Comments on: Australian citizenship test

By: alan

alan — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:32:43 +0000

Very well done! Given that Bex is a brand name, anyone can be forgiven for not getting that one.

By: Timmo

Timmo — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:04:17 +0000

I got most of it, except for the Bex.

Not bad for a septic, if I do say so myself.

By: Heather/Scarborough

Heather/Scarborough — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:30:45 +0000

*laughs* And I shouldn’t laugh because we have the deep south, west coast surfer/valley talk, and east coast ghetto speak. I don’t understand any of that either. And if you spoke to me, you’d have to get past my Wisconsin accent first to know what I was saying.

By: alan

alan — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 06:26:47 +0000

Yep, it’s all real. Only the real bogans really talk like that all the time, but most Aussies will use at least some of those phrases and expressions on a fairly regular basis.

As for that paragraph you quoted, no it’s not English. It’s Strine, the official slang dialect of Australia, very common throughout the country. I’ll be kind and translate it for you here:

“In the afternoon last Christmas the relatives arrived for a BBQ, some drinks and a few sausages. After a bit of a Bex [a hangover cure] and a lie down we opened the presents, ate all the chocolates, biscuits (that’s cookies to you) and sweets (candy). Then we drank a few cans of beer and Mum got angry after Dad and Steve had an argument and a bit of a punch up.”

See. Easy. So if you’re hungry you don’t want to go out looking for a fight. You need some snags off the barbie.

By: Heather/Scarborough)

Heather/Scarborough) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 01:29:35 +0000

*blink* I understood like 1% of that. Call me gullible, but do people really talk like that in Australia? The slang? Do they really add all the “ies” on the end of words? I’m asking seriously. I mean, I know Karen doesn’t but I’ve never seen her in the flesh hanging out with her friends (correction: her best mates). Finally:

“In the arvo last Chrissy the relos rocked up for a barbie, some bevvies and a few snags. After a bit of a Bex and a lie down we opened the pressies, scoffed all the chockies, bickies and lollies. Then we drained a few tinnies and Mum did her block after Dad and Steve had a barney and a bit of biffo.”

Is this actually English?

I think slang Cockney, with all that rhyming business is really wacked too; how anyone understands it is beyond me.

Now, my tummy is rumbling so I think I’m off to..hm.. find a bit of biffo? Maybe not.

By: alan

alan — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:19:17 +0000

Thanks Deborah – I just got it as a forwarded email and couldn’t find out where it was from. I’m glad it’s now credited!

By: Deborah

Deborah — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 23:36:36 +0000

I love that test too- but, fair suck of the sauce bottle: it was written by Cath Deveney in the Age, Melbourne.

Have a look at this: on Australia Day this year another version of the citizenship test enlivened a tram journey, also in Melbourne:
http://www.tramtactic.net/W-11/2007/02/departure_12_boatpeopleorg.html

By: Karen Lee Field

Karen Lee Field — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:47:17 +0000

I think you’re pulling my leg, but I found it amusing anyway. :_