Gestures are another main feature of Aboriginal English as it was also in traditional Aboriginal languages aspects including silence, eye contact and body language.

A common word seen in Aboriginal English is 'unna'. Unna best translates to english as 'Isn't that right' or 'Isn't that so' though also is a marker or solidarity as seen in the transcript below, an extract from 'Blackfellas'.

Pretty Boy: I’m sorry bro

Dougy: yesterdays history (pause) unna

Pretty Boy: I was gunna get ya some roses bro but I

decided to get ya the whole fucken bush unna ha ha ha.

Dougy: fuck you Boy.

[Brief physical exchange]

Dougy: for ever and ever.

Pretty Boy: brothers for ever and ever unna

'Unna' is repeated three times and stands alone to have it's own meaning. It acts as a grammatical tag to show agreement. This is a very common expression with the young Indigenous population.

Pragmatics is the term linguists use to refer to the use of language. Certain pragmatic differences exist between Australian English and Aboriginal English which most people do not realise.
The best example is to see how speakers of Aboriginal English ask questions. Public details may be asked in the standard way such as "Where 'e from" though if one is wanted to know more personal details they must first share their own information in order to hint at what they wish to know. Indigenous people do not want to put people 'on the spot' and the discourse becomes a 'two-way exchange'.

	Created by Katherine Moffat over 8 years ago

My report on Aboriginal English

Aboriginal English