Accents and Words

I think the number one difference between Australia & America is the accent. It is the first thing someone notices and it automatically starts conversation about where you are from. My accent is the only thing that attracts questions from everyone. When I am at work, and someone asks me about where I am from, I get comfortable on my chair because I know this is going to be a long conversation.

Since I have been in America, I have also realized that there are different Australian accents and different American accents. In America there is a ‘South’ accent, ‘Jersey’ accent, ‘East’ accent and what I refer to as the ‘Normal’ accent. It is exactly the same in Australia, just not as noticeable to the Australian people. When an American is talking to 2 Australians, they can tell the differences between the accents. There are only two types of accents in Australia. The ‘thick’ Australian accent like Steve Irwin and what I refer to as the ‘Normal’ accent. I personally believe that I have a normal accent.

Another difference that is closely tied to accents is words. I could not believe the amount of differences within the words we speak to each other. I have had so many blank stares from so many people because they don’t understand certain words I say. Some Americans just go along with what I am saying and pretend like they do understand. Others though, will remember that word and try to use it in a sentence in the future. (Of course to me, it sounds normal. But of coarse they are waiting for you to laugh and recognize they said an ‘Australian’ word. That really annoys me, actually. I AM NOT GOING TO LAUGH AT YOU WHEN YOU SAY AN AUSTRALIAN WORD, LIKE G’DAY, BECAUSE IT ALL SOUNDS NORMAL TO ME!)

So I have come up with a list of words that are not understood by each culture and then a list of words that sound differently when each accent says it.

Words Pronounced Differently

- '.‘'..er’ (eg. Water, heater, cancer, here etc.)

- Inquiry

- Hyundai

- No

- Tomato

- Mum/Mom

- Letter ‘z’

- Banana

- Law, Call

- Class

Totally Different Words

AUSTRALIA AMERICA

- Pram Stroller

- Nappy Diaper

- Trolley Cart

- Chuck a Whinge Throw a Tantrum

- Wagger Skips school

- Ute An Australia Truck

- Esky Cooler

- Biscuits Cookies/Crackers

- Bludge Not do work

- Capsicum Bell Pepper

- Rockmelon Cantelope

- Fortnight two weeks

- A week Friday Not this Friday but next Friday

- Petrol Gas

- Mobile Phone Cell Phone

- Mince Ground Beef

- Chips Fries

- Boot Trunk

- Hood Bonnet

- Type of Apartment Condo/Condominium

- Ten cents Dime

- Twenty Five cents Quarter

- Five Cents Nickle

- One Cent Penny

- Pharmacy Drugstore

- Barbie BBQ

- Torch Flashlight

- Rubbish Bin Garbage Can

- Hobo Homeless Person

- Dummy Pacifier

- Garage Sale Yard Sale

- Tomato Sauce Ketchup

- Ice Block Popsicle

- Toilet Restroom/Bathroom

- 2 terms Semester

- Footpath Sidewalk

- Singlet Undergarment

- Stockings Leggings

- Holiday Vacation

- Postcode Zipcode

- Autumn Fall

- Brackets Parenthesis

- Fairy Floss Cotton Candy

- Serviette Napkin

- Cutlery Silverware

- Arvo Afternoon

- Flat Apartment

- Bitumen Asphalt

- Prawns Shrimp

- Cool Neat

- Grid Iron American Football

- Lift Elevator

- Mozzy Mosquito

- Newsagency Newsstand

- Primary School Elementary School

- University College

- Rubber Eraser

- Shopping Centre Mall

- Thongs Flip Flops

- Togs Swimmers

- Jam Jelly

- Soft drinks Soda, Pop

The spelling of words is also very interesting. When I write a paper, I have to make sure I am using the correct spelling. For example:

AMERICA AUSTRALIA

Organization Organisation

Check Cheque

Learned Learnt

Aluminum Aluminium

Color Colour

Mom Mum

Favorite Favourite

Center Centre

Dialog Dialogue

Please leave comments on other words that I have missed. When you have a chance to talk to someone from America/Australia, test out the words. It is always fun to find other words that are said differently etc.

This has been such a fun blog post to do! If you have any suggestions on differences between Australia & America, please let me know! Keep a look out for the next blog post. xxx