DOBES Archive | The Language Archive

: dvR_040424; Rachel Nimilga talks about the fact that children are missing out on learning what she considers to be key aspects of her culture. She points out the differences between her childhood, and the way children grow up today.

: dvR_050923_A; The informant demonstrates how to get the inner layer of the bark of the aerial root of a Banyan tree which is used for making a two ply string.

: dvR_051004; The informants demontrate and describe the preparation process and the application of a plant medicine made of the fan palm (Livistona humilis) which is used for chest colds and sore throat. Procedure: A small fan palm (Livistona humilis) is cut right at the base and the fronds are removed. A fire is lit and the trunk is singed thoroughly, turning it constantly. After removing the bark, the trunk is pounded until it softens, and left soaking in water overnight. The pieces of trunk are removed, sucked to extract the juice, and then discarded. The remaining solution is drunk. The procedure is repeated as often as necessary.

: dvR_030723; Nicholas Evans introduces the Iwaidja Documentation Project.to the Minjilang community.

: dvR_040218_T2; Andrew Yarmirr, David Minyimak and Archie Brown discuss the stages of the story of the 'shark's journey' at Jimurtbab. Then David Miniymak tells the whole epic. It follows a discussion about producing a book with the story for the kids in Minjilang. (Part 2 of 2)

: dvR_030809_T3B; David Minyimak, Reggie Cooper and Archie Brown perform Ldalha "Sea Songs" at night at Marradi Wiyul (Max Davidson's Safari Camp) during the Mangurlhan site survey trip. Before the music starts and during music breaks there is some good natural dialogue in Iwaidja.

: dvR_050925_B; The researcher draws the internal organs and genitals of a dugong on a sheet of brown packing paper, and asks the informant for the Iwaidja names.

: dvR_031017_T2; The informant discusses several topics. He starts by giving some details about his life, his family, and his clan territory on Cobourg Peninsula. This is followed by a discussion about material culture (e.g. axes), winds and seasons. He also mentions a few Iwaidja words of Macassarese origin, and talks about how things were done before the introduction of steel and iron by the Macassans. The text is mostly in English with fragments of Iwaidja.

: dvR_041027_T1B; Jurtbirrk Music Performance ("Love Songs") at Rruwirk. Ronnie Waraludj: Lead Singer, clapsticks Dick Gameraidj: Singer, clapsticks Lindsay Gameraidj: Singer, clapsticks Archie Brown/Sam Namaruka: Didjeridoo

: IW20041022MW; This session contains didjeridu-accompanied Marrwakani songs of the 'stone country song' genre, received from a mimi spirit on the Arnhem Land plateau in his own country Mangulhan by Paddy Compass (deceased). Paddy Compass was mother's brother to the lead singer, Archie Brown, who arranged the recording session and led the singing. The backup singer was Ronnie Cooper, who appeared to know the songs quite well and took a prominent role in the later part of the session. He used a pair of half-finished softwood clapsticks, which sometimes rustled on the plastic tarpaulin. The recording took place at the place of residence of Sammy Namarrwuka, because it was quiet and because he was the only person Archie thought knew the songs well enough to play didjeridu for them. Sammy experienced some difficulty with both didjeridus he had available, because they were unfinished and the mouthpieces were too wide and had no wax on them yet. The session was cut short because Sammy and Ronnie had another engagement.

: dvR_041022_T1; Background information about 'Marrwakani', 'Ldalha', and other songs. Recordings are played back to the informant. There is also some discussion about musical terms.

: dvR_040807_T2C; Joy Williams Malwagag talks about circumstances surrounding her marriage.

: dvR_040417_T1B; On a bush trip to Malkirr, Joy Williams walks on the salt plain in the direction of the mangroves where mud mussels 'ngarlwak' are to be found.

: dvR_030729_T1; Archie Brown, David Minyimak and Reggie Cooper perform Ldalha, the "Sea" song cycle owned by Archie Brown.

: dvR_031023_C; The informant is asked about yal, the conical sand hills which are made for each new born child. As the yal custom and its knowledge belongs exclusively to women, the informant gives here only some 'outsider' information, such as purifying the baby and the mother with the heated sand of the yal and smoking the baby [with ironwood leaves]. The ritual is conducted by certain female relatives of the child's mother over several days. The yal custom originates in the creator goddess Warramurrungunji who came from the north. She travelled through the country of North-Western Arnhem Land peopling the country and distributing languages to each group.

: dvR_040216_B; Ilijili Lamilami talks about travelling from Cape Don to Minjilang in the old days, mentioning favourite hunting places on the mainland which people used to go to in the past, to get ldungun (long yam), iminykal (stingray), manbiri (green sea turtle), mirrijbu kurlajuk (seagull eggs): Some places mentioned are Jamarldinki (Cape Don), Araru, Kamurraki (Black Point), Kurlkurl (Danger Point), Ajakurrang (island).

: dvR_050903_C; Brian Yambibik and Margie Cooper Malalbu name some places of significance on Murran country.

: dvR_031101_C; The informant mentions the djang, or dangerous site at Ngangkikurruk (White Cliffs). It is forbidden to use the white clay from there for any purpose. The result of doing so would be the unleashing of hordes of mosquitoes.

: dvR_031023_A; The informant knocks down a seed pod of the Wirdil tree (Bombax ceiba). She opens a pod, removing the fine, white cottonwool-like fibre called kabajang, and describes how people of her parents generation used it for stuffing pillows.

: dvR_050816_T2; The informants give background information on several different song sets: Manbam, Jurtbirrk ('Love Songs'), Ldalha ('Sea Songs').