G'Day to Ya!

“G’day Mates! A cracker of a day (pronounced “die”), aint it? Crikey it’s been coming down in buckets the past few days. The weather has been absolutely shocking down in Tassie. Although no surprises there, since the weather there is always just ordinary. It got so frosty one night that I needed to put on a jumper. When we get a lovelie day like today we like go to a bonza beach. So put on your cosies and your thongs, and don’t forget to take your sunnies along! If you are running late, no worries. Remember to bring some tucker to throw on the Barbie. We’ll pick up some chips and crisps. We can have lollies or biscuits for dessert. There’s footy on the telly for the blokes and brollies for those fair skinned Sheilas! Good on ya. ”

Does this sound like English to you? It’s English all right, but not the English we speak back home in the US. This is Aussie English, and I need a translator for some of it. Here’s my translation of the first paragraph:

Hello, Friends! It’s a very nice day, isn’t it? Wow, it has been pouring recently. The weather has been terrible down in Tasmania. The weather there is usually bad. It got so cold one night, I needed to put on a sweater. When we get a nice day like today, we go to a nice beach. So, put on your bathing suit and your flip flops, and don’t forget your sunglasses. If you are running late, no problem. Remember to bring some food to throw on the grill. We’ll pick up some French Fries and potato chips. We can have candy or cookies for dessert. Aussie rules football will be on the television and I’ll have umbrellas for the fair skinned women! Have a nice day!

We haven’t gotten all the lingo down, but Ethan used “mince” instead of ground beef the other day and I’ve started to call my mother “Mum”.

Hooroo! (Goodbye)

Siena