NGAN'GI LANGUAGE

Meaning:

Country. This suffix attaches to the interrogative tyen to form a 'country interrogative'.

Kurungurr Example:

Dede kinyi tyende?

What country is this?

-derri-

Word Class:

Meaning:

Back, topside, raised surfaces, humps, ridges, convex shapes.
The noun root -derri- can occur inside the complex verb immediately before the verb root, where it can convey meanings ranging from literal to metaphorical. -Derri 'humps' occurs in many oppositions to -madi 'hollows'.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngemen derri pal.

I bowed, bent forward from the waist (lit: I folded myself at the back).

Kurungurr Example:

Yemi derribirr pe!

Travel along the top of the ridge!

-deti

Wumirri Headword:

-yendi

Word Class:

Meaning:

Same, again, still, as well. Goes on verbs to indicate that two two events can be thought of as 'the same thing' or 'like each other'.

Kurungurr Example:

Ya! lirrmem bengingngi perrety, nem bengim perrety yendi.

Hey! I'm feeling cold, and he's feeling cold as well.

-dirr-

Word Class:

Meaning:

Teeth, edges, knife blades, riverbanks, things that can be thought of as having two parallel edges.
The noun root -dirr- can occur inside the complex verb immediately before the verb root, where it can convey meanings ranging from literal to metaphorical.

Kurungurr Example:

Wudeni dirrfulirr.

He was grinding his teeth.

Kurungurr Example:

Dideninggi nganggininy dirrtyerr.

We pulled up on the opposite bank (of the river).

-fi-

Word Class:

Meaning:

Control, cause, manipulate. This prefix functions as a 'causative applicative' deriving a verb root meaning 'make something different', manipulate or move something.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngarim figarrityat yewirr nide.

I leant it against the foot of the tree.

Kurungurr Example:

Wuni yirre ngariny fiwap.

I left her sitting back there.

-gen-

Word Class:

Meaning:

Middle, mid, in half, in two. This prefix attaches to verb roots in a similar way to incorporated bodypart terms. It means that the object of the verb is parted or affected at its midpoint.

Kurungurr Example:

Wamanggal yungindi genket.

Chop this wallaby in half for me.

Kurungurr Example:

Yawurr ngebeny genket.

I chopped the tree in two.

-gimi

Wumirri Headword:

-gumu

Word Class:

Meaning:

While. This suffix is a temporal subordinate clause marker. It attaches to a verb marking that activity as the temporal frame for something else happening.

Kurungurr Example:

Winningindi ngidi gimi tye, taya wunu ngerim wurity.

While they waited for me, I fixed that tyre.

Kurungurr Example:

Firri winge gumu tye, darany fitit.

While he was still sleeping, he stood up.

-gimi-

Word Class:

Meaning:

On the side. This prefix attaches to verb roots in a similar way to incorporated bodypart terms. It means that the object of the verb is affected at its side part.

Kurungurr Example:

Minbe yarra figimityatit keninggisyi!

Don't all sit on the one side of the boat!

-gimin (see gimi).

-gul

Word Class:

Meaning:

This suffix does not have a clear meaning, but seems to play a semi-productive role in forming new loanwords, like pisyigul 'fish' and atigul 'heart'. Its role in these words is just to add something onto English words ending with sounds like 'sh' and 't', which don't occur word-finally in Ngan'gi.

-kana

Wumirri Headword:

-nyine

Word Class:

Meaning:

Beginning to, just starting to. The suffix -kana also has an 'inceptive' function, when it occurs in combination with the suffix -pefi. See -kana pefi.

-kana pefi

Wumirri Headword:

-nyine pefi

Word Class:

Meaning:

Begining to, just starting to. This combination of suffixes attaches to present tense stative verbs to mark an 'inceptive' function, where some state is 'coming to be'.

Kurungurr Example:

Yenim fuy kana pefi.

It's starting to smell now.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngaganim du nyine pefi, yerimngi du!

Just as I'm starting to fall asleep, you've gone and disturbed me!

