Diminutives in Australian English explained

Diminutive forms of words are commonly used in everyday Australian English. While many dialects of English make use of diminutives and hypocorisms, Australian English uses them more extensively than any other.[1] [2] Diminutives may be seen as slang, but many are used widely across the whole of society. Some forms have also spread outside Australia to other English-speaking countries.[3] There are over 5,000 identified diminutives in use in Australian English.[4] [5] [2]

Usage

In other English dialects, diminutives usually imply smallness or have a childish connotation such as in 'birdie', 'doggy', or 'kitty'. While diminutives can be used in this way in Australian English, they are also used widely in a non-childish manner, with over 4,300 being recorded.[6] For example, bikie (a motorcycle, or motorbike club member), does not imply a bicycle in a small or childish sense as it may in other English dialects.

In Australian English, diminutives are usually formed by taking the first part of a word, and adding an ending such as a, o, ie, or y. Sometimes, no ending is added. While the form of a diminutive is arbitrary, their use follows strict rules. Diminutives are not used creatively. For example, an ambulance paramedic is called an ambo, never ambie, or amba. Some diminutives are almost always used in preference to the original form, while others are rarely used or restricted to certain groups or locations. The use of diminutives also evolves over time, with new words coming into use and others falling out of favour. Some diminutives have become so common that the original form has fallen out of common usage. For example, Salvos has begun to replace the name Salvation Army to such an extent that some Australians do not recognise the Salvation Army name.[7] [8] Deli has become so universal that delicatessen is rarely used. Some words, such as ute, from utility vehicle, a car with a tray back, have become universal.

There is common usage of the diminutive forms of people's names; Hargrave → Hargie; Sharon → Shazza; Clark→ Clarky; Wilkinson → Wilko; John → Jonno; David → Davo; Hogan → Hoges; James → Jimmy → Jim → Jimbo; Benjamin → Ben → Benno; Barry → Bazza. This is usually a display of affection and acceptance rather than belittlement.

Organizations and businesses will often embrace the diminutives given to them by Australians, using them in their own advertising and even registering it as a trademark. McDonald's Australia, for example, has registered and uses the name Macca's, rather than the term McDonald's still seen on its restaurants in Australia.[9] [10] [11] [12]

Some diminutives are rarely used, but widely recognised. For example, chalkie means teacher, but most Australians simply call a teacher a teacher.

Diminutives are often used for place names, and are only recognised by people in the local area, for example, cot for Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Parra for Parramatta in Sydney and Broady for Broadmeadows in Melbourne. Even entire cities and States, such as Shepp for the major regional Victorian city of Shepparton or Gong for the New South Wales coastal city/region of Wollongong or Tassie for the state of Tasmania.

Pub and hotel names in particular are often shortened. For example, pubs called the Esplanade Hotel, such as the Esplanade Hotel in St. Kilda, will often be called The Espy.[13]

Purpose and history

The purpose of diminutives in Australian English is not well understood despite being a prominent part of Australian culture. Some research suggests that the use of diminutives serves to make interactions more informal, friendly and relaxed. Linguist Anna Wierzbicka argues that Australians' use of diminutives reflects Australian cultural values of mateship, friendliness, informality, and solidarity, while downplaying formality and avoiding bragging associated with tall poppy syndrome.

Records of the use of diminutives in Australian English date back to the 1800s. Older Australians tend to prefer diminutives with endings such a '-o' in smoko (a work rest break); however, younger Australians have begun to use endings such as -s as seen in totes (totally).

List of diminutives

This list contains noteworthy and commonly understood diminutives from Australian English.

Those marked ‡ are also common in other English dialects.

