When Joseph Banks asked an aboriginal, “what the name of that jumping animal,” the aboriginal answered, «I don’t know what you’re saying» and the name stuck.
Guugu Yimidhirr (Pama-Nyungan language of northeast Australia) ga&njlig;urru
Word History: A widely held belief has it that the word kangaroo comes from an Australian Aboriginal word meaning “I don’t know.” This is in fact untrue. The word was first recorded in 1770 by Captain James Cook, when he landed to make repairs along the northeast coast of Australia. In 1820, one Captain Phillip K. King recorded a different word for the animal, written “mee-nuah.” As a result, it was assumed that Captain Cook had been mistaken, and the myth grew up that what he had heard was a word meaning “I don’t know” (presumably as the answer to a question in English that had not been understood). Recent linguistic fieldwork, however, has confirmed the existence of a word gangurru in the northeast Aboriginal language of Guugu Yimidhirr, referring to a species of kangaroo. What Captain King heard may have been their word minha, meaning “edible animal.”
Tomato is actually a word of meso-america’s Nahuatl-language. As is chocolate. And ketchup is actually a word from the Malay (meaning soy-sauce) which was brought to the US by Chinese railroad workers as they started to produce some sauce based on the tomatos they learned to know in America.
the word “kangaroo” translates into “I don’t understand” which contextually could actually be “huh?” Meaning that the most famous animal in Australia is called “huh?” The question mark is part of the pronunciation.
Note ‘Kangaroo’ is from Guugu Yimidhirr (language of the Endeavour Bay district), one of over a hundred and fifty Australian languages. c/o https://books.google.com.au/books?id=7dHNCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA43&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Templo S.U.D. about 5 years ago
When Joseph Banks asked an aboriginal, “what the name of that jumping animal,” the aboriginal answered, «I don’t know what you’re saying» and the name stuck.
Bilan about 5 years ago
So Michael Bay actually directed something without blowing things up?
wmwiii Premium Member about 5 years ago
Sigh…another slow day at BION.
jasonsnakelover about 5 years ago
Lisa and Maggie are kinda hard to tell apart.
So do they have to keep him at bay?
Take care and may God bless.
jasonsnakelover about 5 years ago
I thought that creature was the giant jack rabbit.
Take care and may God bless.
James Wolfenstein about 5 years ago
The last two characters are the same shape. I wouldn’t recognize them anyway
scpandich about 5 years ago
Is it odd that BION decided not to share what “kangaroo” means in the aboriginal language?
Huckleberry Hiroshima about 5 years ago
Quintana Roo.
h.v.greenman about 5 years ago
According to most stories the word “kangaroo” means “I don’t know”.
Supposedly an early explorer asked someone the name of the animal, and their guide said “I don’t know” so that got recorded as the species name.
TMR about 5 years ago
According to several online dictionaries:
Origin of kangaroo
Guugu Yimidhirr (Pama-Nyungan language of northeast Australia) ga&njlig;urru
Word History: A widely held belief has it that the word kangaroo comes from an Australian Aboriginal word meaning “I don’t know.” This is in fact untrue. The word was first recorded in 1770 by Captain James Cook, when he landed to make repairs along the northeast coast of Australia. In 1820, one Captain Phillip K. King recorded a different word for the animal, written “mee-nuah.” As a result, it was assumed that Captain Cook had been mistaken, and the myth grew up that what he had heard was a word meaning “I don’t know” (presumably as the answer to a question in English that had not been understood). Recent linguistic fieldwork, however, has confirmed the existence of a word gangurru in the northeast Aboriginal language of Guugu Yimidhirr, referring to a species of kangaroo. What Captain King heard may have been their word minha, meaning “edible animal.”
Carl Rennhack Premium Member about 5 years ago
BUT according to “Ripley’s 35th Anniversary Believe It or Not!”, page 101, kan ga roo is actually 3 words!
errolm1937 Premium Member about 5 years ago
Who’s Michael Bay?
57BelAir about 5 years ago
Who’s Michael Bay?
tonysmmr92 about 5 years ago
That was Bay’s best work. Ever.
Joy B Adams Custer about 5 years ago
Who’s Michael Bay?
Spock about 5 years ago
Tomato is actually a word of meso-america’s Nahuatl-language. As is chocolate. And ketchup is actually a word from the Malay (meaning soy-sauce) which was brought to the US by Chinese railroad workers as they started to produce some sauce based on the tomatos they learned to know in America.
yangeldf about 5 years ago
the word “kangaroo” translates into “I don’t understand” which contextually could actually be “huh?” Meaning that the most famous animal in Australia is called “huh?” The question mark is part of the pronunciation.
quiettype about 5 years ago
Note ‘Kangaroo’ is from Guugu Yimidhirr (language of the Endeavour Bay district), one of over a hundred and fifty Australian languages. c/o https://books.google.com.au/books?id=7dHNCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA43&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
craigwestlake about 5 years ago
Matt got the inspiration from viewing some of his old mug shots…