Any australian?

[Dilettante]

I'm watching an old australian comedy show (absolutely brilliant BTW) to improve my English and one character, an old lady (and probably one of the best actresses I've ever seen) pronounces some words in a peculiar way (well, at least peculiar to me). I was wondering if this was just something the character does or is it something from the Australian accent.

Some examples:

-She pronounces "word" like "wurd"
-She sometimes makes sound "go" something like "gowoh".

Is this typical from some region, or older people, or something like that?

[sureshs]

Hi mite......

[Jonny S&V]

Originally Posted by Dilettante

I'm watching an old australian comedy show (absolutely brilliant BTW) to improve my English and one character, an old lady (and probably one of the best actresses I've ever seen) pronounces some words in a peculiar way (well, at least peculiar to me). I was wondering if this was just something the character does or is it something from the Australian accent.

Some examples:

-She pronounces "word" like "wurd"
-She sometimes makes sound "go" something like "gowoh".

Is this typical from some region, or older people, or something like that?

It's the Aussie accent.

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

it would help if you named the show?

if it is 'Mother and Son', for example, the accents aren't really typical of, well, anywhere!

(its funny, though!)

[BridgetJones]

Originally Posted by Dilettante

I'm watching an old australian comedy show (absolutely brilliant BTW) to improve my English and one character, an old lady (and probably one of the best actresses I've ever seen) pronounces some words in a peculiar way (well, at least peculiar to me). I was wondering if this was just something the character does or is it something from the Australian accent.

Some examples:

-She pronounces "word" like "wurd"
-She sometimes makes sound "go" something like "gowoh".

Is this typical from some region, or older people, or something like that?

It's the accent. What's the show?

Dont know what's in the water there but they produce some incredible actors.

[Dilettante]

Originally Posted by Timbo's hopeless slice

if it is 'Mother and Son', for example, the accents aren't really typical of, well, anywhere!

Yes, it's "Mother and son"! Is it still popular in Australia? It's and old show, I watched it back in the 80's/90's and I'm rewatching it now. Such an intelligent comedy. British comedy takes all the fame (well deserved) but this Aussie show is as good as it gets. One of all time top comedy series IMO. But in Spain nobody knows it.

I was wondering about the accent because the Maggie Beare character has a more pronounced accent than the others, or it seems to me.

Originally Posted by BridgetJones

Dont know what's in the water there but they produce some incredible actors.

The three main actors in this series are brilliant, but Ruth Cracknell, who played the central character (an old woman with Alzheimer's disease... in a comedy!) is one of the most brilliant performers I've ever seen. I can't understand why this woman was not more famous outside Australia because she puts most of the actual Hollywood stars to shame. She deserved an Oscar per episode. What a woman. Too bad she's gone.

[accidental]

The accent of the mother in Mother and Son isnt really a typical Australian accent imo.

There really isnt much in the way of good Australian television series, but maybe you should watch 'Summer Heights High'. Its a comedy, though completely unlike Mother and Son

[aimr75]

Originally Posted by Dilettante

I'm watching an old australian comedy show (absolutely brilliant BTW) to improve my English and one character, an old lady (and probably one of the best actresses I've ever seen) pronounces some words in a peculiar way (well, at least peculiar to me). I was wondering if this was just something the character does or is it something from the Australian accent.

Some examples:

-She pronounces "word" like "wurd"
-She sometimes makes sound "go" something like "gowoh".

Is this typical from some region, or older people, or something like that?

some aussies do speak like that.. pronouncing words such as "door" like "do-wah" but its not very common

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Originally Posted by accidental

The accent of the mother in Mother and Son isnt really a typical Australian accent imo.

There really isnt much in the way of good Australian television series, but maybe you should watch 'Summer Heights High'. Its a comedy, though completely unlike Mother and Son

I think the cultural context needed to make sense of 'Summer Heights High' is going to be a bridge too far for our spanish friend. There are plenty of decent series, though. Something like 'Rake' would be good because it is a mix of accents and has some fantastic dialogue.

[Sentinel]

So when are you going ?
I am going to die*.

(* today)

I am not sure an Australian comedy is the way to improve your English. Perhaps you should watch the BBC News ??? I don;'t watch TV (except for a little sport) so i can't advise you. Or perhaps reading some good books would be better.

[Dilettante]

Originally Posted by Sentinel

So when are you going ?
I am going to die*.

(* today)

I am not sure an Australian comedy is the way to improve your English. Perhaps you should watch the BBC News ??? I don;'t watch TV (except for a little sport) so i can't advise you. Or perhaps reading some good books would be better.

I read English of course but I watch this show because I'm a fan of it. Anyway, I try to watch all kind of movies/shows to get used to hear all types of English. News' English is quite easy to understand no matter if American, British, Australian, Irish or whatever, but for example I was watching "The wire" and I couldn't understand a lot of words from what the ghetto guys were saying. Same with some British people with heavy local accents.

So I'm trying to get used to every kind of accents, slangs and situations.

BTW, in "Mother and son" they speak quite correctly and I can understand all of it without any problem.

[hollywood9826]

"The Wire" is like my all time favorite show. I live pretty close to Baltimore. The show does exaggerate a bit, but not as much as some peolpe would lead you te believe.

A problem with my area is that as they tear down the ghettos in baltimore those poelpe move close to my area. And I acnt understand some of the words they are saying when you listen to them talking in public. So don't feel bad there.

But its still my favorite all time show.

I may have to see what this Mother and Son show is you speak of.

