Australianisms and Clichés: McCrindle Research

8/2/2019 Australianisms and Clichés: McCrindle Research

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Chapter 4

Australianismsand Clichés

In recent years there has been concern expressed in the media

about the demise o our national lexicon. While most still admit

to using Australian slang words (90%) and phrases (78%),

much o the old “bush” slang is disappearing in an increasingly



australIanIsMs and clIchés

acter are [being] smoothed by the homogenising effects of globalisation

. . . The ocker has been tamed by higher education, the bushie has madea sea change, the bloke has turned metrosexual, the suburban family

is conned to a courtyard and the quiet achiever is boasting about his

plasma TV.” Macken sees Australians as in some sort of transition,

not knowing “who we are or where we’re heading” but very much

aware that “we’re not what we were”. One word that demonstrates thistransitioning is “mate”. As Macken points out, “mate” has traditionally

been a male term, used between male friends, acquaintances and even

strangers, exasperating “older feminists [who] rallied against the very

maleness of the mateship myth”. Now, she says, “younger men and

women . . . call all their friends ‘mate’”.65

Only one in nine Australians who think our lingo is being lost

believe this has to do with the perception that it is unsophisticated.

However, the majority do acknowledge that global forces contribute.

I i l b li i M k i h i b i i lf



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Australians are, not surprisingly, very vocal about the perceived

demise of Australian slang. However, rather than being accusatory orbitter about it, there is a maturity in their acceptance of the unstop-

pable realities that are seeing our national lexicon change, evolve and,

in part, disappear. Here is a bit of what they had to say:

“You are more likely to hear a teenager refer to his friend as his homie

or G than his mate.”

“We are better educated, more mobile and need to communicate

more widely than with the neighbours and workmates.”

“It all depends who I am speaking with if I will use it.”

“Young people don’t relate to the bush/farmer, blue collar worker[or] wartime historical background of the words or sayings, don’t know

the meaning and are more commonly introduced to sayings and terms

through movies from the USA.”

“[We] will see some of the more traditional lingo phased out over

i l f h i i ”




A similar number of respondents, 38%, also felt “negative” or “very

negative” feelings towards the phrase “dinky-di”.There is a self-conscious cringe factor which sets in with phrases

like “dinky-di”, “crikey” and “Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi oi oi!”. When

asked why they wouldn’t use some Australian slang, the most common

response given by respondents was because it was unrened or “ocker”.

Other commonly mentioned reasons were that it was rude andoffensive, old-fashioned and that respondents simply didn’t know any

or what they mean. Other less mentioned reasons included that it was

too “bush” and that it just didn’t suit them.

Why we won’t use some Australian slang66

Unrefned 30.5%

Rude or oensive 29%

Old-ashioned 13%



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Aussie

words

Australianswho use/ have used

Aussie phrasesAustralians

who use/ have used66

Arvo 73% No worries 74%

G’day 71% She’ll be right 67%

Iy 48% Buckley’s chance 49.5%

Stoked 44% You beauty 48%

Blue 41.5% Fair dinkum 47%

Ripper 28.5% Too right 32.5%

Dinky-di 18% Bull dust 25%

Digger 17% Woop Woop 13%Strewth 15% Not within cooee 13%

Furphy 12% Kangaroos loose in the top paddock 12%




From describing what is un-Australian, to what makes us unique,

respondents listed aspects of the Australian spirit as follows: carefree,down-to-earth, easy going, laid back, warm, friendly, fun loving, having

a good sense of humour, mateship, giving others a fair go, supporting

each other, lending a helping hand, having a strong sense of community,

honest, determined and valuing freedom.

International descriptions of Australians

“I can personally afrm that to stand beore an audience o beaming Australiansand make even the mildest quip about a convict past is to eel the air conditioningimmediately elevated.”

(Bill Bryson – American author)

“You eel ree in Australia. There is great relie in the atmosphere – a relie rom tension, rom pressure, an absence o control o will or orm. The skies open aboveyou and the areas open around you.”

(D.H. Lawrence – English)

“They are not a nation o snobs like the English or o extravagant boasters like the



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know about it. The larrikin spirit is described in different ways such

as “having a lend”, “pulling your leg”, but it typically presents itself inhumour. Australians are generally law-abiding people with respect for

the rules and customs, but “stirring the pot” can be seen as a way to

challenge authority without overstepping the mark.

As Jack from Mosman said: “I like Australia’s larrikin spirit. It

means a healthy disrespect for authority and a determination to enjoylife and have a good time. But larrikinism also means something more:

an independence of thought. Some of Sixties London’s leading lights

had it: Sidney Nolan, Brett Whitely, Clive James, Barry Humphries,

and the Oz magazine trio.”

