Need info on Australian English...
Jacek Galanty
I am a student of English in Poland. Currently I am working on the topic:
'English as it is spoken in Australia'. I would much appreciate any
materials,
resources, links concerned with this topic. If you know of anything on the
web
connected with AusE please let me know. Feel free to e-mail me.
Thanks in advance...
@@@@@@@@@@@
e-mail me at
ja...@friko2.onet.pl
or
jace...@polbox.com
@@@@@@@@@@@
John Ings
<jace...@polbox.com> wrote:
>I am a student of English in Poland. Currently I am working on the topic:
>'English as it is spoken in Australia'. I would much appreciate any
>materials, resources, links concerned with this topic. If you know of anything on the
>web connected with AusE please let me know. Feel free to e-mail me.
>Thanks in advance...
For a hilarious review of English as spoken in the land of Oz, try the
following books. Not likely to be found in Poland I'm afraid, but
perhaps you have the time and resources to send for them?
"Let's Talk Strine" by Afferbeck Lauder 1982
"Strine: Let Stalk Strine and Nose Tone Unturned" A. Lauder 1989
"Strine and Amusing Language from The Land Down Under"
by David Steber. 1990
In case you're already confused, "strine" is a common mispronunciation
of "Australian" in that land now enjoying a summery Christmas.
Alan Farrell
(John Ings) writes:
>For a hilarious review of English as spoken in the land of Oz, try the
>following books. Not likely to be found in Poland I'm afraid, but
>perhaps you have the time and resources to send for them?
>"Let's Talk Strine" by Afferbeck Lauder 1982
>"Strine: Let Stalk Strine and Nose Tone Unturned" A. Lauder 1989
>"Strine and Amusing Language from The Land Down Under"
>by David Steber. 1990
>In case you're already confused, "strine" is a common mispronunciation
>of "Australian" in that land now enjoying a summery Christmas.
John,
your suggestions are, of course, excellent; however, I feel constrained to
point out that most Australians do not speak in that extraordinary
linguistic bastardisation known, with some affection, as 'Strine'; unless,
that is, they be visiting another country where, for some reason, even the
most 'cultured'-sounding of us -- myself excepted perhaps -- move our lips as
little as possible and begin to use words like 'sheilah' and 'dagg', and
pepper our conversation with exclamations like 'bloody' and 'yew liddle
beudy mate!'.
As an aside, it is thought that our national disinclination to move the lips
in the formation of words, is not unconnected to a wish to ingest as few
flies as possible; a relic from those unhappy days past when cows and horses
were rather more in evidence in Australian cities than is now the case. In
those far-off times, the real Aussie may had the odd fly ON him, but was
determined to have as few within him as possible; thereby doubtless, leaving
the antipodean interior free and innocent for other and more altogether
satisfying substances. Several of these come to mind ...
Cheers,
Alan.
Iskandar Baharuddin
>
> Hi there,
> I am a student of English in Poland. Currently I am working on the topic:
> 'English as it is spoken in Australia'. I would much appreciate any
> materials,
> resources, links concerned with this topic. If you know of anything on the
> web
> connected with AusE please let me know. Feel free to e-mail me.
> Thanks in advance...
>
You are receving postings of dubious integrity about "Strine".
As a foreigner who suffered considerable pain while learning the
Australia version of English, allow me to set the record
straight.
First of all, the correct name for Standard Australian English
is "Ozzan". Ozzan spelling differs from both English English
and American English, in sometimes inexplicable ways. However,
Australians rarely worry about this. "Couldn't give a stuff,
mite!"
"Strine" is a spoke form, used primarily to take the piss out of
newbies and tourists. Real Australians do not talk this way
among themselves. However, in the presence of an appreciative
foreign audience an Aussie can dredge up from his memory great
globs of rhymings slang, primarily of Cockney origin. "Ave a
dekko", "Ave a perve", etc, are all designed to confuse the
listenere and amuse the speaker.
They do use initially puzzling abbreviations, such as "rego"
(pr. rejo) for registration, and "pozzie" for a spot or
position.
Now accent is a bit of a problem. The seriously strong
Australia accent is called "Ocker". This is where "Good day"
becomes "G'die", and "It's pie die t'die." This too is
variable.
Australians also used somewhat puzzling compounds, such as "No
furries!" or "No wuckies!", and cropped references, such as "I
don't give a rat's". I am much too proper to explain further.
When an Australian feels ill (crook) he will tell you he feels
RS, which is short for ratshit, which is because Australians
cannot spell wretched.
If you have any questions, please post again.
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!
--
Regards,
Izzy
"Stop the world - I want to get off!"
a1a5...@bc.sympatico.ca
(Alan Farrell) wrote:
>
>As an aside, it is thought that our national disinclination to move the lips
>in the formation of words, is not unconnected to a wish to ingest as few
>flies as possible; a relic from those unhappy days past when cows and horses
>were rather more in evidence in Australian cities than is now the case. In
>those far-off times, the real Aussie may had the odd fly ON him, but was
>determined to have as few within him as possible; thereby doubtless, leaving
>the antipodean interior free and innocent for other and more altogether
>satisfying substances. Several of these come to mind ...
>
>Cheers,
That is certainly the accepted origin of the ancient idiomatic
"close-lipped", but -- without the slightest wish to be unkind or
to postulate some kind of racial or (better) national memory --
was it not observable, in Pentonville and similar English
establishments, that not only was lip movement negligible but
that actual speech issued from the side of the mouth only?
There may be more at work here than the simple hygiene of the
countryman.
a1a5...@bc.sympatico.ca
<bren...@highway1.com.au> wrote:
>When an Australian feels ill (crook) he will tell you he feels
>RS, which is short for ratshit, which is because Australians
>cannot spell wretched.
>
I hate to admit my obtuseness in guessing this, but I once did
actually ask an Australian what RS meant. He said, "rather
stretched". I suspected he was playing the national game with a
pommie, but it seemed just about plausible since his condition
resulted from a rugger injury.
