Job Discussion Forums

[SpanishFly]

Whats the difference ? Is there a difference ?

[Mouse]

No, they are completely identical in every way.

[lozwich]

Absobloodylutely right you are, Mouse, mate.

And as for all those drongos who reckon there's no difference between British, US and Australian English, well, I reckon they're all talking out their proverbials!

[Mouse]

[SEndrigo]

[grahamb]

Australian foreplay: "Brace yourself, Sheila, here I come!"

[lozwich]

[grahamb]

Guess I walked into that one, Lozwich! Interestingly, you didn't say it wasn't true (oh no, not more reported speech!)!!!
Another Australian joke:
Q. Why do Australian men come so quickly?
A. So they can run down to the pub and tell their pals all about it.
Care to confirm whether or not this one has any basis in truth?

[Mouse]

To go off Aussie-male jokes for a moment, can I ask an Aussie-English question? I have an advanced class who are currently reviewing question tags (which as a Welshman I use repeatedly and without mercy, don't I?), and I offered that "no" which they use (si, no?) isn't good (common?) in English, but that both Canadians and Kiwis use "eh". Do they use it in Australia, too?

[lozwich]

Eh??

Not like Canadians and those dastardly Kiwis, no. We use it to say 'Excuse me sir, I don't believe I heard what you said, would you be so kind as to repeat it for me?'

I can't remember what kind of question tags we use.. I don't get to speak to many Australians here, so I think my language has changed a bit. I have to keep 'translating' myself for all the Americans I work with who don't understand me.. I do remember that in Melbourne (big city in the south of Oz) many people, particularly women, end every sentence with an upward inflection? I used to do it too? When I lived in Melbourne? But then I moved north and came to my senses (thank crikeys!).

Yes, Australian men are notorious for being bad in the bedroom department. But since I'm a delicate young lady, and have only been married once, I don't have much experience to go by.. You know??

Ok. Stop laughing now.

[Mouse]

I worked with a girl from Melbourne? And she speaks like that, too? It's really funny? But you know the strange thing? Once you start doing it? It's really difficult to stop? ARGH!!! Thanks for the "eh" explanation: we use it in exactly the same way.