Western Australian English
Encyclopedia
Western Australian English is the collective name given to the variety or varieties of English
spoken in the Australian state
of Western Australia
(WA). As with the other regional varieties
within Australian English
, the vocabulary spoken in Western Australia also varies slightly by region. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
, there are three localised, regional varieties of English in WA: Perth English, Central Western Australian English, and Northern Western Australian English . While there are many commonalities, each has its own variations in vocabulary.
Some pronunciations also differ from those used in the rest of Australia. For example, people from WA tend to pronounce loquat
with a "k" sound (/ˈloʊkət/) instead of the "kw" (/ˈloʊkwɒt/ or /ˈloʊkwət/) used elsewhere.
Many words from the Aboriginal language have found their way into Western Australian English. Examples include gidgee (or gidgie), a Noongar
word for spear, as used in modern spear fishing; and gilgie (or jilgie), the Noongar
name for a small freshwater crayfish of the South West
. Another word of likely Aboriginal origin is boondy , which means a rock, boulder, or small stone. Among Western Australians, the term sand-boondy or more commonly boondy is well-recognised as referring to a small lump of sand (with the granules stuck together), often thrown at one another by children in the playground.
speak with a general Australian accent, and those from regional areas ("from the country") speak with a broad accent.
Centring diphthongs
Centring diphthongs, which are the vowels that occur in words like ear, beard and air, sheer. In Western Australia
there is a tendency for centring diphthongs to be pronounced as full diphthongs. Those in the eastern states will tend to pronounce "fear" and "sheer" without any jaw movement, while the westerners would pronounce them like "fia" and "shia", respectively.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
spoken in the Australian state
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
(WA). As with the other regional varieties
Regional variation in Australian English
Australian English is relatively homogenous when compared to British and American English. The major varieties of Australian English are sociocultural rather than regional, being General Australian, Broad Australian and Cultivated Australian. There is however some regional variation between the...
within Australian English
Australian English
Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language....
, the vocabulary spoken in Western Australia also varies slightly by region. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, there are three localised, regional varieties of English in WA: Perth English, Central Western Australian English, and Northern Western Australian English . While there are many commonalities, each has its own variations in vocabulary.
Vocabulary
Some of the vocabulary used in Western Australia is unique, within both Australia, and the wider world. Several terms of British origin have survived which are rarely used in other parts of Australia. One example is verge, meaning the area between a road and a paved footpath, which is known by the term nature strip in the rest of Australia. Some American terms, such as crosswalk, also known as a pedestrian crossing or zebra crossing, have also found a niche in WA. Other words have been shortened, for example, the term bathers is commonly used in place of bathing suit or togs as used in other parts of Australia. Some original terms have also been invented in WA, and have since found their way into common usage. An example of this is the term home open, describing a house on the market which is open for public inspection. There are also many unique, invented slang words, such as ding, referring to an Australian immigrant of Italian descent (this word is often considered derogatory and/or offensive), or munted, referring to an object which is misshaped or unsightly. Glasses of beer in Western Australia smaller than a pint are referred to as a middy, a 285ml serve.Some pronunciations also differ from those used in the rest of Australia. For example, people from WA tend to pronounce loquat
Loquat
The loquat , Eriobotrya japonica, is a fruit tree in the family Rosaceae, indigenous to southeastern China. It was formerly thought to be closely related to the genus Mespilus, and is still sometimes known as the Japanese medlar...
with a "k" sound (/ˈloʊkət/) instead of the "kw" (/ˈloʊkwɒt/ or /ˈloʊkwət/) used elsewhere.
Many words from the Aboriginal language have found their way into Western Australian English. Examples include gidgee (or gidgie), a Noongar
Noongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
word for spear, as used in modern spear fishing; and gilgie (or jilgie), the Noongar
Noongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
name for a small freshwater crayfish of the South West
Southwest Australia
Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
. Another word of likely Aboriginal origin is boondy , which means a rock, boulder, or small stone. Among Western Australians, the term sand-boondy or more commonly boondy is well-recognised as referring to a small lump of sand (with the granules stuck together), often thrown at one another by children in the playground.
Phonology
Most Western Australians speak with either a general Australian accent or a broad Australian accent; and generally, those who grew up in suburban PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
speak with a general Australian accent, and those from regional areas ("from the country") speak with a broad accent.
Centring diphthongs
Centring diphthongs, which are the vowels that occur in words like ear, beard and air, sheer. In Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
there is a tendency for centring diphthongs to be pronounced as full diphthongs. Those in the eastern states will tend to pronounce "fear" and "sheer" without any jaw movement, while the westerners would pronounce them like "fia" and "shia", respectively.
See also
- Australian EnglishAustralian EnglishAustralian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language....
- Regional variation in Australian EnglishRegional variation in Australian EnglishAustralian English is relatively homogenous when compared to British and American English. The major varieties of Australian English are sociocultural rather than regional, being General Australian, Broad Australian and Cultivated Australian. There is however some regional variation between the...
- Australian words
- Australian English phonologyAustralian English phonologyAustralian English is a non-rhotic variety of English spoken by most native-born Australians. Phonologically, it is one of the most regionally homogeneous language varieties in the world...
- Other regional varieties:
- South Australian EnglishSouth Australian EnglishSouth Australian English is the collective name given to the varieties of English spoken in the Australian state of South Australia. As with the other regional varieties within Australian English, these have distinctive vocabularies...
- South Australian English