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The War of Words - Is Strine Dying?

April 6th 2009 20:31
Australia
Remember (perhaps not) when kids would go to the 'tuck shop' and NOT the oh so Amercianised 'canteen'.

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

April 6th 2009 20:53


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i cant stand that rhyming slang . . . i think its a thing all dads do and all daughters roll their eyes at . . . it just reminds me of Alf Stewart or Bryan Brown, those real cariacatures of aussie men, the sterotypes we all try to disassociate ourselves from

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

April 6th 2009 22:07


Potter in a Harry
Bryan Brown is a great bloke.

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

April 6th 2009 23:05


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Morgan

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

April 6th 2009 23:07


Pop Culturist
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Ah ma Lady . . . .

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

April 7th 2009 03:15


Fringe Faith
Samaritan's Stories
I have a friend who is always speaking in rhyming slang. Usually I can figure out what he means, but sometimes he completely stumps me. But I also have another friend who didn't even know that 'dead horse' meant sauce. (I'm worried that maybe he's a spy or something.)

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

April 7th 2009 03:45


Pop Culturist
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G'day Samaritan

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

April 7th 2009 03:54


Fringe Faith
Samaritan's Stories
Actually, I am divorced from his father. So perhaps the less said about him, the better. I'm his mother!

Samaritan.

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

April 7th 2009 04:05


Pop Culturist
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Should've known - mother's teach you all the good stuff while fathers are notorious for stuffing the good . . .

Sorry

Comment by Damo

April 7th 2009 05:54
Hoges is a God.

Barry McKenzie is not.

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

April 7th 2009 06:21


Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
. . . and Strop?

Comment by Wilson Pon

April 7th 2009 09:13


Health 2 Know
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boxing sound
Business Rope
ROTFLMAO when I watched this video clip, Mr. Nice Guy! lol

Comment by Morgan Bell

April 7th 2009 10:35


Science News
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Movie Train
yeah David is more of a straight up blokey bloke, he liked Bryan Brown in Baz Luhrman's Australia, that was an extremely masculine movie . . . actually David's asking his church to pass the collection plate around so he can buy the Australia limited edition box-set, because its butch . . . and its the only box hes gunna get

Comment by Damo

April 7th 2009 11:09
Strop is okay but Bazza is a yobbo.

Comment by Michelle Sweeney

April 7th 2009 11:47


Competition Queen
Admittedly I have never used the rhyming slang but as someone who has lived abroad for most of their life - I find it so refreshing to hear an aussie abroad!

And I agree with Morgan - panties to me is such a dirty word!!

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

April 7th 2009 23:00


Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Wilson

Glad that you enjoyed it.

Did you perform a "hello boys" with overhead pike while you were there?


Comment by Mr Nice Guy

April 7th 2009 23:04


Pop Culturist
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Now Morgan . . . don't get down in the ditch to play - best you rise above the snipes . . .

Speak real soon


Comment by Mr Nice Guy

April 7th 2009 23:04


Pop Culturist
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Damo

So where does Dame Edna sit in the crowd?

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

April 7th 2009 23:07


Pop Culturist
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Michelle

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

April 8th 2009 09:54


Science News
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haha sorry dad, i cant help it, theyre dragging me down!

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!


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