❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks to clarify the process for assigning common names to animal species, particularly regarding the use of Aboriginal names for the brush-tailed possum ('koomal') and western ringtail possum ('ngwayir'). The response clarifies the Department's role and refers to published research.
AnsweredQoN 1316Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What body or bodies are responsible for giving common names (as opposed to scientific names) to animal species in Western Australia?
(2) What is the procedure that this body (or bodies) must go through in selecting a common name and then gaining approval for the use of that common name?
(3) When did the Department of Conservation and Land Management adopt the name 'koomal' for the brush-tailed possum and 'ngwayir' for the western ringtail possum?
(4) How were these Aboriginal names selected and was there any consultation with the public or other conservation bodies in Western Australia over the use of these names?
(5) Were these Aboriginal names derived from one or more local groups of Aborigines that used them prior to European settlement or were these names widespread throughout the range of the two animals?
(6) Can a phonetical spelling of the name 'ngwayir' be provided?
(2) What is the procedure that this body (or bodies) must go through in selecting a common name and then gaining approval for the use of that common name?
(3) When did the Department of Conservation and Land Management adopt the name 'koomal' for the brush-tailed possum and 'ngwayir' for the western ringtail possum?
(4) How were these Aboriginal names selected and was there any consultation with the public or other conservation bodies in Western Australia over the use of these names?
(5) Were these Aboriginal names derived from one or more local groups of Aborigines that used them prior to European settlement or were these names widespread throughout the range of the two animals?
(6) Can a phonetical spelling of the name 'ngwayir' be provided?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 February 2002
Responded by
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
77 days
(2) Not applicable. (3) The Department of Conservation and Land Management has not adopted, for common use, the Nyoongar names 'koomal' for the Common Brushtail Possum or the name 'ngwayir' for the Western Ringtail Possum. The Department has promoted the use of local Aboriginal names for native mammals where readily identifiable as alternatives to European sourced common names. (4) I draw the Member's attention to two published articles about Nyoongar names for mammals in the south-west of Western Australia. Abbott, I. (2001). Aboriginal names of mammal species in south-west Western Australia. CALM Science Volume 3, No. 4, pp. 433-486. McKenna, S. (2002). Ancient animals, ancient names. Landscope Volume 17, No. 2, pp. 35-39. These articles provide advice for readers on alternative common names based on Nyoongar words. (5) The scientific paper by Dr Ian Abbott lists all sources of information. A wide variety of sources were used. (6) The scientific paper by Dr Abbott provides a guide to pronunciation based on 'A Noongar Dictionary' by M. Whitehurst.
(3) The Department of Conservation and Land Management has not adopted, for common use, the Nyoongar names 'koomal' for the Common Brushtail Possum or the name 'ngwayir' for the Western Ringtail Possum. The Department has promoted the use of local Aboriginal names for native mammals where readily identifiable as alternatives to European sourced common names. (4) I draw the Member's attention to two published articles about Nyoongar names for mammals in the south-west of Western Australia. Abbott, I. (2001). Aboriginal names of mammal species in south-west Western Australia. CALM Science Volume 3, No. 4, pp. 433-486. McKenna, S. (2002). Ancient animals, ancient names. Landscope Volume 17, No. 2, pp. 35-39. These articles provide advice for readers on alternative common names based on Nyoongar words. (5) The scientific paper by Dr Ian Abbott lists all sources of information. A wide variety of sources were used. (6) The scientific paper by Dr Abbott provides a guide to pronunciation based on 'A Noongar Dictionary' by M. Whitehurst.
(4) I draw the Member's attention to two published articles about Nyoongar names for mammals in the south-west of Western Australia. Abbott, I. (2001). Aboriginal names of mammal species in south-west Western Australia. CALM Science Volume 3, No. 4, pp. 433-486. McKenna, S. (2002). Ancient animals, ancient names. Landscope Volume 17, No. 2, pp. 35-39. These articles provide advice for readers on alternative common names based on Nyoongar words. (5) The scientific paper by Dr Ian Abbott lists all sources of information. A wide variety of sources were used. (6) The scientific paper by Dr Abbott provides a guide to pronunciation based on 'A Noongar Dictionary' by M. Whitehurst.
(5) The scientific paper by Dr Ian Abbott lists all sources of information. A wide variety of sources were used. (6) The scientific paper by Dr Abbott provides a guide to pronunciation based on 'A Noongar Dictionary' by M. Whitehurst.
(6) The scientific paper by Dr Abbott provides a guide to pronunciation based on 'A Noongar Dictionary' by M. Whitehurst.
(3) The Department of Conservation and Land Management has not adopted, for common use, the Nyoongar names 'koomal' for the Common Brushtail Possum or the name 'ngwayir' for the Western Ringtail Possum. The Department has promoted the use of local Aboriginal names for native mammals where readily identifiable as alternatives to European sourced common names. (4) I draw the Member's attention to two published articles about Nyoongar names for mammals in the south-west of Western Australia. Abbott, I. (2001). Aboriginal names of mammal species in south-west Western Australia. CALM Science Volume 3, No. 4, pp. 433-486. McKenna, S. (2002). Ancient animals, ancient names. Landscope Volume 17, No. 2, pp. 35-39. These articles provide advice for readers on alternative common names based on Nyoongar words. (5) The scientific paper by Dr Ian Abbott lists all sources of information. A wide variety of sources were used. (6) The scientific paper by Dr Abbott provides a guide to pronunciation based on 'A Noongar Dictionary' by M. Whitehurst.
(4) I draw the Member's attention to two published articles about Nyoongar names for mammals in the south-west of Western Australia. Abbott, I. (2001). Aboriginal names of mammal species in south-west Western Australia. CALM Science Volume 3, No. 4, pp. 433-486. McKenna, S. (2002). Ancient animals, ancient names. Landscope Volume 17, No. 2, pp. 35-39. These articles provide advice for readers on alternative common names based on Nyoongar words. (5) The scientific paper by Dr Ian Abbott lists all sources of information. A wide variety of sources were used. (6) The scientific paper by Dr Abbott provides a guide to pronunciation based on 'A Noongar Dictionary' by M. Whitehurst.
(5) The scientific paper by Dr Ian Abbott lists all sources of information. A wide variety of sources were used. (6) The scientific paper by Dr Abbott provides a guide to pronunciation based on 'A Noongar Dictionary' by M. Whitehurst.
(6) The scientific paper by Dr Abbott provides a guide to pronunciation based on 'A Noongar Dictionary' by M. Whitehurst.
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