Alan Farrell
>Message-ID: <367F2C59...@highway1.com.au>
>Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1998 13:21:29 +0800
>From: Iskandar Baharuddin <bren...@highway1.com.au>
In article <367F2C59...@highway1.com.au>
Iskandar Baharuddin
<bren...@highway1.com.au> writes:
>You are receving postings of dubious integrity about "Strine". (clip)
Oh, I think the expression 'dubious integrity' a bit harsh, and some
might even think, graceless, within the context of those two rather benign
postings; the one from John Inge and that of myself.
First, as someone born in Australia in the forties, who has lived most of his
life here -- except for a significant period of education in England -- and
who has worked in several of its tertiary institutions, not only teaching
English Literature, but mixing enthusiastically with their students; moreover
as someone who also worked for several years as a broadcaster in the late
sixties, and who is saturated with 'Australian culture' in all its many and
various manifestations, I think that I can make a few observations about the
way my countrymen use language with some confidence and no lack of integrity.
However, my posting was to make the same point that you make : that 'Strine'
is not 'Australian English'; indeed, if my memory serves me, the word didn't
appear in the language until the early or middle sixties, and was a product of
those books to which John Inge referred.
These publications, and others like them, such as Nino Culotta's "They're a
Weird Mob", appeared at a time of considerable ferment in Australia (and the
rest of the Western world of course), wherein a growing 'youth/pop culture
developed alongside other movements; some of which are too well-known to
require comment here, but one at least of which was a sort of nascent
republicanism and a concomitant pride in all things Australian. It was around
this time that the "Bazzer McKenzie" films appeared, and it was through these
that the term 'Okker" first gained general currency. I know, I was there!
However, you are absolutely right in the observations you make; indeed, it is
a national characteristic to want to 'take the piss' out of both the pompous
indigene, and the hapless recent arrival from a country where English is not
the first language. I have no doubt that 'you were given heaps', and I also
have no doubt -- knowing my countrymen as I do -- that they had much pleasure
in the giving thereof. However, it would have been with one eye still fixed
upon the much-vaunted 'fair go', since Australian sadism almost always
contains a generous admixture of good will and tolerance for the 'poor bugger'
on the receiving end (no appalling pun intended).
It is my experience that many travelers of all sorts and conditions -- not
just Australians -- exaggerate their perceived national characteristics when
travelling, for reasons that are easy enough to understand at a psychological
level, however unattractive some of these manifestations are from time to
time. Indeed, the only thing uglier (albeit in a different way), than an 'ugly
American' overseas, is perhaps the tiresome, boring, braying Englishman. And,
obviously, these exceptions are always the ones branded upon the remembrance,
rather than the dozens of charming Yanks and Poms that one also encounters,
exactly because of their unpleasant singularity. It ought also to be
remembered that both Bazzer McKenzie, and Crocodile Dundee are archetypes, and
Australian archetypes of a very particular and by no means universal kind.
The classic Australian vowel sounds continue to be heard in this
country still, but, mercifully, one rarely hears these days that curious
hybrid of a pronunciation so evident from old news-reels and, say, TV game
shows from the fifties and sixties : the Australian voice trying to sound
'proper'. Now that is excruciation indeed.
Alan Farrell.
p.s. Naturally, I had first mailed the original poster,
with an offer of rather more serious and less playful help, should he want
it.
Alan Farrell
>On Tue, 22 Dec 1998 12:46:33 GMT+1000, afar...@trump.net.au
>(Alan Farrell) wrote:
>>
>>As an aside, it is thought that our national disinclination to move the lips
>>in the formation of words, is not unconnected to a wish to ingest as few
>>flies as possible; a relic from those unhappy days past when cows and horses
>>were rather more in evidence in Australian cities than is now the case. In
>>those far-off times, the real Aussie may had the odd fly ON him, but was
>>determined to have as few within him as possible; thereby doubtless, leaving
>>the antipodean interior free and innocent for other and more altogether
>>satisfying substances. Several of these come to mind ...
>That is certainly the accepted origin of the ancient idiomatic
>"close-lipped", but -- without the slightest wish to be unkind or
>to postulate some kind of racial or (better) national memory --
>was it not observable, in Pentonville and similar English
>establishments, that not only was lip movement negligible but
>that actual speech issued from the side of the mouth only?
>There may be more at work here than the simple hygiene of the
>countryman.
An interesting thesis, but, I respectfully suggest, one not likely to be quite
so celebrated for its originality as it undoubtedly deserves.
Cheers,
Alan Farrell.
Adla Abraham
If you wish to collate information regarding Australian English, then my
suggestion is you search the linguistic section of the university home
pages. Macquarie University in Sydney created the 'Macquarie Dictionary', so
perhaps one of the staff members may be able to assist with your enquiry.
For your knowledge, Australians don't speak as the previous email message
regarding your query suggested, just as Kangaroos don't wander the street.
Admittedly, the use of slang is common amongst certain groups in the
population, but it is guaranteed that if you were to visit Australia, you
would be given a warm and friendly welcome. Good luck with your assignment.
Cheers !
Iskandar Baharuddin
A choice example of the Australian art of piss-taking; they can,
at times, be extraordinarily subtle.
Iskandar Baharuddin
>
> In article <367F2C59...@highway1.com.au> Iskandar Baharuddin <bren...@highway1.com.au> writes:
> >Message-ID: <367F2C59...@highway1.com.au>
> >Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1998 13:21:29 +0800
> >From: Iskandar Baharuddin <bren...@highway1.com.au>
> In article <367F2C59...@highway1.com.au>
> Iskandar Baharuddin
> <bren...@highway1.com.au> writes:
>
> >You are receving postings of dubious integrity about "Strine". (clip)
>
> Oh, I think the expression 'dubious integrity' a bit harsh, and some
> might even think, graceless, within the context of those two rather benign
> postings; the one from John Inge and that of myself.
I appear to have offended you: I herewith offer one
kilo-apology.
You are quite correct. Nevertheless, a certain amount of
vengeance is calle for and I have, over the years, managed to
exact a modest amount.
