高中三年级英语(人教版)全一册 Unit 3 Reading

　　SPEAK AUSTRALIAN? NO WORRIES!

　　English is the official language of Australia. Australian English differs in pronunciation from British and American English, and some of the vocabulary used "down under" is quite different from what you may have learnt in your English class. Australians are fond of their language and love to have fun with it. "No worries" is Australian for "everything will be OK". "Mate" usually means "friend" or "companion", but can be said to anyone. A "sheila" is a female, the "outback" is the wilderness, a "billabong" is a water hole in a dry riverbed, a "uni" is a university, and to "go walkabout" is to take a long journey to get away from one's dally life. While some of the Aboriginal languages have been lost, people are trying hard to protect and record what is left. Perhaps the best known example of Australian English is the friendly "G'day mate" that a visitor to the land down under is sure to hear.