Why do Australians have a distinctive accent?
The Australian accent developed from a mix of English, Irish and Scottish accents brought by convicts and settlers in the late 1700s and 1800s. Over time, these blended into a new and distinctive way of speaking.
Children born in the colonies grew up hearing many different accents. As they mixed together, a new accent formed. By the mid-1800s, visitors noticed that Australian-born children spoke differently from their parents.
Linguists describe three main types of Australian accent: broad, general and cultivated. The broad accent is often associated with rural speech and figures such as Steve Irwin. The general accent is the most common. The cultivated accent is closer to British English.
Distinctive features
Australian English has rising intonation at the end of sentences, sometimes making statements sound like questions. Vowel sounds also differ, so to outsiders a word such as day can sound closer to die.
There are small regional differences, but the Australian accent is remarkably similar across the country compared with British or American English.
Today, the accent continues to change. Younger Australians and multicultural communities are adding new features, and the cultivated accent has become less common. Many Australian actors learn to hide their accent for roles in Hollywood.