iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Hi there !

Another old rumour I've heard long time ago : the Aboriginal word KANGAROO means "I do not understand"... This is what an Aboriginal answered to a White colonialist who asked him in English what the hell was that strange creature over there !
The rumour says that the general original Aboriginal term is WALLABY but that this misinterpretation perpetrated through centuries.

But on the other hand, I have seen the word KANGAROO used by Aboriginal people to describe that big "wallaby" (in the titles of some of their Dreamtime Paintings)... And if "kangaroo" really meant "I do not understand" I doubt that Aboriginal people would use it the wrong way.

Any clues ?

Something funny to end this message > the term YUCATAN also means (though in Mayan language this time) "we do not understand your words" > Ma c'ubah than.
Spanish colonialists kept that term to designate the meso-American peninsula, nowadays in Mexico.
I wonder how many cross-cultural words result of such mis-understandings !!!

Hi Ahaw,

Interesting thought... As far as I know, that funny whitefella Captain Cook was the first to record that word, way back in 1770. Apparently the word is from the Guugu Yimidhirr language of north Queensland and it is for one type of kangaroo. Bindi, do you know anyone who speaks Guugu Yimidhirr who can confirm this?

It's Gangurru in Guugu Yimidhirr, I will confirm it with a Woman I know, now to find her.

Edit: found this link http://www.adelaide.edu.au/library/guid ... s/98FL.pdf A3

I will check it , the Uni's often get it wrong.

Thanks Guan & Bindi !

So all this was yet another false rumour (still to be confirmed by a-woman-Bindi-knows )
This "Rumour Mill" is a great idea ! Contributes to education through demystification !

uh cool information!