.jpg)
In my work localising and adapting English text for an Australian audience, it never ceases to surprise me how words and phrases deemed innocuous worldwide can cause problems in Australia.
"Root" I've found is the most common one, but there are many others.
Recently I was localising a medical survey, originally written in UK English, to be used in Australia. Pretty much straight-forward stuff – yes/no questions followed a field where people could expand on their reasons for their answer.
However, above all these fields had the instruction… “Please explain”.
I replaced it with “Explain in your own words” for the Australian version.
You’re probably asking me now to “please explain” why...
In 1996, a controversial new politician appeared on the Australian political scene: Pauline Hanson. Her anti-immigration platform mixed with her unpolished, underdog “battler” image made her into an instant media sensation. Soon after she appeared in an infamous interview on the Australian version of the current affairs show 60 Minutes, where she was asked whether she is xenophobic. Hanson hesitantly responded by asking: please explain?
Instantly, the phrase entered the Australian vernacular – ask an Aussie what they perceive to be a gotcha question, or if they’re being sarcastic when they don’t quite understand what’s being asked of them, often they’ll respond by saying “please explain”, usually in an accent mocking that of Hanson’s.
In a shrewd move, Hanson took ownership of her now infamous catchphrase – for instance, it’s the name of her YouTube channel. So associated is the phrase with Hanson that “Please Explain” is also the name of a 2016 documentary about the rise of her political career.
Three decades on, when Aussies see this phrase, many still instantly associate it with Pauline Hanson... and not necessarily in a positive light. Her far-right party One Nation is currently high in the polls, polarising Australian society.
With Aussies having particularly strong views either way, and this phrase being so intrinsically associated with Hanson and her divisive politics, I recommend using alternatives for “please explain” in text aimed at an Australian audience.
One of the primary aims with surveys to gain the respondents’ undivided attention. Just one word or phrase can ruin this, make respondents lose focus and then not take the survey seriously. It's then very hard to get respondents to refocus and provide reliable information – which is the whole point of doing surveys. So it’s always best to avoid potential distractions, with this phrase being an example.
This goes to show how crucial thoughtful localisation is. Even ostensibly innocent phrases can be controversial elsewhere.
To make sure that your text or copy is appropriate for your Australian audience, no further explanations needed, then why not contact me to see where I can help you. Info@nicknasev.com
Photo credit: jfish92, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
.jpg)
.jpg)
_logo.svg.webp){kind=logo}
_(52052470251)_(cropped).jpg)
_(8249451687).jpg)
.jpg){kind=link}