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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jengod (talk | contribs) at 08:01, 16 January 2004. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

However, this American is going to remain unconvinced until you lazy .au and .nz sods get off your duffs and document them here.

or even Australian and New Zealander... the extra typing won't cost you any more... :S Most Australians can pick the Texan, Californian, New York Jewish, and New York Ebonics accents (for instance) by ear. The differences between Australian and New Zealand English accents aren't any less extensive. The problem, I think, is that most Americans have not heard too much of the New Zealand accent. The main difference between Australian and New Zealand English is the presence in New Zealand English of stressed schwa, which doesn't appear in most other accents of English. Australian English has a lax front close vowel instead, that of the British English "pin". pfnewman
OK, smartarse (or smartass, if you can't cope with alternate spellings), I've made a start . . . Seriously, though, it's not that hard to pick. It's as least as distinctive as, say, Californian and New York accents. --Robert Merkel

I think people have done a good job on this page. I would add some borrowed Maori words myself but it is a bit of challenge for a Brit to turn a list of borrowed words from a page like this into something that does not invalidate the author's copyright. -- Artistole

I've added a description of the pronunciation of "dance". Someone should check whether my description matches the samples I've uploaded to "Pronunciation" at http://briefcase.yahoo.com/careyevans/. --Carey Evans

There's lots more material here now. Still to add is some mention of non-Maori New Zealand words, like bach and crib, though this is more difficult for me since I don't have the perspective to know which are actually unique to NZ. If someone adds the words, I'll define them. --Carey Evans

'Port' is only used for schoolbag in some Australian states (e.g. I think Queensland.) In NSW and Victoria (Hey! -and Tassie!!! - MB) (and W.A. - Mark Ryan) people say schoolbag, same as Kiwis do. -- SJK

Taken this from list of words unique to NZ and australia, since it's also used in Britain -- AdamW

mate: Buddy or pal, the same as Australian English.

An anonymous user writes:

This is incorrect - the sound is much better represented as "darnce".

I'm not so sure about this; some dialects of English would roll that R, and NZers hardly even pronouce R's when they are there. OTOH, I don't think I pronounce "pasta" properly, either.

I'll try again with "car", which most pages seem to use for that vowel sound.

--Carey Evans, 2002-02-03

"Taught properly" indeed! Chance vs charnce is optional in Australian English. Charnce is used by nearly all South Australians, most denizens of Toorak and Vaucluse and Paddington, and a good smattering of others from all over, NSW in particular. Rough guess: 70% of Australians say "chance". Yes, and some of us even had educations! Oh, and one more difference in usage to list: dairy vs milk bar.

It's interesting to see how many words Oz and Kiwi English have in common - more than I'd have thought until I stopped to ponder and read the examples in this and a couple of related entries. It's not so surprising that words like bush have made the trans-Tasman journey, but it is surprising to realise how many Maori words are quite familiar to this Aussie boy. Tannin

I've made some changes to the "chance" section; please make any more changes you feel are necessary. I'll have to think about how to add dairy vs. milk bar - how does it relate to the existing entry? In NZ, the word means what the existing article talks about, but is reminiscent of the '60s. -- carey
My apologies. That comment of mine about chanve vs crarnce was largely tongue in cheek. Still I think your revision is an improvement just the same. Tannin

New Zealand English usage

Can somebody tell me the origins of 2 specific usages:-

[1]....many Kiwis, especially in the rural sector, will nearly always answer a question with a contradiction, e.g.

[Q]"do you think this horse is a good bet?"

[A]...yeah, no...she's a good bet"

Why say "Yes" immediately followed by a "No".


[2]....many Kiwis ask a question twice, e.g.

"..are you going to the City, are you?"

Why say "are you" twice?

thanks

Yes No

Meaning 'Yes', I acknowledge your queastion, I am considering it .... and the answer is 'No'

This usage appeared about five years ago among the yuppies and has since spread thoughout the country, urban and rural areas equally. However I am not sure that it is a New Zealand phenomenom; is it not also used in other English speaking countries. Personally I find it rather irritating and hope it proves to be ephemeral.

With regard to your second question. I have not noticed that at all in quite that form. However questions are often finished with 'eh?'

"".. are you going to the city, eh?"

I think the 'eh" is a sort of verbal question mark with the same function as "ka" in Japanese.

Hope that helps you ping 09:12, 11 Jan 2004 (UTC)

Kiwifruit

So what do New Zealanders/Kiwis call the kiwifruit? China gooseberry? jengod 08:01, Jan 16, 2004 (UTC)

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