DTK1999

Title: Message stick mentioned in a story by Donald Thompson Kemarr, recorded by David Moore

Description: Artwa apmwa atherr Two poison men Letter arrpemarl artwe-wenh-an alakenh arwerl-arlap ampern-eyel-an markemil-em Letter too man-POSS-FOC as stick-SUB burn-PRES-FOC mark-POT letter arrpemarl arwerl akely. Letter too stick small “They were Aboriginal men’s letters, small sticks that they mark by burning” (use of present-generic marker indicates that it’s a recent practice). Letterstick. Angwenh Waylpel letter weth il-eyel Letterstick who whitefella letter that tell-PRES “A letterstick, just like white people communicate with letters” He goes on to say that the plans to kill two men were burned onto the letterstick. The two men were murderers who had killed many others. They were invited to attend an initiation Apwelh ceremony. At the ceremony they were singing a young man. At the ceremony the two men were speared to death.

Message: plans to kill two men

Date Created: 1999

Item type: positive text reference

Subtype: story

Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Alyawarr Austlang: C14 - Alyawarr Glottolog: alya1239

Notes on linguistic areas: The message stick is associated with "Ampilatwatja"

Sources:

Kemarr, Donald Thompson, and David Moore. 1999. "Artwa apmwa atherr [Two poison men]: Interlinear text of recording made by David Moore of senior Alyawarr man Donald Thompson Kemarr in October 1999 at Ampilatwatja."

Source types: unpublished manuscript

Coordinates: 21°39'23.400000"S,135°13'31.101600"E  (-21.6565, 135.225306)

Notes on coordinates: Location of Ampilatwatja

Data Entry: Piers Kelly