Any resource to learn Australian accent before landing there?
#16
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Any resource to learn Australian accent before landing there?
It may depend on where you go. I find the accent in Victoria to be pretty mild. I'd say it's easier than some of the US accents I've come across and definitely easier than some British accents (Glasgow springs to mind). I know someone was joking earlier but have you tried listening to neighbours.
#17
Re: Any resource to learn Australian accent before landing there?
#18
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 300
Re: Any resource to learn Australian accent before landing there?
Though Australia hasn’t had time to develop massive regional differences, the accent does vary.
Canberra has the most un-Australian accent. All of the inflections and stereotypes are less noticeable there than anywhere else.
Melbourne is not so bad, but you will find most people pronounce the letter E as an A and vice versa – so Melbourne is pronounced ‘Malbourne’, and alleyway is pronounced as 'elleyway'.
Everything from Sydney north is more ocker. In Sydney you will start to notice the accent has more of a drawl to it – listen to Sydney newsreaders and you will hear beach pronounced as ‘boiech’ and Bega pronounced as ‘Boiega’.
By the time you reach Queensland you might wish somebody would provide subtitles!
But like any country it takes a few weeks to adapt to the different way of speaking. Moving between the UK and Australia I found I had to make adjustments either way, and then moving to India was, well, a GIGANTIC challenge to overcome!
Canberra has the most un-Australian accent. All of the inflections and stereotypes are less noticeable there than anywhere else.
Melbourne is not so bad, but you will find most people pronounce the letter E as an A and vice versa – so Melbourne is pronounced ‘Malbourne’, and alleyway is pronounced as 'elleyway'.
Everything from Sydney north is more ocker. In Sydney you will start to notice the accent has more of a drawl to it – listen to Sydney newsreaders and you will hear beach pronounced as ‘boiech’ and Bega pronounced as ‘Boiega’.
By the time you reach Queensland you might wish somebody would provide subtitles!
But like any country it takes a few weeks to adapt to the different way of speaking. Moving between the UK and Australia I found I had to make adjustments either way, and then moving to India was, well, a GIGANTIC challenge to overcome!
Last edited by SNH; Feb 1st 2009 at 1:18 am.
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Any resource to learn Australian accent before landing there?
Melbourne is not so bad, but you will find most people pronounce the letter E as an A and vice versa – so Melbourne is pronounced ‘Malbourne’, and alleyway is pronounced as 'elleyway'.
Everything from Sydney north is more ocker. In Sydney you will start to notice the accent has more of a drawl to it – listen to Sydney newsreaders and you will hear beach pronounced as ‘boiech’ and Bega pronounced as ‘Boiega’.
Everything from Sydney north is more ocker. In Sydney you will start to notice the accent has more of a drawl to it – listen to Sydney newsreaders and you will hear beach pronounced as ‘boiech’ and Bega pronounced as ‘Boiega’.
Generally sort of polished, but not cut-glass - although we've heard that too.
Diction very good. There's also an accent I've heard on the train where a women (generally a older women >40) over pronounces consonants, especially 't's so much it's bizarre - but you sort of have to give points for the diction.
By contrast, I think that many an English accent is let down by diction and in the SE, the RP accent is so fast disappearing in favour of Estuary and Mockney.
#20
Re: Any resource to learn Australian accent before landing there?
To be fair you shouldn't have a problem with urbanite Queenslanders but when you go bush or far north, that's when you might be saying "eh?" quite a bit.
#21
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Any resource to learn Australian accent before landing there?
I think you'll find it's pronounced "Melbin" or "Melbun". I must admit I've not heard Malbourne