Lyla Lindsey
The Australian accent has evolved from a range of influences, including the language of Indigenous Australians, the various dialects of British settlers, and the linguistic evolution of the Australian English language. The Australian accent, or General Australian, emerged in the 19th century and is the dominant variety across the continent, particularly in urban areas. The accent has been influenced by the dialects of South East England, including Cockney, and the speech patterns of early colonists, who were exposed to a wide range of dialects. The evolution of the Australian accent can be attributed to the internal migration of early settlers, the influence of the media, and the country's strong sense of national identity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of emergence | 19th century |
| Influencing factors | Dialects from across the British Isles, including Cockney, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh |
| Influencing factors | Aboriginal languages |
| Influencing factors | Languages of later immigrant groups, such as Afro-Asiatic languages, Asian languages, Samoan, Lebanese, and Vietnamese |
| Regional variations | Minor differences, with some regional markers, e.g., young people from Victoria may say "Malbourne" for Melbourne |
| Social variations | Broad (classic "strine"), General (spoken by most people), and Cultivated (spoken by the well-to-do) |
| Social variations | Older Australians use older forms of the language |
| Social variations | Formal accents are often frowned upon as affected and artificial |
| Social variations | Australian English is moving towards the centre of the "broadness continuum," with younger speakers increasingly using the General type |
| Social variations | Australian English is becoming more accepted as the standard form of English in the country |
| Social variations | Australian English may function as an overarching term for various dialectal types, rather than a descriptor for a single accent |
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What You'll Learn
Influence of British and Irish dialects
The Australian accent, or Australian English, emerged from a process called "levelling down". When European settlers first arrived in Australia in 1788, they came from a range of different dialect areas across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. To communicate with each other, they levelled their different ways of speaking, creating a new dialect.
The dialects of South East England, including the traditional Cockney dialect of London, were particularly influential in the development of Australian English. The early colonists also included a large number of Irish speakers, who made up 25% of the convict population. The suffix "-o", which is used in Australian English to create diminutives and hypocorisms (e.g. "arvo" for "afternoon"), originates from the Irish "ó".
The Australian accent was further shaped by population movements within the country, including the shift from country to coastal towns, and the stock industry and gold rushes. These internal migrations helped to spread a consistent accent across the country, with only slight regional variations.
Australian English has continued to evolve since its early development. It has been influenced by the language of Indigenous people, thieves' cant, and military terms. The accent has also been influenced by the desire of younger generations to express their identity independently from the previous generation.
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Aboriginal influence
The Australian accent, or "General Australian", has evolved from a mix of different factors, including Aboriginal influence.
Firstly, it's important to note that there is a range of accents within Australia itself, including Aboriginal English, which varies across different parts of the country. There is said to be a stereotypical Aboriginal accent, particularly noticeable in older generations and those from remote areas. Despite thousands of years of isolated development, many Indigenous Australian languages share a similar cadence and sound. This may be due to colonialist policies that homogenized the language of different Indigenous groups, modern Western influences, or the slower pace of life in traditional communities.
Secondly, while the Aboriginal influence on the Australian accent is a subject of debate, there are a few ways in which it has had an impact. Aboriginal languages have contributed numerous words to Australian English, such as "kangaroo", "galah", and "goanna". Additionally, some linguists argue that Aboriginal languages have influenced the phonology or sound system of Australian English, although this is a more complex question. In certain communities, people may adopt a more Aboriginal accent, but this is generally because the community is primarily Aboriginal, and the dominant accent is Aboriginal English.
Finally, it's worth mentioning that the Australian accent is not static and has changed over time. The standard variety of English across Australia, General Australian, emerged during the 19th century and became prominent through its use on radio and television in the latter half of the 20th century. The accent has also been influenced by various dialects from across the British Isles, particularly the Cockney dialect of London, due to the significant number of early convicts and colonists from that region.
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Gradual mutation from original settlers
The Australian accent, or General Australian, emerged during the 19th century. It is a result of the intermingling of various dialects and accents from different parts of the British Isles, as well as the influence of Aboriginal languages. The children of the early colonists were exposed to a multitude of dialects, including those from South East England, London's Cockney dialect, Ireland, the Scottish Highlands, and Wales. This mix of accents and the need to communicate effectively led to the creation of a new dialect, which evolved over time.
The early days of the colony in Sydney, established in 1788, marked the beginning of the Australian English accent. The children born into this new colony were exposed to a diverse range of dialects, primarily from the southeast of England. These colonial children crafted a unique dialect from the accents they heard, influenced by their need to express peer connections. This new dialect was strong enough to withstand the influence of subsequent waves of settlers.
The internal migration within the early colonial period played a significant role in spreading the accent across the country. The consistent accent across Australia, with slight regional variations, can be attributed to the movement of people from rural areas to coastal towns. This mobility allowed the accent to reach different corners of the nation, creating a sense of national identity that superseded local or state-based identities.