>
> It is my experience that many travelers of all sorts and conditions -- not
> just Australians -- exaggerate their perceived national characteristics when
> travelling, for reasons that are easy enough to understand at a psychological
> level, however unattractive some of these manifestations are from time to
> time. Indeed, the only thing uglier (albeit in a different way), than an 'ugly
> American' overseas, is perhaps the tiresome, boring, braying Englishman. And,
> obviously, these exceptions are always the ones branded upon the remembrance,
> rather than the dozens of charming Yanks and Poms that one also encounters,
> exactly because of their unpleasant singularity. It ought also to be
> remembered that both Bazzer McKenzie, and Crocodile Dundee are archetypes, and
> Australian archetypes of a very particular and by no means universal kind.
>
> The classic Australian vowel sounds continue to be heard in this
> country still, but, mercifully, one rarely hears these days that curious
> hybrid of a pronunciation so evident from old news-reels and, say, TV game
> shows from the fifties and sixties : the Australian voice trying to sound
> 'proper'. Now that is excruciation indeed.
I find us to be in the most profound agreement.
Having said that, I trust you will agree that the new arrival
must make a number of additions to his vocabulary, including:
aneethatist (esp WA - the physician who put you under before an
operation)
bag of tails (as in mere -)
bastard - esp. application to inanimate objects
bloody
boozer - not a drinker, but a place which supplies drinkers
bugger - a Protean term
footie (which does not refer to football in the European sense)
furries (obscene)
PFA (too indecent to spell out)
patio (rhymes with ratio, specific to Queensland IIRC)
pigment (of the imagination)
piss (as a collective term for all forms of alcoholic beverages)
pozzie
RS
rat's ass
ratshit
Rules (which does not refer to rules)
titbits (not a reference to nipples)
wuckies (same referent as furries)
There are many others which should be compiled in a dictionary
for visitors and new arrivals. The efforts I have seen to date
appear to have been devised in an alternate timeline in which
Australia was settled exclusively by Cockneys.
I am sure that knowledgeable posters can make some valuable
additions.
Alan Farrell
>I appear to have offended you: I herewith offer one
>kilo-apology.
Too generous; too generous. A slice of raw prawn would have done as well. I
don't mind anyone taking either the micky or the piss cobber; just so long as
they leave the fridge where it belongs -- in the bedroom!!!
As a man who has so far lived a life not entirely devoid of excitement
and incident, and, moreover, who mixes habitually, both with those raised from
the purple of the proletariat as easily as those who have descended from the
most fatuous pretensions of the Old World, I am delighted to find myself -- in
this now well-launched, and almost safe and secure -- 'multicultural
Australia' inhabiting a land that continues to surprise and delight ... even
an old cynic like myself.
However, it is still a nation in-the-making, and one that -- whatever the
excellent qualities of its people -- is lacking in depth and is severely
lacking in certain types of quality. This 'quality', I submit, can only be
obtained by the passing of time and by 'contemplation', both personal and
communal; and 'contemplation' is reflecting upon things as they
really are; a process that in Australia is just beginning.
As for me; I am a pillar of salt, and my emotional home is Europe; but I note
that David Malouf -- that splendid Australian writer -- has returned to this
country after some years of sojourn in Tuscany; no doubt driven out by
the monstrous regiments of Americans, English and Australians who have
descended upon that glorious place for their over-priced portion of yuppiedom
under an Italian sun; and he has settled in Sydney. Now there's a sign of
hope, Izzy old myte!!!
Alan Farrell.
Ross Howard
Farrell) wrote:
>As an aside, it is thought that our national disinclination to move the lips
>in the formation of words, is not unconnected to a wish to ingest as few
>flies as possible; a relic from those unhappy days past when cows and horses
>were rather more in evidence in Australian cities than is now the case. In
>those far-off times, the real Aussie may had the odd fly ON him, but was
>determined to have as few within him as possible; thereby doubtless, leaving
>the antipodean interior free and innocent for other and more altogether
>satisfying substances. Several of these come to mind ...
Did the appearance of the mouth-closure phenomenon by any chance
coincide with the disappearance of the little-corks-dangling-from-
little-strings-on-brim-of-big-hat phenomenon? If so, your hypothesis
might fly.
Ross H.
Mickwick
[...]
>Having said that, I trust you will agree that the new arrival
>must make a number of additions to his vocabulary, including:
>
>aneethatist (esp WA - the physician who put you under before an
>operation)
>bag of tails (as in mere -)
>bastard - esp. application to inanimate objects
>bloody
>boozer - not a drinker, but a place which supplies drinkers
>bugger - a Protean term
>footie (which does not refer to football in the European sense)
>furries (obscene)
>PFA (too indecent to spell out)
>patio (rhymes with ratio, specific to Queensland IIRC)
>pigment (of the imagination)
>piss (as a collective term for all forms of alcoholic beverages)
>pozzie
>RS
>rat's ass
>ratshit
>Rules (which does not refer to rules)
>titbits (not a reference to nipples)
>wuckies (same referent as furries)
>
[...]
The television announced a week or so ago that "germaine" is now Ozzan
rhyming slang for "beer". She (Greer, the splendid reformed feminist)
was on the show but didn't comment, only giggled.
--
Mickwick
Brian J Goggin
Farrell) wrote:
[...]
>I have never seen in the flesh one of these majestically proportioned and
>absurdly equipped pieces of 'head furniture' (as Dame Edna might have descibed
>them), and I strongly suspect that they occupy the same mythological terrain
>and comprehend the same psychological purpose as the Yeti, the American
>Bigfoot and England's 'New Labour'.
My dear fellow, you haven't lived.
Had you been to a concert (or at least to a concert outside Australia)
by that antipodean ambassador of of the arts, Rolf Harris, you would
have found the hats on open sale. This surely proves not only that the
hats exist but also that they are crucial to Australian cultural
manifestations.
bjg
Mark Barton
<bren...@highway1.com.au> wrote:
>aneethatist (esp WA - the physician who put you under before an
>operation)
>
>bag of tails (as in mere -)
>bastard - esp. application to inanimate objects
>bloody
>boozer - not a drinker, but a place which supplies drinkers
>bugger - a Protean term
>footie (which does not refer to football in the European sense)
>furries (obscene)
>PFA (too indecent to spell out)
>patio (rhymes with ratio, specific to Queensland IIRC)
This Queenslander and his rellies ("relatives") say p@tioU. I think,
perhaps mistakenly, of peISioU as southern.
