Difference Between English Accent and Australian Accent

English Accent vs Australian Accent
 

Knowing the difference between English accent and Australian accent can be interesting. They are both English language, but the way the same language, same words are pronounced is different. However, to the untrained ear, they both sound somewhat similar when compared with the American accent. Accent does not harm the language. However, when you do not have the same accent as the natives you can be easily recognized by native speakers. This article presents you some details about the difference between English accent and Australian accent.

What is English Accent?

English accent varies greatly across the world and even within a country where English is the native language. Strictly speaking, linguists feel that there is a difference in accents in English when used in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. It is true that even among native English speakers different accents are in vogue. The regional accents can be identified by certain characteristics. This is the reason English accents differ widely across the Britain.

English accent can be deciphered if spoken slowly in such a way that the words do not appear to run together. Moreover, you would find that the English do not limit the movement of their lips while speaking and they do not use the back of the tongue in the act of pronunciation. The English do not hold the tip of the tongue close to the roof of the palate while speaking.

What is Australian Accent?

Though Australians also speak English, their accent is not that of the English. On the other hand, the Australian accent centers on vowel pronunciation. In fact, it can be said that vowel pronunciation is the most important difference between the English accent and the Australian accent. In the Australian accent words ending in ‘ay’, sound are pronounced ‘ ie’. Similarly, the long a, ‘a:’ is pronounced as ‘æ.’

Though Australian accent does not vary much from region to region, there are some regional variation that have been documented. Some studies have shown that people in Victoria have a tendency to pronounce the vowel in words like dress, bed and head as ‘æ.’ As a result, the words “celery” and “salary” are pronounced alike. In Western Australia, a tendency to pronounce words such as “beer” with two syllables (‘ biː.ə’ or ‘be-ah’) is found, where other Australians use one syllable ‘biə.’

It is also interesting to note that the Australian accent is being more influenced by American accent. Since 1950s, the Australian accent has been influenced more by American mainly due to the pop culture, the mass media, and the influence of the internet. For example: ” yair” for “yes” and “noth-think” for “nothing.”

More to this, Australian accent can be deciphered if spoken quickly so that the words run together. Australian slang plays a very important role in the understanding of the Australian accent.

As a matter of fact, the Australians use many words used by the English. For example, the Australians use the word ‘lift’ to indicate an elevator. One of the most important differences between the English accent and the Australian accent that the Australian accent is the result of the predominant use of the back of the tongue in the act of pronunciation. They limit the movement of the lips. The tip of the tongue is held close to the roof of the palate by the Australians while speaking.

What is the difference between English accent and Australian accent?

• English accent can be deciphered if spoken slowly in such a way that the words do not appear to run together. Australian accent can be deciphered if spoken quickly so that the words run together.

• Australian accent is the result of the predominant use of the back of the tongue in the act of pronunciation. They limit the movement of the lips.

• The English do not limit the movement of their lips while speaking, and they do not use the back of the tongue in the act of pronunciation.

• Australian slang plays a very important role in the understanding of the Australian accent.

• Australian accent is influenced by the American accent.

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