G’Day Mates (especially Pen and Les)
Today: How to translate New Zealand speakThere are two issues to understanding New Zealanders when they speak to you in their local vernacular: their use of idiosyncratic language (slang); and the way they pronounce what they say. The slang is a lot easier for Australians than many others to understand because the vast majority of the slang is the same or close to Australian usage. The main exception is where the slang comes from the Maori Language. The pronunciation issue is caricatured and if it exists at all any more is mainly restricted to people of a certain age. In all countries subjected to the same American and British television, regional differences are tending to diminish.
I found a good source to teach the words. The presenter introduces and explains 110 slang words or expressions in 5 minutes on each video. She uses a few words I wouldn’t use in front of the Vicar, so if you are sensitive in this regard, you might want to be ready to put your fingers in your ears even if you have to extract them from elsewhere. I think you will find them mildly amusing but more informative than rib-tickling. Also on my machine an annoying ad came up and obscured the sub-titles. A quick click on the little x box got rid of it.
NZ Slang Part 1NZ Slang Part 2]New Zillund SpeakThese three may not be as realistic as they once were, but I think you will find them amusing.
In the first one the first minute about Australia is crap, it is the finish you will like.
The Algorithm for converting to New Zillund Speak
What helped me to understand New Zealand (Zillund) speak in the second and third items, was to read each item out
loud:
The NZ Accent Alphabet
Some More ExamplesThere are a few items that were in the Alphabet.
Beard - a place to sleep Jumbo - pet name for someone called Jim
Beers - large savage animals found in USA woods Ken's - Cairns
Brudge - structure spanning a stream Kittle crusps - potato chips
Bug hut - popular recording Leather - foam produced from soap
Bun button - been bitten by an insect Lift - departed
Cuds - children McKennock - person who fixes cars
Day old chuck - very young poultry Mere - Mayor
Duffy cult - not easy Mess Kara - eye makeup
Ear - mix of nitrogen and oxygen Milburn - capital of Victoria
Ear New Zulland - an extinct airline Min - male of the species
Ear roebucks - exercise at the gym Munner stroney - soup
Earplane - large flying machine Nin tin dough - computer game
Ever cardeau – avocado One Doze - well known computer program
Fear hear - blonde Peck - to fill a suitcase
Fitter cheney - type of pasta Pigs - for hanging out washing with
Fush - marine creatures Pits - domestic animals
Guess - vapour Pug - large animal with a curly tail
Iggs Ecktly - Precisely Sucks Peck - Half a dozen beers
Inner me - enemy Tin - one more than nine
Enjoy!!