-yu guwaa-y guliirr nguungu
emu doerto mother doerto tell Past husband.wife her/his
bungun garra-li-gu gambu-gu.
wing cut Future purpose axe with
The emu mother told her husband to cut off her wings with an axe.
30
Baayan nguu gaya-dha nguungu bungun garra-y.
soon he/she turn in,at,on her/his wing cut-Past
Then he, in his turn, cut her wings.
31 >
Baayan-nha banaga-w-uwi-nyi gumbulgaban-da.
soon that.there run w back Past bustard to
Then she ran back to the Gumbulgaban.
32
Dhinawan-du guwaa-y gumbulgaban-da:
emu doerto say Past bustard to
Then the Emu said to the Gumbulgaban:
33
"Bungun ngaya garra-y."
wing I cut Past
"I have cut the wings."
34
Gumbulgaban gindama-nhi, baa-nhi, banaga-nhi
bustard laugh Past jump Past run Past
dhirra gi-nyi nhama-nha.
flash get Past that,the that.there
The Gumbulgaban laughed, she hopped, she ran, she was really happy then.
35
Bungun biiwanma-y, baayan nguu guwaa-y dhinawan:
wing show.off Past soon he/she tell Past emu
She showed off her wings, then she told the emu:
36 >
"Dhanggiwa-y nginunha ngaya; badjin-duulbungun.
trick Past you[1] I small little wing
"I have tricked you, stumpy wings.
37
Maayrr-buu ngaya ngay bungun garra-lda-nha;
no.none all I my wing cut continuous Present
I haven't cut my wings at all;
38
wamba nginda badjin-duul bungun."
mad you[1] small little wing
stumpy wings, you are mad."
39
Dhinawan banaga-nhi buma-li-gu gumbulgaban,
emu run Past hit Future purpose bustard
baayan gumbulgaban bara-nhi.
soon bustard fly Past
The emu ran to kill the Gumbulgaban, but the Gumbulgaban flew away.
40
Ngarragaa-dhuul, maayrrngay bungun.
poor one none wing
That sad creature with no wings.
41
Baayan dhinawan yiili-nha gi-nyi, yanaa-nhi.
soon emu angry that.there get Past go Past
The emu got really cranky, and went away.
42
"Yilaa ngaya-nga nginunha gulaarr-aa gimbi-li."
then I then you[1] how? must do Future
"I will do you in somehow."
43
Yilaala-nha nguu winanga-nhi.
then that.there he/she think Past
Then she thought.
44
Baayan nguu dhurrinba-y birralii-gal,
soon he/she hide Past child plural
bulaarr-yiyal ngadaa nguu wa-y.
two just down he/she put.in Past
Then she hid her children, and took only two down.
45
Burrulaa binamayaa-ga wa-y.
many saltbush in,at,on put.in Past
She put a lot in the saltbush.
46
Baayan-nga murrila-dhaay gaarrimay-gu nguungu
soon then rocky ground/ridge to.here camp to her/his
bulaarr nguu gaa-waa-nhi.
two he/she take moving Past
Then she went down from the ridge to her camp, taking only two children.
47
Baayan-nga wagi-gu 'naa-nhi.
soon then plain to come Past
She went down to the plain.
48
Gumbulgaban-du birralii-gal-gu wuu-dha-ndaay
bustard doer.to child plural to give eating Rel.suff
ganungu gaawil.
to.them vomit
The Gumbulgaban was feeding her children.
49
Baayan bulaarr-nga guwaa-la-nhi,
soon two then talk each.other Past
And again the two of them were talking,
50
Dhinawan-du guwaa-y gumbulgaban-da.
emu doerto say Past bustard to
and Emu said to Gumbulgaban:
51
"Minya-gu nginda burrulaa birralii-gal gaa-gi-la-nha?
what? purpose you[1] many child plural carry continuous Present
"What have you got so many kids for?
52
Waal nginda burrulaa-gu gaawil wuu-dha-y.
no,not you[1] many to vomit give continuous Future
You won't be able to feed so many.
53
Dhagil nginda bulaarr-yiyal gaa-gi-la-y;
suppose you[1] two just carry continuous Future
baayan bulaarr-nha burrul gi-gi;
soon two that.there big be Future
You should only have two, and the two of them will get big.
54
waal nginda burrulaa-gu gulunma-lda-y."
no,not you[1] many to give.food[?] continuous Future
You won't be trying to feed so many."
55
Gumbulgaban-badhaay winanga-nhi:
bustard might think Past
But the Gumbulgaban thought:
56
"Gulaarr ngaya ngay birralii-gal burrul
how? I my child plural big
yalagiirray dhinawan?
just.like emu
"How can my children be big like the emu's?
57
Bulaarr-yiyal ngay gi-gi-la-ndaay, yaama bulaarr-nha
two just my be continuous Rel.suff question two that.there
burrul gi-gi yalagiirray dhinawan."
big be Future just.like emu
If I only have two will those two be as big as the emu?"
58
Winanga-nhi nguu dhanggiwa-y.
think Past he/she trick Past
She remembered that she had tricked the emu.
59
Baayan nguu ngarra-y dhinawan,
soon he/she see Past emu
ngarra-y nguu burrul.
see Past he/she big
But then she saw the emus and saw how big they were.
