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Australian English is full of slang and has a distinct accent. It is the first language of most Australians and has been the de facto national language since British settlement. Australian English has several unique features, including a range of diminutives and hypocoristics, such as arvo for afternoon and barbie for barbecue. Additionally, the past participle of saw is sawn, unlike in American English, where it is sawed. While the right to freedom of speech is not explicitly mentioned in the Australian Constitution, it is taught as a concept in the year 8 civics and citizenship curriculum. Children need to understand that freedom of speech encompasses freedom of opinion or belief and freedom of expression, both of which have certain limitations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Accent | Australian English |
| Slang | G'day, mate, arvo, barbie, heaps good, Maccas, defo, etc. |
| Vocabulary | Ankle biters (children), lounge room (living room), fairy floss (cotton candy), etc. |
| Structure | A good hook, anecdotes, a call to action |
| Topics | Multiculturalism, Australia Day, Welcome to Australia |
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What You'll Learn
Australian English accent and slang
Australian English has its own distinctive accent and vocabulary. While the majority of Australians speak English, about 18% speak a language other than English, such as Italian, Greek, Arabic, and Mandarin. There are also many varieties of Aboriginal languages spoken by a small percentage of Australians.
The Australian accent stands out for its numerous vowel sounds, making it globally distinctive in English. Aussies elongate vowels at the end of words, like "daaey" for "day". In Australian English, the 'R' is often dropped at the end of words, a feature that sets it apart. T's are pronounced differently, starting with emphasis but flapping in the middle, as in 'caddle' for "cattle". Australians and Welsh people tend to end words with a 'v' sound instead of an 'r' sound like other English speakers.
There are three main types of Australian English:
- Formal Australian English: This is quite eloquent and well-enunciated, and is usually spoken by people from the upper classes.
- Normal Australian English: This is a middle-class accent. The nasal accent isn’t as pronounced as the “strayan” accent. People with this accent tend to shorten words and sentences, but not to the same extent as those with a “strayan” accent. They use formal speech when necessary but revert to a more informal style when with family and friends.
- Strayan: This accent features clipped sentences, many euphemisms, and a nasal tone. People with this accent tend to shorten most words, even names, e.g. "Davoe", "Richo", "ScoMo" (the Prime Minister). If they are from rural areas, they tend to speak quite slowly.
Some examples of Australian slang include:
- G'day (hello)
- Good on ya (great job)
- Hard yakka (hard work)
- Holiday (vacation)
- Joey (baby marsupial: kangaroo, koala, wombat)
- Knackered (exhausted)
- Light globe (light bulb)
- Lounge room (living room)
- Mate, Cobber, Buddy, or Pal (common slang for friends)
- Stoked or Rapt (happy)
- Veg out (relax, possibly in front of television)
- Sheila (woman)
- Shark Biscuit (kids at the beach)
- Ankle Biter (child)
- Cracker (great, as in "What a cracker of a day.")
- Footy (Australian rules football or rugby league, depending on the region)
- B.Y.O. (bring your own, usually alcohol or drinks)
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Multiculturalism in Australia
Australia is a country with a rich cultural history and diversity. This means that many different cultures live side-by-side, and people from all over the world come to live and work in Australia.
A long time ago, before the 1830s, the area now known as Victoria was home to 36 Aboriginal communities and language groups. These communities were connected by marriage and kinship. Then, white British settlers arrived, and later, white Europeans too. This was the start of a big change in Australia's culture. Queensland discovered multiculturalism step by step.
After the Second World War, lots of people moved to Australia, and the country's population almost doubled. Many of these people were from Italy, Germany, Greece, and Poland. This was a big change, as before this, most people in Australia were British. By 1961, 8% of people were not from British origin. In 1972, the government changed the rules about immigration and citizenship, so that people could not be treated unfairly because of their race, colour, or where they were from.
Nowadays, about half of the people in Australia were born in another country, or have a parent who was. People in Australia speak lots of different languages, including Italian, Greek, Arabic, and Mandarin, as well as Aboriginal languages. This means that Australia is now one of the world's most multicultural societies!
In a multicultural society, everyone is equal, and all cultures are respected and celebrated. People can share their traditions, food, and customs, and learn about each other's ways of life. It's important to be kind and welcoming to everyone, no matter where they are from.
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Australian Aboriginal English
There are several varieties of AAE, which differ in grammar and pronunciation from standard Australian English. Some words and phrases from AAE have been adopted into colloquial Australian English, such as "G'day" for "hello", "fairy floss" for "cotton candy", and "good on ya" for "great job".
The specific features of AAE vary between regions. For example, in Nyungar country in Perth, Western Australia, AAE includes address terms that reflect kinship relations, uninverted questions (e.g., "That's your Auntie?"), and the use of the tag "unna". In the southern South Australian dialect of AAE, called Nunga English, pronunciation is influenced by the accent of Cornish miners who worked in the area in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
AAE is often accompanied by non-verbal cues, and speakers may change between different forms of AAE depending on their audience, such as striving to speak more like standard Australian English when addressing non-Indigenous English speakers.