[Dilettante]

Yes, "The wire" is one of the best dramatic TV series I've seen. "The Sopranos" and "Deadwood" are at that level too. The best about "The wire" is that every season is different from the precedent, almost like if a new series begun, and every season is just as good as the rest. It maintained the level more evely than "The Sopranos", IMO.

Originally Posted by hollywood9826

I may have to see what this Mother and Son show is you speak of.

This is what Wikipedia says:

The plot of the show addresses the problems of ageing and caring for somebody with Alzheimer's disease with an often sharp-edged humour which carried with it a tinge of sadness. Despite its unlikely subject-matter for a comedy, the show was a favourite with audiences. Maggie and Arthur's relationship was presented with a fascinating complexity - Maggie's cruel attacks on and emotional manipulation of Arthur disguised her deep dependence on and need of him, and Arthur's dutiful love of Maggie was constantly in conflict with his guilty frustration at the huge limitations for his own life which looking after his mother entailed. The performance of Cracknell, a famous stage actress, as Maggie was particularly lauded as one of the finest characterisations on Australian television.

Although I'd say he performance of Cracknell was not only one of the finest characterisations on Australian TV, but simply one of the finest characterisations ever.

There's a lot of episodes in Youtube for you to see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGVomvODpvc

[hollywood9826]

Thanks man Ill have to check it out.

I never got into Sopranos a whole lot. I guess the hype was too great and I never gave the characters enough time to get past the typical Mobster sterotype.

I have been meaning to watch deadwood. But then lived in Rapid City and went to deadwood and for some reason the show lost its appeal. I heard that show was very costly to make and led to HBO eventually pulling it.

[aimr75]

Originally Posted by Dilettante

Yes, "The wire" is one of the best dramatic TV series I've seen. "The Sopranos" and "Deadwood" are at that level too. The best about "The wire" is that every season is different from the precedent, almost like if a new series begun, and every season is just as good as the rest. It maintained the level more evely than "The Sopranos", IMO.



This is what Wikipedia says:



Although I'd say he performance of Cracknell was not only one of the finest characterisations on Australian TV, but simply one of the finest characterisations ever.

There's a lot of episodes in Youtube for you to see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGVomvODpvc

Whenever i watched mother and son, though funny, i always felt sorry for Arthur through his frustration and the situation he was in, particularly with the brother getting away with not sharing the burdon.. I know its supposed to be a comedy, but there's more there than just laughs..

[galain]

Dilettante

Mother and Son was one of the best comedies to come out of Oz in the 80's, and I agree with you, Ruth Cracknell did a fantastic job. She died a few years ago - very sad.

The Aussie accent has changed a lot in a relatively short time. Until perhaps the 50's, a lot of 'better' folk tried to imitate the upper or upper middle class English accent, as that was thought to be desirable. I think Maggie Beare is supposed to be a lady who probably grew up with this attitude - and he accent is a little bit of a mix between native Aussie, and what an Aussie thinks a 'proper' English person should sound like.

You still hear accents a little like that now and then, but they are becoming more and more uncommon. Steve Irwin is at the other end of the continuum!

[willdog123]

g'day mate,
how is everyone forgetting UNDERBELLY one of the best aussie drama series lioke eveeerrrr

[Dilettante]

Originally Posted by hollywood9826

I never got into Sopranos a whole lot. I guess the hype was too great and I never gave the characters enough time to get past the typical Mobster sterotype.

I have been meaning to watch deadwood. But then lived in Rapid City and went to deadwood and for some reason the show lost its appeal. I heard that show was very costly to make and led to HBO eventually pulling it.

I think you will get into "The Sopranos" sooner or later. Maybe the hype didn't help you. And of course it's mobsters' stuff, but the charisma of some characters and the overall level of actors is awesome.

And about "Deadwood", forget about the city itself. That show is too good for anyone to miss it (unless you're bothered by tons of foul language and some heavy violence). And yes, HBO pulled it because the city scenario was so big and so well builded, and the production so perfect in detail, that it seems the series couldn't make money enough to compensate so many expenses. A shame, because it was a masterpiece.

Originally Posted by aimr75

Whenever i watched mother and son, though funny, i always felt sorry for Arthur through his frustration and the situation he was in, particularly with the brother getting away with not sharing the burdon.. I know its supposed to be a comedy, but there's more there than just laughs..

It's a dark comedy, for sure. Some people could think it's a light comedy at first sight, but once you know the characters you realize there's a lot of trouble in their lifes and the comedy is not that light any more.

Originally Posted by galain

Dilettante

Mother and Son was one of the best comedies to come out of Oz in the 80's, and I agree with you, Ruth Cracknell did a fantastic job. She died a few years ago - very sad.

The Aussie accent has changed a lot in a relatively short time. Until perhaps the 50's, a lot of 'better' folk tried to imitate the upper or upper middle class English accent, as that was thought to be desirable. I think Maggie Beare is supposed to be a lady who probably grew up with this attitude - and he accent is a little bit of a mix between native Aussie, and what an Aussie thinks a 'proper' English person should sound like.

You still hear accents a little like that now and then, but they are becoming more and more uncommon. Steve Irwin is at the other end of the continuum!

Thanks for the insight.

I knew some old Australians imitated the English accent a bit, it also happened in the USA. But when I heared Maggie Beare she had a complex accent I couldn't really locate. Some words, she says in an unique way that the other characters don't. So it's like you say, her accent is a mix. It's like she sounds a bit English in some words, and she sounds veeery Australian in some other.

Oddly enough I can relate Maggie Beare to some old middle class Valencian women who talked with a heavy Valencian accent but imitated the Spain's regular way of speaking, because it was the correct way to speak. So they sounded mixed and I guess it would puzzle a foreigner who's studying Spanish.