Can you shorten any word or name in English and add an "-ie" or "-o" to the end of it to make it "Aussie"?
⚠️ With caution!
Here's the latest example of how you need to be careful doing this...
Australian English is well-known for its use of diminutives, i.e. shortening words and adding an "-ie" or "-o" or other cutesy ending to it. We use it for words (e.g. "afternoon" becomes "arvo", "breakfast" becomes "brekkie") and to form nicknames for people's names. It's so part of Australian culture and speech that Aussies more commonly call the current Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, "Albo".
But things have been put into a tizz over the past weekend when journalist Peter FitzSimons interviewed former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott for the release of the former PM's new book about Australian history.
Now Abbott in Australia is more remembered for his red speedos and eating raw onions like apples than for his two years at the helm, but this time it wasn't Abbott causing the controversy – FitzSimons provided that by calling Tony Abbott... "Abbo".
💡 So what's the problem here then? If Albanese can be "Albo", surely "Abbott" can then be "Abbo"?
The thing is that not all diminutives in Australian English have a positive connotation, and that's the definitely the case with the more common understanding of the homophone diminutive of "Abo". While writing can make a distinction (a single vs a double "b"), the same can't be said when said. The issue is that "Abo" is more commonly, and for decades has been, an extremely derogative and outright racist term in Australia for "Aboriginal" i.e. an indigenous Australian. So for Aussies, when hearing "Abbo" the initial association is with the derogatory term and not something endearing or "matey" for the former PM (who's more commonly known as "the Mad Monk").
However, FitzSimons said on social media after the interview that he "disagrees with Tony Abbott's every political utterance", so by calling him "Abbo" could be interpreted as more a wordplay jibe to rile the former PM, who when in the top job had somewhat mockingly appointed himself "minister for indigenous affairs and women" despite his very public record of unenlightened attitudes towards people from these sections of society. FitzSimons has also tweeted that Abbott's nickname when he played rugby at Uni of Sydney in the 1980s was actually "Abbo" (in keeping with Aussie "larrikin" culture).
Still, while FitzSimons could do this as he knew the cultural nuances at play to make a subversive political statement, if you're up for using diminutives like a primary speaker of Australian English, before trying out one it's best to read the room and listen to what other Aussies regularly use and in which context. Doing so will help you avoid a situation where you unwittingly say something that could mean something completely offensive.
And this is why it's very important to have your text and copy targeting your Australian market first checked to see it doesn't go into stray territory. That's where I come in to help you avoid any nasties, and we know how damaging it can be to the brand you've built up for years just by using one wrong word.
Let's talk! All it takes is a quick email to me at info@nicknasev.com to get things rolling.
Picture: scene from a satirical TV ad (that was later pulled) depicting Tony Abbott for the aspects he's most famous for in Australia.
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