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Q: Is the Australian accent hard for Chinese people to understand?
I have had quite a few Chinese people tell me this. Have other nationalities experienced similar with their accents?
... I'm sorry, can you say that again?
(j/k) It's not too bad. I think a thick northern UK accent can be more difficult (to an American speaker anyway).
It's all about what's used in the TV shows and movies that are popular here. Hows Australia doing on that front?
Flight of the Conchords, that's one of yours right? :D
Shining_brow:
I'm presuming the last ':D' meant it was a joke... yes?????
:
The wife say sometimes it is hard due to the talking through the nose thing
also I think it might be our slang that gets her
When she hears a well spoken person she says it is standard English
however I look forward to the day that I can introduce my Scottish mate to her
even I need a translator if sober.
mArtiAn:
You can talk through your nose? That's incredible. Do you use one nostril or both together? There's gotta be a market for that on the variety show circuit. Just think of it, you could sing 'Mammy' whilst blowing a kazoo. You'd be a hit!
Students are always surprised I'm Australian: "but I can understand you!!!"
Ya flamin drongo! You takin the piss?? Crikey, don't go off the deep-end...
Dude, I've had yanks and poms have a problem understanding me... 
But, once people been around you for a while, it's not a great problem... for students, it takes a few weeks (but then, it does for almost any accent, unless it's movie accent).
I've actually had someone suggest that Aussie is a nice mix of US and UK... so is probably the best version of language to learn... (though, he was probably just pulling my leg).
:
I've often thought that 'Aussie' sounded like British, heavily salted.
(Don't ask me to explain how something can sound salty. It just does.)
I guess it depends. The students at my last uni could not understand the Aussie. To be honest, neither could I.
The Aussies who frequent my favorite bar are easy to understand, though they speak with a distinct accent. I guess it depends.
Maybe it depends on the person? I met an Aussie in Zhuzhou, and had no problem understanding him, and neither did my wife. He actually spoke pretty good Chinese too! Met a Canadian in Hunan with bloodshot eyes, and couldn't understand most of his speech.
Earlier last year, I met a guy from Scottland, and I couldn't understand a single word! I'm not joking! I thought it was me, since he didn't seem to have a problem talking with the guy from India. Actually, the guys from India and the Middle East were translating for me, and I had no problem talking to them.
Then again, my wife can understand any English accent. I'm actually impressed with her ability. Seems to take a lot longer for me to adjust to different accents.
Almost everyone understands my "American" accent, though for some folks here, I must repeat myself.
No,not at all,I have no problems to understand Australian accent.
I'd say,Some Australian slang are tough,still working on it LOL.
Yes and no. If I am having a feew beers with some mates from oz people around us have no idea what we are saying but that comes from slang words being tossed around.
However a mate of mine who hails from Birdsville which is in the middle of nowhere came to China and his accent no one could understand.
MissA:
I'm pretty sure I couldn't understand most people from Birdsville.
Birdsville
My home town would sound like Upper Walnutsville in English .
Hard for Chinese to understand? I thought it was hard for 'anyone' to understand!
"Fair dinkum, yer a right gallah!" (or something)
I've also heard this before. The only one's that they really truly can quite understand is American English. That's because the majority of films being shown here are movies from America and the American accent is the most common English accent they hear.
I think the problem is just that. With little exposure to Australia and it's way of speaking the Chinese people in China may find it difficult to comprehend at times.
Chinese people are going to struggle if they go anywhere but the US because it's so frequently taught here, and is available to them through the US brainwashing that is Hollywood etc.
It amazes me how many seem to be stunned when they learn things like James Bond and Adele actually come fro the UK.
I inform them politely that they would really struggle in London, for example, where people speak fluent English in a variety of accents etc. As a friend of mine said, they wouldn't survive there.
aussies are difficult to understand period. don't even mention kiwis
Traveler:
We try not to mention Kiwis, but they just won't go away...
