Interview excerpt: 'Why do Australians shorten everything?'
Reporter: Visitors are often surprised by words like 'arvo' for afternoon, 'brekkie' for breakfast and 'servo' for a service station. Why do Australians do this?
Linguist: These short forms are not laziness, as some people think. They are a way of creating a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. When you say 'See you this arvo', you are signalling that the relationship is informal and equal. It's a social tool.
Reporter: So should a visitor use them?
Linguist: With friends, sure. People will appreciate the effort. But you wouldn't use 'arvo' in a job application or a formal report. Australians themselves change their style depending on the situation, like speakers of any language.
Para o linguista entrevistado, as formas abreviadas do inglês australiano