Comments on: Australians have their own language http://mdbenoit.com/blog/2007/01/12/australians-have-their-own-language/ Reflections on reality in fiction and fiction in reality. Book Reviews, art, oddities, and comments on life from Science Fiction Mystery Author M. D. Benoit Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:35:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: M. D. Benoit http://mdbenoit.com/blog/2007/01/12/australians-have-their-own-language/comment-page-1/#comment-1311 M. D. Benoit Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:31:17 +0000 http://mdbenoit.com/blog/2007/01/12/australians-have-their-own-language/#comment-1311 Hey, thanks for that, Shannon. As a French Canadian from Quebec, I've had problems being understood by the French (from France). Every time I see their uncomprehending stares, I get nostalgic. On the other hand, my husband came over to Canada from Belgium with his parents, and it was also an adjustment. One day they went into the baker's for "pistolets" (little guns), a type of roll. The baker directed them to the gun shop. Hey, thanks for that, Shannon. As a French Canadian from Quebec, I’ve had problems being understood by the French (from France). Every time I see their uncomprehending stares, I get nostalgic.

On the other hand, my husband came over to Canada from Belgium with his parents, and it was also an adjustment. One day they went into the baker’s for “pistolets” (little guns), a type of roll. The baker directed them to the gun shop.

]]> By: Shannon http://mdbenoit.com/blog/2007/01/12/australians-have-their-own-language/comment-page-1/#comment-1310 Shannon Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:06:36 +0000 http://mdbenoit.com/blog/2007/01/12/australians-have-their-own-language/#comment-1310 As an Aussie stranded in Canada, I read your post with much amusement and a little bit of homesickness too. Before anyone gets too excited, though, I have to point out that no one speaks like this on a daily basis. Or, rather, no one puts so many colloquilisms in their speech all at once! "Togs and cossies" I don't hear very often - the common word is "bathers"; not the people, the swimsuits. And I miss our coffee. Tim Hortons makes me vomit. Or "chunder" - hey, do you know the Men At Work song, "Man From Down Under"? It's famous at home. There's a line in the chorus: "Where beer does flow and men chunder"! I also picked that one to sing at Kareoke in Japan!! I say "loo" more often than "dunny - but then, I've had to lobotomise my speech in order to be understood in Japan and even here in Canada. The best fun I've had is making friends with another Aussie here, who has a much stronger accent despite years of living overseas, who uses all the words I grew up with and to hell with anyone who can't follow the conversation! My all-time favourite word is still "daggy", or "dag". I still insist using words like "esky", "Tipex", "ta" and normal ones like "tram" and "footpath". I'm all for assimilation when you emigrate, but "I still call Australia home" (another famous song)! Shannon (http://aurillia.livejournal.com) As an Aussie stranded in Canada, I read your post with much amusement and a little bit of homesickness too. Before anyone gets too excited, though, I have to point out that no one speaks like this on a daily basis. Or, rather, no one puts so many colloquilisms in their speech all at once! “Togs and cossies” I don’t hear very often - the common word is “bathers”; not the people, the swimsuits.

And I miss our coffee. Tim Hortons makes me vomit. Or “chunder” - hey, do you know the Men At Work song, “Man From Down Under”? It’s famous at home. There’s a line in the chorus: “Where beer does flow and men chunder”! I also picked that one to sing at Kareoke in Japan!!

I say “loo” more often than “dunny - but then, I’ve had to lobotomise my speech in order to be understood in Japan and even here in Canada. The best fun I’ve had is making friends with another Aussie here, who has a much stronger accent despite years of living overseas, who uses all the words I grew up with and to hell with anyone who can’t follow the conversation!

My all-time favourite word is still “daggy”, or “dag”. I still insist using words like “esky”, “Tipex”, “ta” and normal ones like “tram” and “footpath”. I’m all for assimilation when you emigrate, but “I still call Australia home” (another famous song)!

Shannon
(http://aurillia.livejournal.com)

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