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Linguists Tony Thorne and John Hajek say Australian slang is not what it used to be

THIS will make you as mad as a cut snake. Experts say as Australia becomes more global, successful and cosmopolitan, our unique expressions are dying off.

James Law
2 min read
June 15, 2014 - 3:26PM

THIS is something all Aussies should be as mad as a cut snake about.

Experts say as Australia becomes more global, successful and cosmopolitan, the country is losing its unique expressions, creating fewer new ones and borrowing more from overseas.

Now, linguistics is a topic most of us would consider as dry as a dead dingo’s donger, but our slang is intrinsically tied to our Australian identity (ie. it’s what makes us true blue).

As the BBC reports, linguist Tony Thorne from London’s Kings College says Aussie lingo is going the way of the Tasmanian tiger.

Hello possums … One of the greatest exporters of Australia humour and language, Dame Edna.
Hello possums … One of the greatest exporters of Australia humour and language, Dame Edna.

“The kind of Australian culture, very macho, very classless, that kind of ocker culture based around drinking, is just out of date,” he told the BBC.

Australian slang had its heyday in the 1960s and 70s — where the international Bush Telegraph made our turns of phrase famous the world over — but much of that innovation has dried up.

Mr Thorne said there were only three new Australian slang terms in the latest edition of his slang dictionary — the fewest ever.

“Australia has become a powerhouse in the financial and service sectors. Australians now when they go abroad, they’re not barmen and backpackers. They’re working in the corporate sector,” he told the BBC.

Crikey … Linguists say Aussie slang is dying.
Crikey … Linguists say Aussie slang is dying.

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“The language of the corporate sector is business-speak, jargon and buzzwords. Australians have embraced that. ‘Utilise’, ‘corporatise, ‘maximise’. The old language is past its sell-by date.”

University of Melbourne Professor of Language John Hajek blamed the yanks for the death of Aussie slang.

He told the BBC that Americanisms had replaced much of the “traditional Australian language” — with their “awesome” replacing our “bonzer”.

“We’re much more Americanised,” Professor Hajek said.

“If you look at all our television these days, there’(re) a lot more American programs than you find in the UK, for example.”

Susan Butler, publisher of the Macquarie Dictionary, has previously suggested to news.com.au that even Asian expressions will influence Australian English in coming decades.

Totally quiche … Chris Lilley’s as private schoolgirl Ja’mie King.
Totally quiche … Chris Lilley’s as private schoolgirl Ja’mie King.

The Guardian has pointed to Chris Lilley as the sole exporter of new Australianisms — with his Tongan schoolboy character Jonah a proponent of “ranga”, meaning redheads, and his private schoolgirl character Ja’mie pioneering “quiche”, meaning hot or attractive.

New research from demographer and social commentator Mark McCrindle and the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed last week that less than half of Australians use rhyming slang such as “Joe Blake” for snake (44 per cent), “Captain Cook” for look (28 per cent) and “frog and toad” for road (25 per cent).

The most widely used Australianisms are “no worries” (74 per cent of Australians have used this phrase), “arvo” (73 per cent), and “G’day” (71 per cent).

Do you think the Aussie vernacular is dying? Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ.

Noice, unusual … Kath and Kim.
Noice, unusual … Kath and Kim.

Originally published as Linguists Tony Thorne and John Hajek say Australian slang is not what it used to be

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/linguists-tony-thorne-and-john-hajek-say-australian-slang-is-not-what-it-used-to-be/news-story/bb940f19e9e003c16af2279ee6f2d5d6