There used to be a time (around 30 years ago) where the newsreaders spoke eloquently and the field reporters dressed in suits (womens incl.). From what I remember all the actors and presenters who were on Australian tv shows, were well spoken - very English. But the everyday people spoke good old Aussie slang which is now so americanised, it's pretty much drowned out the "Australia" in us.
But on another note, has anyone noticed these days, that newsreaders speak very ocker (it's gone the reverse to what I said above), and the Americans have gotten more nasally and rounded in their accents
I just think if you are public speaking on television, and I direct this to Julia as well, take some speech lessons and sound more professional.
(Don't respond to the latter, I don't want to get into trouble).
I notice there are a lot of spelling errors in print as well, as most people rely on spell check these days and not their own intelligence. Spell check only checks words that are spelled correctly, it no way compensates for poor grammar (eg tire and tyre). I think it makes people lazy (myself included). I used to be a very good speller until I started on this forum and I type so fast with so much on my mind, I tend to take the lazy option for words I knew how to spell and wouldn't normally have trouble with; my mind now goes blank and I can't be bothered. Need to start re-putting my thinking cap on now I think.
Les: What you said about evacuating, is shocking! It just only re-affirms what I said above.
I fear after my generation leaves, there will be no one around to say things like ...
"She'll be right mate" or "Hooroo sheila, grap a coldie for that drongo and don't ya let the nippers have any." "Oh fair go, course I wouldn't give them nippers any and I 'aint drinking much myself otherwise I'll need a real ridgy didge loo and not some bush out woop woop because I'd look like a yobbo."
I have a thread running at the moment called "Retro Flashback", and from the many wonderful stories that have been posted, it makes it very apparent and saddening how much we've changed in such a short amount of time.
Edit: I have nothing against American talk or people, just the effect it is having on our own culture.