Aussie
Encyclopedia
Aussie is Australian slang for an Australian.
, United Kingdom
, Canada
and Ireland
, the word is pronounced ˈ (Australian English [ˈɔzi]), with a /z/ sound; however, in the United States
, it is most often pronounced ˈ with an /s/ sound. 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.
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). A weak parallel exists between its usage within Australia and Boer
in South Africa
, both terms referring to the descendants of early settlers, as opposed to later immigrants.
The terminology received international attention as a result of the 2005 Cronulla riots
, 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 East
ern Australians (particularly the Lebanese
).
Pronunciation
In Australia, New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, the word is pronounced ˈ (Australian English [ˈɔzi]), with a /z/ sound; however, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it is most often pronounced ˈ with an /s/ sound. Pronouncing the word with an /s/ in place of the /z/ is considered by Australians to be a canonically American
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....
error—similar to pronouncing the last syllables of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
as "born" and "bane", respectively, rather than with a reduced vowel.
Ethnic usage
In a post-GrassbianAl Grassby
Albert Jaime Grassby, AM , Australian politician, was Minister for Immigration in the Whitlam Labor government. He initiated sweeping reforms in immigration, human rights, and is often known as the father of Australian "multiculturalism".-Early life and state politics:Born Albert Grassby in...
context, Aussie is used defensively (as opposed to cultural separatism
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
) by some Australians as a term of identification for people of the traditional cultural group (of Anglo-Celtic
Anglo-Celtic
Anglo-Celtic is a term used to describe people of British and Irish descent. The term today is mainly used outside of Britain and Ireland, particularly in Australia but also in Canada, New Zealand and the United States, where a significant diaspora is located....
descent). A weak parallel exists between its usage within Australia and Boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, both terms referring to the descendants of early settlers, as opposed to later immigrants.
The terminology received international attention as a result of the 2005 Cronulla riots
2005 Cronulla riots
The 2005 Cronulla riots were a series of sectarian clashes and mob violence originating in Cronulla, New South Wales and spreading, over the next few nights, to additional Sydney suburbs....
, 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
Lebanese Australian
A Lebanese Australian is an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Lebanese descent. The community is multi-religious, and includes a Christian, mostly Maronite Catholic, majority, as well as a large Muslim minority of both the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam, and various other Christian and...
" or Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern Australians (particularly the Lebanese
Lebanese Australian
A Lebanese Australian is an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Lebanese descent. The community is multi-religious, and includes a Christian, mostly Maronite Catholic, majority, as well as a large Muslim minority of both the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam, and various other Christian and...
).
Chants
- Down UnderDown UnderThe term Down Under is a colloquialism which is variously construed either to refer to Australia and New Zealand, or Australia alone. The term comes from the fact that these countries are located in the southern hemisphere, below many other countries on the globe.The persistence of the media use of...
, a colloquialism referring to things related to, or coming from Australia.