>pigment (of the imagination)
>piss (as a collective term for all forms of alcoholic beverages)
>pozzie
>RS
>rat's ass
>ratshit
>Rules (which does not refer to rules)
>titbits (not a reference to nipples)
>wuckies (same referent as furries)
This and "furries" above are from "no fucking worries", which is an
intensified version of the plain "no worries" (="don't mention it"/"you're
welcome"/"I'm OK thanks") but is then commonly minced by Spoonerism to "no
wucking furries".
>There are many others which should be compiled in a dictionary
>for visitors and new arrivals. The efforts I have seen to date
>appear to have been devised in an alternate timeline in which
>Australia was settled exclusively by Cockneys.
My father says that "Strine" was actually written by a New Zealander and
betrays that fact with the occasional New Zealandism.
Cheers,
Mark B.
--
Please remove the spam block (both bits) from my address to reply.
If you receive this by email, note that it was posted as well. Please
make your preferences about CCing known. My default is to CC when
answering a serious query or if I severely criticise a post.
Raymot
use...@nospam.demon.co.uk says...
>
>Iskandar Baharuddin wrote in alt.usage.english:
>
>[...]
>>Having said that, I trust you will agree that the new arrival
>>must make a number of additions to his vocabulary, including:
>>
>>operation)
Rubbish, Why you persist with this after having being
corrected by a number of other Australians, I don't know.
I agree with most of the below, however.
>>bag of tails (as in mere -)
>>bastard - esp. application to inanimate objects
>>bloody
>>boozer - not a drinker, but a place which supplies drinkers
>>bugger - a Protean term
>>footie (which does not refer to football in the European sense)
>>furries (obscene)
>>PFA (too indecent to spell out)
>>patio (rhymes with ratio, specific to Queensland IIRC)
Patio is pronounced /'p&ti@U/, at least in Queensland.
>>pigment (of the imagination)
>>piss (as a collective term for all forms of alcoholic beverages)
>>pozzie
>>RS
>>rat's ass
>>ratshit
>>Rules (which does not refer to rules)
>>titbits (not a reference to nipples)
>>wuckies (same referent as furries)
Raymot
=======
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
Alan Farrell
In article <367f86db...@news.iddeo.es> rossh...@my-dejanews.com (Ross
Howard) writes:
>Did the appearance of the mouth-closure phenomenon by any chance
>coincide with the disappearance of the little-corks-dangling-from-
>little-strings-on-brim-of-big-hat phenomenon? If so, your hypothesis
>might fly.
I have never seen in the flesh one of these majestically proportioned and
absurdly equipped pieces of 'head furniture' (as Dame Edna might have descibed
them), and I strongly suspect that they occupy the same mythological terrain
and comprehend the same psychological purpose as the Yeti, the American
Bigfoot and England's 'New Labour'.
Cheers, AF.
John Holmes
Jacek Galanty wrote in message <75mmm3$rvt$1...@sunsite.icm.edu.pl>...
>Hi there,
>I am a student of English in Poland. Currently I am working on the
topic:
>'English as it is spoken in Australia'. I would much appreciate any
>materials,
>resources, links concerned with this topic. If you know of anything on
the
>web
>connected with AusE please let me know. Feel free to e-mail me.
>Thanks in advance...
>
The University of Sydney has a web site with e-texts of Australian
literature at:
http://setis.library.usyd.edu.au/ozlit/browse.html
Most of it is older (out of copyright) material. The works of Henry
Lawson and Marcus Clarke in particular represent the spoken English of
the period up to early this century. Also there, is a dictionary of
Australian slang by Gilbert Lawson, but many of the terms are now
obsolete. The site does have a facility to search the whole body of text
for specific words and phrases.
The Macquarie dictionary web site is at:
http://www.dict.mq.edu.au/
For free public access, you can only do lookups of single words (and to
do that, you will need to create a proxy server exception in your web
browser). Full access requires a subscription. If you contact the e-mail
address on the page, they have some research staff who may be able to
help you further.
It would be worth obtaining a printed copy of the Macquarie if possible.
If your library doesn't have it, perhaps you could try an inter-library
loan request, or the Australian Embassy. The full edition has some
interesting prefatory material as I recall. Even the smaller edition,
The Macquarie School Dictionary, has accurate current usage notes in
many of the entries.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
John.
hol...@smart.net.au
Alan Farrell
>My dear fellow, you haven't lived.
>Had you been to a concert (or at least to a concert outside Australia)
>by that antipodean ambassador of of the arts, Rolf Harris, you would
>have found the hats on open sale. This surely proves not only that the
>hats exist but also that they are crucial to Australian cultural
>manifestations.
Dear BJG :
I will ignore the outrageous syllogism lightly buried within that deceptively
inoffensive statement, since you are clearly and apparently a nice man.
However, I cannot allow your reference to Mr Rolf Harris to pass unchallenged :
the Australian Ambassador for the Arts is still -- as far as I am aware -- Sir
Les Patterson.
Regards,
AF.
Peter Moylan
>On Wed, 23 Dec 1998 00:09:21 GMT+1000, afar...@trump.net.au (Alan
>Farrell) wrote:
>
>[...]
>
>>absurdly equipped pieces of 'head furniture' (as Dame Edna might have descibed
>>them), and I strongly suspect that they occupy the same mythological terrain
>>and comprehend the same psychological purpose as the Yeti, the American
>>Bigfoot and England's 'New Labour'.
>
>
>Had you been to a concert (or at least to a concert outside Australia)
>by that antipodean ambassador of of the arts, Rolf Harris, you would
>have found the hats on open sale. This surely proves not only that the
>hats exist but also that they are crucial to Australian cultural
>manifestations.
Alan might not have had that opportunity; Rolf Harris has rarely been
spotted in Australia.
I don't know whether it still exists, but there was for a long time
a colony of expatriate Australians in London. It was where we sent our
undesirables, and many of them never came back. As often happens, the
colonists developed a culture quite different from that in the home
country. As nearly as I can judge, Rolf Harris is part of that culture.
