Lewis the Lion learnt that the original inhabitants of the Australian continent, the indigenous people or Aborigines have been there for a very long time, for about 50,000 years!
Being such a vast continent, there were many different tribes with their own languages. Today it is recognised that there are about 15 remaining languages which are spoken by all age groups. Lewis the Lion encountered two of these tribes’ languages on his journey in Australia: firstly the Tjapukai (Djabugay) tribe living in the forests north of Cairns and secondly, the Anangu tribe living in the Northern Territory and around Uluru (the Western Desert).
On his language challenge, these are the words he learnt:
The Tjapukai or Djjbugay Language
Djirri Nyurra is how you say hello or welcome in Tjapukai
Djirri Nyurru – Welcome and Hello
Lewis the Lion learns some Tjapukai
The other ‘magic word’ he learnt was also very useful:
Guri – Please and Thank you!
The Anangu Language (Pronounced Arn-ung-oo)
Again, Lewis the Lion learnt a very useful word as it meant several things:
Palya – pronounced pul (like cull)-ya – hello, goodbye, thank you, finish
Uwa – pronounced oo-ah – yes
Wiya – pronounced wee-ya – no, don’t
Being in Australia, he also learnt some of their animal names of the animals around them:
Kalaya – pronounced kal-lay-a – emu
Liru – pronounced leer-oo – poisonous snake
Lungkata – pronounced loong-car-ta – blue tongue lizard
Mala – pronounced mar-la – rufous-hare wallaby
Malu – pronounced – mar-loo – red kangaroo
He also found the words in the photographs very useful. Can you see why?
Anangu language: men – wati
Wati – pronounced wootie – man
Anangu language – Minyma – Women
Minyma – pronounced min-ma – woman
He thinks perhaps he should have added the word ‘toilet’ or ‘The Men’s’ or ‘The Ladies” in every language that he’s learnt on his journey so far?
What do you think?