-ma

Word Class:

Meaning:

Attaches to pronouns to form terms of address used to call out to someone if you don't know their name.
See nemma 'mister!', and ngayimma 'miss!'.

Kurungurr Example:

Ya, nemma!

Hey, mister!

-madi-

Word Class:

Meaning:

Chest, underside, belly up, face to face, hollows, riverbeds, the inside of concave shapes.
The noun root -madi- can occur inside the complex verb immediately before the verb root, where it can convey meanings ranging from literal to metaphorical. -Madi- 'hollows' occurs in many oppositions to -derri- 'humps'.

Kurungurr Example:

Minde ngudupun madifili mudiga, mudiga ninggi wudem madifili nginde.

I didn't roll the car, the car itself just rolled on me.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngemem madi baty.

I folded my arms across my chest.

-mi-

Word Class:

Meaning:

In view of someone, in the presence of someone. Historically derived from the incorporated bodypart term muy 'eye', this prefix functions as a 'presentative applicative' deriving a verb root meaning 'do X in the presence of Y', and Y becomes the object of the verb.

Kurungurr Example:

Falmi ngayi ngangginim mityerr.

We pulled up in front of my wife.

Kurungurr Example:

Kidin wunggume ambirri nimbi ngannunggu mi wap.

They've been living together since last year.

-misyin-

Word Class:

Meaning:

Hearth, fireplace.

Kurungurr Example:

Miringgi yu fimisyinwurity!

Throw the tealeaf into (the billy on) the fire!

-nana

Wumirri Headword:

-merrendi

Word Class:

Meaning:

Can't, unable to. This suffix attaches to negative minde to indicate that some activity is unable to be carried out.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngayi wamirrisyarrangi! Minde nana mudiga kinyi ngemi baty!

Hey, I'm blind as a bat! I can't drive this car!

Kurungurr Example:

Minbe merrendi kinyi ngumu wa, tyandi wurru closed wirribem store ne.

I can't buy them here, because it's a Sunday and the shop is closed.

-napa

Word Class:

Meaning:

Until, still. Attaches to verbs marking some limit reached, or a resulting state.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngumbuda wul nimbi, ep dede wim napa ngini ne.

When we come back, I wonder if this place will be still be here just as it is.

Kurungurr Example:

Yedi wurrkama tye, palak meny napa.

He worked till he was tired out.

-nawa

Word Class:

Meaning:

This one instead. Attaches to a noun when contrasting or comparing two things, ie. this one (instead of that one).

Kurungurr Example:

Kinyi nawa ngawam.

I'll take this one in preference.

Kurungurr Example:

Lirrga nawa ngirrminggin bawa.

Let's pick up Lirrga instead.

-ne (see -ngini)

-ngini

Wumirri Headword:

-ne

Word Class:

Meaning:

About, concerned with. Purposive marker. This suffix attaches to nouns marking them as the topic of a cognitive verb or a speech act verb (eg. what you know, think or talk about).

Kurungurr Example:

Detyeri werri ngaganim peke ngini.

I'm experienced at smoking .

Kurungurr Example:

Yerrmenytyi nyin ngunu yerrLafulafu ne.

You know that song, the one about Lafuganying.

-ngirrmi-

Word Class:

Meaning:

On the side. This prefix attaches to verb roots in a similar way to incorporated bodypart terms. It means that the subject of the verb does something that affects its side part.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngarani fingirrmityat tye.

I was lying down on my side.

-nide

Word Class:

Meaning:

In, into, to. Goes on nouns to indicate the endpoint of some motion.

Kurungurr Example:

Musulng wannim madikuli mudiga nide.

They threw the swags into the car.

Kurungurr Example:

Yawamngi pe dede ngayi nide.

Take me back home.

-nimbi

Word Class:

Meaning:

From, out of, made of. Goes on nouns to indicate that they are the original form of a thing that is changed into something else.

Kurungurr Example:

Kunyunngun kinyi mawuny nimbi werrim wurity.

These boomerangs are made from ironwood.

