New England Online > Culture & Society > Demographics > Language
Language of New England
New England is an overwhelmingly English speaking nation, with 99% of population able to read or speak English to an educationally acceptable level.
Since independence, a unique dialect of English has developed, and is known rather cumbersomely as New England English. On a general scale, New England English is very similar to Australian English, from which it developed fifty years ago. However, cultural isolation from Australia has led to the development of a distinctive dialect coming into existence.
Spelling
New England English was formally developed by the Ministry of Education in the 2010's when they identified a number of shortcomings with Australian English and attempted to remove these with education. One of the most obvious examples was the decision to use British English versions of most words as the sole correct spelling. The accepted spelling was codified so that words were spelt such as colour, gaol, organise, programme and centre.
Unique Words
A list of unique (or near unique) words in New England English that have little or no usage in English elsewhere.
- Meerkat v. - To stand in an upright manner from an obscured position and observe the actions of others: Please do not meerkat in on this conversation.
- Pog n. (pej) - A mean spirited or conniving person: He is a such a pog.
- Über adv. - Very: That tree is über tall.
Differences from Australian English
Over the last one hundred years, Australian English has picked up a number words and phrases from the United States and other sources. These words have generally not been present in New England English, or if they were, they have since fallen out of use. In New England, a large number of words from abroad have replaced their Australian versions and in a number of cases New England has returned to the words used in Australian English until the late 20th century. For example:
- aubergine (eggplant)
- cashpoint (automated teller machine)
- courgette (zucchini)
- dairy (convenience store)
- flannel - (washer, face cloth)
- grocer (supermarket)
- high street (main street, CBD)
- jandals (thongs, flip flops)
- ken - (knowledge)
- loo - (toilet)
- lorry - (truck, semi)
- mackintosh - (raincoat)
- motorway (highway, freeway)
- muppet (fool or idiot)
- stroppy - (cranky)
- track (trail, path )
- tramping (hiking, bushwalking)
- wellingtons (gumboots)
- you (youse)
Vocabulary
The use of diminutives, which is extremely common in Australian English, is not used or accepted in New England English. For example, a Mosquito is often referred to a mozzie in Australian English. However, in New England English, no such word exists.
Aboriginal words for fauna and flora have been retained, if simply because there was no reason to change them. This means to the outsider that Australian and New England English still sound much the same way, with a large number of common words, such as Kangaroo, Billabong and Wallaby. Similarly, place names have remained as they were. New Englander's call a small permanent stream a "creek", while a intermittent watercourse is known as a "gully".
Pronunciation
Particular attention has been placed on the pronunciation of particular words and letters:
- -ance - arnce
- 225 - two hundred and twenty-five
- H - aitch
- Z - zed
Compulsory Learning
By law, all New England's citizens and permanent residents must be able to speak, write and understand New England English to an academically accepted level. For native born people, this learning is achived through schooling, but for migrants, an intensive education programme is provided to ensure they learn english properly. This programme ensures that a person can write properly and can speak clearly and articulatly in conversation, of which both skills are highly valued.
All residents must hold a diploma of english or Dip.Eng. before they can become permanent residents or citizens. Much of the process of ensuring a person has an adaquete level of english is determined during the immigration process, and persons needing to learn english are placed into Dip.Eng. courses offered at Earle Page and Fitzroyshire polytechs.
Other Languages
A number of other languages are spoken by immigrants to New England. First generation newcomers have always found it easier to communicate in their mother tounge, especially among themselves and in official correspondence. Second generation New Englander's tend to be bilingual, having learned English at school and their parents language in the home. As a result New England has inherited the strongly tolerent and multi-cultural society that was seen in Australia in the twentieth century. The most common "second languages" are:
- French
- German
- Punjabi
- Hindustani
- Korean
- Cantonese