Despite the richness and variety of AAE, negative attitudes towards it persist in Australian society, impacting Aboriginal people across legal, health, and educational contexts. There is a need to dispel the myth that AbE or Kriol are forms of "bad English" and to recognise the power of language in the struggle against oppression.
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Australian speech for kids: freedom of expression
G'day everyone! Today, I'm here to talk about freedom of expression in Australia. You might have heard grown-ups talk about it when there are protests on TV or when someone gets in trouble for saying something mean. So, what does freedom of expression mean? Well, it's when we have the right to say what we want, share our ideas, and talk about our beliefs, as long as we don't hurt anyone or break rules that are in place to keep us safe.
Now, you might be thinking, "Wait, I can say whatever I want?" Well, not exactly. We have rules in Australia that protect our right to freedom of expression, but there are also rules that put some limits on it. For example, we can't say things that might hurt someone, spread false information, or cause people to panic or turn violent. Just like when you're driving a car and you have to follow the road rules, even though you have the freedom to drive on the roads. So, when we talk about freedom of expression, we need to understand these limits and respect them.
In Australia, we have many laws and values that protect our freedom of expression. One important one is the right to hold any belief or opinion we want without anyone stopping us. This is called freedom of opinion. We can believe in aliens, that the Earth is flat, or support a certain football team! But we also have the right to express these beliefs and opinions in different ways, like through art, writing, or even protesting. This is where things can get a bit tricky because, while we can express ourselves, we must also respect the rights of others to do the same without causing any harm.
Now, you might have heard about something called the Australian Constitution. This is like a rulebook that explains how our country is run and what rights we have as Australians. Interestingly, the Australian Constitution doesn't have anything that specifically talks about freedom of speech or expression, unlike some other countries. However, our courts have said that we do have an "implied freedom of political communication." This means that the government can't stop us from talking about politics or sharing our ideas about how our country should be run.
Lastly, I want to talk about the importance of freedom of expression in a country like Australia. As I mentioned earlier, we have lots of rules to make sure we stay safe and respect each other's rights. But did you know that in some countries, people aren't allowed to speak their minds or protest? They might get in big trouble for saying something the government doesn't like. In Australia, we value everyone's right to express themselves, and we work hard to make sure that this right is protected. So, the next time you want to share your ideas, remember that you have the freedom to do so, and always think about how your words might impact others. Thank you!
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Australian speech for kids: freedom of opinion
G'day everyone! Today, I'm here to talk about freedom of opinion and what it means for us as Australians. You might have heard people talking about freedom of speech, especially if you've seen the news or been to one of the big protests we've had lately. So, what does it all mean? Well, let's break it down.
First up, freedom of speech is all about being able to say what you want without anyone stopping you. In Australia, we don't have a specific rule in our Constitution that says we have freedom of speech like they do in America. But that doesn't mean we can't speak our minds! We're part of something called the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and this has rules that say we're allowed to have our own opinions and share them with others. This is called freedom of opinion and expression.
Now, here's the tricky part. Just like when you're playing a game, there are rules we have to follow when it comes to speaking our minds. We can't just say anything we want, especially if it might hurt someone else. We're not allowed to say things that are really mean or nasty about someone, cause people to panic, or make them want to hurt others. These are called "limits" to our freedom of expression. So, while we can say what we think, we have to be careful not to break these rules.
You might have also heard about people getting kicked off social media platforms like Twitter. This is a bit different because those companies have their own rules about what people can say. It's like if you had a cool fort in your backyard and you let your friends come and play, but they had to follow your rules. If they didn't, you could tell them to leave! So, while we have the right to say what we think, there are still consequences if we break the rules, just like in a game.
Finally, let's talk about why all of this matters. In Australia, we believe that everyone should be able to share their ideas and beliefs without being interrupted or shut down. This is what makes our country so great! We might not always agree with what someone else is saying, but we can respect their right to say it. So, the next time you hear someone sharing their opinion, remember that it's their right to do so, and it's what makes our country a true democracy! Thank you!
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Frequently asked questions
Australian English is full of slang and has a distinctive accent. Here are some tips to help you give an Australian-style speech:
- Abbreviate words, for example, calling breakfast "brekkie" and McDonald's "Maccas".
- Don't pronounce the "r" at the end of words. For instance, pronounce "river" as "riva".
- Don't pronounce the "g" at the end of words. For example, say "kickin'" instead of "kicking".
- End sentences with "but", "as", "hey", or "aye", like "Why didn't Tommo come to the party, hey?"
- Use "heaps" to mean "very" or "a lot".
- Use "G'day, mate" as a greeting.
- Use humour to engage your audience.
Australians have a lot of unique phrases and words. Here are some common ones:
- Arvo (afternoon)
- Barbie (barbeque)
- Smoko (cigarette break)
- Aussie (Australian)
- Straya (Australia)
- G'day (hello)
- Good on ya (great job)
- Hard yakka (hard work)
- Joey (baby marsupial)
- Kip (nap)
- Knackered (exhausted)
- Lounge room (living room)
While English is the first language of most Australians, about 18% of Australians speak a language other than English. Some of the most common languages spoken in Australia besides English are Italian, Greek, Arabic, and Mandarin. There are also many varieties of Aboriginal languages spoken by a small percentage of Australians.
