When Lieutenant James Cook and naturalist Sir Joseph Banks were exploring the east coast of Australia in May 1770, they suddenly saw strange animals “which must feed upon Grass [sic!], and which, we judge, could not be less than a Deer [sic!], […] having very small Legs [sic!], and the print of the Feet [sic!] like that of a Goat [sic!] “ (Cook chapter 8). Wondering what this could be, they asked a native what the creature was called. The Aborigine, a member of the tribe Guugu Yimidhirr, replied: “Kangaroo!”, which meant “I don’t understand you!“ (Lloyd). Cook erroneously thought that this was the name of the animal and wrote on 4th August 1770 in his journal: „[…] the Animals [sic!] which I have before mentioned, [are] called by the Natives [sic!] Kangooroo [sic!], or Kanguru [sic!]“ (Cook chapter 8).
This being the first record, the word “kangaroo” was soon adopted into Standard British English and is said to be the first Australian English word. But what exactly is Australian English? Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is at the same time formally Queen of Australia, and Australian English is often referred to as being close to British English. Therefore, Australian English should be considered to be variety of British English, as linguists such as Laurie Bauer and Dr. Gerhard Leitner from the Free University in Berlin suggest . However, there are several linguists like Felicity and Palethorpe Cox , Roswitha Dabke , and Laura Tollfree , who examined the multitude of differences between Australian and British English which lead to the conclusion that Australian English should be regarded as a language of its own – the opinion that I share.
To prove that Australian English is not just a variety of British English, I am going to compare the two languages on four major linguistic levels, namely morphology, phonology, lexicon and spelling, and highlight the differences. There are, of course, also differences in other linguistic fields such as syntax. However, I am only going to present the four mentioned above, as they contain the most significant distinctions and serve my argumantation’s purpose best. To widen the spectrum of my investigations and not limiting them to linguistic factors, I will also look at a historic event and its impact on the language.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Morphology
3. Pronunciation
4. Lexicon
5. Spelling
6. Sociological and Historical Factors
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to examine whether Australian English should be classified as a distinct language rather than merely a variety of British English. The analysis focuses on comparative linguistic evidence and historical developments to support the argument for its growing autonomy.
- Comparison of morphological structures between Australian and British English
- Phonological analysis using IPA vowel charts to highlight distinct pronunciation patterns
- Examination of lexical categories influenced by history, indigenous languages, and American English
- Assessment of sociolinguistic shifts, particularly the impact of the 1972 Labor government on linguistic identity
Excerpt from the book
Australian English – A Language or a Variety?
When Lieutenant James Cook and naturalist Sir Joseph Banks were exploring the east coast of Australia in May 1770, they suddenly saw strange animals “which must feed upon Grass [sic!], and which, we judge, could not be less than a Deer [sic!], […] having very small Legs [sic!], and the print of the Feet [sic!] like that of a Goat [sic!] “ (Cook chapter 8). Wondering what this could be, they asked a native what the creature was called. The Aborigine, a member of the tribe Guugu Yimidhirr, replied: “Kangaroo!”, which meant “I don’t understand you!“ (Lloyd). Cook erroneously thought that this was the name of the animal and wrote on 4th August 1770 in his journal: „[…] the Animals [sic!] which I have before mentioned, [are] called by the Natives [sic!] Kangooroo [sic!], or Kanguru [sic!]“ (Cook chapter 8).
This being the first record, the word “kangaroo” was soon adopted into Standard British English and is said to be the first Australian English word. But what exactly is Australian English? Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is at the same time formally Queen of Australia, and Australian English is often referred to as being close to British English. Therefore, Australian English should be considered to be variety of British English, as linguists such as Laurie Bauer and Dr. Gerhard Leitner from the Free University in Berlin suggest. However, there are several linguists like Felicity and Palethorpe Cox, Roswitha Dabke, and Laura Tollfree, who examined the multitude of differences between Australian and British English which lead to the conclusion that Australian English should be regarded as a language of its own – the opinion that I share.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the historical origin of the term "kangaroo" and introduces the core thesis regarding the independence of Australian English from British English.
2. Morphology: Analyzes word structure differences, specifically focusing on place-name formations and the productive use of suffixes like /-i/.
3. Pronunciation: Utilizes IPA vowel charts to demonstrate how monophthongs and diphthongs in Australian English have diverged from British standards.
4. Lexicon: Categorizes Australian vocabulary into historical, aboriginal, and American-influenced groups to show distinct development.
5. Spelling: Discusses the shifting preference from British to American orthographic conventions within popular culture and education.
6. Sociological and Historical Factors: Explores how post-colonial identity and political shifts, notably the 1972 Labor government, influenced the prestige of different Australian accents.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the linguistic and sociolinguistic evidence to reinforce the position that Australian English is a distinct language.
Keywords
Australian English, British English, Morphology, Phonology, Lexicon, Spelling, Linguistic divergence, Hypocoristics, IPA vowel charts, Post-colonial identity, Gough Whitlam, Aboriginal influence, Americanization, Language evolution, National identity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core argument of this paper?
The paper argues that Australian English has developed sufficient linguistic and sociolinguistic distinctions to be considered a language in its own right, rather than just a regional variety of British English.
Which linguistic fields are analyzed in this study?
The author compares the two languages across four major levels: morphology, phonology, lexicon, and spelling.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The primary objective is to prove the distinctiveness of Australian English by investigating both structural linguistic differences and the historical context of its evolution.
Which scientific method is utilized in the paper?
The paper employs a comparative linguistic analysis, utilizing IPA vowel charts for phonetic evaluation and surveying historical and morphological data to identify patterns of divergence.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers internal word structure, pronunciation variations via acoustic data, the historical and cultural influences on the vocabulary, and the sociopolitical impact of government policy on linguistic prestige.
What are the characterizing keywords of this work?
The work is best characterized by terms such as Australian English, linguistic divergence, phonological shift, morphological distinctiveness, and post-colonial sociolinguistics.
How did the 1972 Labor government impact Australian English?
The administration under Gough Whitlam distanced itself from British-oriented language use, which led to a decline in the "snobbish" status of Cultivated Australian and an increased acceptance of Broad Australian.
How does the usage of the suffix /-i/ demonstrate linguistic differences?
Australian English is shown to be more productive with this suffix, using it for nouns in active and passive positions in ways that are often considered unusual or unthinkable for native British speakers.
Why is the word "kangaroo" significant to the paper?
It serves as an introductory case study illustrating the misunderstanding between European explorers and Indigenous Australians, marking the birth of the first Australian English word.
What role does American English play in current Australian linguistic development?
The paper identifies a growing influence of American English on Australian vocabulary and spelling, suggesting a trend of dissociation from British influence toward a more globalized or Americanized standard.
- Citation du texte
- Julia Liese (Auteur), 2010, Australian English – A variaty of British Englisch or a language on it's own?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/174544
