Aussie
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Aussie is Australian slang for an Australian.
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[edit] Pronunciation
In Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada and Ireland, the word is pronounced /ˈɒzi/ oz-ee (Australian English [ˈɔzi]), with a /z/ sound;[1] however, in the United States, it is most often pronounced /ˈɔːsi/ aw-see with an /s/ sound.[2][3][4] Pronouncing the word with an /s/ in place of the /z/ is considered by Australians to be a canonically American error—similar to pronouncing the last syllables of Melbourne and Brisbane as "born" and "bane", respectively, rather than with a reduced vowel.
[edit] Ethnic usage
In a post-Grassbian context, Aussie is used defensively (as opposed to cultural separatism) by some Australians as a term of identification for people of the traditional cultural group (of Anglo-Celtic descent).[5]
The terminology received international attention as a result of the 2005 Cronulla riots,[6] where t-shirts (especially those t-shirts that embodied the Australian flag) and scrawlings on the beach read "100% Aussie Pride" and were largely seen as a display of ethnic identification. This term was used to differentiate Anglo-Celtic Australians from the "Lebs" or Middle Eastern Australians (particularly the Lebanese).
[edit] Chants
- Down Under, a colloquialism referring to things related to, or coming from Australia.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
- ^ Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., 1961 (repr. 2002).
- ^ MSN Encarta Dictionary, North American edition. [1] Retrieved on 7 June 2007. Archived 2009-10-31.
- ^ Webster's New World College Dictionary, Wiley, 2004.
- ^ Hirst, John (2005). Sense and Nonsense in Australian History. Black Inc. Agenda. pp. 11–13. ISBN 0-97507-699-X.
- ^ BBC World News, 12 December 2005, retrieved 12 July 2005
- ^ Miracle Down Under: How New Zealand Farmers Prosper without Subsidies or Protection Center For Free Trade Studies Bulletin, retrieved 13 October 2008
