Page:An Australian language as spoken by the Awabakal.djvu/130

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

44 AN AUSTRALIAN LANGUAdE.

Idioms

Wivvi, ' be quiet,' 'do not what you tend to do.'

Yaai, 'refrain,' ' do not,' ' cease acting,' 'hold'! ' let not.'

Tari, yanoa, 'let be,' ' let alone,' ' do not.'

ADVERBS.

The use of the word determines whether it should be called a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. A word used with the particle of agency would be considered a noun ; but the same word, if attached to a noun, would be an adjective ; used with a verb, it would be an adverb; as, porrol, 'heavy'; pdrrdl ta unni, ' this is heavy ' ; porrol noa wiytln, 'he speaks heavily.' Adverbs arc classed in the following manner : —

1. Of Numler.

Wakal bo ta, ' once only.' Buloara bo ta, ' twice only.'

JS'gdro bo ta, ' thrice only.'

2. Of Order.

Bonen, 'the first to be done,' Kurri-kurri, 'the beginning, the

Grdnka, 'the first,' or 'before.' first.'

Willug, 'the last,' or 'behind.'

3. Of Place.

Unti, 'here.' Bara-kolag, 'downtvards.'

Unnug, 'there.' Muriug-kolag, 'forwards.'

Wonnug? 'where?' AVillug-koIag, 'backwards.'

Wonta-kolag, 'Avhither' ? "Wonta-birug? 'whence? from Unti-kolag, 'hither.' what place?'

Untoa-kolag, 'thither.' TJnta-birug, 'thence.' [time.

Wokka-kolag, ' upwards.' Unti-birug, ' hence'; place or

4. Of Time.

Ba, 'when ; at the time that' ; Keawai-wal, 'never, not at any

gai-ya, 'then,' must always time'; ' no, never.'

be after it. Kum-ba, 'yesterday' (when the

Bug-gai, 'this present period, verb is in a past tense); ' to-

now, to-day' ; 'the time now niorrow' (when used with a

passing.' verb in the future tense).

Bug-gai-kal, 'of the present Ki'im-ba ken ta, ' the day after

period; fresh, new, recently.' to-morrow.'

Gai-ya, 'then, at that time' ; Mura-ai, ' sometimes.'

it is governed by the par- Murrin-murrin, 'often, repeat- tide ba. edly, frequently.'

Kabo, 'presently.' Taga, 'before, prior to.'

Kabo ka ta, ' presently it is,' Tanoa-nug bo, 'soon.'

for 'not yet,' Toan-ta, 'afterwards.'

�� �