'Lazy' Australian Accent Caused by 'Alcoholic Slur' of Heavy Drinking Early Settlers'

     Having a few friends with that delightful Aussie accent, it is interesting to hear this analysis of where it came from.  I have spent a fair amount of time in the southern states here in the US, and I find many languages very interesting, but I've never seen it being traced back like this.  A very interesting read. 

Paul "Crocodile Dundee" Hogan

   The distinctive Australian accent is the result of a "drunken slur" caused by the heavy drinking of the early settlers, according to a communication expert from the country.   In an impassioned call for Australian schools to teach verbal expression and delivery, Dean Frenkel, a public speaking and communication lecturer at Melbourne's Victoria University, said "drunken Aussie-speak" was formed generations ago but has continued to be passed on to children by sober parents.

     "The Australian alphabet cocktail was spiked by alcohol," he wrote in The Age.   "Our forefathers regularly got drunk together and through their frequent interactions unknowingly added an alcoholic slur to our national speech patterns. Aussie-speak developed in the early days of colonial settlement from a cocktail of English, Irish, Aboriginal and German - before another mystery influence was slipped into the mix."

     Paul Hogan Crocodile Dundee Mate, what did ya say?  Mr. Frenkel said poor communication was "not related to class" but was evident among all sectors of Australian society.   "The average Australian speaks to just two thirds capacity - with one third of our articulator muscles always sedentary as if lying on the couch; and that's just concerning articulation," he wrote.   "Missing consonants can include missing 't's (impordant), 'l's (Austraya) and 's's (yesh), while many of our vowels are lazily transformed into other vowels, especially 'a's to 'e's (stending) and 'i's (New South Wyles), and 'i's to 'oi's (noight)."

     Most experts believe the Australian accent - known for its flat tone, nasality and elision of syllables - developed from the mix of dialects found in the early colony, whose residents included convicts and settlers from across Britain and Ireland. Various myths have arisen to try to explain certain features of the Australian drawl, including the claim that Australians mumble to avoid swallowing flies.

     This article has more about the accent at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/11957994/Gday-mate-Lazy-Australian-accent-caused-by-alcoholic-slur-of-heavy-drinking-early-settlers.html 

Mel Gibson

     I find it interesting that many of the native Australians, especially the actors generally lack that colorful dialect that is so appealing to most of us around the world.  Mel Gibson is a good example of an Australian who does not seem to have a strong accent of any kind.  where Paul Hogan's accent you can cut with a knife.  Please don't loose this wonderful and colorful dialect, especially the ladies, it is really appealing.  ;o)