A

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B

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C

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D

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E

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F

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G

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H

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I

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J

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K

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L

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M

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N

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P

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Q

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R

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S

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T

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U

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V

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W

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See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Luu . Chi . Small Poppy Syndrome: Why are Australians so Obsessed With Nicknaming Things? . JStor . 16 February 2022.
  2. Sussex, Roland. 2004. Abstand, Ausbau, Creativity and Ludicity in Australian English. Australian Journal of Linguistics 24(1). 3-19.
  3. Web site: Australian slang is not dying, it's making its way up in the world. Gary. Nunn. May 27, 2015. The Sydney Morning Herald.
  4. Web site: Why we shorten barbie, footy and arvo. australiangeographic.com.au. 2 August 2010.
  5. Web site: A word in your ear: Diminutives. abc.net.au.
  6. Web site: Gamble . Beau . Aussie slang: why we shorten words . Australian Geographic.
  7. Web site: Transcript. latrobe.edu.au.
  8. Web site: Aussies diminutives. ABC Sydney. 2014-10-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20141020035834/http://blogs.abc.net.au/nsw/2010/07/aussies-diminutives.html. 2014-10-20. dead.
  9. Web site: Frank . Alex . 28 December 2016 . What people call McDonald's in 10 countries around the world . Business Insider.
  10. Web site: O'Connell . Jan . 29 September 2010 . Australian food history timeline - McDonald's becomes Macca's . Australian Food Timeline.
  11. Web site: Paine . Hanna . 19 October 2021 . Drive-thru tell-all: Kiwi Macca's worker reveals what they can hear . NZ Herald.
  12. Zhang . Zhe . Patrick . Vanessa M. . 1 April 2018 . Call Me Rollie! The Role of Brand Nicknames in Shaping Consumer-Brand Relationships . Journal of the Association for Consumer Research . 3 . 2 . 149 . 10.1086/697074 . 2378-1815 . 149015566.
  13. Web site: The Espy Story. hotelesplanade.com.au.
  14. Web site: A famous Sydney restaurant has been forced to change its menu, with a breakfast item named after a derogatory term used to refer to Aboriginal children.. 2020-01-04.
  15. Web site: 'Abo' is not just an abbreviation of 'Aboriginal'. 2011-07-11. 2020-01-04.
  16. Web site: Macquarie Dictionary . Australian Word Map - Riverina.
  17. Web site: Australian National Dictionary Centre. ANU School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics.
  18. Web site: New Idea. How to give a good blow job. Nikki Black.
  19. Web site: BOOKIE | Definition of BOOKIE by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com also meaning of BOOKIE. https://web.archive.org/web/20210225062438/https://www.lexico.com/definition/bookie. dead. February 25, 2021. Lexico Dictionaries | English.
  20. Web site: Brickie definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary. www.collinsdictionary.com.
  21. Web site: DOCO | Definition of DOCO by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com also meaning of DOCO. https://web.archive.org/web/20210301181724/https://www.lexico.com/definition/doco. dead. March 1, 2021. Lexico Dictionaries | English.
  22. Web site: Australian National Dictionary Centre. School. Head of. ANU School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. en. 2020-05-07.
  23. Web site: GARBO | Definition of GARBO by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com also meaning of GARBO. https://web.archive.org/web/20210226000905/https://www.lexico.com/definition/garbo. dead. February 26, 2021. Lexico Dictionaries | English.
  24. Web site: Definition of greenie | Dictionary.com. www.dictionary.com.
  25. Web site: 2020-11-16. Iso named 2020's word of the year by Australian National Dictionary Centre. 2021-12-02. the Guardian. en.
  26. Web site: JOURNO | Definition of JOURNO by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com also meaning of JOURNO. https://web.archive.org/web/20210224145500/https://www.lexico.com/definition/journo. dead. February 24, 2021. Lexico Dictionaries | English.
  27. Web site: Lecky’s Electrical & Data.
  28. Web site: Lotteries Commission Act 1990. legislation.wa.gov.au/.
  29. Web site: McDonald's to become 'Macca's' in Australia. 8 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130109002615/http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/newsbusiness/8590174/mcdonalds-to-become-maccas-in-australia. 9 January 2013.
  30. Web site: Garone. Adam. Healthier men, one moustache at a time. TED.com. TED Conferences, LLC. 2 November 2014. Video with transcript. November 2011. So in Australia, 'mo' is slang for mustache, so we renamed the month of November 'Movember'..
  31. Web site: Stone and Wood . THE TALE OF THE MURBAH SWAMP BEER . 27 February 2017 .
  32. http://www.tweednews.com.au/story/2009/12/15/crittle-set-to-tackle-murbah/ "Crittle set to tackle Murbah"
  33. News: . No ‘nibblies’: three rules for surviving Australia’s party-snack culture. Happy Feraren.
  34. Web site: ROO | Definition of ROO by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com also meaning of ROO. https://web.archive.org/web/20210224221101/https://www.lexico.com/definition/roo. dead. February 24, 2021. Lexico Dictionaries | English.
  35. Web site: Saltie definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary. www.collinsdictionary.com.
  36. Web site: The Salvation Army Australia | Hope where it's needed most. The Salvation Army. Australia. www.salvationarmy.org.au.
  37. Web site: Macquarie Dictionary . Australian Word Map.
  38. Web site: What are scratchies and how do scratchies work?. ozlotteries.com/.
  39. Web site: A brief history of the selfie. abc.net.au. 12 August 2014.
  40. Web site: Selfie: Australian slang term named international word of the year. The Guardian. 19 November 2013.
  41. http://tobacco.health.usyd.edu.au/site/supersite/resources/pdfs/TLbefore1950s.pdf The Australian Tobacco Timeline
  42. http://www.wageline.qld.gov.au/glossary/index.html#smoko Glossary of common industrial relations terms
  43. Web site: Definition of surfie | Dictionary.com. www.dictionary.com.
  44. Book: The Australian National Dictionary. Oxford University Press. 1988.
  45. Web site: Definition of truckie | Dictionary.com. www.dictionary.com.
  46. Web site: 15 Australian Slang Words to Help You Speak Like a Local. Tom. Smith. Culture Trip. 19 July 2018.
  47. Web site: Definition of undies | Dictionary.com. www.dictionary.com.