Marg's Man
Member
There's been a few threads recently about the various ways we mangle English in our various dialects.
Here in Australia English is the official language but many people come here, particularly from non-English speaking backgrounds and end up floundering badly because of the Aussie dialect and use of slang. The main dialect is usually called Strine and sounds NOTHING like any other accent. I once saw a movie length episode of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E" in which one the characters was supposed to be an Australian. That (American) actor's mangling of our accent scarred me for life! I have since heard several other English and American actors attempt to imitate our accent with various degrees of success. The standout success is Meryl Streep for her portrayal of Lindy Chamberlain in the movie "Evil Angels". Lindy had a strange mid-Tasman accent having been born in New Zealand and grown up in Australia.
What do other accents sound like to your ears?
Do you think you could understand another one if it is spoken in normal conversation?
My father told of an old Yorkshireman who worked on his sheep station as a jackeroo who used to say "Wahlla larsse 'er art?" He was actually saying "Will I loose her out?" and meaning "Will I release the mare (from her yard)?"
About two years ago the Australian Government decided to add a written exam to the Citizenship test for people wishing to become naturalised. Naturally the jokers quickly produce their own spoof version which included a passage of otherwise genuine Australian 'English'. It looked okay to me so I showed it my very multicultural colleagues at work. We all had a great laugh because just about everyone who had spent less than a decade in Australia struggled with it. Marg & I wondered how you would go as you have been exposed to us for a couple of years now.
Here's the passage from that exam paper. Try it for yourselves. I'll provide a translation the thread goes quiet.
Translate the following passage:
In the arvo last Chrissy the relos rocked up for a barbie, some bevvies and a few snags. After a bit of a we opened the pressies, scoffed all the chockies, bickies and lollies. Then we drained a few tinnies. Mum did her block after Dad and Steve had a barney with a bit of biffo.
Here in Australia English is the official language but many people come here, particularly from non-English speaking backgrounds and end up floundering badly because of the Aussie dialect and use of slang. The main dialect is usually called Strine and sounds NOTHING like any other accent. I once saw a movie length episode of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E" in which one the characters was supposed to be an Australian. That (American) actor's mangling of our accent scarred me for life! I have since heard several other English and American actors attempt to imitate our accent with various degrees of success. The standout success is Meryl Streep for her portrayal of Lindy Chamberlain in the movie "Evil Angels". Lindy had a strange mid-Tasman accent having been born in New Zealand and grown up in Australia.
What do other accents sound like to your ears?
Do you think you could understand another one if it is spoken in normal conversation?
My father told of an old Yorkshireman who worked on his sheep station as a jackeroo who used to say "Wahlla larsse 'er art?" He was actually saying "Will I loose her out?" and meaning "Will I release the mare (from her yard)?"
About two years ago the Australian Government decided to add a written exam to the Citizenship test for people wishing to become naturalised. Naturally the jokers quickly produce their own spoof version which included a passage of otherwise genuine Australian 'English'. It looked okay to me so I showed it my very multicultural colleagues at work. We all had a great laugh because just about everyone who had spent less than a decade in Australia struggled with it. Marg & I wondered how you would go as you have been exposed to us for a couple of years now.
Here's the passage from that exam paper. Try it for yourselves. I'll provide a translation the thread goes quiet.
Translate the following passage:
In the arvo last Chrissy the relos rocked up for a barbie, some bevvies and a few snags. After a bit of a we opened the pressies, scoffed all the chockies, bickies and lollies. Then we drained a few tinnies. Mum did her block after Dad and Steve had a barney with a bit of biffo.
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