A Foreign Language Quiz: How to Speak Australian, Part 2

Many people make resolutions to travel more each year. I am no exception to this resolution. When I travel to an unfamiliar destination, I try to learn a bit of the language and the customs of a particular area. When, I went to Mexico, I practiced Spanish and when I went to Canada, I read up on its customs. Therefore, if I wish to visit Australia by the end of 2010 or 2011, I must start learning how to speak and understand Australian.

There are some words that are associated with Australia such, as shrimp g'day, mate, and barbie, slang for barbeque. These words should be associated with Australia; however, with some clarifications. In Australia, there prawns not shrimp. Moreover, those words are a limited representation of Australian English.

In fact, Australian slang is poetry because it is a reflection of the tough Australian land and a no-nonsense attitude demonstrated by Australians. So many corners are cut both by what they say and how they say it. Therefore, I say, let's jump right into a how to speak Australian quiz.

Arvo:
A: Nickname for an aboriginal person
B: Avocado
C: Afternoon
Arvo is Australian slang for afternoon. I'll be there in the arvo.

Cheesed Off:
A: A lover of cheese
B: Very annoyed
C: Tired
Cheesed off is Australian for very annoyed. He was very cheesed off at his mum.

Duck's Guts:
A: Ingredient in pate
B: A rugby term
C: Basic information
Duck's guts involve getting to the heart of the matter. Australians like to do this much.

Chips:
A: Police
B: Poker equipment
C: Chocolate
D: French fries
Chips are Australian for French Fries. They often go with fish.

Chook:
A: Chalk
B: Chicken
Chook is Australian for chicken. Australians might ask order chook and chips for lunch or dinner.

Fairy Floss:
A: Currency a Tooth Fairy leaves under an Australian child's pillow
B: A tutu
C: Cotton candy
Fairy floss is Australian slang for cotton candy. Australians might eat fairy floss at the circus.

Great Australian Wave:
A: Something done at a baseball game
B: Something caught at the beach
C: Swatting flies from your face
The great Australian wave is swatting flies from your face; maybe this is preferred to using bug spray on flies in Australia.

Jumper:
A: A jump rope
B: A skydiver
C: A suit
D: Sweater
A jumper is a sweater. I love jumpers, especially purple or green jumpers.

Milk Bar:
A: Candy
B: Cookie
C: Shower gel
D: Convenience store
A milk bar is a convenience store. I wonder if people can buy fish and chips at a milk bar.

No Worries:
A: Get out
B: Forget it
C: No problem at all
No Worries is a very popular Australian phrase that means no problem at all. It has become so popular that Americans use it too.

OZ:
A: A fictional location
B: A man's name
C: Australia
Oz is a nickname for Australia. I wonder if there is a wizard in Australia

Rubber:
A: Tire
B: A sexual item
C: An eraser
A rubber is an eraser; it is found at the end of a pencil.

Icy Pole:
A: The North Pole
B: Ski resort
C: Popsicle
An icy pole is Australian for Popsicle. Icy poles make a delicious summer treat.

Scones:
A: Ice cream containers
B: Home décor
C: Biscuits
Scones are biscuits. There are sweet scones and savory scones.

Tucker:
A: Sleepy
B: Blanket
C: Food
Tucker is Australian for food. Chook and chips are tucker.

Australia is a country that I hope to visit soon. But, before I do, I must learn some Australian slag. It might be a bit strange but it sounds poetic. Learn some Australian slang and you just might become an honorary Australian. Happy traveling Down Under. Source: www.aussielang.com