He would probably suffer from severe culture shock if he ever came
back to Australia.
--
Peter Moylan pe...@ee.newcastle.edu.au
Mark Odegard
afar...@trump.net.au (Alan Farrell) in
<afarrell.2...@trump.net.au> wrote
|the Australian Ambassador for the Arts is still -- as far as I am aware --
|Sir Les Patterson.
Isn't he Dame Edna's brother or something like that?
--
Mark Odegard. (Omit OMIT to email)
Emailed copies of responses are very much appreciated.
Iskandar Baharuddin
>
> In article <367F6EA8...@highway1.com.au>, Iskandar Baharuddin
> <bren...@highway1.com.au> wrote:
>
> >operation)
> >
> >bag of tails (as in mere -)
> >bastard - esp. application to inanimate objects
> >bloody
> >boozer - not a drinker, but a place which supplies drinkers
> >bugger - a Protean term
> >footie (which does not refer to football in the European sense)
> >furries (obscene)
> >PFA (too indecent to spell out)
> >patio (rhymes with ratio, specific to Queensland IIRC)
>
> perhaps mistakenly, of peISioU as southern.
>
> >piss (as a collective term for all forms of alcoholic beverages)
> >pozzie
> >RS
> >rat's ass
> >ratshit
> >Rules (which does not refer to rules)
> >titbits (not a reference to nipples)
> >wuckies (same referent as furries)
>
> intensified version of the plain "no worries" (="don't mention it"/"you're
> welcome"/"I'm OK thanks") but is then commonly minced by Spoonerism to "no
> wucking furries".
>
> >for visitors and new arrivals. The efforts I have seen to date
> >appear to have been devised in an alternate timeline in which
> >Australia was settled exclusively by Cockneys.
>
> betrays that fact with the occasional New Zealandism.
>
Yis, it was.
Brian J Goggin
[...]
>However, I cannot allow your reference to Mr Rolf Harris to pass unchallenged :
>the Australian Ambassador for the Arts is still -- as far as I am aware -- Sir
>Les Patterson.
Forgive me.
What can I do to make up for this appalling error?
bjg
PS Welcome to AUE. Now, about those shark recipes ....
Philip Newton
>
[...]
> For your knowledge, Australians don't speak as the previous email message
> regarding your query suggested, [...]
Careful with "the previous" -- due to the unpredictable nature of Usenet
and news transports, one man's previous is another man's next. And you
probably meant "posting" not e-mail message.
HTH, HAND
Cheers,
Philip
jan...@mailexcite.com
>
> On Wed, 23 Dec 1998 00:09:21 GMT+1000, afar...@trump.net.au (Alan
> Farrell) wrote:
>
> [...]
>
> >absurdly equipped pieces of 'head furniture' (as Dame Edna might have descibed
> >them), and I strongly suspect that they occupy the same mythological terrain
> >and comprehend the same psychological purpose as the Yeti, the American
> >Bigfoot and England's 'New Labour'.
>
> My dear fellow, you haven't lived.
>
> Had you been to a concert (or at least to a concert outside Australia)
> by that antipodean ambassador of of the arts, Rolf Harris, you would
> have found the hats on open sale. This surely proves not only that the
> hats exist but also that they are crucial to Australian cultural
> manifestations.
>
So is Rolf Harris the Australian equivalent of Garth Brooks?
Edward Hamer
bemused, by this SPLENDID analysis of our Australian relatives and their
free and easy modifications of our language. But I'm surprised that no-one
has yet mentioned that wonderfully erudite "Brace yourself, Sheila!". Ted
Hamer.
Raymot
Now where did you learn so much about the subtle art of
Australian foreplay?
Raymot
[[[[[[[[[
John Ings
>So is Rolf Harris the Australian equivalent of Garth Brooks?
More the Oz equivalent of Ray Stevens. Perhaps if you are old enough
you might remember a novelty song called "Tie Me Kangaroo Down"?
John Nurick
<bren...@highway1.com.au> wrote:
>Having said that, I trust you will agree that the new arrival
>must make a number of additions to his vocabulary, including:
[...]
>RS
Many years ago, when I was a new arrival, a drinking school at the
Royal Perth Yacht Club - WW2 veterans to a man - persuaded me that RS
had two etymologies, both abbreviations:
(a) RS = "ratshit" (as Izzy mentioned earlier in this thread)
(b) R/S = a military abbreviation for "removed from service" and by
implication NFU to man or beast.
The Macquarie Dictionary however only offers (a), although it does
include "u/s" for "unserviceable".
Has anyone else encountered "R/S", or was I being had?
John
Brian J Goggin
[...]
>So is Rolf Harris the Australian equivalent of Garth Brooks?
No, no. Garth Brooks is a mere country singer; Rolf Harris is a rock
star.
You simply must hear his version of *Stairway to Heaven*.
bjg
Alan Farrell
>In article <75r7in$aof$1...@plug.news.pipex.net>, ed...@dial.pipex.com says...
(clipped)
>Now where did you learn so much about the subtle art of
>Australian foreplay?
Australian foreplay? An oxymoron surely?
AF.
Iskandar Baharuddin
>
> In article <WQd5EPAV...@wickenden.demon.co.uk>,
> use...@nospam.demon.co.uk says...
> >
> >Iskandar Baharuddin wrote in alt.usage.english:
> >
> >[...]
> >>must make a number of additions to his vocabulary, including:
> >>
> >>operation)
>
> corrected by a number of other Australians, I don't know.
> I agree with most of the below, however.
Perhaps that should read:
"aneethatist - exclusively in Western Australia"
That is where I sit, and that is what Sandgropers say - even
health professionals. They put the "s" in "anaesthesia" and
"anaesthesiology", but leave it out of "aneethatist". God only
knows why.
>
> >>bag of tails (as in mere -)
> >>bastard - esp. application to inanimate objects
> >>bloody
> >>boozer - not a drinker, but a place which supplies drinkers
> >>bugger - a Protean term
> >>footie (which does not refer to football in the European sense)
> >>furries (obscene)
> >>PFA (too indecent to spell out)
> >>patio (rhymes with ratio, specific to Queensland IIRC)
>
> Patio is pronounced /'p&ti@U/, at least in Queensland.
