How can you tell the difference between an Australian and British accent?

My friend (who was drinking) went on a little rave about how similar they sound. It actually got me to thinking, how CAN you tell the two apart?

Very easy to tell the difference ..female British accents (a la Kate Beckinsale and Elizabeth Hurly) drive me wild

In America, if that person speaks and the woman immediately takes her bra off, he's Australian.cd_rom

They're pretty similar. British/Australian/Irish and American/Canadian can be difficult to discern (especially Canadian/American for me. I can never tell any difference)

"Crikey mate"-australian

"Care for a cup a tea ol' chap"-british

:P

[QUOTE="cd_rom"]In America, if that person speaks and the woman immediately takes her bra off, he's Australian.MrLions

Quick check - listen to the word the person puts at the end of a sentence.

If the person pronounces it "might", he's Australian.

If the person pronounces it "mayt", he's British.

If the person pronounces it "innit", he's a douche and it doesn't matter. :P

[QUOTE="MrLions"][QUOTE="cd_rom"]In America, if that person speaks and the woman immediately takes her bra off, he's Australian.cd_rom

I can never tell the difference. I used to work at a Toys R Us in Time Square NYC and I just assumed all of the tourist with the accent were British unless they told me otherwise.

I don't know how to explain how I do it. I just do. :?

I dunno, I just can. They sounds quite different

I once mistook a New Zealander for a UKian. I was thoroughly embarrassed.

Very easy to tell the difference ..female British accents (a la Kate Beckinsale and Elizabeth Hurly) drive me wild

rawsavon

.

Scottish and Welsh people have very different sounding accents to Australians, but some English accents can sound similar to an Australian accent.

The Aussie accent tends to emphasise vowels.

I didn't know people confused the two... :?

There is no such thing as a British accent.

I didn't know people confused the two... :?

no_more_fayth

brb confusing german accent with australian

[QUOTE="no_more_fayth"]

I didn't know people confused the two... :?

Brainkiller05

brb confusing german accent with australian

Hahaha.

Maybe the Scottish and Irish accents... but even that.

The Scottish accent is thicker.

So I'm just... lost for words. :o

Watching shows like The Office (original), Flight of the Conchords, and Chasers War on Everything have helped me in differentiating between Aussies, Brits, and Kiwis.

Aussies pronounce their vowels with a slightly longer drawl. Brits generally exhibit more "compact" pronunciation. This also applies when distinguishing between Aussies and Kiwis. For example, when saying "yeah," an Australian will tend to draw out the word while a New Zealander pronounces it in quick staccato.

These are just observations from personal experience, though. I used to work with Austrailians, New Zealanders, and South Africans.

There is no such thing as a British accent.

joesh89

/agree. It's the Queen's English, folks. Everything else is an accent.

All Australians are compelled to include "shrimp" and "barbie'" in every sentence.markop2003

I didn't know people confused the two... :?

no_more_fayth

I think Australian and NZ accent is very close, so to that I will answer: "By watching all of LOTR's making of and the rest documentaries". :P

"(Insert rugged, country lingo here), mate" -Austrailian

"(Insert formal, tea and crumpit lingo here), chap" -British