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Vocabulary of the Pidong Tribe continued
Title : Vocabulary of the Pidong Tribe continued Vocabulary of the Pidong Tribe continued
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Creator : Lindsay, David, 1856-1922
Source : Parliamentary paper (South Australia. Parliament) no. 45 of 1893, p. 75
Place Of Creation : Adelaide
Publisher : Government Printer
Date of creation : 1893
Additional Creator : Wells, L. A. (Lawrence Allen)
Format : Magazine
Catalogue record
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Description :

The vocabulary of the Pidong or Wajarri/Watjarri people that was collected by Larry Wells on the Elder Scientific Exploring Expedition is continued. Far more extensive than the vocabularies collected for the other Aboriginal people encountered by the expedition, this vocabulary contains the words for such common human activities as snoring, kissing, embracing, scratching and tickling. How words for 'You are joking' and 'sulky' were gathered presents a puzzle, and opens the field for some speculation on interpretation. Wells was not the first to record the language of these people.

An appendix in the Handbook of instructions for the expedition gave a 'System of orthography for native names...' which was to be followed. This system had been devised by the Royal Geographical Society in London and was used extensively by explorers investigating newly discovered lands and people. It allowed for a consistency of recording. In addition the Handbook for the Elder Scientific Expedition contained a list of recommended words for which Elliott and Wells were to seek the Australian Aboriginal peoples equivalent.
Subjects
Related names :

Wells, L. A. (Lawrence Allen), 1860-1938

Coverage year : 1891-92
Place : Murchison River (WA)
Further reading :
Facsimile edition of the handbook of instructions for the Elder Scientific Exploration Expedition, together with A study of incompatibles by K. Peake-Jones Adelaide : Royal Geographic Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch, 1991
Elder Scientific Exploring Expedition, (1891-1892) Journal of the Elder Scientific Exploring Expedition, 1891-2 North Adelaide: Corkwood Press, 1999
The Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, society and culture Canberra: Aboriginal Studies Press for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 1994
Internet links :
Exhibitions and events :

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Library. Taking it to the edge August 2004-


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