Traditional Australian poetry also presents strongly. Its way with

words is not the British approach of pomp and reminiscence but one of

colour and brevity. Banjo Paterson’s poem “Clancy of the Overow”

is a specimen.




the serene prospects of our landscape. Clancy’s “vision splendid of the

sunlit plains extended” is open to all with the mettle to take it on. Thisattitude toward freedom was formed by the

almost mythic determination of our fore-

bears to overcome the rigours of a harsh

land, hard earned but well enjoyed.

“Our most precious asset that we must

preserve is our reedom. We were given

this reedom by those who have had the

internal ortitude and love o our Australia

to fght and give their lives or us.”(Lynn, Aeroglen, Qld.)

“Australia has a sense o ‘anything’s possible’ and where hard work and

commitment can lead to a very rewarding lie. The wide open spaces and

clear skies allow the spirit to eel ‘ree’ which translates into a real sense o

“There’s a world o

opportunities waiting or me

post high school – this country

opens the doors to those

wanting to learn and grow.”

(Prasad,Noble Park,

Vic.)



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“Our city parks and gardens are antastic. A wander around Melbourne’s

Botanic Gardens lits my spirits at any time o year.”

(Jenny, Burwood East, Vic.)

“We take comort in the simpler things in lie

– a holiday in a caravan park is looked on

avourably and so many o our childhood

memories are created there.”(Bobby, Perth, WA)

Friendly and community oriented

The Australian way is to take people at face value. Australians are big on reciprocity – we’ve been

helped out – so we give that in return. There is an earthy

humility in our self image. Sure, Australians are self made,

but not without a helping hand from others. The community spirit –

“There’s nothing

better than sitting back

with a glass o Barossa Valley

shiraz to unwind ater a

hard day.”

(Jamie, Altona East, Vic.)




“Australians have the will to give all they have and still want to help out

more. Disasters bring out the best in people – bushfres and oods or

example. We help people that are down and lit

them up as that could be us one day.”

(Linda, Allestree, Vic.)

Self-condentAs a nation, we have a condence

borne from our resilience, our opti-

mism and our ingenuity. The Aussie

spirit today looks out not in. Although

convinced that Australia is isolated and

small, we do not see ourselves as simply

young upstarts. Whether by character or chance, as a nation we do

tend to land on our feet.

“Maybe our community

is where our confdence/

resilience stems rom. When

down and out and all hope is

lost we come together as one.”

(Karen,Goodwood, SA)



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Sense of humour

Australian humour is ironic, self mocking, and occasionally vulgar.We make light of ourselves and the hard times. “This is what I like

about Australia – we can laugh at ourselves in the face of adversity: The

Pacifc Dawn docks after its swine u troubles and the passengers chant:

‘Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oink! Oink! Oink!’” (Phil, Glebe, NSW). Weak-Phil, Glebe, NSW). Weak- ). Weak-

nesses (e.g. the old tyranny of distance and isolation) are reinterpreted

humorously as strengths: “Isolation from the rest of the world . . . we’re

living in the granny at of the world and throwing one hell of a party”

(Shelly, Darlinghurst, NSW).

Indian journalist and author, Soumya Bhattacharya, had this to sayof Australians:

“Australians are, I have found, ready to laugh at themselves if they think that

the joke is funny and the humour not ill-directed. And the ability to be self-




“I love the riendly rivalry between the cities

and states.”

(Jack, Coogee, NSW)

“Melbourne makes Australia great, not

Sydney. Sydney is like a blonde, good or

a quick ing, but Melbourne is a brunette

that you can have a long lasting relationshipwith.” (Travis, Brunswick, Vic.)

State nicknames

Sand Gropers (Western Australia)

Crow Eaters, The Nanny State (South Australia)

Cockroaches (New South Wales)

Gum suckers, Mexicans (Victoria)

Top enders, Territorians (Northern Territory)

“Waking up knowing I don’t live

in Melbourne lits my mood on

an almost daily basis.”

(Peter, Sydney, NSW)



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pointed out, you know you’re Australian if you can translate “Dazza

and Shazza played Acca Dacca on the way to Maccas.”Australian slang is largely made up of substitutions, abbreviations

and comparisons or similes.

Substitutions

Substitution is colourful, often playful language used to replace aneveryday word or expression. It can take the form of “rhyming slang”

– expressions with parts replaced by one or more words that rhyme.

For example, “have a Captain Cook” (have a look). Substitution can

also take the form of a metaphor. The term “Not the full quid”, for

instance, is used to identify a person who is missing something mentally.

MetaphorsAustralianswho use/ have used

Rhyming slangAustralianswho use/ have used

Spit the dummy




Abbreviations

Abbreviations, along with contractions and shortened words, area common feature of Australian slang and remain widely popular.

