Lesson 4 – Learning Arabana together
Let’s learn some Arabana words and phrases that we can use when we are learning Arabana language together. There is language for the learners to use, and language for the teachers to use.
Your learning space may be at home, outside under a tree or in a classroom.
Practice sentences for language learners
In your learning space, try to speak only Arabana and no English wherever possible.
maltya means don’t, wangka means language and yanhi- means speak. Warlparla comes from the English word ‘white fella’, so warlparla wangka means white fella’s language (English)
As a language learner, you may like to ask someone what something is called in Arabana.
minha means what, nhiki means this and pidla means name
Your language teachers may have lots of stories and songs to teach you. Here’s how you can ask for a story.
athu means I, ulaṟaka means history/story, ngawi- means listen and waya- means want
If you don’t hear what someone said, you can say this to get them to repeat it.
If you want to ask to go to the bathroom, you can use this sentence.
antha means I punga-punga means toilet/small shelter, the ending -ruku means to/towards and yuka- means to go
If you see a new person in your class, you could ask someone else if they know their name. Asking someone else for their name can be more polite than asking them directly.
waṟa means who, pidla means name and uka means she, he, it
Here is a possible response to the question ‘what is her name?’
uka means she, pidla means name and the ending -nha is used to show that ‘Marie’ is a name
This may be said by someone who has had a long day of learning.
This can also be said by someone who has had a long day of learning.
anthunha means my, kardapu means head and walkirnda means sore
There is no word for ‘goodbye’ in Arabana. Instead, just let everyone know that you’re heading off at the end of the day.
antha means I, ngura means home, the ending -ruku means to, towards and thika- means to return
Practice sentences for language teachers
As a teacher you might like to test your learners by asking them to name different objects in language.
minha means what, antu means you and nhanhi- means see
If you’re outdoors learning Arabana, don’t forget to test learners on the words for animals and birds.
waṟa means who, awarda means that, paya means bird and pidla means name
Here’s how you can test your learner’s knowledge of plant names in Arabana. You could show photos of plants when you’re inside or get learners to identify plants outside.
waṟa means who, awarda means that, nyinta means plant and pidla means name
This can be said to language learners to make sure that they listen to what you are saying.
ngurku means well and ngawi- means listen
This can be said while pointing to or tapping a child’s ear to make sure that they are paying attention.
nhiki means this, the ending -ru means with and ngawi- means listen
This can be said to get learners to quieten down and listen.
This can be said to children so that they settle down and pay attention.
If learners are leaving for the day and you want to tell them to wait, you might like to say this.
