The War of Words - Is Strine Dying?
April 6th 2009 20:31
When 'blokes' were your mates and NOT your 'buddies'.
And anyone caught saying 'howya doin' rather than simply "g'day" would be immediately howled down as being all things unpatriotic?
When everyone knew what you were talking about when you talked about having a "Barry Crocker" or that your 'dog's eye' needed bit of 'dead horse' .
Contrasted to the US, the foundations of Australian English were in the prison system linked primarily to our convict heritage designed to both unite and disguise their language so that no one would know what they were talking about.
As a legacy, the contemporary Australian dialect, or Strine, is littered with idioms, similes and invented words that make it one of the world's most advanced English dialects.
Although speakers of American English struggle to understand English speakers from outside of America, speakers of Strine can understand everyone, or confuse everyone if they so desire.
But is 'strine' dying?
Is Aussie humour dying?
In an attempt to show our 'cultural evolution' are Australian's simply swapping cultural cringe for cultural cringe?
Or am I on my "Pat Malone" on this one?
What say you my China Plates?
Still confused - try this link
Click Here
For the rest of us - who understand that a battered sav can sometimes mean more than a savaloy wrapped in batter and that Roy and HG epitomise all things good about being an Aussie - enjoy!
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
im sure other countries think we walk around saying strewth or crikey all day *cringe*
although i will concede a couple of americanisms i dont like:
sidewalk (should be footpath)
trunk (should be boot)
hood (should be bonnet)
wrench (should be spanner)
diaper (should be nappy)
pacifier (should be dummy)
elevator (should be lift)
cell (should be mobile)
gas (should be petrol)
bangs (should be fringe)
pocketbook (should be handbag)
panties (should be undies)
Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling
Potter in a Harry
Just cos he's not a poof, Morgan doesn't like him.
Give me Two Hands over Priscilla any day.
Morgan's so crooked she could hide behind a corkscrew.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
How about 'movie' (what was wrong with "film"?)
or truck (is "lorry" on the way out?)
Yep - so many examples - in fact some monsters have been out of the cupboard so long that I fear they will never find their way back.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Such a turn of phrase - such a way with words - how to win friends and influence people.
Mind you - Two Hands was a great film - or should that be movie?
Comment by samaritan
Samaritan's Stories
But I do have slightly more faith that the Australian language is not going to completely be Americanised, after last night. I took my seven year old son out for dinner. On the menu, it said that all meals came with fries. (Okay, that's pretty annoying.) But then my son very nicely explained to me that fries were chips. I'm glad he still thinks fries is such a foreign word, that I needed him to translate!
Samaritan
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Did he want fries with that?
Did the cashier insist that you "have a nice day".
Next thing you know we'll be calling scones - biscuits and biscuits - cookies. Or would that confuse those who don't want them downloaded to their computers?
Good on Master 7 - he's obviously has a fine father.
Comment by samaritan
Samaritan's Stories
Samaritan.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Sorry
Comment by Damo
Barry McKenzie is not.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Comment by Wilson Pon
Health 2 Know
Adventure Toes
boxing sound
Business Rope
Fun Places 2 Travel
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Comment by Damo
Comment by Michelle Sweeney
Competition Queen
And I agree with Morgan - panties to me is such a dirty word!!
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Glad that you enjoyed it.
Did you perform a "hello boys" with overhead pike while you were there?
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Speak real soon
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
So where does Dame Edna sit in the crowd?
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
I remember being in San Francisco years ago waiting for a trolley car near Union Square when amidst the bustle of the street scape I heard an Aussie in regular conversation . . . it was like finding a long lost brother!
Didn't know them from a bar of soap - but how good did it make you feel - a slice of home amid midweek chaos.
Thanks for stopping by
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
my computer went berko last night before i saved ya digits, had to buy a new a/c adapter cord . . . dramas!
but you are the very next item on my list!