<html><head></head><body><div style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div>Hello Everyone,</div><div><br></div><div>We've been working on dictionary definitions here in Kalgoorlie and debated the definition for <i>kurjanyu</i> in the Ngadju language for a while. I'd welcome some opinions and thoughts on the cultural context of this word.</div><div><br></div><div>The historical reference glosses <i>kurjanyu</i> 'gorge', as in eating far too much rather than a rock and river gorge. The English definition of gorge is 'eat a large amount greedily, fill oneself with food.' It's possible that this word is an English borrowing.</div><div><br></div><div>What we've been debating is the use of the gloss, 'gorge'. The English definition has a moral overtone by using the term 'greedily'. Speakers and other elders have made reference to the fact that when food was available such as a kangaroo, people were obliged to eat to capacity because it was often times of feast or famine. The opposite of eating greedily- almost eating to capacity through obligation. In particular, if the food was given to you by another person, you were obliged to eat to capacity.</div><div><br></div><div>So the English gloss of <i>kurjanyu</i> 'gorge' doesn't quite fit and may, in fact, change the cultural context of the term.</div><div><br></div><div>Anyone got some thoughts? Thanks in advance!!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div class="ydp7090d331signature"><div style="font-size:13px;">Kind regards,<br><br><b>Sue Hanson</b><br><br>Senior Linguist<br><b>Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre</b><br>08 9021 3788<br>264 Hannan St,<br>KALGOORLIE 6430<br><a href="http://www.wangka.com.au" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.wangka.com.au</a><br><br><i>Wangka kanyira ngalipirniku</i><br><div><span style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font color="#cd232c">Preserving our language for all of us</font></span></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></body></html>