Australia has a very distinct dialect compared to Britain, not just in the words they use but the way they are spoken. These differences reflect the extraordinary history and evolution of one of the world's most widely spoken languages.
Australian English is most similar to British English in spelling and sentence construction, although its accent and vocabulary are very distinct from the UK.
Early European settlers to Australia — many of whom were convicts — were from all over Great Britain and Ireland, and their speech patterns blended to form the new Australian accent.
Generally speaking though, it can be said that the Welsh accent is probably closest to an Australian one. This is due to their similarities in terms of pronunciation and vocabulary choices – both Welsh and Australians tend to end words on a 'v' sound rather than an 'r' sound like other English speakers do.
The English accent is the one that is victorious, with the latest survey showing that 17 per cent of people have it at the top of their list. French came in next at 13 per cent, which is unsurprising considering that this is the language spoken in the city of love.
On the surface, Australians and Brits may seem to have much in common: language, heritage, a love of cricket and rugby, foreign travel, and dry humour. But there are inevitable cultural differences between the Brits and Aussies – many of which both sides can learn from.
The terms pommy, pommie, and pom used in Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand usually denote a British person.
Brits and Aussies share a similar sense of humour, language and laid-back culture; therefore, it's a lot easier for Aussies to settle in and feel at home despite being thousands of miles away. Additionally, because so many Aussies live in the UK, it's not rare that groups of Aussies meet and become friends.
The New Zealand accent is most similar to Australian accents (particularly those of Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and South Australia) but is distinguished from these accents by the presence of three "clipped" vowels, slightly resembling South African English.
G'day (guh-day) / Hello.
What does it mean? Another word for friend. Common in Britain as well, but used even more enthusiastically by Aussies, who pepper the ends of their sentences with a longer, stretched out “maaaaate” that conveys friendliness and establishes a relaxed bond between the speakers.
“My research shows the British and Irish working-class introduced most of the swearing we have in Australia,” Krafzik says. “It was cemented in those early colonial days.” The British officer class tended to rotate in and out of the colonies. The working-class settlers – and convicts – stayed.
Australians are very friendly and easy-going people. In fact, Australians are renowned for their laid-back nature and unique sense of humour. Another thing Australians are known for is their love of sport, recreation and the great outdoors.
Approximately 84 per cent of Australians drink alcohol at least once in a 12-month period, compared to 83.9 per cent in the UK and 68.9 per cent in the US.
Why are Mini Aussies so hyper? Mini Aussies are shepherd dogs. All shepherd breeds are naturally very active because of the herding work that they were originally bred for. That is why, today, Aussies are regular competitors in dog sports.
Mate. “Mate” is a popular word for friend. And while it's used in other English-speaking countries around the world, it has a special connection to Australia. In the past, mate has been used to address men, but it can be gender-neutral. In Australia, you'll also hear mate used in an ironic sense.
'Lass' or 'lassie' is another word for 'girl'. This is mainly in the north of England and Scotland. 'Lad' is another word for boy.
We do use "darl" (darling) in Australia, but as Su.Ki. has said, we'd expect to hear it from older women, who would also use terms of endearment such as "love" and "dear(ie)".
The tough conditions of settler times also played a part in Australians' dry, self-deprecating and sarcastic sense of humour. While in many countries it's considered poor taste to find humour in difficult circumstances, Australians tend to look at the lighter side.
Australian citizens remain Commonwealth citizens in British law and are still eligible to vote and stand for public office in the UK. Further reforms in 1984 fully abolished British subject status in Australian law and removed remaining gender imbalances in nationality regulations.