State Library of NSW
COMPARISON OF WORDS IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES. 133
George Grey, "ŋanya" and "nadjo"; South Australia, by Taihleman, "ŋaii"; at Newcastle, by Rev. L. E. Threlkeld, "ŋatoa"; at George's River "naiya"; in Wodi-wodi (the language of Illawarra) "ŋaiaguŋ." II. In Kamilaroi "ŋinda" (thou); in Wiradhuri and Wailwun "ŋindu"; in Kogai "inda"; in Pikumbul "ŋinda"; in Dippil "ŋin" "inta"; in Turrubul "ŋinta"; S. Australia "ŋinnei" and "ninna"; Newcastle "ŋintoa"; at George's River "nindi"; in Wodi-wodi "ŋindiguŋ." III. He in the above languages is "ŋerma," "yeraŋgo." "nila" or "guia," "unda," "wunnal." "bountoa," and "dulla."
A comparison of the numeral adjectives in various languages shows this remarkable fact,--that while in every tribe the words for one and three are different, the root word for two is the same in almost all the languages of the eastern portion of Australia. Many of them have no separate word for 4 and higher numbers; but make up those numbers by combinations of 1, 2, and 3.
The languages from "Kamilaroi" to "Wodi-wodi" extend over districts in the N.W. and S.E. of New South Wales more than 600 miles apart; and from "Kiŋki" to the other side of the "Dippil" is at least 300 miles of Queensland.
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