Lexi Webster
The Australian and New Zealand accents are often confused with each other, especially by non-native English speakers. However, mistaking one for the other is considered a faux pas, similar to mistaking a Canadian accent for an American one. While the two accents are similar, there are distinct differences. For example, the New Zealand accent has a chain shift where the TRAP vowel has moved up to the place of the traditional DRESS vowel, which in turn has moved up towards the traditional KIT vowel, which in turn is centralized. This makes bat sound like bet, bet sound like bit, and bit sound like but to foreign ears. Additionally, the New Zealand accent has influenced the spelling of certain words, such as fiord instead of fjord, and the use of macrons in words borrowed from Māori, such as Māori instead of Maori.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Similarities | The Australian and New Zealand accents are similar to the untrained ear. |
| Both accents are non-rhotic, meaning they drop the "r" sound in words ending in "r". | |
| Both accents have similar vowel sounds, with the PALM vowel (long A) being common in both. | |
| The accents have similar abbreviations and slang terms. | |
| Differences | New Zealanders pronounce "I" as a "u" sound, so "fish" becomes "fush". |
| New Zealanders pronounce "e" as an "i" sound, so "yes" becomes "yis". | |
| New Zealanders maintain the /ʍ/ ~ /w/ distinction, where "which" and "witch" are not homophones. | |
| New Zealanders use “fiord” instead of "fjord", unlike most other English-speaking countries. | |
| New Zealanders use “jandals” for flip flops, while Australians say “thongs”. | |
| New Zealanders use “chilly bin” for a portable cooler, while Australians say “esky”. |
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What You'll Learn
The vowels
The New Zealand and Australian accents are often considered similar, especially to those unfamiliar with them. However, there are some differences in the pronunciation of vowels.
One source states that the New Zealand accent is somewhat similar to the South African accent, where the vowels have shifted, causing "A" sounds to become "e", "e" sounds to become "i", "i" sounds to become "u", and "o" sounds to stay the same. Another source provides an example of this: the word "fish" sounds like "fush" to a New Zealander, and "yes" sounds like "yis".
Another source notes that the New Zealand English (NZE) accent is the result of similar developments in dialects due to contributions from English, Scottish, and Irish dialects. The variety of English that had the biggest influence on the development of NZE was Australian English, which itself was influenced by Southeastern England English, Scottish, and Hiberno-English.
Linguists have proposed two theories to explain the similarities between the Australian and New Zealand accents: the “Mixing Bowl” theory and the “Single Origin” theory. The Mixing Bowl theory suggests that the new accent evolved from the mixture of accents and dialects of original immigrants to both New Zealand and Australia. On the other hand, the Single Origin theory proposes that Kiwis and Aussies are both descended from a particular variety of British English, and since they had similar immigrant groups, their accents are similar.
While the Australian and New Zealand accents may have similarities, mistaking one for the other can be considered a faux pas.
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Abbreviations
The New Zealand and Australian accents are often considered close, but mistaking one for the other is generally discouraged. While the untrained ear may find it challenging to distinguish between the two, there are notable differences in vowel pronunciation and unique slang or abbreviations that set them apart.
Vowel Pronunciation
New Zealand English (NZE) exhibits a chain shift in vowels. Specifically, the "TRAP" vowel shifts towards the "DRESS" vowel, causing "bat" to sound like "bet". Subsequently, the "DRESS" vowel moves towards the "KIT" vowel, resulting in "bet" sounding like "bit", and "bit" resembling "but". This chain shift is a distinctive feature of NZE. Additionally, the "I" sound in NZE tends towards "U", so "fish" may sound like "fush", and "E" may sound more like "I", transforming "yes" into "yis".
In contrast, Australian English maintains the /ʍ/ ~ /w/ distinction, where "which" and "witch" are not homophones. Australian English also has distinct short and long vowel categories, with certain vowels differing only by length.
Slang and Abbreviations
Both countries have developed unique slang and abbreviations that contribute to the differentiation of their accents. Australians are known for abbreviating words, such as referring to the "afternoon" as "arvo" and "thongs" as "thongs". New Zealanders, on the other hand, have their own set of slang terms, like "jandals" for flip-flops and "chilly bin" for a portable cooler.
Theories of Accent Similarities
Linguists have proposed two central theories to explain the similarities between the Australian and New Zealand accents: the Mixing Bowl theory and the Single Origin theory. The Mixing Bowl theory attributes the similarities to the mixing of accents and dialects of original immigrants from various regions, including Australia, England, Ireland, and Scotland. On the other hand, proponents of the Single Origin theory suggest that both accents descended from a particular variety of British English, given the similar immigrant groups that settled in these countries.
Influence of Indigenous Languages
The influence of Indigenous languages, such as Māori in New Zealand and Aboriginal languages in Australia, has also played a role in shaping the unique vocabulary and pronunciation of each country's English variant.
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Theories of origin
The Australian and New Zealand accents have many similarities, but also distinct differences. Linguists have proposed two central theories to explain the similarities: the “Mixing Bowl” theory and the “Single Origin” theory.
