There was a news item I saw recently that said that the English population was far less diverse that previously thought. It seems various of the previous invasions, such as the Normans, didn't actually have much much effect on the general population.
A friend of mine, who happens to be Irish-American, used to work as an electrician. Other contractors would frequently make racist comments and jokes in front of her. She took to responding by looking at them blankly and saying "Oh! You probably think I'm white. I get that a lot." Confused the hell out of them, but got them to stop and, who knows, maybe even think.
Ah, the educated Australian accent. I have traces of it, I know what you are talking about.
I usually refer to myself as Anglo. If we are talking culture rather than race, Australian (my parents were both born here, and some sides of the family go back several generations - I certainly don't feel in the least bit English, but thoroughly Colonial), but I do distinguish between the two.
I think any Aussie who speaks that way - and yes there are lots of us! - gets picked on... very evident at my high school anyway. I know I got thumped for it a few times (and have been insulted for being "stuck up" or whathaveyou in adult life purely on the strength of accent).
Heh. My youngest sister consciously altered her accent to Ocker to avoid illtreatment at school, and still reverts to it in situations where she feels threatened or uncomfortable; it's become a habit.
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(I have just discovered there is a Melbourne suburb called 'Research'. How odd.)
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I usually refer to myself as Anglo. If we are talking culture rather than race, Australian (my parents were both born here, and some sides of the family go back several generations - I certainly don't feel in the least bit English, but thoroughly Colonial), but I do distinguish between the two.
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People have correctly guessed my diet of Doctor Who, The Goodies, and Sesame Street based on accent and pronuncition of "H" and "Z" :D
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Heh. My youngest sister consciously altered her accent to Ocker to avoid illtreatment at school, and still reverts to it in situations where she feels threatened or uncomfortable; it's become a habit.
(*sigh* Hogan good, Morecroft bad, yada).
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