Two people from two different English-speaking countries should be able to speak to each other without language barriers, right? Well, within our relationship, we (Laura and Carly) have run into some serious speech impediments. Sometimes we can hardly understand, even to this day, what the other is saying. Communication is key between roommates, but it’s difficult to communicate when one seems to have her own vocabulary.
Abbreviation is Laura’s main speech difference; Carly had to learn a whole new language. The first time we were cleaning our room together, we had a very hard time understanding each other. Laura kept saying things like, “Let’s take out the bins!” or “It’s time to do the washing!” which, though not impossible to understand, confused Carly. By “bins” Laura meant the trash, and by “washing” she meant the dishes. To make matters worse, she also called the laundry “washing!” To this day, Carly still doesn’t know if Laura is referring to the dishes or the laundry.
While hanging outside around a fire at Carly’s house last week, Laura started to express her extreme hatred for “mozzies.” All of Carly’s friends looked at her in an instant, their faces totally confused as to what her roommate was talking about. Carly had actually picked up on the abbreviation and explained “mozzies” mean “mosquitos” in Australian.
One of Carly and Laura’s first experiences together occurred while walking near 71st and Broadway. Laura shouted, “Look! It’s Macca’s!” Carly looked all around but could find no businesses titled “Macca’s.” Laura, seeing her perplexed state, clarified, “Macca’s means McDonald’s. Don’t you guys use that here?” Carly’s response was a flat-out no.
Probably the strangest (but funniest) moment we have together would be The Flying Poop Incident. On our way home from school one day, a diaper full of poop fell from the sky just a foot away from our heads. In utter disbelief, Laura cried, “A nappy just fell from the sky!” Carly stared at her, yelling, “What the heck is a nappy? We were almost hit in the face by a diaper!” Laura responded with, “We obviously call ‘diapers’ ‘nappies.’” We both laughed and realized we’d struck another language barrier.
Together, we have figured out our linguistic differences and have come up with our very own dictionary. Whenever we have some sort of conflict, we can always refer back to our little bible:
Australian to American Dictionary
Macca’s: McDonald’s
Thongs: Flip-Flops
Avo: Avocado
Bin: Trash
S’Arvo: This Afternoon
Tights: Leggings
Afternoon Tea: Afternoon Snack
Doona: Comforter
Lollies: All Candy
Nappy: Diaper
Servo: Gas Station
Serviette: Napkin
Mozzie: Mosquito
Fairy Floss: Cotton Candy
Eskie: Drink Cooler
Muso: Musician
Lippy: Lipstick
Prezzie: Present
Chrissy: Christmas
Salvo’s: Salvation Army
Cuppa: Cup of Tea
Spag Bowl: Spaghetti Bolognese
Brolly: Umbrella
Sickie: Sick Day
Kindy: Kindergarten
Jumper: Coat
Tomorrow we plan on puttin’ on our lippy, sharing a cuppa, grabbing our brollys, and trudging to school (as long as we don’t have a sickie), then the S’Arvo, sharing some afternoon tea.
