Systems of language
Experiment with intonation patterns and notice variations in pronunciation of different speakers; discuss Noongar dialects and historical pronunciations, such as Northern Dialect (includes Wadjak, Yuat, Balardong), South East Dialect (includes Minang, Koreng), South West Dialect (includes Wardandi, Bibelmen)
Expand vocabulary in Noongar, with some support, through word-formation processes, and recognise and use simple language structures, including:
- noticing and using nouns in contexts such as healthy bodies; mapping and description of local and regional areas; weather of different seasons, using westerlies, northerlies, easterlies, southerlies, sea breeze (for example, doorka, biroona, nandat, wiridi, koolamwin); Dreaming stories for key features of Country; night sky and stars; birds and their nests; life cycles; different types of goannas, lizards and kangaroos; informational text about a tool, such as how it is made, its uses, who makes and/or uses it (for example, sandals, boomerang, digging stick, coolamon)
- recognising plural nouns, such as maar/maara, djen/djena (hand/hands, foot/feet), and possessive nouns, such as miki-mikang, kaal-kaalang (moon/moon’s, fire/fire’s)
- becoming aware of subject pronouns (nominative), such as Ngany nyininy. Ngalak waangkaniny
- developing an understanding of singular possessive pronouns, such as my/his/her/its; for example, nganyang, baalang, ngalang, Nganyang kooda baal djenborl waabiny. Baalang kabarli baal kaditj-kaditj-ak yalakidjiny
- understanding and using common adjectives and quantifiers, including those of quality and state; for example, woorabiny, koorardabiny (longer, shorter), kaalang, nyidiny (hot, cold).
- using adverbs of time and place; for example, yeyi (now), boorda (later)
- understanding and using qualifiers used with a verb; for example, Ngalang kooda-kadak nidja nookert-ngoorndiny.
- understanding and using the dual purpose of the affix/suffix -kadak (with/to have); for example, baalap kalyakoorl koorlaka ngardanginy dwert-kadak yongka-ngat; Yeyi, naatj noonook worala-kadak?
- developing an awareness of the simple conjunction wer (and); for example, wer Maambart wer koolangka baalap boorda djildjit koorliny.
- understanding and using the verb nyininy where it may mean sitting or living
- developing and understanding the use of the suffix/affix -abiny, to show becoming or getting; for example, Yongka baal djirangabiny. (Kangaroos are getting fatter.)
- understanding and using verbs in the present tense, and developing an increasing awareness of the imperative and the future and habitual continuous tense
- developing an understanding of the past tense and noticing its use of the affix -aka and optional word order; for example, Koomool baal djandangaka boorn-ool. Yongka baal marlak-ngat bardangaka, bardangaka.
- noticing and using compound verbs using the affix/suffix -abiny
- extending the use of common suffixes/affixes; for example, direction, such as to and from; purpose, with or use, such as bilya-koorl (towards the river), kitj-al (with a spear), mereny-ak (for food); and building on the use of -koop to indicate habitat.
Recognise that the same rules of punctuation apply as in English; for example, using capital letters and full stops for sentences
Begin to develop a metalanguage in Noongar for talking about language, using terms similar to those used in English, such as noun, pronoun, suffix, tense, adjective
Recognise and understand that different elements of a text play distinct roles in its meaning or purpose, such as the layout, title, punctuation or use of speech bubbles in a cartoon
Recognise that certain places have historical and contemporary significance to the Noongar community, representing special bonds between people, Place and story