I love Aussie slang. I think it shows who we are, our culture and gives us individuality. A personal peeve is the way Australian’s are giving up our own language for an international (American) based one. Grrrrr.
It’s probably no surprise my setting is the hook for my cozy. My characters are true blue Aussies. But how far can I go with the inclusion of Aussie idioms? I’m trying to find that balance between identifying my characters (in part) as Aussie through their language (I try to use the situation to make it clear what is meant so the reader isn’t left scratching their head) and not driving everyone bonkers by using a ‘foreign’ language, lol.
If you want a good site for Aussie slang I have a link on my FAQ page.
I know I use a lot of slang as I discovered when I was overseas and realised how often people looked at me blankly when I finished speaking *grin*.
I’m glad to be a ridgy-didge Aussie.
August 4, 2017 at 9:44 pm
I think the best way to know is to make sure you include non-Aussies among your beta readers. If they can’t understand what’s going on, you may have a language problem. Also, be sure your characters don’t sound like caricatures. Does the slang sound natural? Bear in mind, sometimes the real and authentic doesn’t always play well in fiction. Real-life events are often too fantastical to be believable fiction. And sometimes, authentic dialog sounds like parody. Don’t be afraid of verisimilitude. Being close-to-authentic is often better for fiction than being as Aussie as “Neighbours.” 🙂
August 4, 2017 at 10:13 pm
Colin is absolutely correct. I write about scuba diving, and occasionally, one of my non-diving beta readers will flag a passage with the dreaded, “uh, what?” But you are sneaking in the slang in the best way possible–through context. You can also bounce it against a non-Aussie character who needs a translation. All best!
August 17, 2017 at 8:23 am
I think using a non-Aussie is the best way to go. Thanks, Colin and Micki.
Colin, I think real Aussie isn’t as bad as the way it’s portrayed on TV or at the movies. We never “throw a shrimp on the barbie”. It’s more the incidental everyday language that’s a problem… like driving a ute or going to maccas =)