Language stuff!

[suyongli]

I was reading good ol' Language Log the other day, and spotted a couple of things I thought I'd share:

• A fairly short dictionary of Strine from 1965. Looking at it, and particularly reading things out loud, you can really hear the change in the Australian accent in the last 40 years. Few people (in the major cities, I should note; I've not been to

Comments

[ulfruna]

PUPPIES!!

What manner of puppies!?

[suyongli]

Small ones!

(3 bichoodles, 3 jack russells and a maltese/shi tzu cross. I know I can't have a dog where I live, and I'd rather an RSPCA one than a pet-store one, but... but... but... CUTE PUPPIES!)

[ubykhlives]

A fairly short dictionary of Strine from 1965.

Ooh! Let Stalk Strine! That was published in a book along with a follow-up, Nose Tone Unturned. I loved it as a child, and my parents gave me a copy last year for my birthday, which you're more than welcome to borrow if you'd like (on my return to Australia, that is) - I'd highly recommend it. "Weller corset snop my bizner sreely, but jeer fiwers youide teller weshie get sawf." Gold!

And I'm glad you've had a nice day. We don't have puppies on site, but we do have five dogs who are mostly very friendly... when they're not fighting with the local strays and kangals, that is! Where were these puppies you saw?

[suyongli]

Ooh, I'd love to borrow it! I have a fair bit of trouble figuring out what's being said until it's read out loud, which as far as I'm concerned just makes it even more fun once I can work it out! :D

The puppies are not too far from my house, so I can go look at them anytime I think I could do with a dose of adorableness. No kangals, though - I had to look them up to know what they are, actually. They look huge! Are there many wild ones on site, or are the kangals around all working dogs?

[fifthoffour]

I look forward to reading these when I have a bit more time on my hands. ^_^

[pappubahry]

'Strine' is one of my least favourite words. It makes sense with an American accent, but not otherwise. It should be 'Strayan'.

[suyongli]

I don't know about that. I've certainly heard 'Strayan', but adding a bit more of a nasal sound on 'Strine' also works for me. Of course, they don't sound the same. Nasal 'Strine' seems to be a bit more common further inland than 'Strayan'.

[majoru]

Jonathan Coulton is an excellent artist, heh.