Ask an Australian

[Arwon]

So are there even that many Australian users or am I just imagining that? I guess English would have a lot to do with it.

There should, population-wise, be 1/15th as many Australians here as Americans and 1/3rd as many Australians as United Kingdom people.

 

[Camikaze]

Are Australian accents regional?

This might be interesting for Australians here

Yeah, this is worth emphasising. The only accents people are generally conscious of are accents of people for whom English is a second language, and quite broad accents. And they aren't so much associated with geographical regions, so much as background in the case of the former, and perhaps education in the form of the latter (I think that's probably more what it's associated with than the urban/rural divide).

 

[Borachio]

It's very strange. Are there really no regional accents?

England is absolutely choc-a-bloc. I can distinguish an incredible number within my own county. And you can even tell what part of the nearest large town people grew up in by their accents. Though I'm no linguist and I can't quite do it reliably, the differences are quite striking.

 

[Tee Kay]

It's partly a result of immigration history. IIRC, an area might be settled by people from many different parts of Britain, over time ironing out dialect differences. Communication between the major population centers was primarily by sea, so cities as far apart as Perth, Melbourne or Brisbane are in closer contact than they appear. Finally, there's the impact of mass culture and communication which tends to lessen regional differences within a country, especially for a country as young as Australia, where regional differences weren't strong prior to the introduction of modern communication technology.

 

[Borachio]

That makes sense, I suppose. But still, I don't see why accents should persist so strongly in England in that case. Can you really not tell the difference between someone who grew up in the Northern Territories and someone in Tasmania? There's a noticeable difference between (what I perceive to be) the Australian accent and that of New Zealand, to my ear.

 

[Arwon]

Yeah, there's really no strong regional accents. Mass migration levels stuff out, whereas areas which have never experienced mass migration tend to retain lots of little local accents.

Also, rather coincidentally, the migration patterns to different parts of the country were similar enough that different regional varieties didn't develop here (unlike in the US with its regional accents, or New Zealand with their Scottish-influenced rhotic "Southland burr")

New Zealand English is quite distinct from Australian, most of us find it baffling people from other countries can't tell us apart, because we can instantly tell if someone is a Kiwi as soon as they start talking. This is the grand final from the World Universities Debating Championship this year, two teams are Kiwis and two teams are Australian. I'd expect people to be able to tell which is which pretty easily.

 

[Tee Kay]

That makes sense, I suppose. But still, I don't see why accents should persist so strongly in England in that case.

Much stronger regional identities established through the centuries before modern technology makes mass migration and communication possible, I guess. Languages are like plants in a way; the area where it originated often contains the most varieties.

 

[Arwon]

We're also a real outlier on this, the homogeneity of Australian English is unusual enough it attracts comment by linguists. Even New Zealand has greater regional variation.

 

[Tycho Brahe]

Link to video.

Obligatory clip with Flight of the Conchords.

Australians are like, "Where's the car?" and we're like "Where's the car?" ...

 

[Arwon]

I like how they picked a phrase we probably don't say terribly differently. EXTRA LAYERS OF COMEDY.

 

[shadowplay]

New Zealand English is quite distinct from Australian, most of us find it baffling people from other countries can't tell us apart, because we can instantly tell if someone is a Kiwi as soon as they start talking. This is the grand final from the World Universities Debating Championship this year, two teams are Kiwis and two teams are Australian. I'd expect people to be able to tell which is which pretty easily.

I don't have any trouble telling an Australian accent from a New Zealand accent. Australian accents are very distinct. On the other hand, I can't tell a South African English speaker apart from a New Zealand English speaker.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Apparently Tater Tots are called "potato gems" there. Why is that?

 

[Arwon]

Why do you call them "tater tots"?

 

[classical_hero]

Exactly, since they are made from potato, not from taters.

 

[Tee Kay]

I distrust any food with "tate" or "tots" in the name.

 

[Joecoolyo]

Well you're missing out. Tater tots are delicious.

 

[Tee Kay]

No, potato gems are delicious.

 

[JohannaK]

May ask what is this food you're talking about?

 

[Arwon]

May ask what is this food you're talking about?

Little balls or pellets of mashed up potato with a crispy coating. A bit like mini hash browns.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Little balls or pellets of mashed up potato with a crispy coating. A bit like mini hash browns.

But better due to the higher brown to hash ratio