60
Baayan nguu guwaa-y:
soon he/she say Past
Then she said:
61
"Buma-li ngaya ganunga, bulaarr-yiyal ngaya
kill Future I they>2 two just I
garrawa-lda-y.
keep continuous Future
"I will kill a lot, but keep only two.
62
Dhinawan waal dhuurranmay gi-gi-la-y wagi-gu.
emu no,not chief going to continuous Future plain of
The emu will not be the chief of the plain.
63
Gumbulgaban-yiyal gi-gi-la-y dhuurranmay.
bustard just be continuous Future chief
Only the Gumbulgaban will be chief.
64
Gumbulgaban burrul gi-gi yalagiirray dhinawan,
bustard big be Future just.like emu
bungun ganugu garrawa-lda-y.
wing they>2 keep continuous Futurer
The Gumbulgaban will be as big as the emu, and they will also have wings."
65
Baayan nguu buma-y ganunga birralii-gal,
soon he/she kill Past they>2 child plural
bulaarr-yiyal nguu garrawa-y.
two just he/she keep Past
So then she killed her children and kept only two.
66
Baayan-nga dharrawuluwi-nyi nhama-nga dhinawan-du
soon then return Past that,the then emu doerto
dha-lda-ndaay-gu.
eat continuous Rel.suff to
Then Gumbulgaban went back to where the emu was eating.
67
Dhinawan-du gaga-y:
emu doerto call Past
The emu called out:
68
"Minyaaya nginu birralii-gal?"
where (at)? your(1) child plural
"Where are your children?"
69
[Gumbulgaban:] "Ganunga ngaya buma-y.
they>2 I kill Past
"I killed them.
70
Bulaarr-yiyal gaa-gi-la-nha."
two just have continuous Present
I only kept two."
71
[Dhinawan:] "Walan-du yuul-u nginda buma-y.
tough doer.to [??] you[1] hit Past
"You hard mother, you killer.
72
Burrulaa ngay birralii-gal, gulunma-lda-nha
many my child plural give.food[?] continuous that.there
ngaya ganunga.
I they>2
I've got lots of children, and I can feed them all.
73
Burrulaa ganunga.
many they>2
All of them.
74
Ngarra-la ngawil dhuwa-yu buluba-nhi.
look command emu bush food with be.covered Past
Look at the emu bush, covered with food.
75
Ngarra-la bunbun.
look command grasshopper
Look at the grasshoppers.
76
Nhama ngaya bayama-lda-nha ngay birralii-gal-gu.
that,the I catch continuous Present my child plural purpose
I am catching them for my children.
77
Bulaarr-yiyal nginu birralii-gaali.
two just your(1) child two
You've only got two, a pair of children.
78
Burrulaa-bala ngay.
many contrast my
On the contrary, I have got a lot.
79
Ngaya dhaay gaa-gi nginunda ngarranma-li-gu."
I to.here carry Future to.you[1] show Future purpose
I will bring them here to show you."
80
Dhinawan banaga-nhi binamayaa-gu,
emu run Past saltbush to
The emu ran to the salt bush,
81
ngayrr nguu dhurrinba-ndaay-gu birralii-gal.
there[?] he/she hide Rel.suff to child plural
where she had hidden her children.
82
Baayan nhama-nha dharrawuluwi-nyi,
soon that,the that.there return Past
Then she came back,
83
dhirra-bil gi-nyi nguu bubudhala,
flash with.lot be Past he/she emu tail
guwaa-lda-ndaay "buum-buum".
say-continuous-Rel.suff buum buum
showing off and bouncing her tail around , and saying 'Boom, boom' [the way emus still do].
84
Birralii-gal nguungu banaga-y-la-ndaay, biwiirrir
child plural her/his run continuous Rel.suff very.pretty[?]
ngarra-waa-ndaay,
look moving Rel.suff
And as her children were running along looking really pretty,
85
wiiliirr wiila-waa-nhi, dhurra-ndaay,
wiiliirr whistle moving Past come Rel.suff
going 'wiiliirr' the way baby emus whistle,
86
baayan-nha yiili ngarra-nhi.
soon that.there angry look Past
the Emu looked really angry.
87
Baayan nguu guwaa-y.
soon he/she say Past
Then she said.
88
"Giirruu ngaya nginunha guwaa-y.
very.truth I you[1] tell Past
"I tell you the absolute truth.
89
Ganunga ngaya ngay birralii-gal garrawa-lda-nha.
they>2 I my child plural keep continuous Present
I still have all my children.
90
Ngarra-la nhama-nga.
look command that,the now
Look at them there.
91
Nginu ngarragaa birralii-gal. Buma-y
your(1) poor child plural kill Past
nginda nginu birralii-gal.
you[1] your(1) child plural
Your poor children. You killed your children.
92
Nginda nganha dhanggima-y.
you[1] me deceive Past
You fooled me.
93
Dhagil ngaya-laa yanaa-y-la-y ngaya
suppose[?] I then go continuous Future I
bungun-nginda, nginda-bala bulaarr-yiyal birralii-gaali
wing wanting you[1] contrast two just child two
gaa-gi-la-y.
carry continuous Future
And so I will live without my wings, but you will only have two children.
94
Garrawa-lda-y nginu bungun, ngaya-laa
keep continuous Future your(1) wing I then
giirruu garrawa-lda-y ngay birralii-gal."
absolutely keep continuous Future my child plural
You will keep your wings. But I will keep my children. [And ever since the emu has no wings and the Gumbulgaban only lays two eggs.]