ozzieeagle

I've recently noticed than on Melbourne youngsters under age 25 than the upwards inflection seems to have disappeared. It's certainly not present or very much less pronounced on my younger two kids aged 21 and 16 compared to their older siblings aged 31 and 29.

Reason I posted is I've just watched the news and seen some interstate kids from Queensland speaking and their accent is now noticeably very very different.

It's most pronounced on the Girls where they seem to sound a lot like their Californian counterparts except with a distinct Australian sound... the words, the speed, and the emphasis all seem to be the same.

Anyone else noticing this ?

Merseygirl

Yes I've noticed the Americanisation of their speech (I think it's called 'Valley Girl' speak).
As for the loss of the upward inflection, I won't miss it and while the young ones are at it, they could try lowering their squeaky voices and octave or two...

Mr Grumpy

Its still better than the English sound of having marbles in your mouth.

chris955

As someone who has an Australian accent it really is one of the worst, right up there with Northern Ireland and South Africa. The slow nasal accent is akin to scratching your nails down a blackboard.

ozzieeagle

Well it's changed a lot, almost a quantam change like the Jafaican accent now prevelent amongst youngsters in England. I'd say it is based on the valley Girl accent that Mersey Girl talks about, but the boys have it as well, in Melbourne at least.

Molly Coddle

I have noticed the 20 - 40 bracket using it, but not the younger ones, so you could be right there. It drives me nuts listening to it, so I'm glad it's going out of vouge, sort of speak

I also find that the older Aussies, seem to have different accents from say the 20's and I find that accent to be the easiest on the ears, it's quite nice actually.
I think each generation are obviously influenced by different things, hence the changes in accents. I should imagine TV and popular music will have a major influence on a lot of children, hence the domination of all things American.

I've even noticed with the Yorkshire accent that the kids in Yorkshire have a different accent from their Yorkshire Grandparents, even if they were brought up in the same village. It's interesting.

Grayling

.....but even marbles are better than sour grapes

Alfresco

There many, many S.A. accents just there are British, English and Oz ones etc...

spouse of scouse

I was amazed at the variety of different accents when travelling through England, especially as it's not an enormous country!

Some people pick up that I'm an Aussie straight away when I'm overseas, others think I'm English. I particularly remember a young lad serving in Boots, who wouldn't have that I was Australian. He had an Aussie girlfriend and said I didn't sound anything like her (God knows what she sounded like!). When pressed, he offered the opinion that my accent was 'too posh' to be Australian. Cheeky little bugger

When I was in primary school, we had 'elocution lessons' (true!). One I remember in particular, taught by an ever-so ever-so teacher. "Two sticks across and a little bit of moss - it'll do, it'll do, it'll do" - try saying that with a plum in your mouth!

paulry

It is. Most accents are constantly changing. For example, if you watch (well, listen to) some of the old Aussie newsreels, etc; the spoken English back then was quite different to the way it is today - not only the presenters but also the interviewees. I've also noticed that many of the now very old Aussies sound rather similar to their first-language English Southern African contemporaries.

And then there the anomolies here too like the outrageosly squeeky, gruff or nasal whining voices - those that cause you to stop you in your tracks and think crikey, how did they learn to speak like that?

paulry

Indeed, incredibly varied due to so many varied backgrounds. The old Capey accents were the most distintive - along with their amazing senses of humour

spouse of scouse

I love listening to people talk in the wheatbelt, the old 'owyagoinmate?'. That's the 'real' Aussie accent to me.

I do notice an increasing trend among late teens/20 somethings to talk with a put on American accent, annoys the bejesus out of me. Too many American sit-coms, maybe?

And while I'm on the subject! I'm sick to death of the words absolutely and amazing. Yes must have fallen out of favour, and it seems as though everything is amazing now - dinner was amazing! I had an amazing sleep last night! my new boss is amazing! Bah humbug

Alfresco

Aren't we all "posh" in our own accents.



Yep, even the dogs in CT slowly bark "Woooof Brew!"

spouse of scouse

I'm not the slightest bit posh, accent or otherwise.

paulry

I can tell you're going to love Liverpool!