The Australian accent has evolved due to external factors such as social and political changes and internal influences like linguistic and phonetic shifts. The desire of younger generations to express their identity independently from their predecessors also contributes to accent changes. The work of academics like Alex Mitchell and Arthur Delbridge, who analysed the speech of Australian teenagers in the 1950s and 1960s, provides valuable insights into the evolution of the Australian accent.
The influence of Aboriginal languages on the Australian accent is also noteworthy. Certain words, such as "kangaroo," "galah," and "goanna," have been adopted into Australian English. Additionally, the casual and relaxed nature of Australian culture has shaped the accent, tolerating many informal conversational phonetic processes. The accent has shifted towards the centre of the broadness continuum, with most younger speakers adopting the General Australian variety.
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The 'foundation accent'
The foundation accent is a term used to describe the Australian accent that was established in the first fifty years of settlement, from 1788 to the 1830s. During this period, new words were adopted from Aboriginal languages and English to describe the Australian environment, particularly its flora and fauna. This process of linguistic imposition is common in colonial societies.
The foundation accent is characterised by uniformity, with native-born Australians across all classes speaking with the same accent. This is in contrast to the United States, where various provincial dialects exist. The foundation accent was also free from the strong dialectal features that were present in the speech of European settlers.
Some linguists argue that the foundation accent was a variant of Broad Australian, while others believe it was more similar to the General Australian accent spoken today. The General Australian accent is now considered mainstream, while Broad Australian is rarely heard outside of advertising or iconic contexts. Cultivated Australian, which was once the socially prestigious accent, has declined in usage.
The Australian accent has evolved since the time of the foundation accent, with new words and turns of phrase being added over time. Despite this evolution, the foundation accent laid the groundwork for the modern-day Australian accent, and it continues to be an important part of Australian culture and identity.
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Accent as a marker of identity
The Australian English accent is a unique dialect that has evolved over time, reflecting the country's history and cultural diversity. It serves as a marker of Australian identity and has been influenced by various factors, including immigration, indigenous languages, and social changes.
The foundation of the Australian accent can be traced back to the late 18th century with the arrival of European settlers, particularly from the British Isles. The early colonists spoke a range of dialects, including Cockney, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh. As these diverse groups interacted and settled across the country, their accents blended, and a new dialect emerged, particularly among the native-born children of the colonists. This process, known as "levelling down," led to the creation of a distinct Australian accent.
Over time, the Australian accent continued to evolve and spread across the country. Population movements, such as the shift from country to coastal towns, played a significant role in disseminating the accent. The increasing use of the General Australian accent in radio and television since the latter half of the 20th century also contributed to its dominance across the continent. Today, the General Australian accent serves as the standard variety of English in the country, with minor regional variations.
The Australian accent is characterised by distinct features, such as the use of diminutives and hypocorisms like "arvo" (afternoon), "barbie" (barbecue), and "Aussie" (Australian). The casual and relaxed nature of Australian culture is reflected in the accent, which often favours informal conversational styles. Additionally, the final particle "but" at the end of sentences is a distinctive trait in Australian English, particularly in Western Australia and Queensland.
Despite the consistency of the Australian accent across the country, there are subtle regional variations. For example, young people from Victoria may pronounce "Melbourne" as "Malbourne," and their pronunciation of "salary" and "celery" may differ from other regions. These regional markers provide clues to the origin of the speaker without creating a strong sense of state-based identity, as Australians generally have a stronger sense of national identity.
In conclusion, the Australian accent has evolved from a diverse range of influences and has become a marker of Australian identity. It continues to change over time, reflecting the dynamic nature of language and the cultural shifts within Australian society. The study of Australian English provides valuable insights into the country's history, cultural exchange, and the unique identity that has emerged over the past two centuries.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian accent emerged following the arrival of European settlers in 1788. The children of these settlers were exposed to a wide range of dialects, mainly from the South East of England, and created a new dialect out of the raw ingredients of the accents they heard around them.
Australians use diminutives and hypocorisms, such as "arvo" for afternoon, "barbie" for barbecue, and "smoko" for cigarette break. They also use incomplete comparisons like "sweet as", and intensifiers like "full", "fully", or "heaps".
The Australian accent has evolved since its early days, with a shift from broad and cultivated forms to a more standardised General Australian accent. This shift was influenced by the prominence of the General Australian accent on radio and television since the latter half of the 20th century.
The Australian accent has some similarities to the Cockney accent of London and other English dialects. However, it has evolved into a unique variety of English with distinct pronunciation and vocabulary.
While the Australian accent is relatively uniform across the country, there are some regional variations. For example, young people from Victoria may say "Malbourne" for Melbourne, and their pronunciation of "salary" and "celery" may differ from other regions.
