Finding the meaning of an Aboriginal word

The Australian Manuscripts collection at State Library Victoria holds letters, diaries and unpublished records related to Aboriginal languages. Phone (03) 8664 7002 for enquiries or fill out an Ask a Librarian request. Some of the collection includes:

• Aboriginal Dictionary (Maroura) (1863): compiled at the Yelta Mission Station (Victoria).
• Vocabulary (1868): a two page list of vocabulary for Aboriginal language of the Wimmera District Victoria
• Lexicon of the Australian Aboriginal Tongue (1862): includes the six dialects of Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh, Melbourne, Mount Gambier, Gippsland and Wommin

• Australian Indigenous Language Collection: this National Library of Australia guide, organised by state and territory, lists the Indigenous language resources available at the NLA.

• The Federation of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Languages & Culture: contains a variety of reports, research and language resources

• Vocabulary of the language spoken by the Aborigines of the southern and eastern portions of the settled districts of South Australia (online pamphlet.)

• Walmajarri - English dictionary with English finder list: compiled by Eirlys Richards and Joyce Hudson. (North Western Australia.)

• Northern Territory: Living Archive of Aboriginal Languages is a digital archive of endangered literature in Australian Indigenous languages of the Northern Territory.
   
• South-west of Western Australia- Noongar country: Word lists; Language groups
   
• Boodjar Nyungar placenames: place names from south- west Western Australia
   
• Noongar Dictionary (W.A) by Rose Whitehurst

The library also holds a collection of local history files which are manilla folders containing things such as newspaper articles, general brochures and auction brochures.

Some Aboriginal Language files are included in the local history files.

Order these files at an information desk in the Library or phone (03) 8664 7002.

nguwa = earth

warlu = fire

ngapa = water

wirl = star

The Walmajarri language is from North Western Australia.

Source: Walmajarri - English dictionary with English finder list (North Western Australia)

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'First Languages Australia is working toward a future where Aboriginal language communities and Torres Strait Islander language communities have full command of their languages and can use them as much as they wish to.'