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Is our Aussie language being 'Americanised'?
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message 251:
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Kim Marie
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Jan 17, 2011 12:43AM
Christmas in July is very popular in my neck of the woods so count me in!!
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Pet peeve about our language: Can't stand the way everyone says two times - what's happened to twice? Has it gone the way of thrice? I'd support a campaign to bring it back.Ann
http://annmasseyauthor.net
Considering the Americanisation (no zed) of our world I'm sure you will have to campaign twice as hard because once would not be enough, but thrice would be too many for the fourth estate. :-o)
Geoff wrote: "Considering the Americanisation (no zed) of our world I'm sure you will have to campaign twice as hard because once would not be enough, but thrice would be too many for the fourth estate. :-o)"Ha-ha! Like.
Article from nine news:Oz accent recorded for history
"Most people, even Australians, think it's pretty darn confounding, but mate, it's one of a kind.
From the clipped imitations of upper-class English to the broad ocker drawl of the outback north, the Australian accent is recognised the world over.
Famous for its stretched vowels and rising inflection, the Australian accent will be preserved for posterity as part of a national initiative launched on Australia Day.
A joint university study will collect the accents of 1,000 adults from all states and territories to showcase the diversity of intonations across the country.
Project coordinator Dr Dominique Estival of the University of Western Sydney (UWS) said the audio-visual database called AusTalk will be an enduring digital repository of contemporary speech.
"There has not been a collection of Australian English voices of this magnitude for 50 years and there has never before been a large-scale collection of audio and visual speech data in Australia," Dr Estival said.
The project will include such styles as Prime Minister Julia Gillard's broad drawl, the rounded vowels of Governor-General Quentin Bryce and actor Hugh Jackman's mix of the super refined and yobbo twang.
Macquarie University's Dr Felicity Cox said while the accent had proved resilient to the American cultural onslaught, it had diversified because of the multicultural nature of the nation's youth, who are usually the change agents of accents.
"The Australian accent is distinctive and uniquely ours," Dr Cox said.
"The things we talk about and the ways we talk about them are intimately entwined with our sense of self.
"Accents can vary depending on age and gender, as well as social, cultural and regional history or affiliation."
As well as providing a permanent record of Australian English to support speech science research, AusTalk will help develop a range of speech technology applications.
The collection should lead to improved speech recognition systems for things like taxi telephone bookings.
It might also lead to improved hearing aids, Cochlear implants and computer aids for learning-impaired children.
AusTalk, funded by the Australian government, is a collaborative project between 11 universities headed by UWS and Macquarie University.
It involves 30 speech science and technology experts from around the country.
Anyone over 18 who has completed their entire schooling in Australia is invited to be part of the national collection of Australian English accents."
Austalk Website - how to get involved
I've just jumped into this thread but as an American I just want to say that I hope your wonderful language never becomes Americanized. I love to listen to Aussies speak.
Thanks Mark we are kind of partial to it ourselves. :)
I love the article. Thanks for posting it Mandy.
I love the article. Thanks for posting it Mandy.
She's a ripper Mark, mate, there's no worries especially when slipping into a tinnie or three around the bar-b watching your favorite blokes connect willow with leather at the gabba eh!
I know this is slightly off topic but going back to the OP my Mum has been reading the book when she went on a holiday up the east coast. She found herself getting a real good chuckle out of it. She also noticed many sayings we used to say that have gone into the 'history books'..Kinda made me feel old when she mentioned some and I was all 'Damn, we really don't use them anymore do we?!' and I'm not that old either..hahaha.This book has certainly made her interested in the first book he put out..Maybe I'll get it as another bday/christms present if I can find it.
David wrote: "She's a ripper Mark, mate, there's no worries especially when slipping into a tinnie or three around the bar-b watching your favorite blokes connect willow with leather at the gabba eh!"Hi David. So I just read this note 3 times and I'm thinking you said something about beer and cricket and food...just have one more question? When and where? Cheers!
This is the funniest thing I've read in ages!!! From the marvellous Book Thingo Blog.:15 tips for authors writing Australian characters
It warms my heart to know that romance readers love Aussie characters, but it takes more than the odd “no worries, mate” to get Aussie readers to believe that a character really is Australian.
To help authors out, here are 15 tips on how to make your Aussie characters more authentic. I’ve written them with romance authors in mind, but they apply outside of romance, too. Update: Check the comments for more great tips!
1. Eric Bana is a comedian, not a sex symbol. Do not, under any circumstances, compare your hero to Eric Bana unless he wears a mullet, and there had better be a very good explanation for that.
2. Aussies are obsessed with sports. Obsessed. It’s theoretically possible to have a hero - or heroine, for that matter - who doesn’t have at least a passing knowledge of cricket and/or footy (rugby union, rugby league or Aussie rules), but they’d better have a damn good reason for it.
