Study Skills Series

Aussie slang

Elaine Lopes/Karen Hall English Language Skills Associate The University of Western Australia study.smarter@uwa.edu.au Ph: 6488 2324

Study Skills Series

Aims of todays workshop:

Provide a brief historical and cultural background on Aussie slang Review many Aussie slang expressions Discuss strategies for dealing with Aussie slang Examine patterns that will help you understand Aussie slang
Note this is not a lecture, it is a workshop. You will be expected to contribute, take part and ask questions.

Study Skills Series

Aussie lingo
If you want to understand Strine while youre at uni, heres a bit of vocab to get you started. This workshop cant cover all the slang expressions you will come across in Australia, but its better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick!

In this workshop, you will: 1. Listen to some information on Aussie slang 2. Use the worksheet provided to write down the meanings of the expressions you hear 3. Discuss the expressions 4. Plan ways to help you learn and remember slang But first, heres a brief look at Aussie history and culture.

Study Skills Series

Aussie history and culture

Europeans came to Australia about 200 years ago. Aboriginals had already been living here for over 40,000 years. The first European colonisers included convicts and the working class poor. They also included the (often penniless) European gentry. The great Australian dream involved having a home of ones own and some land. This dream helped attract Europeans to Australia. Land was cheap and even convicts could work to obtain their freedom and eventually get land. Many waves of migration have happened over the last two hundred years and as a result Australia is a very multicultural country. Today Australia includes people from over 130 countries. A significant minority are first or second generation migrants. The majority are of mixed ethnic origin. Soon, there will be more than one million people of Chinese origin living in Australia!1

Ilsa Sharp, Culture Shock! Australia, 1997, Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company, Portland, Oregon, p 78

Study Skills Series

Aussie slang
Aussies like to be relaxed and laid-back. Blokes and sheilas like to veg out in the arvo and enjoy some of the amber fluid and a barbie and wait for the Freo Dr to come in. The special brand of optimism required when they first carved homes and farms out of the bush is reflected in such expressions as: Itll be right No probs No worries Have a go Other expressions that derive from the friendly nature of Australians include: Good on ya! (On ya!) Yreckon? Too right! Cheers! (Ta!) Gday Howre ya goin, orright? Catch ya later See ya

Study Skills Series

How to learn Aussie slang

Listen & write: When you come across a
new expression, write it down. Try to write down the context in which you heard it as well.

Check your understanding: Ask an

Australian friend or check in an Aussie slang dictionary. Check whether the expression is polite.

expressions under different headings, e.g. Aussie greetings, Aussie food, Aussie clothing, etc.

Make categories: Group Aussie

slang when you can, but be very careful with expressions that are impolite.

Practice: Have a go at using some Aussie

Study Skills Series

Helpful patterns
Words that end in ie
Baddie Boardies Cabbie Chrissie Comfy Cossie Druggie Dunny, loo Fastie Footie Freebie Goodie-goodie Grotty Iffy Jammies Kindy Kiwi Lackies Littlies/Ankle biters Meanie Mossie Nightie Oldies Pressie Rellies Schoolie Shonky Sickie Sunnies Telly Truckie U-ie Undies Bad person Board shorts Cab driver, taxi driver Christmas Comfortable Bathers, swimmers Drug-addict Toilet Act of deception Australian rules football Something free Overly good person Dirty Questionable, dodgy Pyjamas Kindergarten New Zealander Elastic bands Children Mean person Mosquito Nightdress Old people Present Relatives Student holidaying after final exams Dubious, fraudulent Day off sick from work Sunglasses Television Truck driver U-turn in a vehicle Underpants

Study Skills Series

Helpful patterns Words that end in o Aggro Arvo Demo Freo Gastro Hyper, hypo Info Intro Physio Rego Thingo Aggressive Afternoon Demonstration Fremantle Gastroenteritis Hyperactive Information Introduction Physiotherapy Vehicle registration Thing

Study Skills Series

Aussie slang websites

Here are some useful websites for learning more Aussie slang (of over 250,000 websites according to a Google websearch!) http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/slang/ http://www.abc.net.au/wordmap/ http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anonymous@FF86375 8375/-/p/dict/slang.html? http://www.travel-library.com/pacific/australia/stybrlanguage.html http://www.awm.gov.au/journal/j38/slanguage.htm http://ktests.com/freebies/ausslang.phtml http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html http://www.dunway.com/html/aussie_slang.html http://members.ozemail.com.au/~enigman/australia/slang.html http://www.australianexplorer.com/australian_slang.htm http://www.australiatravelsearch.com.au/trc/slang.html http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~ozesl/quiz3.htmL

Other LL&RS workshops to assist with speaking skills

Conversations series of four workshops on getting started, joining in, stating ideas, and exploring ideas (begins next week) Participating in tutorials runs next week Speaking to an audience runs week of 3 April Successful seminars runs week of 10 April