As almost every word, the origin of
the word “kangaroo” has different versions. The most popular is a common myth
about the kangaroo's English name is that "kangaroo" was a Guugu
Yimithirr phrase for "I don't understand you." According to this
legend, Lieutenant Cook and naturalist Sir Joseph Banks were exploring the area
when they happened upon the animal. They asked a nearby local what the
creatures were called. The local responded "Kangaroo", meaning
"I don't understand you", which Cook took to be the name of the
creature. However the Kangaroo myth was debunked in the 1970s by linguist John
B. Haviland in his research with the Guugu Yimithirr people.
Thereby, this is a more acceptable
origin of the term: The word kangaroo derives from the Guugu Yimithirr (an
Australian aboriginal language) word gangurru, referring to grey kangaroos. The
name was first recorded as "kangooroo or kanguru" on 4 August 1770,
by Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook on the banks of the Endeavour River at
the site of modern Cooktown.
…And you, which one would you
choice?
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