3. We don’t buy coffee from Starbucks. The only exceptions to this rule are if: your character is still in high school; or the only other choice is Maccas (McDonalds). Even then it’s a close call.
If your character lives or works in a major city, there are no exceptions—not even if they’re in the US. I absolutely believe that any expat worth their salt will persevere until they’ve found a decent barrista within walking distance of work or home. We’re coffee snobs, and we only drink the good stuff.
Read the rest of the tips and interesting comments here.
I'm just so happy that someone else feels as strongly about the use of "off of" as I do....please tell me why anyone would say that?About Eric Bana though.....I know he was great as Chopper but he can do so much more......he'll always be my Henry DeTamble, Avner, Hector, Hoot and last but definitely not least Nero (Star Trek 2009 :o)
Re "off of", me too it really crates on my nerves.
Carmel, it's not a case of writing "off" instead of "of", it's that the two words are used together....as in "The boy jumped off of the bridge".
I can see I'll have to watch myself. 'Off of' is more natural for me. But of course, thinking about it, the 'of' is unnecessary and is better dropped.
Wow I wonder if I say. " off of". I found out in recent years I say "yes no" which I didn't realise until someone pointed it out. Now I hear myself day it and do a mental forehead slap.
Ohh Cheryl, I feel really mean now.....but it does seem odd to me.Don't worry Carmel, some day I'll learn not to post comments late at night :o)
Just reposting a comment by group member Ann:"Twice is an endangered word. Join the campaign to re-popularize and save it from extinction.
I shudder every time I hear a television or radio presenter use two times instead of twice. Why use two words when one will do? To my ears, it sounds clumsy and uneducated. As an alternative to twice two, I'll concede that two times two is acceptable when reciting multiplication tables but I can't think of another single instance. For example: two times bitten, two times shy cannot compare with the original axiom and two times blessed instead of twice blessed - that's putting a real strain on mercy.!
English is a living language. Every day new words and expressions comes into existence, while at the same time, we gradually stop using certain older words. Thrice, a useful and succinct word, is now forgotten but there's still time to save twice if enough people use it in their everyday conversation. This week make an effort to popularize twice because I predict the next victim will be once. One time more unto the breach and one time upon a time .. . plleasse!
Ann Massey
When I use thrice I get funny looks, but I persist. And I do appreciate being reminded about off of.
Can't resist posting this great article about our Prime Minister Julia Gillard's accent (which we Aussies love to loathe!). Check out the comments as well.;)http://blogs.crikey.com.au/fullysic/2...
Carmel wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Can't resist posting this great article about our Prime Minister Julia Gillard's accent (which we Aussies love to loathe!). Check out the comments as well.;)http://blogs.crikey.com.au..."I saw some of that address. It was really touching how overwhelmed some of the US politicians got when she was talking about landing on the moon and how she thought as a kid that they (the US) could do anything. I get the feeling the US, despite its power and bravado, feels very alone sometimes on the world stage.
I think a lot of us do, Mandy. The pressure to live up to the reputation of being the Sole Remaining World Power (after the Cold War) confuses a lot of us, it seems. GWB thought we could be a beacon of democracy, but war isn't a guiding light. And what do we do with all these people who won't listen to us? Even though we are so young, we feel like a patriarch with all the young punks snapping at our heels when they're not rebelling & forging their own paths. (*Mixed metaphors intentional.)
Thanks for your insight Cheryl. I think for most of us the US that we see in the news-media seems really far away from the US we get to know from talking to you guys online. Your description gives a great picture of what it must feel like.:)
Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "I think a lot of us do, Mandy. The pressure to live up to the reputation of being the Sole Remaining World Power (after the Cold War) confuses a lot of us, it seems. GWB thought we could be a bea..."I grew up in the US but have lived away (mainly in Australia but also Asia, Europe and South America) since the late 80s and it sometimes hits me how much my image of the US has changed. I used to think that the US was the Sole Remaining World Power and somehow had a responsibility to do something with that power, now I don't see it that way at all. It is no longer a stand out economic power with China charging ahead and the EU block having a big influence. It is still a military power but that is because the US spends more on the military than the next several nations put together. It always amazes me how the US criticises North Korea for spending so much on the military while the population is starving and at the same time there are huge fights about universal medical care and so many American's dropping below the poverty line.
I don't mean to sound contentious or to come across as hating the US but since I've seen it from the inside and the out, my view has really changed.
I have to say I'm happy that in the debate about the no-fly zone in Libya, the US is holding back waiting for the UN, AU and Arab Nations to have a say. I think if the US starts to work more closely with these organisations rather than acting like those organisations should follow the US, they won't be so lonely.
