Everything about Australian Aboriginal English totally explained
Australian Aboriginal English (AAE) is a term referring to the various varieties of the
English language used by
Indigenous Australians. These varieties, which developed differently in different parts of
Australia, vary along a continuum, from forms close to standard English to more nonstandard forms. The furthest extent of this is
Kriol, which is regarded by linguists as a distinct language from English. Speakers change between different forms according to social context.
Several features of AAE are shared with
creole languages spoken in nearby countries, such as
Tok Pisin in
Papua New Guinea,
Pijin in the
Solomon Islands, and
Bislama in
Vanuatu.
AAE terms, or derivative terms, are sometimes used by the broader Australian community. This is particularly true in
outback areas, where the indigenous population is generally more significant than in
urban and
suburban areas.
Phonology
Grammar
Pronouns
Although
he and
him are masculine pronouns in standard English, in Aboriginal English, particularly in northern Australia, it may also be used for females and inanimate objects. The distinction between
he as the
nominative form and
him as the
accusative form isn't always observed, and
him may be found as the subject of a verb.
"Fellow"
In some forms of Aboriginal English,
fellow (also spelt
fella,
feller,
fullah,
fulla etc.) is used in combination with adjectives or numerals, for example
big fella business = "important business",
one-feller girl = "one girl". This can give it an adverbial meaning, for example
sing out big fella = "call out loudly". It is also used with pronouns to indicate the plural, for example
me fella = "we" or "us",
you fella = "you".
Lexicon
Kin terms
Words referring to one's relatives are used in different senses to Standard English, reflecting traditional kinship systems.
- Aunty and uncle are used as terms of address for older people, to whom the speaker may not be related.
- Brother and sister include close relatives of the same generation, not just siblings.
- Cousin includes any relative of one's own generation.
- The combinations cousin-brother and cousin-sister are used to refer to biological cousins.
- In south-east Queensland, daughter is used to refer to any woman of one's great-grandparents' generation. This is due to the cyclical nature of traditional kinship systems.
- Father and mother include any relative of one's parents' generation, such as uncles, aunts, and in-laws.
- Grandfather and grandmother can refer to anyone of one's grandparents' generation. Grandfather can also refer to any respected elderly man, to whom the speaker may not be related.
- Poison refers to a relation one is obligated to avoid. See Mother-in-law language.
- The term second, or little bit in northern Australia, is used with a distant relative who is described using a close kinship term. For example, one's second fathers or little bit fathers are men of one's father's generation not closely related to the speaker. It is contrasted with close, near or true.
- A skin or skin group are sections which are determined by the skin of a person's parents, and determine who a person is eligible to marry.
- Son can refer to any male of the next generation, such as nephews.
Business
Many Aborigines use the word
business in a distinct way, to mean
matters. Funeral and mourning practices are commonly known as
Sorry Business. Financial matters are referred to as
Money Business, and the secret-sacred rituals distinct to each sex are referred to as
Secret Women's Business and
Secret Men's Business.
Camp
Many Aborigines refer to their house as their camp, particularly in
Central Australia and the
Top End of the
Northern Territory.
Deadly
Deadly is used by many Aboriginal people to mean excellent, very good, in the same way that
wicked is by other English speakers.
The Deadlys are awarded for outstanding achievement by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people. This usage isn't exclusive to Aborigines.
Gammon
Victorian English word for
pretend. Still used by some Australian Aborigines to mean joking generally. Gammoning – usually pronounced Gam'in'.
Australian language expert, Sidney J. Baker, lists "gammon" used by "whitefellas" as "falsehood".
Gubbah
Gubbah is a term used by some Aboriginal people to refer to white people. It is a shortening of the word
Government, since traditionally Aborginal people's contact with whites most often involved government officials. Another theory is that it's a contraction of
Governor. It has also been said to mean "White Ghost".
Humbug
Whereas
humbug in broader English (see
Charles Dickens's
Scrooge character) means nonsensical, or unimportant information, humbug in Aboriginal English means to pester with inane or repetitive requests. The
Warumpi Band's most recent album is entitled
Too Much Humbug. In the
Northern Territory, humbug is used by both black and white in this latter, Aboriginal way.
Mob
Regularly used to mean a group of people. Unlike broader English, it doesn't usually mean an indiscriminate crowd, but a cohesive group. My mob – my people, or extended family. Mob is also often used to refer to a language group –
that Warlpiri mob. This term is also found in the name of outback
New South Wales hip-hop group,
The Wilcannia Mob.
Yarn
English word for a long story, often with incredible or unbelievable events. In
Australian English, and particularly among Aborigines, has become a verb, to talk. Often,
Yarnin'.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Australian Aboriginal English'.
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