Ruqayyah Snyder
Australian English is full of slang and has a variety of accents. The three main varieties of Australian English are broad, general, and cultivated. The “broad” accent is the most recognizable to non-Australian English speakers, with a slower speech pattern and a more nasal tone. The “general” accent is the most common and is especially prominent in urban areas. The “cultivated” accent has been associated with high social class or education. Australian English also varies depending on the region and cultural background of the speaker. To speak aggressively like an Australian, one might adopt a more assertive tone and use slang words such as aggro for aggressive or habib for a male who asserts himself aggressively. Additionally, Australians are known for their laid-back and casual attitude, which is reflected in their use of casual words and phrases such as reckon and g'day, mate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Slang | "G'day, mate", "How ya goin'?", "barbie" (barbeque), outback, Fosters, shrimp, prawn, Maccas (McDonald's), champers (champagne), preggers (pregnant), totes (totally), probs (probably), dins (dinner), soz (sorry), appaz (apparently), biz (business), coz (because) |
| Accent | Closer to British English than American English, "No" sounds like "nar", drop the "t"s off the end of words, "right" sounds like "roigh", "No way, mate" sounds like "No w-ay-e m-aye-ght", "that hat" sounds like "theht heht", chew words before speaking them, don't annunciate, don't open the mouth too much, words blend together, intrusive "r" |
| Tone | Nasal, smile when speaking, friendly |
| Speech | Lazy, sentences flow together, ends of words are indistinguishable or cut off, abbreviate everything, shorten words, end words with "y", "o" or "a" sounds, say "me" instead of "my", use filler words like "mate" |
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What You'll Learn
- Use a questioning inflection, turning statements into questions
- Adopt a nasal tone by widening your mouth and lifting the back of your tongue
- Abbreviate words, like breakfast to brekkie and afternoon to arvo
- Drop the g on words ending with -ing, like surfin' this arvo
- Use slang and casual language, like reckon instead of think
Use a questioning inflection, turning statements into questions
The Australian accent is known for its upward inflection, or the "high-rising terminal", which often turns statements into questions. This phenomenon is also known as the Australian Question Intonation (AQI) or uptalk.
To achieve this questioning inflection, try raising the pitch of your voice towards the end of sentences. This technique is thought to implicitly ask the listener to confirm their understanding of what has been said. For example, a statement like "I think we should choose the left-hand turn" could have a hidden meaning, such as "Do you also think we should choose the left-hand turn?"
The high-rising terminal is not unique to Australian English and can be found in other dialects, including Irish-English and American English. However, it has become associated with Australian due to its prominence in the country's speech and its influence on British television, particularly through the soap opera Neighbours.
While some perceive the upward inflection as a sign of insecurity or emotional weakness, others argue that it can be used by powerful people when addressing subordinates. Additionally, it may serve to discourage interruptions by indicating that a speaker has not finished their statement.
When adopting an Australian accent, be mindful that it is not uniform across the country. The "broad" accent, associated with rural locations, is the most recognizable to non-Australian English speakers due to its slower speech pattern and more pronounced nasal tone.
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Adopt a nasal tone by widening your mouth and lifting the back of your tongue
To speak aggressively like an Australian, it's important to note that the Australian language is laid-back and casual, with sentences flowing together and the ends of words indistinguishable or cut off. Now, to adopt a nasal tone, you must widen your mouth, which will lift the back of your tongue. This technique is also known as the "Medial Squeeze". Here's how to do it:
Place your tongue wide and relaxed on the floor of your mouth. This is the starting position. Now, using your right hand, place your thumb on the outside of the right side of your tongue and your index finger on the outside of the left side. Pinch your thumb and finger together so that your tongue is squeezed towards the midline. Your tongue should now be narrow and boxy, humping upward in the middle.
To release the squeeze, simply widen your mouth, allowing your tongue to return to its relaxed, wide position. This movement will help lift the back of your tongue, creating that desired nasal tone. Practice this movement, repeating sequences of wide and narrow tongue positions. This exercise is called the "Hee-Haw" exercise: say "Hee" when your tongue is wide, and "Haw" when it's squeezed narrow.
Once you can easily and voluntarily widen your tongue, incorporate this movement into your speech practice. Remember, when speaking with an Australian accent, your mouth should be relaxed and open, with your lips wide across your face. This will help you achieve that Aussie sound!
Additionally, to enhance your aggressive Australian speech, focus on chewing your words. Aussies don't annunciate like Americans; their words blend together. So, drop the "t"s from the ends of words, soften the "a" sound, and transform the "ah" sound into an "eh" sound. Practice speaking with a smile, raising the pitch of your voice at the ends of words, and incorporating slang and abbreviations. Listen to native Australian speakers and mimic their speech patterns and facial expressions.
By following these instructions and practicing, you'll be well on your way to talking aggressively like an Australian!
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Abbreviate words, like breakfast to brekkie and afternoon to arvo
Australians are known for their laid-back and casual use of the English language, which involves a lot of slang and abbreviations.
Australians tend to abbreviate everything, and one of the more common forms of Australian abbreviation is to chop off the last half of a word and replace it with an "a". For example, "breakfast" becomes "brekkie" and "afternoon" becomes "arvo". Other examples include "barbie" (barbecue), "lappy" (laptop), "footy" (Australian rules football), "selfie" (self-portrait), and "mozzie" (mosquito).
