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Communication
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Traditional Aboriginal people communicated in many different ways. There were 719 different Aboriginal regions within Australia when Europeans arrived and each had their own language. The languages of neighbouring regions are similar. The main regions around the Sydney area are Kuring-gai, Dharruk and Dharawal. Languages between neighbouring clans were often similar but not the same.

The message stick was used as a sign of permission for them to cross into different language regions. The leader of a clan was the only person who could give permission for the outsiders to travel through a region. These message sticks had symbolic carvings.

Rock carvings were used to used to tell stories, important events, warnings and directions. These carvings were engraved into sandstone using basalt which is a much harder rock.

Songs and dances were also performed at special times.

Hand stencils and painting in caves.

Some sample words :
 

English Dharawal Sydney Dharuk Kuringgai Darkingung  Awaba
Beard  walu walu yariy yari yariy yari
Cheek walu bira - yundairy - galu
Ear guri  guri  guri  muranj  binuyari nuraway, barabara
Eye mabura mai mibarai  mi gay mi gay yaiguy
Fish  danj mdgura mdgara mdgaru - mdguru
Forehead yulu yulu yaran gunbilan yaran yulu, jindiri
Hand maramun ddmara ddmar madjara buril madara
Man juwinj  guri, dalai  guri, dalia guri guri  guri
Opossum gurawura burumin wali  gurabil giribil  wilai
Rain bana bana, wailan murgu bana  murgu bwarin
Stone gurabuy  gibar  gibar buidja  djurug dunuy
Sun wuri  gain guwinj  bangal banal banal
Water yadunu baidu baidu  gugwinj, baidu  baidu  gugwinj, gulun
Woman mega din djin nuguy njuguy   nuguy
                                                       

Some place names in our area :
 

Place name
 Meaning
Budgewoi   
 Young grass
Cammeray  
 Name of local clan on the North Shore
Collaroy      
 The junction of two creeks
Munmorah  
 Grinding stone
Narrabeen   
 Forks, turn about; Black or dark
Narraweena 
 Backs or darks, forks
Patonga      
 A small wallaby
Tuggerah     
 Savannah grassland
Woy Woy   
 Deep water
Wamberal   
 Where the sea breaks
Warringah   
 Sign of rain

Other place names in New South Wales :
 

Place name
 Meaning
Araluen       
 Place of water lillies
Bermagui    
 A canoe with paddles
Canberra     
 From nganbirra; a meeting place
Gulgong      
 A deep water hole
Katoomba   
 From kattatoonbah; waters tumble over hills
Mudgee      
 Birds nest found here
Parramatta  
 Head of river; place where the eels lie down
Taree          
 From tareebin; a wild fig tree
Ulladulla      
 From wolladoorh; a safe harbour
  Wagga Wagga
 The call of the crow; many crows
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