Accents

Actually the dance thing isn't so latter day. My grandfather came to NZ as a single man, met my grandmother and got married. My mother at 94 still says dance not dahnce. Never noticed chance or chance.

I reckon it's not as horrendous as the word "panties". It feels creepy just typing that word. I have no idea in what countries anyone other than paedophiles use that word.

Paedophiles and snow droppers!

Thanks for all the answers. ..so it looks pretty much impossible for foreigners to understand where in the country an Australian is from.By accent anyway..,

Thanks also for the slang words.Some I have heard before, some not (a popper in the UK is a type of drug,for example).

And a scallop to me is seafood ;-)

A bogan is something like the British' chav',right?

I reckon it's not as horrendous as the word "panties". I have no idea in what countries anyone other than paedophiles use that word.

It's a commonly used in North America.

...a commonly used word...

Newcastle or Newcarstle. I always use the latter, but I would say dance and chance more often than not.

Different words for clothing worn for swimming - bathers, cossies, togs.

SA pronunciation of the place children spend most of the day ... schoowell.

Any geographic difference in language is marginal, if there at all. Having lived in London for many years and socialised with Australians from across all states, regions and cities an accent variation was not noticeable. Having been educated in regional NSW and from a farming family I disagree with a belief that there is a regional vs. city accent difference, it is class, exposure, and personal preference.

I have also picked up that some people in the public eye do over emphasise the strawn type of Australian accent to appear more "with the masses" e.g. news reader Sandra Sully.

There is a definite social difference in pronunciation regardless of location. Devonshire is one word which I had never considered pronouncing as "Devon Shire" but yes a lady from the housing commission flats gave her address as such just the other day. There is also a 1st generation ethnic accent for those from Mediterranean backgrounds a.k.a Bankstown accent. John Borghetti from Virgin has it, he tries to keep it out but is definitely there.

Castle and Chastle (h added for pronunciation) is a difference between NSW (as in Newcastle) and Victoria (as in Castlemaine) apparently. WA pronunciation of Derby is another unique one.

Little lunch is for infants school, recess for primary and above.

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