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I asked natives what this grey animal was They said gangurru which I noted as kangaroo August 4 1770 You've heard it as I don't know in Aborigine but in Guugu Yimidhirr it means kangaroo Who am I?
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
The question gives misinformation, but the answer is Sir Joseph Banks.
Sir Joseph Banks was one of three botanists who travelled with Captain James Cook as he charted the eastern coastline of Australia. Banks managed to communicate in a limited fashion with the indigenous people, asking what they called the animal, and recorded the name "gangurru" as "kangaru".
It is a complete myth that the aboriginal word means "I don't know". Because the Endeavour was damaged and required the crew to stay on the mainland for almost 7 weeks repairing their ship, this gave Banks ample time to make copious notes on the fauna and flora. It is incorrect to say that it means "I don't understand you" or "I don't know".
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
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What is the funny story on how the kangaroo got its name?
The only funny story about how the kangaroo gained its name is pure fiction.The story goes that James Cook reportedly asked the indigenous people (Aborigines) what the hopping creature he saw was called. The native replied 'kangaru' which in his language meant 'I don't know' or 'I don't understand'. The explorer did not realise that the Aborigine had not understood what he was asking and the name has been kept. This story has become an Australian legend. Other fiction behind the origin of the name include variations of the above. Explorers are said to have mistaken the aboriginal word for go that way (Kangaroo) when an aborigine pointed in a direction that a kangaroo happened to be. Another story says that when explorers asked the indigenous people what the first kangaroo they saw was, pointing at it, The natives replied "Kangaroo!" meaning "That's your index finger!"However, these stories are only myths, and complete and utter fiction.According to the Oceaniaweb factfile and other reliable sources, the word "kangaroo" is believed to have come from the Aboriginal word gangurru, a Guugu Yimidhirr word referring to the Grey Kangaroo. Captain James Cook's botanist, Sir Joseph Banks, first recorded the word as "kangaru" when the Endeavour was damaged on the Great Barrier Reef near modern-day Cooktown, and required the crew to stay on the mainland for almost 7 weeks repairing their ship. This gave Banks ample time to make copious notes on the fauna and flora, and to be certain of the Aboriginal word for kangaroo, even though he had trouble translating it into written form.
How did the kangaroo's gets its name?
There is fact and fiction behind the adoption of the name "kangaroo".Fiction: Early European explorers were intrigued by the variety of unusual wildlife they saw. The story goes that one of them reportedly asked the indigenous people (Aborigines) what the hopping creature was called. The native replied 'kangaru' which in his language meant 'I don't know' or 'I don't understand'. The explorer did not realise that the Aborigine had not understood what he was asking and the name has been kept. This story has become an Australian legend.Other fiction behind the origin of the name include variations of the above. Explorers are said to have mistaken the aboriginal word for go that way (Kangaroo) when an aborigine pointed in a direction that a kangaroo happened to be. Another story says that when explorers asked the indigenous people what the first kangaroo they saw was, pointing at it, The natives replied "Kangaroo!" meaning "That's your index finger!"Fact: However, these stories are only myths.According to the Oceaniaweb factfile and other reliable sources, the word "kangaroo" is believed to have come from the Aboriginal word gangurru, a Guugu Yimidhirr word referring to the Grey Kangaroo. Captain James Cook's botanist, Sir Joseph Banks, first recorded the word as "kangaru" when the Endeavour was damaged on the Great Barrier Reef near modern-day Cooktown, and required the crew to stay on the mainland for almost 7 weeks repairing their ship. This gave Banks ample time to make copious notes on the fauna and flora, and to be certain of the Aboriginal word for kangaroo, even though he had trouble translating it into written form.It could be that "Kangaroo" is the name of a specific type of kangaroo in one Australian aboriginal language. Europeans applied the name to all similar creatures.
The term aborigine is commonly used in reference to natives of what specific country?
The term aborigine is used most often when describing indigenous Australians. The Aborigines are the original or native inhabitants of the continent of Australia.
How do you say lost in Aborigine?
Aborigine is not a language. It refers to the natives of any country. The term is most often used to refer to the Native peoples of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, who speak many different languages.
Which of the indigenous religious has the largest membership?
On the Isle of Aborigine. But, only among the natives.
A sentence using the word aborigines?
Aborigines is the plural of aborigine. Aborigine is a noun meaning the original inhabitants or natives. Here are example sentences: "He spent one summer with Australian aborigines to learn their culture." "The Indians of the Americas are sometimes called aborigines."
What does aberigionie mean?
That's not a word. I'm guessing that you mean 'aborigine'? Aborigine are people who were the earliest known inhabitants of a particular area. Think of the people Columbus discovered in America. Native Americans are natives or aborigine. I've also heard this word a lot in reference to very dark-skinned Australian people. They'd be like the Native Americans of Australia.
Is Aborigines a religion?
No it is not, it is a name given to the natives of a place.
What is a diet for a sidewinder?
Sidewinder rattlesnakes feed on a variety of lizards and small rodents, such as mice and kangaroo rats. They are natives of the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts.
What are aboriginals.?
Aboriginals are natives that came from eastern Asia and migrated to Australia.
What is the meaning of the word Aborigines?
Aboriginal basicaly means native. However it is specifically referring to the natives of Australia.
Were natives attacked by other natives?
Yes, some natives were killed by other natives, such as the Lenape and Wampanog.
