Influence of Australian Aboriginal languages

Some elements of Aboriginal languages have been adopted by Australian English – mainly as names for places, flora and fauna (for example dingo) and local culture. Many such are localised, and do not form part of general Australian use, while others, such as kangaroo, boomerang, budgerigar, wallaby and so on have become international. Beyond that, little has been adopted into the wider language, except for some localised terms and slang. Some examples are cooee and hard yakka. The former is used as a high-pitched call, for attracting attention, (pronounced ) which travels long distances. Cooee is also a notional distance: if he's within cooee, we'll spot him. Hard yakka means hard work and is derived from yakka, from the Jagara language once spoken in the Brisbane region.

We cannot but mention unique and, indeed, colourful Australian metaphors and similes, as

· as bald as a bandicoot –совершенно лысый

· as cunning as a dunny rat - коварный, пронырливый

· as lonely as a country dunny – покинутый, одинокий

· flat out like a lizard drinking – очень занятый

let alone Australian expressions, as

· in full feather – при полном параде

· rough end of a pineapple - неудачная сделка,

· not to know Christmas from Bourke Street - не иметь понятия

· not to have a brass razoo – очень бедный

· dingo’s breakfast – без завтрака

etc.

These are the best-known Australianisms in the English-speaking world.

Summing up, we may say that it is quite possible to understand Australian if you know some peculiarities of the language.