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Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

That was my point, that we can use the terms Aussie, Kiwi and Canuck without causing anyone any offence and yet to use Yankee, Limey, Wog or Jap is seen as offensive, quite curious! In the case of the word Yankee or Yank I think that outside of the USA most people think of it as a term that refers to any American whether from north or south. I have to agree with Guy's point, a lot of the time the only thing that makes any of these terms offensive is the intent.

PT

grahamb · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945

Aramas, apologies for calling you were Americanish. Could have been worse, though, I might have called you *ngl*sh!
Re Yankees, about 100 years ago the New York Yankees were known as the New York Highlanders. Must admit, Yankees sounds better.

Chancellor · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:23 pm Post subject:

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

I think you'll find we've covered this ground already, just go back a page or two! Very Happy

PT

YanquiQuilme�o · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Quilmes, Argentina

Dragonlady · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 9:40 pm Post subject:

delete

pierre · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 1:59 am Post subject:

On the subject of Candian accent versus US accents, some of you may be appalled to learn that most Australians can't pick a Canadian accent. It's just another variation on the US accent to most of us. I've only in recent years learned to pick the difference (sometimes) through having a Canadian friend.

Seen a few Canadians with smoke coming out of their ears after being assumed to be US citizens.

I think it stems from being force fed US TV all our lives. We know there are a lot of variations, but we don't know where they all come from.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

There are too many varieties of accent in the US and Canada...I'm not surprised at all that an Aussie wouldn't easily pick it out. I would have a hard time distinguishing between, let's say, British Columbians and people from Washington or Oregon...the accent and style is pretty much the same. Upstate NY and SW Ontario are close too.

Newfies, however, I can spot a mile away. Any newfies out there?

YanquiQuilme�o · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Quilmes, Argentina

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:34 pm Post subject:

And how many of you can tell a Kiwi from an Aussie?

Some Yankee friends of mine tell me that Aussie and British sound similar to them. Admittedly not friends who've been around a lot, mind.

Justin

Aramas · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 10:33 pm Post subject:

I can't actually tell a Canadian accent from an American one, but I can usually identify a Canadian movie in under a minute. For some reason, Canadian actors just seem more like real people than Yank actors do. I've thought about it, but I'm not entirely sure why. I suspect that it's because American cinema has a great tradition of ham and cheese, whereas Canadian cinema takes a more GBS approach - ie melodrama being real life without the boring bits.

pierre · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:33 pm Post subject:

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

In this case I think we can safely say that size doesn't matter! Razz

The reason that the differences between Australian accents are more subtle than in other countries is more likely because English has only been spoken there for around two hundred years.

However someone who has a background in English teaching or language study should be able to hear the difference between someone from Adelaide compared to Melbourne or Sydney. Also the difference between someone from an urban area compared to someone from somewhere more rural.

PT

pierre · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 1:33 am Post subject:

I'll go along with the urban/rural difference, but not to the point where you can tell which rural district someone is from. And I defy you to pick the Sydney person from the Melbourne. There is an Adelaide accent, I grant you, but it's quite subtle.

I was amazed to learn, when I was over there, that it's possible to grow up as a native of Perth and have an English accent. But that doesn't count as a Perth accent. Not everyone does it.

As for length of time spoken, the US only has about a hundred years on Australia.

Maybe it's something to do with all coming from the same convict stock. Except Adelaide, of course!