The Ngarrindjeri nomenclature of birds in the Lower Murray River region, South Australia

ABSTRACT

This paper is a literature-based study concerning avian nomenclature of the Ngarrindjeri language formerly spoken in the Lower Murray River region of temperate South Australia. Ngarrindjeri and modern European Australian classification systems for birds were structurally different. There was no single Ngarrindjeri word that covered all birds. Some species were clustered together under a single term, while others had separate gender-specific names. This study investigates how avian terms were incorporated into the naming of people and places. Analysis of avian classification adds to the understanding of early Aboriginal use and perception of the Australian environment. A detailed list of Ngarrindjeri names for birds is provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Birds
• Aboriginal Australia
• language
• nomenclature
• ethno-ornithology
• ethnoecology

Acknowledgments

Valuable comments upon drafts of this paper were received from Kim Akerman, Trevor Worthy, Andrew Black and an anonymous reviewer.

Notes

1. Cf. keil, “dusky moorhen”, in Bunganditj (Campbell, Cleland, & Hossfeld, 1946, p. 481) and “black moorhen”, “bald coot” in Potaruwutj (Tindale, 1931–1962; [cited Condon, 1955a, p. 78]).

2. Cf. kil-en, “black magpie”, in Bunganditj (Campbell, Cleland, & Hossfeld, 1946, p. 483).

3. The -on suffix probably means “male”, shortened from korni (Gale, 2009, p. 17).

4. According to Gale (2009, p. 17), “This word has a different sound pattern to all other nouns, and may be mis-spelt by DETE”.

5. Probably onomatopoeic.

6. Derived from koltoli (unknown meaning) and -inyeri, “belonging to” (Gale, 2009, p. 21).

7. The term dambi is commonly used for various “owl” species in other Aboriginal languages (Gale, 2009, p. 23).

8. Clarke (2016a, p. 282) had considered krilbali to be the Horsfield’s bushlark, which now seems to be incorrect.

9. Although the description suggests the Brush Bronzewing, this term is possibly related to kurtwoni (Gale, 2009, p. 26), and therefore the Crested Pigeon is also a possibility.

10. Probably onomatopoeic. During my fieldwork in the 1980s, Ngarrindjeri people spoke of a deceased woman in their community who was known by this nickname.

11. Cf. konogor, “swan, black”, in Potaruwutj (Tindale, 1931–1962).

12. Berndt et al. (1993, p. 307) stated “This hawk was smaller than the piwingi and said to be a noisy-bird”.

13. Gale (2009, p. 31) suggested that kurki-on (Berndt et al., 1993, p. 237) referred to the “male-bird”, with the -on suffix meaning “male”, although the link may well be in reference to a male Creation ancestor who took this form.

14. A borrowing from a western Victorian language (Clarke, 2004). Compare with terms such as lowan (Stanbridge, 1857, p. 139), lauan (Djadjala dialect of Wergaia, north western Victoria, Hercus, 1986, p. 253) and laahwin (southwest Victoria, Dawson, 1881, p.li). In Potaruwutj, lawan was recorded for “mallee fowl” (Tindale, 1931–1962; [cited Condon, 1955a, p. 76]) and lawari for “mallee hen” (Tindale, 1931–1962).

15. Cf. mooca and muka, “egg”, in Kaurna (Stephens, 1889, p. 500; Teichelmann, & Schürmann, 1840, p.24) and moka, “egg”, in Narangga (Tindale, 1936, p. 63).

16. Cf. moonbi, “pigeon”, in Kaurna (Stephens, 1889, p. 498), manpi, “common bronzewing” and “sometimes applied to other pigeons”, in Narangga (Tindale, 1936, p. 63), and manbi, “Common Bronzewing”, in Adnyamathanha (McEntee et al., 1986, pp. 21, 27).

17. Term possibly derived from either manggi, “markings” + -aiperi or from mangkeri, “stomach” + -aiperi (Gale, 2009, p. 44).

18. Cf. mannimanninya, “species of swallow”, in Kaurna (Teichelmann & Schürmann, 1840, p. 19).

19. The mingka is a feared bird spirit (Clarke, 1999a, pp. 159–161; Clarke, 2016b, pp. 752, 756, 760).

20. This term is related to the bird spirit, mingka (Bell, 1998; pp. 46, 310, 312–318, 326–327; Clarke, 1999, 2016b; pp. 752, 756; Gale, 2009; p. 53) and minkar (Potaruwutji, wedge-tailed eagle, “white bellied sea eagle”, Tindale, 1931–1962). In the South East of South Australia, the minkar was an “evil being = Muldarbi” (Tindale, 1931–1934, pp. 86–87).

21. The -on suffix probably relates to being “male”.

22. Cf. junkun morinjeri, “Australian skua”, in Potaruwutj (Tindale, 1931–1962). The -on suffix probably relates to being “male”.

23. Cf. manka, Australian Goshawk, in Narangga (Tindale, 1936, p. 63).

24. Cf. ngari, “teal (any duck)”, in Narangga (Tindale, 1936, p. 64).

25. Tindale (1934–1937)  stated that nganngurikul translated as “long neck”.

26. Cf. neting, “red-necked avocet”, in Potaruwutj (Tindale, 1931–62).

27. Note that Gale (2009, p. 2) state that “The -ar suffix replaces the -i suffix on singular nouns to make a plural”.

28. Cf. pitjangul, “mountain duck”, in Potaruwutj (Tindale, 1931–62; Tindale [cited Condon, 1955a, p. 82]).

29. Probably onomatopoeic.

30. Derived from pulki, “hole”, and -inyeri, “associated with” (Gale, 2009, p. 119).

31. Cf. pultun, “receiving; taking” (Gale, 2009, p. 119).

32. Probably onomatopoeic.

33. Note that the Australian English term, “duck hawk” was applied to the Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis Swainson, 1838) and the Peregrine Falcon (Gray & Fraser, 2013, p. 80).

