About English
There are several countries where English is spoken as the first language. For example, The U.K., America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and so on. But each country of them has its own English accent. Moreover, there are some more accents or dialects in each country. English is known as the global language and it’s true, but formally, English has many kinds of different accents. Then, I introduce New Zealand English.
Where did New Zealand English come from?
New Zealand was a British colony, so New Zealand English originally came from British English. However, New Zealand English is similar to Australian English in pronunciation because Australia is the closest country. Also New Zealand English has its original vocabularies with the influence of Maori language. In this way, New Zealand English was formed.
Features of New Zealand English
New Zealand English has features in vowel like Australian English. For example, the short-i of FISH, HIT and so on is a central vowel around[ə] or [ɘ] in New Zealander pronunciation. This sounds like a short-u. So, if New Zealanders say ‘fish and chips’, it sounds like ‘fish and chups’ to other English speakers. The short-e /ɛ/ of TEN, SEVEN and so on is moved to fill in the space left by /ɪ/, and is phonetically in the region of [e]. It sounds like a short-i itself to other English speakers. Likewise, the short-a /æ/ of TRAP, FLAG and so on becomes short-e. The a/ai/ ay of TAKE, FAIL, TODAY and so on is pronounced ‘ai’. And New Zealanders sometimes don’t pronounce ‘L’ sounds. So, for example, they pronounce “bold” as “boad”. In this way, New Zealand English has many differences of pronunciation from standard English. So, it’s sometimes difficult even for other English speakers to understand what New Zealanders say.
New Zealander Vocabularies and American Vocabularies
The differences between New Zealand English and American English are not only pronunciation, but also vocabularies. For example, ‘bathroom’ (restroom) and ‘toilet’. American people think ‘toilet’ is too direct to say, so they say ‘bathroom’ or ‘restroom’. But ‘toilet’ is formal way to say in New Zealand. Next, when you go to a fast food shop and order something, staff asks you “here or to go?” in America. It means if you eat it in the shop or take it out. But, in New Zealand, it’s “eat in or take away”. There are more different vocabularies like cookie is biscuit in New Zealand, sausage is wiener, swimming suit is togs, ketchup is tomato sauce, eraser is rubber, shopping cart is trolley, mom is mum, soda (pop) is fizzy drink, and so on. To my surprise, "Sprite", soda pop, is called “lemonade” in New Zealand. Then, how do they call “real lemonade”?, In America, particular names of products are often used as thing’s names. For example, “Kleenex”, the product name of the famous tissue, is used as the word for tissue. In this way, there are many different vocabularies, when American and New Zealander talk, they may not understand each other.
What I Think about Different Accents
I was so surprised to know about New Zealand English. In Japan, we learn American or British English in school. So, I hadn’t had a chance to learn New Zealand English. I’m familiar with American English because I’ve learned American English for a ling time and was living in America for a year. So, most of my friends are Americans, my ears are completely familiar with American English. So, other English accents sound unnatural to me and it takes a little time to understand. Especially, when I listened to New Zealand English on youtube, I couldn’t understand what was talked about. It was totally different from American English. But, learning a little about New Zealand English, I got interested in different English accents and thought I wanted to be able to understand many different accents. Because it’s frustrated that I can’t understand other accents even though I’ve loved and leaned English for a long time. And I also thought it’s so interesting that each country has each English accent with influences of its own history and culture. Everyone thinks their English is standard and is proud of it. I think it’s a nice thing. So, I wanna visit many countries and learn many English accents and cultures directly.
