Learn more about Australian English and its unique features.
Australia is a country with no official language even though many think it is Australian English. Although there are about 80 languages in Australia, Australian English is the de facto national language. In 2011, 76.8% of Australian homes were monolingual in English. There were about 400 Australian Aboriginal languages when Europeans first came in contact with the country. 70 of them survived, with only 30 that are not endangered today. Further more you should know that Auslan is the sign language used in Australia.
Australian English
Australian English has a distinct and colorful variety that is its own. Because of the country’s proximity to other English- speaking countries, and because of the influence by native people and immigrants, Australia has developed a variation of the English language with its own flavor. Speakers of English that is distinct to Australians are easily recognizable by their accent and expressions.
Unlike American English or British English, Australian English language is also a language that has no regional accents or dialects. The language is also largely homogenous except “accents” of the upper, middle and working classes.
The features of the accent and style is also called “broad Australian” are those that are often identified to be Australian by nonnatives. It is also associated with mateship and values of the traditional Australian working class and lower middle-class male.
Here are some more words from Australian English that are unique as well as interesting:
aggro – aggressive
amber fluid – beer
arvo – afternoon
ay – pardon me
barbie – barbecue
barrack – cheer on a team at sporting event, support your team
belt up – stop talking!
also blue – argument or fight: have a blue
cheerio – good bye
choof off – to go
chook – chicken
also cobber -mate
coldie – a cold beer
also cut lunch – sandwiches
dob in – to tell on someone
Further more Here is a comparison of some terms from British English and Australian English:
Additionally here are some more British English – Australian English Sayings
a good job – a good lurk
Absolutely! – Reckon!
accident – prang
banana – nana
biscuit – Bickie
chicken – chook
chocolate – chokkie
Christmas – Chrissie
Eucalyptus tree – gum tree
Excellent – ace
farm – station
field – paddock
food – tucker
horses – neddies
information – oil
it – she
it’s fine – she’s apples
kangaroo – Roo
liquor shop – bottle shop
There are more distinctions of Australian English such as spelling, style and grammar. For more help on Australian English, and other language services, call Language Direct today.
Language Direct it’s currently providing services in London | Birmingham| Leeds| Glasgow| Sheffield | Bradford | Edinburgh | Liverpool | Manchester | Bristol | Wakefield | Cardiff | Coventry | Nottingham | Leicester | Sunderland | Belfast | Newcastle upon Tyne | Brighton | Hull | Plymouth| Stoke-on-Trent | Wolverhampton | Derby | Swansea | Southampton | Salford | Aberdeen | Westminster | Portsmouth | York | Peterborough | Dundee | Lancaster | Oxford | Newport | Preston | St Albans | Norwich | Chester | Cambridge | Salisbury | Exeter | Gloucester | Lisburn | Chichester | Winchester | Londonderry | Carlisle | Worcester | Bath | Durham | Lincoln | Hereford | Armagh | Inverness | Stirling | Canterbury | Lichfield | Newry | Ripon | Bangor | Truro | Ely | Wells | St Davids
Book here | Request a Quote