Is Australia about to descend into civil struggle over whether or not a deep-fried potato snack is rightfully called a “potato cake” or a “potato scallop”? From some latest headlines, you might be forgiven for considering so.
A collection of maps displaying differences in words used across Australia sparked fierce debates online over the virtues of calling a barbecued sausage served in a single slice of bread a “sausage in bread” or a “sausage sandwich”.
Given that these maps were put together as part of an academic exercise for college students taking part within the Linguistics Roadshow, the huge curiosity in the way in which Australian English is used across the country took us unexpectedly. But, maybe it shouldn’t have.
It’s often said that Australian English doesn’t range a lot geographically – and it’s true that we don’t discover the same striking linguistic variations throughout the country as in another corners of the English-speaking world.
However, previous and ongoing analysis has proven that there are some regional variations. Among the most obvious are the phrases folks use for a similar factor, similar to swimwear – preferences for “togs”, “swimmers”, “cossie” or “bathers” range markedly throughout the states and territories.
Words for swimwear round Australia Rosey Billington, Lauren Gawne, Kathleen Jepson, and Jill Vaughan 'Mapping words round Australia' (bit.ly/AusWordsMaps)
Where do these linguistic differences stem from?
Australian English developed from the speech of colonists from various elements of the British Isles, so sometimes the word used in a specific Australian region is the results of one option winning out amongst individuals from completely different British backgrounds.
Others could be derived from the names of people or brands, or borrowed from local Indigenous languages.
Each word has its personal history, however many words throughout the nation have a shared history - that’s what makes these exceptions stand out.
What’s fascinating is simply how neatly a few of this variation strains up with state strains, which suggests that there is something extra than just the historical selections made by colonists or the distance between totally different places contributing to those variations.
Striking examples of this phenomenon can be seen for border towns corresponding to Albury-Wodonga, where a brief walk across the bridge means you’ll hear a majority of people using a unique word for swimwear.
More ‘bathers’ on the Victorian aspect of the border, more ‘swimmers’ on the New South Wales aspect. Rosey Billington, Lauren Gawne, Kathleen Jepson, and Jill Vaughan 'Mapping words round Australia' (bit.ly/AusWordsMaps) Whether you name your swimwear, togs, bathers, swimsuit, budgie smugglers doesn’t matter, the very fact is you must purchase high quality Australian Made chlorine resistant swimwear, if you want your swimwear to be comfy and last.
This is as a result of sure phrases turn out to be strongly related to a regional id.
When there is multiple possibility to choose from, people would possibly use a selected word because it’s the commonest time period in their community, but also because that word indexes a broader group id, corresponding to Victorian versus New South Wales.
Words are notably good at doing this sort of work: they very easily turn out to be identity markers that folks orient to.
Pronunciation differences also can perform in this means: does “dance” rhyme with “aunts” or “pants” for you?
Other sorts of variation can fly under the radar as a result of they’re extra subtle, or part of a change in progress.
Many Australians usually are not conscious, for instance, that in elements of Victoria “celery” is pronounced more like “salary” – hear out for it next time you’re in “Malbourne”!
When we talk we tend to make use of the words, pronunciations and linguistic patterns that we hear most frequently within the communities we live in.
Identity is a dynamic and ongoing course of that we all actively take part in, and we use the variation inherent in language to express who we're at any given second.
What is Australian English?
Australian English can be a broad cover time period for several types of English used throughout the country, including the varieties utilized by totally different Indigenous and ethnocultural teams.
This is cross-cut by the linguistic preferences of people representing different age groups, gender identities, and social and cultural backgrounds, with completely different vocations, interests and networks.
We are part of many communities concurrently and may categorical our belonging in diversified methods.
Someone can be an Australian, a Thai descendent, a soccer participant, a girl, a pupil of medicine, and a Tumblr person, and be very adept at gauging the completely different spaces they take part in and selecting how they want to establish within them.
This is a vital a part of what languages do – they permit us to speak not just info, but something about who we're.
‘Sausage sandwiches’ are most well-liked in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Rosey Billington, Lauren Gawne, Kathleen Jepson, and Jill Vaughan 'Mapping phrases around Australia' So, subsequent time you find yourself arguing about sausage sandwiches versus sausages in bread, do not forget that whichever term you utilize, you’re contributing to the dynamic linguistic diversity of Australia.
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