Australian Accent?

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Currawong

Generally speaking, the Australian female has a tendency to raise her voice up at the end of her sentences. If you are not use to the accent you may wonder if she has finished what she is saying.

A good example of this is on an Australian morning show call "Sunrise" on channel seven. It runs Monday to Friday between 6.00am and 9.00am. You can watch a video segment of Sunrise on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwLnH0lQjRc

Keep watching the video still you see one of the hosts called Melissa (Mel). She is the Blonde female sitting at the studio deck with a man with glasses nicknamed Kochie. You can hear for yourself what I am talking about. As well you will hear interviews with every day Aussies to get a good idea of our accent.
From an Aussie female Sydney sider NSW.

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ll_jenny_ll here

I would also suggest that you watch a few aussies Films .. BUT PLEASE avoid the ones like Crocodile Dundee and Young Einstein .. look at other aussie films .. like LANTANA and other Non-make-the -world-think-we-all-talk-like-paul-hogan films ... because we don't....

also you need to work out exactly where your AU accent is coming from .. because IT DOES VARY ...
you DO get your Paul Hogan sound alikes...
Queenslanders sound different to both New South Welshmen and Victorians ( who sound the most similiar to me) ..
then you have your Weststralians and they sound different again and as do the Southstralians

there are parts of rural australian that are very easy to imitate.. Just speak with your teeth clenched BUT move your lips and try to speak as clearly as you can
(my theory on the development of this manner of speech is that it was as a result of trying NOT to swallow all the pesky little black bush flies.. and I GREW up in such a region so I am not making up malarky)

EDIT: why would watching Jaws help with aussie accents?
It's an american movie that starred
Roy Scheider ~ born in New Jersey USA
Richard Dreyfuss ~born in Brooklyn USA
Robert Shaw ~ born in Lancashire in the UK
and was set in a township called AMITY in NEW ENGLAND ( usa)
sorry not picking just don't see the connection to an au accent

But Why??

we dont have an accent, the rest of the world does.

Lofty M

There is a great book called 'Let Stalk Strine' written by Aphabeck Lauder. It is written in Australian slang and is a classic! I loved the book. Uses and is written in really broad Aussie accent. The title, when translated means Let's talk Australian and the author makes a play on our laziness in speech with his name - Alphabetical Order. Check out the website though. The wikipedia even has audio. The second link has more examples, though.

Have fun

Elizabeth

I think you've already been given good advice on how to hear our accent, by watching movies etc.

If you want a list of Aussie slang terms try:
http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html

We don't all use all the slang constantly but it's worth a read.
Good luck with your project.
You'll probably do very well because your classmates won't know if you're doing our Aussie accent well or not.
So, it will be the slang terms that will convince them.

girlsjustwannahavefun666

It had alot to do with the pronounciation of vowels (A E I O U)

When pronouncing the letter "a" in a word, most of the time it sounds like the letter itself rather then ah.

and with the letter "i" just think pickles.

Also at the end of most scentences, raise your voice like you are asking a question, regardless of whether you are or not.

And try watching some movies like The Castle and Jaws.

Hope that helps.

I have listed a good website- pay particular attention to the Phonology section.

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The australian accent isn't nearly as strong as most people think. Watch some australian tv. Neighbours gives a pretty good example of it. Just watch some australian tv. Most of the acting is pretty bad but it'll give you a good example

aflumpire

Watching movies is a great way to learn and i'll give you a movie.

It's not the best movie...infact it's not that great, but a good watch none the less...Australian Rules.

It's a movie about a town in the South Australia and the town has an Aussie Rules comp ect.

Out of all of the Australian movies I have watched as an Australian, this one would actully be the best for what you want to achieve. Forget Crocodile Dundee...that is just put on for the americans.

Give it a go! Probobly find it on the internet on Google. Type in 'Australian Rules Movie'

As said above...the Castle is a good movie as well....its oldish...but a CLASSIC!

Khaz D

hey hey being an aussie my self i recommend you watch an australian movies and really listen.. if you are trying to sound like one dont jst stop at the "g'day" mate lol... aussies i find tend to slur it and talk like its all laidback.... good luck :)

â™¥ Shell â™¥

I agree with Khaz - just slur your words together and make it sound very casual.

jennifer h

Start of by saying G'day How ya goin You can throw in some words like Dunny [meaning toilet] barbie for Bar b que. Bloody oath for yes. I'm a True blue Aussie, describing your self as an Australian. stubby is a small bottle of beer. Good onya praising someone . A bloke[man] might say ,Shall we bring the Shelias along[ meaning females]

carmelo_sabato

Repeat Matilda over and over and over and over again ! till you get used too !

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