The Mixing Bowl theory suggests that the New Zealand and Australian accents evolved from the mixture of accents and dialects of original immigrants to both countries. The first English-speaking settlers of New Zealand were Australian, and later settlers were mainly British, with some also from Ireland and Scotland. The New Zealand accent first appeared in towns with mixed populations of immigrants from these countries. The variety of English that had the biggest influence on the development of the New Zealand accent was Australian English, which itself was derived from Southeastern England English, with considerable influence from Scottish and Hiberno-English, and lesser influences from Received Pronunciation (RP) and American English.
The Single Origin theory, on the other hand, proposes that Kiwis and Aussies are both descended from a particular variety of British English. Since they had similar immigrant groups, their accents must be similar.
Despite these similarities, there are some key differences between the New Zealand and Australian accents. Australians tend to pronounce their vowels with more emphasis on the "ee" sound, while New Zealanders make more prominent "u" sounds. For example, Australians might say "feesh and cheeps" for "fish and chips," while New Zealanders might say something closer to "fush and chups." Australians also tend to shorten and abbreviate their words, such as "brekkie" for breakfast or "Maccas" for McDonald's.
The New Zealand accent has been recognised as distinct since at least 1912 and was influenced by the adoption of Māori words to describe the unique flora and fauna of New Zealand. The accent was also shaped by the fusion of various regional accents from the British Isles, resulting in a unique blend that became the foundation of modern New Zealand English.
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Slang
The New Zealand and Australian accents are often considered similar, especially to those unfamiliar with the nuances. However, mistaking one for the other is considered a faux pas. The two accents differ in their vowel pronunciations, and New Zealanders are said to have a softer and less pronounced accent compared to Australians.
Both countries have their own slang, and Australians are known to abbreviate words, such as "afternoon barbecue", which becomes "arvo barbie", and "breakfast", shortened to "brekkie". Here are some other examples of Australian slang:
- "Thongs" for flip-flops
- "Esky" for a portable cooler
- "Snags" for sausages
- "Runnin' " or "cryin' " instead of "running" or "crying"
New Zealanders also have their own slang:
- "Jandals" for flip-flops
- "Chilly bin" for a portable cooler
- "Tramping" for hiking
- "Bushed" for lost or bewildered
- "Chunder" to vomit
- "Maccas" for McDonald's
While there are unique slang words and phrases in each country, some terms are used interchangeably, such as "G'day mate" in Australia and "Kia ora" in New Zealand, both used as friendly greetings.
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Spelling
The New Zealand and Australian accents are often considered similar, especially to those unfamiliar with them. However, mistaking one for the other can be a faux pas, as there are distinct differences.
One of the most notable differences is the pronunciation of vowels. New Zealanders are said to pronounce the "'I' sound more like a 'U'", so that "fish" sounds like "fush", and the "'E' sound more like an 'I'", so that "yes" sounds like "yis". This chain shift of vowels is an identifiable feature of New Zealand English, where the TRAP vowel has moved up to the place of the traditional DRESS vowel, which in turn has moved up towards the traditional KIT vowel, which is centralised. This makes "bat" sound like "bet", "bet" sound like "bit", and "bit" sound like "but" to foreign ears. For example, "six" is pronounced [səks] in New Zealand English but [sɪks] in Australian English.
Another difference is in the spelling of certain words. In New Zealand English, it is acceptable to use either the -ise or -ize suffix, with -ise taking precedence over several decades. In contrast, Australian English strictly uses -ise. Additionally, New Zealand favours "fiord" over "fjord", unlike most other English-speaking countries. When spelling words borrowed from Māori, New Zealand English can use either macrons or not (e.g. "Maori" and "Māori" are both accepted spellings).
The similarities between the accents can be explained by two central theories. The Mixing Bowl theory suggests that the accents evolved from a mixture of accents and dialects of original immigrants to both countries, which included settlers from Australia, England, Ireland, and Scotland. The Single Origin theory, on the other hand, proposes that both accents are descended from a particular variety of British English, as they had similar immigrant groups.
In conclusion, while the New Zealand and Australian accents may sound similar to the untrained ear, there are distinct differences in vowel pronunciation and spelling that set them apart.
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Frequently asked questions
No, they are different accents. However, to the untrained ear, they may sound similar.
Linguists have proposed two central theories to explain the similarities: the "Mixing Bowl" theory and the "Single Origin" theory. The former suggests that the new accent evolved from the mixture of accents and dialects of original immigrants to both New Zealand and Australia. The latter proposes that Kiwis and Aussies are both descended from a particular variety of British English.
The difference lies in the pronunciation of vowels. With a New Zealand accent, the 'I' sound becomes more like a 'U' sound, so 'fish' becomes 'fush', and the 'E' sound becomes more like an 'I' sound, so 'yes' becomes 'yis'.
Yes, there are differences in spelling and slang. For instance, in Australian English, 'organise' is spelled 'organize', whereas in New Zealand English, either spelling is acceptable. In terms of slang, Aussies tend to shorten words, so an afternoon barbecue becomes an 'arvo barbie'.
