burrmarlarla

[buɾmaɭaɭa]

The moving shimmer of half light and half shade on the light coloured fur of antilopine kangaroos (Macropus antilopinus) that lie down under trees in the heat of the day such that they look as if they have been smearing themselves with white clay and they shine in the light from a distance.

Kunwok – 2,000 speakers – Australia (Arnhem Land)

Kunwok is a complex of six language varieties spoken in West Arnhem in the `Top End' of Australia. The word burrmarlarla comes from the morrdjdjanjno hunting song genre of the Kundedjnjenghmi dialect.

Source: Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek

Credit: Murray Garde
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