And so it should be. I must admit I have not been to Bananaland
since 1986. Things do change, sometimes even for the better. I
will delete this one - but "aneethatist" stays!
>
> >>pigment (of the imagination)
> >>piss (as a collective term for all forms of alcoholic beverages)
> >>pozzie
> >>RS
> >>rat's ass
> >>ratshit
> >>Rules (which does not refer to rules)
> >>titbits (not a reference to nipples)
> >>wuckies (same referent as furries)
>
> Raymot
> =======
> Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
> [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
Iskandar Baharuddin
>
> On Tue, 22 Dec 1998 18:04:24 +0800, Iskandar Baharuddin
> <bren...@highway1.com.au> wrote:
> >must make a number of additions to his vocabulary, including:
>
>
> >RS
>
> Many years ago, when I was a new arrival, a drinking school at the
> Royal Perth Yacht Club - WW2 veterans to a man - persuaded me that RS
> had two etymologies, both abbreviations:
>
> (a) RS = "ratshit" (as Izzy mentioned earlier in this thread)
> (b) R/S = a military abbreviation for "removed from service" and by
> implication NFU to man or beast.
>
> The Macquarie Dictionary however only offers (a), although it does
> include "u/s" for "unserviceable".
>
> Has anyone else encountered "R/S", or was I being had?
>
I cannot speak with authority on this question, but considering
the company the odds are that you were being had with great
subtlety, in the hope that you would repeat the derivation in
another forum, and be disgraced for life.
BTW, another WWII term, FUBAR, appears to be having a rebirth
here, thanks to "Saving Private Ryan".
There is something deeply satisfying about FUBAR. And there are
many, many occasions to use it.
Stepaside
<afar...@trump.net.au> writes
>In article <367ee972...@crc-news.doc.ca> nospam.j...@ottawa.com
>(John Ings) writes:
>
<snip>
>your suggestions are, of course, excellent; however, I feel constrained to
>point out that most Australians do not speak in that extraordinary
>linguistic bastardisation known, with some affection, as 'Strine';
Can anyone tell me how many distinct vowel sounds have been found in the
word 'No' as exemplified in Neighbours?
--
Stepaside
'Ni ddyfod ond yn ddifalch
Ni bu na gorwag na balch'
Edward Hamer
be a vital component of Estuary English by now. Ted Hamer.
Alice Turner
Alan Farrell <afar...@trump.net.au> wrote in message
news:afarrell.2...@trump.net.au...
Does anybody actually say "fair dinkum?" What does it mean?
Alice
Aaron J. Dinkin
<a...@interport.net> wrote:
> Does anybody actually say "fair dinkum?" What does it mean?
Do I really need to answer that?
-Aaron J. Dinkin
Dr. Whom
Mark Barton
>Does anybody actually say "fair dinkum?" What does it mean?
It's a tiny bit old-fashioned, but still in use. As an adjective, of
people, it means variously "sincere", "in earnest", "without pretence". Of
a story it means "true", "unexaggerated". As a question it means "Really?"
Iskandar Baharuddin
>
> Iskandar Baharuddin <bren...@highway1.com.au> wrote:
>
> >> >>aneethatist (esp WA - the physician who put you under before an
> >> >>operation)
> >>
> >> Rubbish, Why you persist with this after having being
> >> corrected by a number of other Australians, I don't know.
> >> I agree with most of the below, however.
> >
> >Perhaps that should read:
> >
> >"aneethatist - exclusively in Western Australia"
>
>
> -- Craig --
Thanks, mite.
Yowie
<367f4eba...@news.bctel.ca>...
> On Tue, 22 Dec 1998 13:21:29 +0800, Iskandar Baharuddin
> <bren...@highway1.com.au> wrote:
>
>
> >When an Australian feels ill (crook) he will tell you he feels
> >RS, which is short for ratshit, which is because Australians
> >cannot spell wretched.
> >
>
> I hate to admit my obtuseness in guessing this, but I once did
> actually ask an Australian what RS meant. He said, "rather
> stretched". I suspected he was playing the national game with a
> pommie, but it seemed just about plausible since his condition
> resulted from a rugger injury.
I can now do "strine" with the best of them as I have recently become one
after spending 24 of my 29 years here. However, when I first came to
Australia, the accent confused the life out of me. I can distictly remember
my mother calling out to me and my next door neighbours insisting I replied
with "Cummin", which I can now easily translate to "coming". (Which means
that I was on my way home).
Australians also have other ways of confusing tourists, but I'm not going
to spoil our favourite jokes here. Just remember to bring your Vegemite!
Vicky
(My grammer isn't perfect, but I'm learning. No flames, please)
CRC
>
> Alan Farrell <afar...@trump.net.au> wrote in message
> news:afarrell.2...@trump.net.au...
> >
> >
> >>In article <75r7in$aof$1...@plug.news.pipex.net>, ed...@dial.pipex.com
> says...
> >(clipped)
> >
> >>Now where did you learn so much about the subtle art of
> >>Australian foreplay?
> >
> >Australian foreplay? An oxymoron surely?
>
>
Robert Heinlein's main character refered to his self aware computer
"mike" in "The moon is a harsh mistress" as a fair thinkum dinkum.
Iskandar Baharuddin
>
> In article <761lo6$5od$1...@winter.news.rcn.net>, "Alice Turner"
> <a...@interport.net> wrote:
>
>
> people, it means variously "sincere", "in earnest", "without pretence". Of
> a story it means "true", "unexaggerated". As a question it means "Really?"
>
Almost is extinct is one of my favourites, "the dinkum oil",
meaning the truth, or information you can trust. But when an
Australian assures you that he is giving you "the dinkum oil" on
a money-making proposition, keep a firm grip on your billfold.
Peter Moylan
>In article <761lo6$5od$1...@winter.news.rcn.net>, "Alice Turner"
><a...@interport.net> wrote:
>
>>Does anybody actually say "fair dinkum?" What does it mean?
>
>It's a tiny bit old-fashioned, but still in use. As an adjective, of
>people, it means variously "sincere", "in earnest", "without pretence". Of
>a story it means "true", "unexaggerated". As a question it means "Really?"
