Australian English is more than just an accent or a few Aussie phrases. But what does it involve exactly? And how does Australian English differ from other dialects? Let us explain.
Sometimes shortened to ‘AuE’ or ‘en-AU’, Australian English is a set of English dialects spoken and written in Australia. It has been recognised as a distinct dialect since the early 19th century, by which time it had diverged from the British English spoken by the first colonists.
And since then, it has become one of the more unique English dialects. As well as a distinct accent, for instance, Australian English features many unique terms. Some of these are specific to the environment (e.g. ‘bush’ and ‘outback’). Many are slang terms, such as ‘fair dinkum’.
Other Australian words are terms we use for everyday items that have different names in other countries. For example, a ‘doona’ is a ‘duvet’ in British English and a ‘comforter’ in American English. We’ve also got words of Australian Aboriginal origin. A few of these have even spread beyond Australia, such as ‘boomerang’. But most are restricted to Australia.
As well as the unique vocabulary mentioned above, Australian English differs from other dialects in various ways. But the exact differences depend on the English dialect in question:
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These differences are most pronounced in informal writing, which often uses dialect-specific slang. But you still need to be aware of them in formal academic and business writing.
If you are writing for an Australian audience, keep the following tips in mind:
Finally, you can also have your work proofread by someone who knows Australian English. A native speaker will be able to spot issues you may miss otherwise, so it is always worthwhile.
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