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Australia Literature and Language

Questions and information about literature and languages of Australia.

500 Questions

What is the main language spoken in Australia?

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English is the main language spoken in Australia, but it is not the official language, as Australia has no declared official language.

English is spoken by 78.5% of Australia's population. After English, Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic, Mandarin and Vietnamese, in that order, are the most widely-spoken languages, and languages of most cultures are represented and spoken by Australians.

How many Aboriginal dialects are spoken in Australia?

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There are estimated to be around 250-300 different Aboriginal languages and dialects spoken in Australia. However, many of these languages are endangered with only a few fluent speakers remaining.

What does 'back o' bourke' mean in Aussie term?

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"Back o' Bourke" is an Australian term used to describe a remote or isolated location far from cities or urban areas. It references the town of Bourke in Outback New South Wales, implying a sense of vast distance and emptiness.

What percent of people speak Chinese in Australia?

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Approximately 2.2% of the Australian population speak Chinese as their primary language at home.

How many people speak Australian?

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There is no specific number of people who speak "Australian" as a language. Australian English is the official language of Australia and is spoken by the majority of the population, along with various indigenous languages and immigrant languages.

What does root mean in Australia?

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In Australia, "root" is a slang term that means to have sexual intercourse. It is considered a vulgar term and may not be appropriate in formal settings.

What is a bundle carried by a swagman?

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A bundle carried by a swagman typically includes essential items for survival and comfort while traveling, such as a sleeping blanket, food, cooking utensils, and personal belongings. It is usually tied together and slung over the swagman's shoulder or carried on a stick over the shoulder.

How many people speak English in Australia?

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According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, given the census figures for 2011, an estimated 76.8% of Australians speak only English at home. However, there are another 22% or so who speak English as a second or third language.

What is the Australian word for talk?

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We speak English in Australia.

A reasonable translation would be "talk".

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We're also likely to speak (and there's another Australian word for 'talk') of 'having a yarn', an old phrase still widely in use today; so someone might say, 'Had a yarn with Ted the other day,'.

Other things we do to exchange information are chat, gossip, and all the other conversational things the English-speaking world does.

'Let's have coffee (or a drink)' is, as in many other parts of the world, a euphemism for 'let's talk'. 'Let's do lunch,' is an invitation to talk in some depth, and 'Let's have dinner,' means really serious talk will probably happen.

Way back, when we told a story, we'd 'spin a yarn', and 'come in spinner' became an invitation to tell a tale, along with its other meanings involving sport, from cricket to fishing and beyond, as well as a traditional form of gambling. These terms are still popular in Australia.

There are plenty of other colourful Australianisms, frequently traceable to British terms, which refer to conversation.

All Indigenous Australian languages have different words for 'talk', as do the very many other languages spoken in Australia, all of which contribute to our lovely language. Many Scottish and Irish people in Australia use the term 'craic', meaning convivial conversation, frequently involving pints of beer. 'Having a cuppa' also means chatting.

And, of course, we mostly just plain 'talk'.

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Yabber is an older word that was commonly used when I was a kid, and wongai (from an indigenous word) was also common. When isolated rural properties and small communities were connected by pedal (and later CB) radio, the womenfolk used to put time aside to chat once or more a week. These times were known as galah sessions.

What is the difference between an English accent and an Australian accent?

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One key difference is in the pronunciation of vowels. For example, Australians tend to pronounce the letter "i" in words like "like" and "time" as a diphthong, while in English accents it's more of a pure vowel sound. Additionally, there are differences in intonation patterns and some unique vocabulary between the two accents.

What does the Australian slang word tinny mean?

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In Australian slang, "tinny" refers to a can or bottle of beer, typically used when talking about grabbing a drink or going for a few beers with friends. It is commonly used in casual settings to refer to a cold drink in a can or bottle.

Why did William Lawson come to Australia?

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William Lawson came to Australia as a free settler in 1800 to seek new opportunities and to establish his presence in the colony. He played a significant role in the exploration and development of the Australian continent.

What languages were spoken in Australia before white settlement?

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Before white settlement, Indigenous Australian languages were spoken across the continent. There were over 250 distinct indigenous language groups, each with their own dialects, creating a rich linguistic diversity among Aboriginal communities. Today, efforts are being made to preserve and revitalize these languages.

What did aborigines put into a Dillybag?

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Aborigines used Dillybags to carry food, tools, and personal belongings. They could put a wide range of items into their Dillybags, such as nuts, berries, seeds, medicinal plants, and small game they had hunted.

Do Australians have their own language?

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Australian English is the primary language spoken in Australia, with its own distinct accent and some unique vocabulary and slang. However, there is also Indigenous Australian languages spoken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

What is the language in Western Australia?

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The main language spoken in Western Australia is English. However, due to its diverse population, there are also communities that speak other languages, including Italian, Mandarin, and Arabic, among others. Additionally, some Indigenous Australian languages are still spoken in certain regions of Western Australia.

Is there only one official language in Australia?

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No, Australia actually has no official language at the federal level. However, English is the most widely spoken and commonly used language in the country.

What did William Lawson discover?

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William Lawson was a Scottish explorer who discovered and mapped the Blue Mountains in Australia in 1813, leading to the development of the first European crossing of the mountains. This discovery opened up new opportunities for settlement and expansion in the region.

What is a bugger?

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"Bugger" can be a friendly, colloquial term for a rascal, or it can be used as an insult for someone who's unfair or mean-spirited. It depends entirely on the context. If one is facing a problem, it can also mean that it's an annoying problem and very difficult to figure out, e.g. "It's a real bugger why that engine keeps missing." Similarly, to "bugger up" something means to make a real mess of it. There are also more vulgar connotations, which any dictionary will list, but generally Australians do not use it in that way.

What is the Australian word for backpacking or hiking?

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The correct term is bushwalking, which refers to on and off trail walking in natural environments, day and/or overnight. Hiking is commonly referred to in North America for day walks on defined trails. As such the use of the term hiking does not make sense in an Australian context as walking often involves travel through open dry forests and scrub where trails can become faint or non existent.

How many languages are spoken in Canada and Australia?

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In Canada, over 200 languages are spoken, with English and French being the official languages. In Australia, there are around 300 languages spoken, but English is the primary language used for communication.

Where did Colin Thiele live?

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Colin Thiele lived in South Australia, where he was born and raised. He spent most of his life in Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. Thiele's connection to the Australian landscape and wildlife is often reflected in his writing.

What is Australia's major language?

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The major language spoken in Australia is English.

What is work in the Australian slang?

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In Australian slang, "work" can refer to someone who is behaving in a deceitful or underhanded manner. It can also be used to describe something that is unfair or unjust.

What is the Australian slang for language?

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There is no specific Australian slang for language, other than "Lingo" perhaps.

Australians sometimes refer to their own slang language as "Strine", being an extremely corrupted pronunciation of "Australian".

"Strine" was once described by a very English Brit as "holding a cigarette between your lips and speaking while moving your lips as little as possible".

Nobody but an Australian born and bred person who was brought up within the strict character defining and educational influences of Uncle Harry and Aunty Beryl from the family farm at Tangambalanga, would be able to speak Strine convincingly, or understand it well enough if listening to an expert.