Communication – Aussie Slang

Language is central to communication and also to cultural identity.  

So it’s no surprise that we adapt our language with our culture.  In Australia the English spoken may be difficult for new arrivals to understand.  Accent, indistinct pronunciation, slang and diminutives can take some getting used to.

If you are expecting colourful metaphors and similes (“mad as a cut snake”, “flat out like a lizard drinking” “a face like a robber’s dog”) you may be disappointed if you are working in the business environment in Sydney or Melbourne. 

But listen out for Aussie abbreviations, which will be heard often.  This video covers many of them.

And if you are interested in improving your global communications skills take a look at our upcoming webinar.

Cross cultural communication - things that make you snigger

“BHP is firmly rooted in Australia”, so said BHP Billiton chief executive Andrew Mackenzie in his first speech in Australia.  He is a Scot who became CEO in May 2013.  It was a positive speech about the future of mining and the flow on effects to Australia.  I wondered though, if Andrew Mackenzie realized that many Australians would have had a little snigger at the line above.

As I explain to CIC members in our on-line resource Australia: Communication

“One term that often causes embarrassment for newcomers is ‘root’ or ‘rooting’.  Australians barrack or cheer for their teams instead of rooting for them.  In Australia, rooting is a slang euphemism for sexual intercourse and when used as 'rooted' in a slang context it means something is badly broken often beyond repair

Some years ago I was training a young American couple moving to a mining town in the Northern Territory of Australia.  The husband had already spent some time on-site and had already learnt about this communication difference.  He sheepishly told us the story of attending a local footy game where his company was the team sponsor.  He asked a local woman which team she was rooting for.  Her response?  “Darl, I’d root the whole damn lot of them if I could!”

Yes we all knew what Andrew Mackenzie meant so it wasn’t a miscommunication but we might have sniggered –just a wee bit…