Question words
Contents
1. Asking a question (wiya)
2. What, why, how (minjan)
3. Where (dirra)
4. Who, which (ngaana)
5. When (wandjan)
6. I don't know (warri)
7. Resources
1. Asking a question (wiya)
The word wiya is a question particle. It always goes at the front of a sentence and means this is a question.
e.g. wiya ngaba ngarndu can I go to the river?
2. What, why, how (minjan)
The word minjan means what, why or how.
e.g. minjan yaani what is that?
minjan can be suffixed like a noun (e.g. minjan-garra and minjan-gala)
Other forms of minjan:
minjan - absolutive (done to)
minjan-du - ergative (doer)
minjan-ngu - ablative (away from)
minjan-gu - dative/purposive (to/for)
3. Where (dirra)
The word dirra means where.
e.g. dirra guliya baga where is your spear?
Other forms of dirra:
dirra - absolutive (done to)
dirra-nggu - ergative (doer)
dirra-ngga - LOC
dirra-ngu - ablative (away from)
dirra-gu - dative/purposive (to/for) genitive
dirra-nga - Elative (towards)
4. Who, which (ngaana)
The word ngaana means who or which. Ngaana is a commonly used form for inquiries concerning people and animals.
e.g. ngaana muginj who is that woman?
Other forms of ngaana:
nagana - absolutive (done-to)
ngaan-du - ergative (doer)
ngaan-ngu - ablative (away from)
ngaaan-gu - genitive (to/for)
ngaaan-rri - reflexive who
ngaaan-gi - emp
5. When (wandjan)
The word wandjan means when. It derives from the english phrase what time?. It is also spelt/pronounced wandhu.
e.g. wandjan gula-y-gu-ndu when will you return?
6. I don't know (warri)
The word warri means I don't know, doubtful, perhaps, maybe, or might.
e.g. minjan warri ngaangili-yiRa I don't know what kind of games they are playing.
7. Resources
Lesson one: when, who and which