“Aussie” is an example. Perhaps Australians shorten their words

because it softens our rough edges, confronting accent, and sun burnt

complexion. Perhaps it’s just part of our laconic nature. Either way, you

know you’re Australian when “you believe that the more you shortensomeone’s name the more you like them.”

Common abbreviations

Place names Brands Music and Sport General

Brizzie(Brisbane)

Woolies(Woolworths)

the Gurge(Regurgitator)

ambo (ambulance,ambulance person)

Parra(Parramatta, NSW)

Winnies (Win-feld cigarettes)

Barnesey(Jimmy Barnes)

blowie (blowy)

Freo(Fremantle, WA)

FoodFarnesy(John Farnham)

bushie (bushman)



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Comparisons

Comparisons or similes show how two things that are not alike in mostways are similar in one important way. They are used to emphasise a

particular quality or characteristic.

Similes can bring language alive, and often raise startling images, for

example, “at out like a lizard drinking” (very busy) and “mad as a cut

snake” (insanely angry).

Comparisons Australians who use/have used

Going like hot cakes 53%

Full as a boot 42.5%

Stands out like a shag on a rock 26%

Dead as a maggot 26%

Cunning as a dunny rat 23%




In our research, the categories of clichés people identied were:

youth, workplace, sport, sales and marketing, political, antique, Aussie

and general clichés. While many of the clichés have a long history,

some of them are relatively new additions, such as “fo shizzle”, “24/7”

and “touchdown”.

Rated the most overused clichés.

1. 24/7

2. At the end of the day

3. That’s exactly right

The most oensive clichés.

1. Talk to the hand

2. That’s how I roll

3. Get a life

The most annoying clichés.

“Ironic” t-shirts display young peoples’ambivalence towards achievement and their glorifcation o apathy.



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3. Like

4. So hot right now

5. Random

6. Totally

7. Fo shizzle

8. So over that

9. Oh my gosh/OMG10. Anyways

Many of these clichés originate from California, particularly places

like “the Valley”, Beverly Hills and Long Beach, and can be referred to

as SoCal (Southern California) slang. They have been popularised by

celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie.

Workplace




Political

This research was conducted in the midst of a recent federal electioncampaign and so clichés delivered by politicians were particularly

noticeable. The top 10 most annoying political clichés are listed below,

and interestingly, if read straight through from the beginning to end,

they create the foundation of a political speech!

1. We won’t be ruling anything in or out

2. At the end of the day

3. There’s no magic bullet

4. And the jury is still out on that

5. But having said that6. Can I just say

7. Moving forward

8. It’s a no brainer

9. For working families



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Sport

Although sports clichés sit further down the list of most annoying cat-egories of clichés, sports stars and commentators are considered some

of the biggest users of clichés after politicians.

Here are the fve most annoying sports clichés:

1. Taking it a week at a time2. They turned up to play tonight

3. It was a game of two halves

4. We’re just focusing on our own game

5. We just didn’t execute

Antiques

Many of the sayings that form part of our everyday language are quite

old and contain outdated words. For example, Australians will “go the

extra mile”, despite switching to the metric system several decades ago.




The cliché Its origin

Don’t look a git horsein the mouth

A horse’s value depends on its age, which is determinedby how long its teeth are. To “look a git horse in themouth” is to assess the value o a git. St. Jerome in the 17th century, who never accepted payment or hiswritings, replied to his critics with the words: “Neverinspect the teeth o a git horse”.

Bless you (said atersomeone sneezes)

Goes back as ar as 2nd century AD Rome. It waspopular in 14th century Europe, when the black plaguekilled millions. People believed that sneezing made onevulnerable to evil spirits associated with the plague.Saying “bless you” was intended to counteract theirinuence and ward o death.

Saved by the bell Fear o being mistakenly pronounced dead, and buried,led to an idea or signalling rom the grave. By a cord tied to the hand, someone buried alive could ring the bell on the surace, and be rescued.

Mind your Ps and Qs From old alcohol measurements – pints and quarts. To“mind your Ps and Qs” was to mind how many pints andquarts you drank – or to simply behave yoursel.



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Language is constantly shifting with the times. Words come and go

on the whim and caprice of public favour. It has ever been thus. The fact

that older generations lament the loss of slang more than the younger

The Southern Crosscar decals have

grown in popularityalong with SouthernCross tattoos. Whileor many it is a signo patriotism, theSouthern Crosssymbol has recently

come to be seen bysome as symbolic oracism. The skull andhelmet car decal is amotocross clothingand accessoriesbrand.

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Australianisms and Clichés: McCrindle Research