34. Cf. purner, “maned goose”, in Buanditji (Curr [cited Condon, 1955a, p. 82]).

35. See puri entry for “duck hawk” (Peregrine Falcon).

36. Probably onomatopoeic.

37. Cf. South East of South Australia words for the Red Wattlebird, such as warakan in Moandik (Meintangk) (Tindale, 1931–1934, p. 86) and warakan, wrakan in Potaruwutj (Tindale, 1931–1962; Tindale, c.1931-c.91b; Tindale, [cited Condon, 1955b, p. 94]).

38. The -on suffix probably refers to “male”.

39. Possibly a typographic error for talkinyerion.

40. Possibly related to turt, “Lowrie parrot”, in Bunganditj (Mathews, 1903, p. 72). According to Condon (1955a, p. 87), turt is identified as the “Crimson rosella”.

41. Cf. ti-ya-tinity, “screech owl”, recorded from a Tatiara language (Pine, 1897); dyuni-dyunity, “night owl”, recorded from the Murray Mallee (Mathews, 1904, pp. 370–373); dhuni-dhunity in Bunganditj (Mathews, 1903, p. 72); and junik-junik, “frog mouth owl”, from Lake Corrong in Victoria (Cameron-Bonney, 1990, p. 21).

42. Probably onomatopoeic.

43. Cf. tarokar, “seagull. Silver gull”, in Potaruwutj (Tindale [cited Condon, 1955a, p. 79]) and tar-oo-ki, “Silver gull”, in Bunganditj (Campbell et al., 1946; p. 481 [cited Condon, 1955a, p.79]).

44. Cf. teel-daltye, “a bird like a magpie but smaller”, in Ngayawang (Scott, 1840–1907).

45. Cf. tinjella, “quail”, in Kaurna (Stephens, 1889, p. 498).

46. The Galah may not have been present in the Lower Murray River region until the twentieth century (Black, McEntee, Sutton, Breen, 2018).

47. Possibly related to Tetjawi, who was Tjirbruki’s sister’s son in the Fleurieu Peninsula mythology (Tindale, 1987a, pp. 6–8).

48. Cf. diti’dilya, “restless flycatcher”, in Narangga (Tindale, 1936, p. 67), teriteritj, “willie wagtail”, in Potaruwutj (Tindale, 1931–62; [cited Condon, 1955b, p. 91]) and djire-djiredj, “willie wagtail”, in the Djadjala dialect of Wergaia, north western Victoria (Hercus, 1986, p. 254). Also, teri teritj for “willie wagtail” in the Moandik (Meintangk) (Tindale, 1931–1934, p. 86).

49. Note that chirr-bookie is the equivalent to tjirbuki and other related forms, as ch equals tj and oo is the same as u.

50. The mention of “feathers golden colour on chest” is suggestive of a straw-necked ibis, but this bears no similarity with the glossy ibis.

51. Cf. tjeli, “wing”, and brugi, “fire” (Gale, 2009, p. 147).

52. Cf. tropor, “black-billed spoonbill”, in Potaruwutj (Tindale, 1931–1962). Cf. tlopulun, “groping in mud for crawfish” (Taplin, 1879, p. 131).

53. Cf. turi kalkir, “coward”, as the species is flighty (Gale, 2009, p. 155).

54. Probably onomatopoeic.

55. “Tatiara word apptly., crow” (Tindale, 1931–1962).

56. Probably onomatopoeic.

57. The -orn suffix probably relates to being “male”.

58. These words were used in the script for the film, Ngurunderi: a Ngarrindjeri Dreaming (1985, director Max Pepper, executive producer, John Dick), which was made for the exhibition of the same name in the South Australian Museum.

59. The description of a “blue bird” appears to describe the dominant male, while others in the foraging group are light grey-brown.

60. Probably onomatopoeic.

61. Tindale (cited Condon, 1955a, p. 83) did not made clear whether this term was recorded as from the Ngarrindjeri language.

62. Quoting his informant (Milerum), Tindale (1931–1962) stated that “‘some are white’ not distinguished from sea eagle”.

63. Cf. wilto, “a species of eagle; a star”, in Kaurna (Teichelmann & Schürmann, 1840, p.55) and as “wedge-tailed eagle”, in Narangga (Tindale, 1936, p. 67).

64. Wulloke has been described as a sub-clan of the “Pilt-inyeri” and connected to the Warrangumbi “totem”, which was a “very large species of lace-lizard” (Howitt, 1904, p. 132).

65. Possibly a typographical error, as yalar would be plural for yarli, “male Emu” (Gale, 2009, p. 176).

66. This term was listed without an indication that it is an Encounter Bay term, which suggests it was a word from the Adelaide area.

67. This is possibly not a Ngarrindjeri term. Cf. julu (“king-fisher”) in the Ngadjuri (Berndt & Vogelsang, 1941, p.7), yulu (“red-backed kingfisher”) in Adnyamathanha (McEntee et al., 1986, pp. 22, 28), and with tjulu or tulu (“kingfisher”) in the Maraura language of the Darling (Berndt, 1940, p. 173; Tindale, 1939, pp. 255–256).

68. Cf. juntal, “hooded dottrel [sic.]”, in Potaruwutj (Tindale, 1931–1962).

69. McDonald omitted the suffix, -i, for nouns, which have been replaced in this table.