Browse Ngaanyatjarra – English
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nyaakunykafromnyaathere’s no need toNyaakunyka kutjupanya tjunku?There’s no need to put a different (word). (lit. Whyever would you put a different (word)?)
nyaalkufromnyaa1do what?2do something nonspecificPina-ya yarlalku. Ka kulilku, ‘Munta, kungkanguru-watjala-rni nyaarnu.’They make him realise. Then he thinks, ‘Oh, so it’s because of (going out with) a girl that they’ve done this to me.’Nyuntjirnpa nyaarnu wankarnu.She did something to my navel and cured my sickness.See alsopalyalku
nyaapafromnyaa1question wordwhat?Nyangka wati ngaaku tjilkulu watjarnu, ‘Mama, nyaapa nyarranya?’Then this man’s child said, ‘Daddy, what’s that over there?’2nounthingumabob, whatnot, what-d’ye-call-itNaniku-litju tjawarnu. Tjawara-litju parrawanarnu-parrawanarnu nyangu ngaa pakarnu -- nyaapa? -- wanakarta-karta. Nyangka-rna nguwanpa wana warnirra pakarnu.We dug for rabbits. We dug and followed (the burrow) around until we saw this thing get up -- what-d’ye-call-it? -- a grey and black beetle. Then I almost threw my digging stick away and left.Means the same asnyaa
nyaapiriny(pa)fromnyaalike what? what sort of?Kapi-pulan yarrkalku, ‘Mayu nyaapirinypa?’You two can taste the water and think, ‘What’s the taste like?’Yini nyaapirinypa?What’s the name of (this plant)?
nyaarringkufromnyaa1what’s happening?Yanku-rna nyaku, ‘Nyaarringu palunya?’ Ngurra-parta paalyutingu tjilarlka ngarrirranytja.I’ll go and look, ‘What’s happened to that person?’ It turned out that she’d fallen down and was lying there motionless.2become something non-specificMurilypa nyaarringu lalyparringu.The round biscuits have gone what-do-you-call-it? -- flat.
nyakusee, watch, look at, observe someone or somethinghas irregular forms: n̲ya̲w̲a̲ command, n̲ya̲k̲u̲l̲a̲ present, n̲ya̲n̲ga̲m̲a̲ / n̲ya̲k̲u̲m̲a̲ continuous future or commandPitjangu-latju nyangu kapi karltirltingka ngarrirranyangka.We came and saw water lying in the swampy area.Ka-pula mularrpartu yanku nyaku, ‘Ngaa ngarrirra nyatunya kurlunytjarra.’Then sure enough those two would go and see, ‘There’s a hill kangaroo with a little one lying here.’Tjiinya kartakutjarrarriku wati pirninya. Ka minymalu lartilu nyaku.The men might cut across in another direction and the women will watch them out of the corner of their eyes.sounds likenyaaku
nyaku tarrkalkufromnyakustare intently at someone, look someone straight in the eyesKurntawiyalu nyangu tarrkarnu.Without any shame he stared intently at me.Ayi, nyakula-rni kuru tarrkara wantirra.Hey, she’s staring me straight in the eye.
nyaku wantikufromnyakutake no notice, ignore somethingsee something and leave itKutjupalu mapitjaku nyaku mutuka kantilyngarrirranyangka nyaku wantiku.Someone might go and see a car lying on its side and take no notice of it.See alsokulilku wantiku
nyakula kartakutjarra nyinakufromnyakudo something else instead, mind your own businesssit facing awayMunuyarla watjantjamaalpa nyakula kartakutjarra nyinama.Don’t say forbidden words, talk about other things instead.Tjitji pungkutjamaaltu nyakula kartakutjarra nyinama.Do other things instead of hitting the child all the time.Nyakula kartakutjarra nyinama.Keep out of our business.
nyakula watjalkufromnyaku1accuse someone, criticise someoneNyaaku-rnin tirtu nyakula watjara? Wiyangkalpi-rnanta payirnu wiyarringu.Why are you still accusing me? I’ve already stopped growling at you.Tjiinya-rnin tirtu kumpilpa nyakula watjara. Tjinguru-rnin ngamulu pitjala ngarala watjanma.You’re still criticising me behind my back. You should come and stand right here and accuse me.See alsokuru watjalkupuntura watjalku2read somethingSee alsoriitimalkuriitumanku
nyakumirafromnyaku1where one can be seen, in viewTjirntunguru wantirra watipitja nyarratja nyakumira ngara.Move across from the sun (that’s shining in my eyes) and stand over there where I can see you.2in the daylightwhen you can seePika-yanku nyakumiraku wanti.Leave the fighting for tomorrow when you can see each other in the daylight.See alsotjirntunyakumira
nyakumiranykurrufromnyakuwithout taking one’s eyes off someone, watchfullyhas negative connotationPayilku watjalku, ‘Nyakumiranykurrulu-rnin tirtu nyakula parrawanaani.’(A young person) might growl (at his father or mother) and say, ‘You’re always watching me and following me around without taking your eyes off me.’See alsomiranykurrumira-miralku
nyalinymankukill someone’s only son or daughterParrangaraku-parrangaraku-ran kunmarnungka nyalinymanku.If you keep doing that you’ll kill her only son with a knife.Ngarlturringkula watjanma, ‘Nyaaku-raya nyalinymanu katja. Kutju-ra tjinguru wantima.’Feeling sorry for her someone might say, ‘Why have they killed her son? He was the only one, so they shouldn’t have done that.’See alsomirrirntanku
nyaluthen, and, and then, and soat the beginning of a sentence which has the same subject as the previous oneTjawalku murrutjunku, tjawalku murrutjunku. Palunyalu yartamparri watingarritjunku. Nyalu tjirtapaana pirni tjunama.You dig and erect several poles. Then you lay the cross-piece in place. Then you put the pieces of iron (on top).Means the same aspalunyalu
nyarlamirawestern bluetongue lizard, bobtail lizardTiliqua occipitalisdark and light stripes are much more distinctive than those of the l̲u̲n̲gk̲a̲r̲t̲a̲, centralian bluetongue lizard. Younger people tend to use both words for both lizards.See alsolungkarta
nyarli-nyarliflirtatiously, coylyin the view of a fancied person of the opposite sexNyarli-nyarli parrawirrtjarni nyakutjaku kutjupalu walykumunu.She’s going round coyly so that others can see that she’s beautiful.Nyarli-nyarli pitjayilku yangupalalu-ya nyakutjaku. Palunyalu watjalku, ‘Miiku-tju nyarratja.’ ‘Wiya, miiku-tju. Pika-rnanta pungku.’(Two teenage girls) might come along flirtatiously so that the young men will look at them. Then one girl might say, ‘That one over there’s mine.’ ‘No, he’s mine. I’ll hit you.’See alsolitju-litju
nyarlirringkufromnyarli-nyarliflirt, act coyNyarlirringkula-ya yamirri mariwipungkula mapitjaani.They’re flirting swinging their arms as they go along.Nyarlirringama kungkawirrmira, kurringka.Adolescent girls act coy in front of their boyfriends.See alsolitju-litjurringku
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