Nganga: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Words and Phrases

Nganga is an authoritative and concise collection of words and phrases related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and issues.

Nganga (ng gar na): To see and understand. Aunty, Uncle, sorry business, deadly, women’s business, marngrook, dreamtime, Elders, songlines. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander words have become part of our everyday vocabulary but we may not know their true meaning or where the words come from. In Nganga, Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson have brought together these words, their meanings and their history. Engage with the rich and unique culture of Aboriginal Australians through this authoritative and concise collection.

• "When I read through Nganga I feel proud. It explains Aboriginal language and culture in plain English. It will assist people from all walks of life and of all ages to understand the rich cultural history of the oldest continuous culture in the world." Uncle Jim Berg, Gunditjmara Elder and original founder of the Koorie Heritage Trust
• Strong curriculum links. Aunty Fay is an advisor for the national curriculum on language and culture.
• Co-written by award-winning author Sue Lawson, this is an essential book for every school!

About the author

Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir is an Elder and Traditional Owner of Boon Wurrung Country. She is the senior linguist at the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages in Melbourne. Fay is working with her own Boon Wurrung language, recording and putting language into the database for future and present generations. She presents language-related workshops to community members who are reclaiming their languages, as well as universities and TAFEs that are interested in understanding the many and challenging aspects of language reclamation. She also goes out to schools to educate the students about language and culture and to teach language. Nganga is her first children's book. Sue Lawson writes books for children and young adults. She has won the Australian Family Therapists’ Award for Children’s Literature and was short-listed for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards.