A great many of the languages of Australia are named after the word "no." The late Mr. Bunce states that the Melbourne people used, to designate their language, the words N'uther galla—N'uther meaning "no."
The late Mr. E. S. Parker corroborates Mr. Bunce's statement. He says— "The natives distinguish the different talle or languages by their negations. Thus there is the Burapper dialect, spoken by the Mallegoondeet; the Utar dialect, on the Murray and Lower Goulburn. These words Burapper and Utar being respectively the negations of each language; and so of others."
This system of nomenclature appears to prevail in the eastern and southern parts of the continent.
The Rev. W. Ridley, M.A., eminent amongst the philologists of Australia, says—"The following are the names of some languages spoken in the interior:—1. Kamilaroi; 2. Wolaroi; 3. Wiraiaroi; 4. Wailwun; 5. Kogai; 6. Pikumbul; 7. Paiamba; 8. Kingi. The first five of these are named after their negatives. In the first, Kamil signifies 'no;' in the second, Wol is 'no;' in the third, Wira is 'no;' in the fourth, Wail is 'no;' in the fifth, Ko is 'no.' In Pikumbul, on the other hand, Piliu means 'yes;' so that the Australian Aborigines, in this instance, named their language on the same principle on which the French acted in distinguishing the dialects of France, as Langue d'Oc and Langue d'Oyl."
Some thirteen years ago I obtained from a number of gentlemen resident in Victoria short vocabularies of the language spoken in their several localities (now printed in this volume). An examination of the lists, when arranged geographically, is very interesting. Thirty words, as spoken in each district, have been selected for comparison, with the following results:—
| RIVER MURRAY. | ||||
| English. | Tangambalanga, (Kiewa River), Upper Murray. |
Barnawartha, (Indigo Creek), Upper Murray. |
Echuca, Junction of Campaspe and Murray. |
Gunbower, Near Mount Hope, River Murray. |
| Man | Gerree | Mung | Moanit | Coolie |
| Woman | Girree | Belagera | Layarut | Lubra |
| Father | Mamgah | Mamah | Kaiya | Mamook |
| Mother | Bigah | Gunee | Kana | Pabook |
| Head | Booaw | Cumbugong | Mwongery | Mooruncook |
| Hair | Booaw | Huran | Boko | Nurranncook |
| Eye | Mee | Mill | Maa | Mirinook |
| Ear | Mirimbah | Mutba | Marrmo | Wirrinnboolook |
| Mouth | Deirah | Erang | Kotta | Chirbook |
| Tongue | Tierah | Tulling | Tallye | Chalinook |
| Teeth | Teera | Terah | Derra | Leanook |
| Hand | Murrah | Murrah | Peeyin | Mununcook |
| Finger | Youllon | Yellon | Teechera | Mununcook |
| Foot | Teryah | Jeunong | Tchinna | Chinunook |
| Blood | Koroo | Gornyah | Mowa | Koorkook |
| Bone | Kieela | Thubal | Lillima | Mirdirook |
| Sun | Koonda | Neera | Yonga | Mooree |
| Moon | Yow-warra | Cobadong | Yongwida | Wiewill |
| Star | Jiemba | Jemba | Truttra | Toort |
