Page:An Australian language as spoken by the Awabakal.djvu/85

 THE ArTHOR S PREFACE. IX

The arrangement of the grammar now adopted is formed on the natural principles of the language, and not constrained to accord with any known grammar of the dead or living languages, the peculiarities of its structui-e being such as totally to prevent the adoption of any one of these as a model. There is much of the Hebrew form in the conjugation ; it has also the dual of the Grreek and the deponent of the Latin. However, these terms are not introduced, excepting tlie dual, the various modifications of the verb and participle exemplifying the sense in which they are used.

The peculiarity of the reciprocal dual may be illustrated by reference to a custom of the aborigines ; when a companv meet to dance, each lady and gentleman sit down opposite to one another, and reciprocally paint each other's cheek with a red pigment ; or, if there is not a sufficiency of females, the males perform the reciprocal operation. Also, in duelling, a practice they have in common with other barbarous nations, the challenge is expressed in the reciprocal form. The terms I have adopted to characterise the various modifications of the verb may not ultimately prove the best adapted to convey the various ideas contained in the respective forms, but at present it is presumed they are sufficiently explicit. Many are the difficulties which have been encountered, arising, principally, from the want of association with the blacks, whose wandering habits, in search of game, prevent the advantages enjoyed in the Islands of being surrounded by the natives in daily conversation. It would be the highest presumption to offer the present work as perfect, but, so far as opportunity and pains could conduce to render it complete, exertion has not been spared.

Barbarisms.

It is necessary to notice certain barbarisms which have crept into use, introduced by sailors, stockmen, and others, who have paid no attention to the aboriginal tongue, in the use of which both blacks and whites labour under the mistaken idea that each one is conversing in the other's language. The following list contains the most common in use in these parts : — ■

��Barbarism.

�Meaning.

�Ahoriginal proper ivord.

�Boojery,*

�good.

�murrorong.

�Bail,

�no.,

�keawai.

�Bpg.y,

�to hcdlie,

�nurougkilliko.

�Bimble,

�earth,

�purrai.

�Boomiring,

�a wea-pon.

�turrama [the ' boomerang'.]

�Budgel,

�sickness,

�munni.

��* Captain John Hunter (1793) g\\eshidgerce, "good," and Lieut-Col, Collins (1802) gives boodjerre "good," both at Port Jackson. Some of the other words condemned here as barbarisms are used in local dialects. — Ed.

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