CHRISTINE M. KNIGHT

Glossary of Australian Terms for ‘Song Bird’

The ARIA AWARDS are the Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards.

ANZAC is an acronym formed from the initial letters of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. ANZAC spirit refers to the ANZAC legend dating from World War 1. For more information visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac_spirit

arvo is Australian slang for afternoon.

Carry on like a pork chop means that ‘someone is behaving in a silly or stupid way. This expression is a shorter version of the longer and more widespread phrase be like a pork chop in a synagogue. This colloquialism has been around since the 1950s. Since pork is forbidden food for Jewish people, to describe something as being like a pork chop in a synagogue means that it is highly inappropriate, embarrassingly out of place, and quite unwelcome. The Australian expression carry on like a pork chop has now shifted the focus from inappropriateness to foolishness’. For more information see http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pork+Chop

Bump in and out refers to the process of moving a band’s equipment in and off stage and in and out of the performance venue.

Chuffed means to be very pleased

CWA is an abbreviation or The Country Women’s Association. It is a non-profit, non-party political and non-sectarian organisation for country and city women.

Fairy floss (also known as cotton candy) is a form of air spun sugar.

Fella is an informal word for a male that is not age specific. Nowadays, fellas is a universal term for either gender. Its use shows familiarity between speakers just as the use of mate does.

Flexitime is a workplace time management system that allows workers to vary their hours in the workplace. It also enables workers to take time-off in lieu of being paid for working more hours than the workplace agreement requires.

If push comes to shove means if the situation becomes so bad that you have no other course than to do it.

IRB is an inflatable rigid-hull boat with an outboard motor popular in the life saving movement. Also known as a rubber duckie by lifesavers.

Iron Man Competition evolved out of the need of surf life savers to stay fit and hone their skills in between patrols. For more information visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironman_(surf_lifesaving)

Jag a parking means the driver has to be lucky to find a parking space.

Kogal fashion was popular in the 1990s and originated in Japan. It originally involved wearing an outfit based on a Japanese school uniform, but with a shortened skirt, loose socks, and dyed hair and a scarf as well. This style widened to involve other youth street fashion looks as well.

Mate is used to mean a good friend but has become more generic in meaning and now means friend.

Matey refers to a very young friend. Australians have a preference for adding y to words that represent familiar things and people.

Meant jack is a colloquial way of saying something is meaningless.

Mobile phone is telephone that can access a cellular radio system so it can be used over a wide area, without a physical connection to a network. Americans call this sort of phone a cell phone.

Norfolk Pines are a type of conifer originally found on Norfolk Island that is located in the Pacific Ocean between Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. Norfolk Pines have been transplanted in many east coast regions in Australia.

Pigs-in-blanket are cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon or puff pastry and baked in oven until golden brown and crisp.

Slang and colloquialisms used in ‘Song Bird’ reflect the hybrid nature of that form of language and the growing influence of American culture in Australia and the demise of Aussie slang.

The Surf Life Saving Movement ‘has a proud tradition of saving lives for over 100 years. Since 1907, surf lifesavers have volunteered their time and effort to provide a dedicated lifesaving service around the country.’ For more information see http://www.slsfoundation.com.au/default.aspx