Ocker Idiom

Ocker Idiom

In Australia most people speak English. But sometimes even those of us speaking that same language can't understand each other because we're constantly re-inventing it. Now because the PM pulled out an old phrase lots of people hadn't heard in years or had never heard, we decided it was a good time to take a close look at our language. Here's Catherine.

CATHERINE ELLIS, REPORTER: You can't be blamed for having no idea what they just said. Words and expressions change quickly over time so when you watch a movie from fifty years ago it can sound pretty bizarre! It's almost like each generation has it's own language. And that's why the Prime Minister was criticised for saying this.

KEVIN RUDD, PRIME MINISTER: Oh fair shake of the sauce bottle, mate. Oh fair shake of the sauce bottle, mate. Well again, fair shake of the sauce bottle, mate.

Some people reckons it's a line only grandparents use. You've probably heard your parents say stuff that sounds strange.

MEGAN, STUDENT: My dad's great with all the old Australian ones; 'full as a butchers dog', 'bloody ripper'.

Have you heard the words;

ACTOR: Here cobber.

ACTOR: Oh bonzer.

STUDENTS: Never heard cobber in my life! I've heard of it but I thought it was some type of lolly.

What about the term;

ACTOR: Mrs Kerfoops.

MARGARET KENNEDY: If there was somebody who was unnamed it was always mr or mrs kerfoops.

What about the expression;

ACTOR: Im full up to dolly's wax.

It means you've eaten too much - although even the individual expressions vary.

ELIZABETH COWAN: Full up to Dollies eyes I used to say.

But for all these disappearing words and phrases, kids have a whole new lot.

EDMUND: "Chill ax" it's just, you know, a cross between chilling and relaxing.

Just as we're confused by the oldies, they're confused by us! A list from the grandkids helps!

PAULETTE RAISON: 'Tank' is a person who looks muscular or intimidating, 'Petters' is petrol, 'Ranger' is someone with red hair. All these strange words I wouldn't know if he didn't say what they meant.

CATHERINE ELLIS: So how does a new word make the dictionary? Well the creators search mags, papers, tv and the net. They look for new words that are used a lot, by a lot of people and ones that are likely to stay.

Over the years 'mullet', 'six pack' and Homer Simpsons 'Doh' have made the cut. But why does language change? Some experts say its because the world changes and you need new words - like for new technology we abbreviate for texting.

We get expressions from TV and movies.

EXERT from Kath and Kim, KATH: Looka me Kimi looka me.

And thanks to the internet words like 'podcast' and 'email' have been born. Of course there are some words and phrases people wish would disappear!

MARGARET: Cool to the max. I'm sick to death of that expression.

GRAEME HELLYER: Any time you say anything to anyone at a restaurant the waiter always says no worries.

STUDENTS: My parents get so annoyed. They say I didn't ask if you were worried, I asked if you could do this for me.

ELIZABETH: 'Awesome', 'absolutely' and 'basically'.

MEGAN: Basically.

PAULETTE: They also use words like, 'like', 'yeah', 'but' and 'nah' during sentences in the middle and there's no need for them.

EDMUND: In a class in year 9, in a two minute speech a girl said 'like' 37 times.

Some people are angry about what's happening to the english language - they say our standards are dropping. And they say the Prime Minister should be helping keep up those standards. What do you reckon?

[an error occurred while processing this directive]