Another common abbreviation style is to use the first letter or first few letters of a word, such as "app" for "appendix", "vol" for "volume", "cont" for "continued", "p" for "page", and "para" for "paragraph". These types of abbreviations are typically used in tables or charts where space is limited, and it's important to provide a note with the full form of the word to avoid confusion.
In addition to abbreviations, Australians also blend words, such as "gotta" ("got to"), "gonna" ("going to"), and "shoulda" ("should have"). They also tend to drop the "t" from the ends of words, so "right" becomes "roigh", and the "a" sound often becomes like an "i", so "no way, mate" might sound like "no w-ay-e m-aye-ght".
To speak like an Australian, it's important to listen to native speakers and mimic their speech patterns. Australian English is closer to British English than American English, and there are different accents depending on whether you're in a city or a more rural area. So, if you want to sound like a true Aussie, immerse yourself in their media and culture, and don't be afraid to throw another shrimp on the barbie, mate!
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Drop the g on words ending with -ing, like surfin' this arvo
When it comes to speaking aggressively like an Australian, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Firstly, Australian English is full of slang, and Australians tend to use a lot of abbreviations in their speech. For example, "barbie" for "barbecue", "footy" for "Australian rules football", and "arvo" for "afternoon".
Now, let's focus on your request to "drop the g on words ending with -ing, like surfin' this arvo". This phenomenon is called "G-dropping" and it's quite common in Australian English, especially in casual or colloquial speech. G-dropping refers to the substitution of the 'ng' sound with an 'n' sound at the end of words. So, instead of saying "surfing this afternoon", an Australian might say "surfin' this arvo".
G-dropping is often associated with informal or non-standard speech, and it's a holdover from Old English, where the present participle ended in -ende and the gerund ended in -inge. Over time, these two morphed together, and the 'g' was dropped in certain contexts.
In addition to dropping the 'g' on words ending with -ing, Australians may also exhibit the following speech patterns:
- Intrusive 'r': Sometimes, an 'r' sound is added to words that don't normally have it, especially when a word ending in a vowel is followed by a word that starts with a vowel. For example, "draw it" might sound like "drawer it".
- Nasal tone: Australian English often has a more nasal tone, which can be achieved by widening the mouth and lifting the back of the tongue.
- Slang and abbreviated words: As mentioned before, Australians love their slang and abbreviations. This could be something like saying "G'day, mate!" or using "Maccas" instead of "McDonald's".
- Questioning inflection: Australian English is known for its upward inflection, turning statements into questions.
- Dropping 't' sounds: Australians might drop the 't' sound from the ends of words. For example, "right" might sound like "roigh".
Remember, not all Australians speak the same way, and there are different accents and variations within the country. These tips will help you capture a more general Australian aggressiveness in your speech.
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Use slang and casual language, like reckon instead of think
To speak aggressively like an Australian, it's important to embrace slang and casual language. One notable example is the use of "reckon" instead of "think". This substitution is a distinctive feature of Australian English and reflects the country's cultural ties with the UK, where "reckon" is also used. By saying "What'd'ya reckon?" instead of "What do you think?", you're embracing Australian slang and informality.
Using "reckon" in place of "think" is just one example of how Australians tend to favour casual language in their everyday conversations. This preference for informality aligns with the country's reputation for being laid-back and relaxed. Australians are known for their easygoing attitude, and their language reflects this. So, when speaking with an Australian accent, try to mirror this casual tone.
In addition to using "reckon," you can further embrace Australian slang by incorporating words like "brekky" for breakfast, "footy" for football, "G'day" as a greeting, and "mate" when addressing someone. These substitutions are all part of the unique Australian vernacular. Additionally, Australians tend to abbreviate words, so feel free to shorten "breakfast" to "brekky," "afternoon" to "arvo," and "McDonald's" to "Maccas."
Beyond specific slang terms, Australians also exhibit particular speech patterns. They tend to speak quickly, sometimes making it challenging for outsiders to comprehend. They may 'chew' words, skip certain letters, or blend words together. For instance, "got to" becomes "gotta," and "going to" transforms into "gonna." These blended words are a hallmark of Australian speech. So, feel free to embrace the casual, abbreviated, and blended nature of Australian English to sound more like a local.
To enhance your aggressive Australian persona, you can also adopt a more assertive tone and volume in your speech. Australians are known for their directness and confidence in communication. So, project your voice with conviction and embrace the local directness. Remember to maintain a friendly demeanour, as Aussies are renowned for their approachable nature. This combination of assertiveness and friendliness will help you embody the Australian spirit in your speech.
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Frequently asked questions
Use a questioning inflection, turning statements into questions. This is dubbed the Australian Question Intonation.
Widen your mouth, which lifts up the back of your tongue.
Aussies tend to shorten words and then add a vowel, usually an 'o', to the end. For example, "bottle-o" for a bottle shop, "servo" for a service station, and "brolly" for an umbrella.
Call someone a "galah", which is a type of Australian cockatoo that is not very bright, or a "bogan", which means someone is uncouth or uncultured.
Say that you're "rapt".
