Are there regional accents that can be detected? I know a handful of Australians but all are from the Sydney area or Queensland. They all sound the same to me, and their words are usually crisp sounding with some tonal inflection.
I ask as from time to time I come across an Australian nature show on EXP 2 hosted by two young lads in their mid 20's. One is fine, but the other is enough to make you take a sawed off 12 gauge shotgun to your TV set. Everything he says is nasal and all of his words are drawn out to the extreme. He actually makes my skin crawl, and I simply turn off what would otherwise be a very interesting and educational show about Australian nature and geography.
I don't know how Producers can let someone like this host a show shown internationally. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Yes Pete
there are regional differences but not much. There are classic pronunication differences in
saying 'dance' in Victoria and South Australia and is said as Da(r)nce in NSW and Qld as in America.
Castle in NSW is usually ca(r)stle but in the south is 'Cas(s)tle' as in America. Much pronunication is based on the mix of British and Irish migrants in each of the original colonies.
There is a greater difference between country and city and of course education.
The country drawl is more extended and nasal than the city. More vernacular as well.
then again some will 'bung on' the 'Ocker' accent to be 'interesting'.
Of course others have varying opinions.
I too cringe at times where I when hear Aussie accents outside their normal environment, such as in Thailand amongst other English accents.
(But I still have great trouble with Indian accents,( golly gee yes)
Arcadian wrote:And as for that lady Prime Minister
At the risk of stirring up the Welsh, she was born in Wales!
And she is DEFINAITLY no lady.
I think she has an awful accent...not posh aussie at all....more Neighbours
The "posh" aussie is not like the "Redneck" accent (Dame Edna)
Siani
Redneck refers to rural racist low class Americans (Pete can correct if I am wrong)
Dear Dame Edna parodies the suburban Mrs Buckets (Bouquets) of Ostrayian city suburbs.
Check out this Youtube clip for an example of sending up all that is wrong in Austrlalian speech-- extreme language warning
(Incidently most of the 'stars' of this TV show are children of non English speaking migrants and so accents are even more distorted English.
[/quote]
Siani
Redneck refers to rural racist low class Americans (Pete can correct if I am wrong)
Dear Dame Edna parodies the suburban Mrs Buckets (Bouquets) of Ostrayian city suburbs.
Check out this Youtube clip for an example of sending up all that is wrong in Austrlalian speech-- extreme language warning
(Incidently most of the 'stars' of this TV show are children of non English speaking migrants and so accents are even more distorted English. [/quote]
Jimbob, I did not realise the term was racist, my apologies. If it came over as racist, it was not intentional. I would not dream of saying anything racist at all, as I am not one. I have just "Googled" the term I used, I had I really understood what it meant would not have used it. I am not sending up Australian accents. In the time I lived in Queensland, some people (not all) spoke with very "strong" accents. I do think the Prime minister does have a very monotone accent. I would say this of anyone who spoke like this in any country, not just Oz.
We had "Boyo" Neil Kinnock here in the UK at one time. I am welsh and think that some welsh people have terrible accents. I do not take offence when people take the Mickey of it. Sometimes the Scots need subtitles to get understood, it is a fact. I know Australians use the word Abo/Abbo an awful lot, maybe they do not realise that it is offensive to some people? According to Wikipedia "Abo" is still considered quite offensive by many.
Anyway, sorry hope I am forgiven, no offence was indented
Siani
Politically correct now to say Korri not "Ab** in NSW and more respectful.
Getting back to Pete's question, I can detect many regional differences in Australian accents. Korri accents are also easily noticed as you may remember.
'
(my Thai girlfriend is constantly telling me which region the local thais come from, or what province by their accent. 'Voice' carries so many subtle messages about who we are. )
[quote="Jimbob"]Siani
Politically correct now to say Korri not "Ab** in NSW and more respectful.
quote]
I personally do not find the A word offensive. It is only a shortened version of the actual word. I think that things get blown up out of proportion. The Parkistan community in the UK are nicknamed the P word. The welsh Taffy, the scottish people Scots or Jocks. The americans Yanks, New Zealand Kiwis etc. I really do not think it is an offence. The Australians call us Poms..when I was in Oz my neighbour had a T shirt with a slogan on the front "Grow your own dope, plant a POM!" I was not offended.
I think I may be off topic but there are loads of names the Aboriginal people:
Koori (or Koorie) in New South Wales and Victoria (Victorian Aborigines)
Ngunnawal in the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding areas of New South Wales
Murri in Queensland and some parts of northern New South Wales
Murrdi in Southwest and Central Queensland
Nyungar in southern Western Australia
Yamatji in central Western Australia
Wangai in the Western Australian Goldfields
Nunga in southern South Australia
Anangu in northern South Australia, and neighbouring parts of Western Australia and Northern Territory
Yapa in western central Northern Territory
Yolngu in eastern Arnhem Land (NT)
Tiwi on Tiwi Islands off Arnhem Land.
Anindilyakwa on Groote Eylandt off Arnhem Land
Palawah (or Pallawah) in Tasmania.
Some Australian accents are really nice, it is like anywhere...there are good and bad accents in all countries.
BTW when I used the R word earlier I may have meant "Ocker"..or the O word Maybe a litlle like Crocodile Dundee?
Jimbob wrote:Siani
Politically correct now to say Koori not "Ab** in NSW and more respectful.
quote]
Some Australian accents are really nice, it is like anywhere...there are good and bad accents in all countries.
BTW when I used the R word earlier I may have meant "Ocker"..or the O word Maybe a litlle like Crocodile Dundee?[/color]
Australian vernacuar is some times referred to as 'strine', but ultimately so much vernacular and pronunication, or lack of it, is derived from the British isles. I live in the Hunter valley which in the 19th century had a huge influx of coal miners from Wales and England. E.G. 'Crib' is a common term for feed time at work: even in some offices.
Jimbob wrote:Siani
Politically correct now to say Koori not "Ab** in NSW and more respectful.
quote]
Some Australian accents are really nice, it is like anywhere...there are good and bad accents in all countries.
BTW when I used the R word earlier I may have meant "Ocker"..or the O word Maybe a litlle like Crocodile Dundee?[/color]
Australian vernacuar is some times referred to as 'strine', but ultimately so much vernacular and pronunication, or lack of it, is derived from the British isles. I live in the Hunter valley which in the 19th century had a huge influx of coal miners from Wales and England. E.G. 'Crib' is a common term for feed time at work: even in some offices.
Crib? That a new one on me Jimbob..not heard that one in the UK. On for a baby cot or when you copy someone's work at school. Yes I agree a lot of Australians have British ancestors.
You live and learn
Pete 
amongst other English accents. 
extreme language warning 