In case anyone's confused by Mark's Japanese address, I can confirm
that this response shows Mark to be a dinkum Aussie. He's captured
the meaning precisely.
--
Peter Moylan pe...@ee.newcastle.edu.au
Brian J Goggin
wrote:
[...]
>Welcome. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, mite.
Please. Don't mention the war.
There are English readers, you know; this is not the time to mention
cricket.
bjg
peaqu...@softhome.net.net
wrote:
>In article <761lo6$5od$1...@winter.news.rcn.net>, "Alice Turner"
><a...@interport.net> wrote:
>
>> Does anybody actually say "fair dinkum?" What does it mean?
>
>Do I really need to answer that?
>
>
Fair Dinkum, cobber!
peaqu...@softhome.net.net
>Australians also have other ways of confusing tourists, but I'm not going
>to spoil our favourite jokes here. Just remember to bring your Vegemite!
>
Australian Jokes;
Putting their capital city in the middle of a desert (That's a joke played on
politicians)
Calling their biggest city "Seedknee"
etc
etc
John Holmes
Mark Barton wrote in message ...
>In article <761lo6$5od$1...@winter.news.rcn.net>, "Alice Turner"
><a...@interport.net> wrote:
>
>>Does anybody actually say "fair dinkum?" What does it mean?
>
>people, it means variously "sincere", "in earnest", "without pretence".
Of
>a story it means "true", "unexaggerated". As a question it means
"Really?"
To add a bit to that: the original sense seems to have been 'fair and
honest'. It's thought to derive from northern English and Scottish
dialect, a demand for fair play in a children's game called dinks which,
I think, might have involved tossing and catching knucklebones or
pebbles.
Regards,
John.
hol...@smart.net.au
PHB
favourite strine of mine:
Emma Cheesit.....
scroll for spoiler
......
.....
.....
....
------
According to the story, Monica Dickens (author and a Charles' greatniece)
was at a bookstore signing copies,,,then this woman came up to her and
asked: Emma Cheesit.
The dear Ms Dickens wrote Emma Cheesit inside the book.
Of course as fair strine speakers know, she really meants : "How much is
it."
>Australian Jokes;
>
>Putting their capital city in the middle of a desert (That's a joke played
on
>politicians)
Cultural desert you mean? Didn't it snow in Canberra yesterday? In the ski
fields anyway? Anyway, summer snow - only in Rooland.
>Calling their biggest city "Seedknee"
>etc
>etc
Excuse me...we have Samaranch to blame for all that pronounciation etc.
of course the Kiwis pronounce it as : sud-knee.
Now, who wants to start a thread on Kiwinglish? Anyone? Anyone?
[anticipating sheep jokes soon]
Mic...@www.jtc.ac.kr
kwa...@wxs.nl wrote:
> > >>Now where did you learn so much about the subtle art of
> > >>Australian foreplay?
> > >
> > >Australian foreplay? An oxymoron surely?
> >
> > Does anybody actually say "fair dinkum?" What does it mean?
> >
> > Alice
>
> Robert Heinlein's main character refered to his self aware computer
> "mike" in "The moon is a harsh mistress" as a fair thinkum dinkum.
do people in Australia really speak English?
Michael
--
-living in a world crowded with voices.
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Alan Farrell
>do people in Australia really speak English?
>Michael
Yes, dear boy; there are several of us.
AF.
Jerry_F...@my-dejanews.com
...
> > Does anybody actually say "fair dinkum?" What does it mean?
> >
> > Alice
>
> Robert Heinlein's main character refered to his self aware computer
> "mike" in "The moon is a harsh mistress" as a fair thinkum dinkum.
>
Got a citation, cobber? All I remember is "dinkum thinkum". (Not that it
matters to the question of what anybody actually says.)
(Does anyone still say "cobber"? Or should I just get Macquarie?)
--
Jerry Friedman
jfrE...@nnm.cc.nm.us
i before e
afar...@trump.net.au
Jerry_F...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
> In article <36847F...@wxs.nl>,
> kwa...@wxs.nl wrote:
> > Alice Turner wrote:
> ...
> > > Does anybody actually say "fair dinkum?" What does it mean?
> > >
> > > Alice
> >
> > Robert Heinlein's main character refered to his self aware computer
> > "mike" in "The moon is a harsh mistress" as a fair thinkum dinkum.
> >
>
> Got a citation, cobber? All I remember is "dinkum thinkum". (Not that it
> matters to the question of what anybody actually says.)
>
> (Does anyone still say "cobber"? Or should I just get Macquarie?)
'Fair dinkum', 'dinky-die' and 'that's dinkum' are all still used; although,
as another poster has pointed out elsewhere, they are considered a tad
old-fashioned, and a man or woman who punctuated their conversation with too
many of these, and similar ejaculations, would not leave their listeners
entirely stony-faced.
'Cobber', on the other hand, is used rather more, especially in Tasmania,
where even some Georgian slang and argot yet survive, and we all know how
THEY got here. However, words like 'cobber' would only be used by men to men,
and somewhat older men at that.
Today, young people in Australia generally speak with an ear to Hollywood's
shabby and tedious lexicon -- a very thin volume indeed -- and one would be
more likely to be called 'dood' or 'man' than 'cobber' or 'cock'. However,
'mate' (pronounced 'myte') is universally used by men, women and children. I
loathe it with a passion that is verging on neurosis; but that is another
posting.
Cheers,
AF.
Mark Barton
>In article <36847F...@wxs.nl>,
> kwa...@wxs.nl wrote:
>> Alice Turner wrote:
>...
>> > Does anybody actually say "fair dinkum?" What does it mean?
>> >
>> > Alice
>>
>> Robert Heinlein's main character refered to his self aware computer
>> "mike" in "The moon is a harsh mistress" as a fair thinkum dinkum.
>>
>
>Got a citation, cobber? All I remember is "dinkum thinkum". (Not that it
>matters to the question of what anybody actually says.)
>
>(Does anyone still say "cobber"? Or should I just get Macquarie?)
It's still used but mostly jocularly. It evokes a certain 1950s
atmosphere, before extensive non-white immigration and "multiculturalism".
For the Macquarie on-line, see http://www.dict.mq.edu.au/.
lisette
migrate here. Where are you from Craig Welch?
Liz
Craig Welch wrote in message <36883abc....@news.ozemail.com.au>...>When pushed. They also start sentences with a capital letter.
>
> -- Craig --
Alan Farrell
>Path:
Mr Craig Welch was responding to the person who had asked the question : 'Do
people in Australia really speak English?'
Of course you are right, it is a silly question; but Craig Welch was not the
person who asked it. Indeed, if you look at the thread again you will see that
he very nicely put whoever it was back in their rightful place, wherever that
is : 'When pushed. They also start sentences ...'.
Cheers,
AF.
Mic...@www.jtc.ac.kr
afar...@trump.net.au (Alan Farrell) wrote:
> Of course you are right, it is a silly question; but Craig Welch was not the
> person who asked it. Indeed, if you look at the thread again you will see
that
> he very nicely put whoever it was back in their rightful place, wherever that
> is : 'When pushed. They also start sentences ...'.
Nope, "when pushed, they also start sentences..." would be better.
Michael
-You know something is very wrong in this town.
Thomas Ligotti
Mic...@www.jtc.ac.kr
"lisette" <lis...@alphalink.com.au> wrote:
> People in Australia speak Australian, the English were not the only ones to
> migrate here. Where are you from Craig Welch?
> Liz
I agree Liz, "we" should call the language of Australia, Australian, even
though the typical dialectal distinction is a bit broad. Normally if the
speaker can't be understood then it's called another language. So Australians
really speak English because they can be understood in England.
> Craig Welch wrote in message <36883abc....@news.ozemail.com.au>...
> >Mic...@www.jtc.ac.kr wrote:
> >
> >>do people in Australia really speak English?
> >
> >When pushed. They also start sentences with a capital letter.
The true colors of the pedantic non-entity.
Michael
Alan Farrell
>In article <afarrell.3...@trump.net.au>,
> afar...@trump.net.au (Alan Farrell) wrote:
>> Of course you are right, it is a silly question; but Craig Welch was not the
>> person who asked it. Indeed, if you look at the thread again you will see
>that
>> he very nicely put whoever it was back in their rightful place, wherever
that>> is : 'When pushed. They also start sentences ...'.
>Nope, "when pushed, they also start sentences..." would be better.
>Michael
I suggest that you are quite wrong about that. He was first
responding to someone who asked the question : 'do people in Australia really
speak English?' He replied : 'When pushed.' THEN he added : 'They also start
sentences with a capital letter.' His first sentence is a fragment of course,
but acceptable in the circumstances; the second is also fragmentary in form
but again acceptable for an informal aside in such a post. However, they both
address something different and could not have been conflated with a comma in
the way you suggest.
AF.
Skitt
<Mic...@www.jtc.ac.kr> wrote in message
news:77h9vj$sdp$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com...
>In article <afarrell.3...@trump.net.au>,
> afar...@trump.net.au (Alan Farrell) wrote:
>
>
>> Of course you are right, it is a silly question; but Craig Welch was
not the
>> person who asked it. Indeed, if you look at the thread again you will
see
>that
>> he very nicely put whoever it was back in their rightful place,
wherever that
>> is : 'When pushed. They also start sentences ...'.
>
>Nope, "when pushed, they also start sentences..." would be better.
Ohmigosh! You have completely changed the meaning of what was said. I
guess you did not get the message.
--
Skitt http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/5537/
Central Florida CAUTION: My opinion may vary.
Mic...@www.jtc.ac.kr
> I suggest that you are quite wrong about that.
Now, on what grounds do you "suggest" this? What authority do you have
to suggest such things?
> He was first
> responding to someone who asked the question : 'do people in Australia really
> speak English?' He replied : 'When pushed.' THEN he added : 'They also
start
> sentences with a capital letter.'
In other words he wished to EXPAND on what he was saying? Is that it?
> His first sentence is a fragment of
> course,
> but acceptable in the circumstances; the second is also fragmentary in form
> but again acceptable for an informal aside in such a post. However, they both
> address something different and could not have been conflated with a comma in
> the way you suggest.
"Speaking English" implies that "we" start sentences with capitals so I don't
see the conflation you "suggest".
Michael
-You know something is very wrong in this town.
Thomas Ligotti
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
Mic...@www.jtc.ac.kr
"Skitt" <al...@myself.com> wrote:
> Ohmigosh! You have completely changed the meaning of what was said. I
> guess you did not get the message.
You mean to say that you didn't mean to say that when pushed to speak English
you will begin sentences with capitals? Ohmigosh<?> Is that proper or do you
need another push?
Skitt
<Mic...@www.jtc.ac.kr> wrote in message
news:77jfts$q6l$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com...
>In article <77id2c$gp...@svlss.lmms.lmco.com>,
> "Skitt" <al...@myself.com> wrote:
>
>> Ohmigosh! You have completely changed the meaning of what was said. I
>> guess you did not get the message.
>
>You mean to say that you didn't mean to say that when pushed to speak
English
>you will begin sentences with capitals? Ohmigosh<?> Is that proper or
do you
>need another push?
Not only didn't you get the message, but now you are confused as to who
uttered it! Gadzooks!
Mic...@www.jtc.ac.kr
"Skitt" <al...@myself.com> wrote:
>
> Not only didn't you get the message, but now you are confused as to who
> uttered it! Gadzooks!
There are no "messages" in cyberspace. There are only words.
Michael
There is Michael, and then there is the rest of us.
-Magic Johnson
Skitt
Mic...@www.jtc.ac.kr wrote in message <77mdvd$9pm$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
>In article <77kt4g$83...@svlss.lmms.lmco.com>,
> "Skitt" <al...@myself.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Not only didn't you get the message, but now you are confused as to who
>> uttered it! Gadzooks!
>
>There are no "messages" in cyberspace. There are only words.
I didn't realize that you were out there. I thought you were with us. Sorry.
--
Skitt http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/5537/
If you are posting a reply, please, do not email it. It just confuses me.