Of course their language will become the world language courtesy of the Internet, mass market books and syndicated televesion. Aussieisms are DOOMED. :-)
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
Seriously though, Aussieisms aren't doomed. Perhaps the cringy ones are, we can only hope. Every country, even individual states have their own idiosyncrasies, within Australia and the US. The more time I spend chatting to people from the US the more amazed I am at the differences between our two countries. I watch US TV, why aren’t I assimilated already?
As long as people are still saying "G'Day" I could stand losing "stone the crows".
Mod
Totally agree Tyson!
Tyson wrote: "As long as people are still saying "G'Day" I could stand losing "stone the crows"."awwe no..gotta keep 'stone the crows'..i cringe a g'day though..lol but i know generally if someone said it they are usually Australian.
Ha, I am more likely to say 'stone the crows' than G'day too. I am going to vote for fair suck of the sav! to be voted off.
Mod
It's funny..when I say things like those two, in front of my kids, they look at me as if I'm nuts!!! I always say 'haven't you heard of that one either?!!' Haha!!
Cawww!!!..fair suck of the sav Gail, stone the crows all our lingo will be down the dunny soon.
Mod
Welcome back David! ;D
David wrote: "Cawww!!!..fair suck of the sav Gail, stone the crows all our lingo will be down the dunny soon."
I knew my comment would drag you out from which ever rock you had crawled under. How have you been?
I knew my comment would drag you out from which ever rock you had crawled under. How have you been?
Gail «Cyborg» wrote: "Ha, I am more likely to say 'stone the crows' than G'day too. I am going to vote for fair suck of the sav! to be voted off."i've used that on americans before..They have no bleeding idea what the heck i am talking about..lol
Mod
I knew my comment would drag you out from which ever rock you had crawled under. Ho..."
Hahahaha!!!
G'day to all you lovely young ladies, oh! & you blokes as well (-: the company I work for has amalgamated with another & we have moved under one roof, they have very strict internet policies so I can't spend the time with you all like I did, I do get to some evenings at home, but, I will try to visit as I can.
As I used to run a warehouse by my self, I will miss the solitude & being able to write more often, but on the plus side I can take time off more regular, I currently have 6 weeks annual leave up my sleave plus 7 weeks sick days & just over 7 weeks long service leave, long service can wait for another 2 years then we will start touring or go 'on the wallaby'
As I used to run a warehouse by my self, I will miss the solitude & being able to write more often, but on the plus side I can take time off more regular, I currently have 6 weeks annual leave up my sleave plus 7 weeks sick days & just over 7 weeks long service leave, long service can wait for another 2 years then we will start touring or go 'on the wallaby'
I'm sure your darling wife will love you having more time off David!:)
Mod
Sounds like you have been really busy David. Hope you are able to catch your breath a bit now :)
Nice to have you with us, whenever you can..:)
msg 355 - I pretty much agree - my post was more about what it 'feels' like here in the US, whereas yours is more objective & concreteBut I don't agree that our wonderful Aussie friends have to mourn the loss of their language. Even in the US we've hung onto a lot of regional variations. Awareness goes a long way toward preservation.
Mod
Great to have our resident poet/cobber(David of course!) lob in, since he's obviously ..."
Well, it sure wasn't me this time, Carmel..lol
You Say Tomato, I Say Up Your BumThis post, on the linguistic origins of Moomba (Melbourne's annual Festival), is by Piers Kelly. It was originally published yesterday on Crikey’s Fully Sic blog, a blog devoted to all things Aussie language-related.
At Melbourne’s very first Moomba carnival in March of 1955, my father recalls Sir Reginald Dallas Brooks, opening the proceedings from the banks of the Yarra river. In his crown-appointed role as Governor of Victoria, he made a plummy declaration that ‘moomba’ is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘Let’s get together and have fun’. This definition has been repeated to Victorian schoolchildren ever since.
But a long-standing legend has it the moomba means something quite different altogether. In many Aboriginal languages, -ba is a suffix that roughly means ‘at the place of’. And every Koori knows that mum – which rhymes with ‘vroom’ – is the local word for ‘bum’.
So Moomba effectively means ‘up your bum’.
A widely circulated story has it that Bill Onus, a former president of the Australian Aborigines League, suggested the name to the festival organisers as a cheeky joke. A well known unionist, Onus was getting back at the city council for having deliberately upstaged the traditional Labour Day march with a popular carnival. Read more here.
Aussie Readers
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In a Sunburned Country (other topics)Speaking Our Language: The Story of Australian English (other topics)
Enforcer: The Real Story of One of Australia's Most Feared Outlaw Bikers (other topics)
Aussie Slang Pictorial (other topics)
They Have a Word for It: A Lighthearted Lexicon of Untranslatable Words & Phrases (other topics)
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