It seems that Jingle Bells (Aussie Style) may have left a
few puzzled looks on some of your dials (Faces) so a
rundown on a bit of our lingo (language) might help.
“Holden ute” is a pickup made by GMH, General Motors
“Bush” Is not your President, it’s what we call the “woods”
“Esky” is an ice powered food/DRINK container.
“Kelpie”is a working cattle dog.
“Singlet” is a sleeveless undershirt, dark blue colour (color)
preferred for manual workers like shearers and truckers.
“Swaggie” is our swagman, your hobo, he is so named for
the swag, or bedroll, he carried, this also came to be known
as his matilda, Who’ll come a "waltzing matilda" with me?”
is our unofficial national anthem, written by my favourite
poet A.B. (Banjo) Paterson. sometimes misspelled, even
by me, as Patterson.
“Thongs” are a cheap rubber slip-on sandal.
“Snap” is the family photo.
“Shoot through” is to leave/depart.
“Washing up” for all you youngsters, is what happened to
the dirty dishes before dishwashers.
OK, now I hope that helped, but before y’all start gettin’
uppity, I’ll quote a few of your quirky words and meanin’s;
“Heidi” (noun) a greeting.
“Hire yew” remainder of greeting, “Heidi, Hire yew.”
“Bard” (verb) Past tense of the infinitive “to borrow”
usage; “My brother bard my pickup truck.”
“Jawjuh” (noun) The State north of
“My brother from Jawjuh bard my pickup truck.”
“Munts” (noun) a calendar division, usage;
“My brother from Jawjuh bard my pickup truck and I
ain’t herd from him in munts.”
“Ranch” (noun) A tool used for tight’nin’ bolts, usage;
“I think I left my ranch in the back of that pickup truck
my brother from Jawjuh bard a few munts ago.”
“All” (noun) A petroleum based lubricant, usage;
“I sure hope my brother from Jawjuh puts all in my
pickup truck.”
“Tar” (noun) A rubber wheel, usage; “Gee, I hope my
brother from Jawjuh don’t get a flat tar in my
pickup truck.”
“Jew here” (noun) and (verb) contraction, usage;
“Jew here that brother of mine from Jawjuh got a job
with that bob war fence cump’ny’?”
“Bob war” (noun) A sharp, twisted cable, usage;
“Boy, stay away from that bob war fence.”
“Farn” (adjective) Not domestic, usage;
“I cuddint unnerstand a wurd he sed… must be frum
sum farn country.
And WE talk funny!!!!
11 comments:
When we visited Australia for a few weeks back in June, I remembered your strangest greeting (at least to us Yanks) was "how ya going?" We got used to it, after a few days, but it really seemed odd. I guess that we all have our little QUIRKS! ~ jb///
Hi bulletbow, (there has to be a story to that name!) thanks for the visit, you very nearly got it right, it's "how ya goin'?"
In Australia as you probably noticed we abreviate most things/words and those we don't shorten we often lengthen.
Many years ago an immigrant, "New Australian" as we called them then, named Nino Carlotta wrote a book called
"They're a Weird Mob" an excellent read which describes Australians very well.
Yep, dem dare wurds soundbite rite timmee :D
Born in Mississippi, raised in Georgia and have lived in South Carolina the last 35 years and we don't talk like that at all - we're much worse! :) ec
One of the interesting things about 'aussie' is that most of the slang is spoken and understood across the length and breadth of the country. There are regional differences though. "boot" although a leather foot covering; is also 'a storage space at the rear end of a motor vehicle' in South Aust, "trunk" in other parts. A 'swimming costume' can be "bathers", "togs" or "speedo's". Am sure Peter can think up more... and yes, we're a wierd mob.
Thanks for the dictionary. The only ones I knew were thongs and washing up!
The song makes sense now Peter.
As for the slang, My pinky finger in the air here, "We do not speak in that manner here in the northern states". We are well educated". (pronounced ed you cated):-)
If you're into regional versions of Jingle Bells, we have a regional band in upper Michigan called "Da Yoopers." Scandinavians largely settled in the Upper Peninsula as they can take the cold. Da Yoopers have their accent.
Here's a link to Da Yoopers version (lyrics anyway) of Rusty Chevrolet:
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/yoopers-da-rusty-chevrolet-lyrics.html
That's southern talk!! I LOVE it!!!
Thanks for clearing up the Aussie talk for the Jingle Bells below. I like the way you talk there!
I understood every one of those without the translations...isn't that scary????
Peter,
Who taught you Bubba-Southern English so good? Here's a few more:
cement (SEE mint)
July (JEW lie)
umbrella (UMM brella)
All pronounced with the accent on the first syllable.
Thanks for the Aussie words!
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