Kurungurr Example:

Mipurr nimbi yedi tye, darany ket gagu nyine.

From being a man, (Ancestral Flying Fox) turned himself into an animal.

-nime

Word Class:

Meaning:

Trial suffix. Attaches to the verb when the subject or object of the verb is first person exclusive 'we three/us three', second person 'you three', or third person 'they/them three'.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngagarri nime ngerrbenggu da nime.

The three of us hit it.

Kurungurr Example:

Wurruke nime werrbenygu da nime.

The three of them hit it.

-ninggi

Word Class:

Meaning:

With, using something. Instrumental suffix. Goes on nouns indicating they are tools or instruments used to do something.

Kurungurr Example:

Yenggi ninggi yawul winnem tittit.

They're straightening spearshafts using fire.

Kurungurr Example:

Palayin ninggi yenggi ngi pup pe.

I'll rub up a fire with firesticks.

-pagu

Word Class:

Meaning:

Starting from, coming from. Goes on nouns (usually people) to mark them as the initiator of some activity.

Kurungurr Example:

Nyinyi pagu yu purr ngini!

You start it off then (and we'll join in)!

-pefi

Wumirri Headword:

-pefi

Word Class:

Meaning:

In the very act of, just at the exact moment that X happened. This 'cotemporal' suffix attaches to 'punctual' verbs to indicate that that activity took place at exactly the same time as some other event.

Kurungurr Example:

Club nimbi menggen tasat pefi, wamumu ninggi den tip.

Just as he stepped out of the Club, the policeman nabbed him.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngeriny pal pefi, dinyirringi.

Just as I broke it, he saw me.

-pi-

Word Class:

Meaning:

Head, hair, the 'head-like' parts of any object (like the head of a nail), rounded or raised objects generally.
The noun root -pi- can occur inside the complex verb immediately before the verb root, where it can convey meanings ranging from literal to metaphorical.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngebinyi piket wusye.

I'll cut your hair for you.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngerrbe pidundum tye neyil.

We were hammering nails.

-tye

Word Class:

Meaning:

Past. Typically goes on verbs to indicate distant past tense, especially where the activity described by the verb is ongoing (extended) rather than abrupt (punctual).

Kurungurr Example:

Ngadde tye atyat, ngiddinge ngidi tye taxi gaganim.

We went outside, and waited for a taxi to turn up.

Kurungurr Example:

Awapurrpurrk pagu waddi tye, minbe nyine tye warri batybity wirri.

The kids were around then, and they were unable to keep sewing.

-tyirri-

Word Class:

Meaning:

Navel, bladder, intestines, anything that is under pressure and leaks when you burst it (tyres, balloons, pimples, waterbags, etc.).
The noun root -tyirri- can occur inside the complex verb immediately before the verb root, where it can convey meanings ranging from literal to metaphorical.

Kurungurr Example:

Deyedirr yeniny tyirritu nginde.

The car tyre has punctured on me.

Kurungurr Example:

Wamanggal wunni tyirritu tye.

They were gutting wallabies.

-werri

Wumirri Headword:

-werre

Word Class:

Meaning:

Having, in the company of, together with. Associative suffix. This suffix attaches to nouns marking them as associated with another entity.

Kurungurr Example:

Yedi tyityipi werri yenim.

She's promiscuous (lit: she has many men).

Kurungurr Example:

Wurek kinyi, kuru ayerrkinywari werre.

It's no good here, this water has a saltwater crocodile in it.

-wurru

Word Class:

Meaning:

Goes on nouns to convey a sense of complaint.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngayi madiket wurru.

I'm hungry!

-yi

Wumirri Headword:

Word Class:

Meaning:

My X. This suffix is a contracted form of the pronoun ngayi 'my', which attaches to kinterms to mean 'my kin'. Eg. Ngatyayi 'my dad', kalayi 'my mum', abayi ' my little brother/sister', etc.

Kurungurr Example:

Ngenikeyi kakpirri gaganim.

My sister's already gone on ahead.

-yirre

Word Class: