Aussie Language Barrier and Californian Slang (San Diego: live in, shop, moving to)

[possum_magic]

Hi,

As an Aussie moving to San Diego mid next year (Woo Hoo), I'm already starting to think about the language barriers I may face and also the spelling differences between American English and Australian English.

Aussies are generally lazy speakers, often dropping the end of a word/phrase and replacing it with an "ie", "O" or "ah" sound e.g.

Servo = service station = gas station
Arvo = afternoon
Polly = politician
Barbie = BBQ
Bikkie = biscuit
Bizzo = personal business
Chokkie = chocolate
Chrissie = Christmas
Sunnies = sunglasses
Trackies = Tracksuit
Pressie = gift
On Ya = Good on you
No Wuckers = No wucking furries = No f**king worries
rego = registration

Then there's the spelling differences e.g.

socialise = socialize
Mum = Mom
Neighbour = neighbor
Labour = labor
Colour = color
Centre = center
foetus = fetus
analyse = analyze

(I think American spelling makes much more sense!)

Then there are the Australian words for items that are completely different to what Americans use e.g.

Thongs = flip flops
G String = a thong (underwear)
Jam = jelly
Jelly = jello
Peak hour = rush hour
Garbage = trash
Grog = alcohol
Ute = pick up truck
Bottle shop = liquor store
County = region

Then there are the words that are fine to use in a civilised (civilized!) Australian conversation, but may be regarded as swearing in America e.g.

Bugger off = go away
Bloody hell = oh my gosh!
Jesus Christ! = oh my gosh!

However, the word "arse" (you say "ass") is a swear word in Australia and would be more offensive than using the aforementioned phrases IMO.

So, I would L O V E for you to enlighten me about American, Californian and even San Diego specific slang, word differences, and spelling. I'm wondering what mundane Australian words might get me into trouble in America and vice versa.

TIA,
Possum_Magic

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by possum_magic

Aussies are generally lazy speakers, often dropping the end of a word/phrase and replacing it with an "ie", "O" or "ah" sound e.g.

Don't say "Cali" unless you're talking about that town in Colombia.

A limited access high speed road in CA is called a freeway and you put a "the" in front of the number when referring to it. "I'll be headed up the 5 this morning".

Californians live "out West" while people in New York are "back East". (many Mid-westerners say "out East").

Westerners wait "in line" while some Easterners wait "on line".

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by possum_magic

Bugger off = go away
Bloody hell = oh my gosh!
Jesus Christ! = oh my gosh!

Only the last one is considered swearing here, and only devout Christians consider it thus. Normal people don't have a problem with it.

Here's one: When we "root", we're not engaging in the activity Aussies are engaging in whey they root.

A "no hoper" in Oz is a "loser" here.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

A "no hoper" in Oz is a "loser" here.

So would a Democrat there be called an "O hoper"?

Stoked = elated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_English

[possum_magic]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Here's one: When we "root", we're not engaging in the activity Aussies are engaging in whey they root.
.

Yep, "root" is a crass word in Oz unless you're talking about plants and trees.

[Fontucky]

Oz: Station
USA: Ranch

We drop the e in storey, as in "I live in a two story house."

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Oz: Station
USA: Ranch

Did you know ranch used to have an "e" on the end of it?

[Fontucky]

Like pointe?

[.highnlite]

I thought it was an O not an E.

Back in the 80's when I was doing my ski instructor routine, we had a bunch of Aussies come over to teach skiing. After observing the dear lads, some friend of mine wrote a book of etiquette for Aussies in America. The gist of it was, while drinking mass quantities of alcohol is permissible in the US, being obviously smashed in public is declasse. At that time, Aussie men would get noticeably smashed in public and cause scenes...
Pissed in America means angry, pissed in Oz meant drunk.
And of course, Chunder...... Which apparently was part of an Australian Social setting, whereas in America it was consider a sign of a person who could not hold their liquor.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by .highnlite

I thought it was an O not an E.

Only in Spanish.