Essay help plz

[arthurk]

Australian English is losing its unique characteristics to Americanisms and is gradually dying. Do you agree?
Any strong ideas, points or quotes would be greatly appreciated^^

[hyperblade01]

Over this year, my view on the whole dying issue has changed dramatically :O

Anyways:

- Yes slightly, Americanisms are coming in but it's very few. Brainstorm some of them and you'll get stuck very quickly. Australia has only taken from here and there, they haven't borrowed 'wholesale'

- Google and Microsoft using American Spelling
- TV shows, movies from USA influencing speech
- Words like 'sick' 'wicked' 'cookie'

- No. We still have alot of unique characteristics:

- Inventiveness
- We use language in obscene ways
- Borrowings from ethnic backgrounds
- Australian Accent - That recent case with the kidnapping of the little girl. The person that had an association was identified as an Australian because of the accent
- High Rising terminal and ellision
- Anti-Authorative Nature - Based on history, with the convicts


- Britian and America are closer than Australia and American. Britian has not gone American, so people are just making a big deal over the whole thing.
- We have Australian Dictionaries and Oxford even has an Australian Version, dictionaries keep languages alive

[arthurk]

Nice, thanks heaps man.
But what's the kidnapping little girl story about? haven't really been keeping up with current affairs since vce started.
And the idea of anti authorative nature although it rings a bell the concept doesnt seem to come to mind.

[hyperblade01]

That issue about the girl being kidnapped a few years ago, her name was Madeline McCann i think. A few weeks back it was front page news that they had more information to where she might be still.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,25894242-952,00.html

I don't know if they said they recognised her by her accent, but you could mention that it is a possibility. I was told that they did recognise her via the accent by my teacher, but I don't have a documented source or anything



The anti authorative nature - When Australia was first colonised, they were mainly convicts and so the language they used reflected their hate/dislike towards authority figures. Tall Poppy Syndrome is related to this as well.

[arthurk]

Ah that case i didn't know that was an Australian issue.
Tall poppy syndrome ay i shall do some research on that but i've written an intro already so thats a start:P
Thanks hyperblade

 Language is a fundamental tool in shaping and reflecting identity. This applies to both individuals and Australia itself. With this in mind Australian English is changing rapidly to reflect the evolving National identity. An integral part of Australia’s changing language is the influence of American culture. As a consequence Australian English has both expelled and adopted expressions and lexical items, as well as experiencing a myriad of phonological and spelling changes. However the assimilation of American aspects into our language is not reflective of the fading of Australian English as we have retained some its unique characteristics established in its historical roots, rather it is these influences that contribute to make Australian English the distinctive, unique variety it is today.

Constructive criticism is welcome:P