Exploring Aussie English in Deadly, Unna?
Gwynne uses a lot of 'colloquial' or 'ocker' language in Deadly, Unna? Colloquial language is
informal and everyday language. Ocker can be used as a noun and an adjective; it is used to describe
an Australian that speaks and acts in a rough and uncultivated manner, using a broad Australian
accent otherwise known as strine.
Your first task is to write down your understanding of the meaning of the words listed and then find
definitions.
You may want to refer to the book to help you understand the context in which it was said. This will
help you to make an informed guess.
Activity 1: Understanding Terms
Term
Your understanding
Definition
Deadly
EG: Awesome
EG: A term used to describe something that is
incredible, excellent or awesome.
Unna
Nukkin ya
Buggerise
Dreckly
Mob
Gutsy
Bludger
Strife
Yarn
Page | 1
Exploring Aussie English in Deadly, Unna?
Activity 2: Exploring Rough and Racist language in the Winter Chapters
As you may have noticed, there are many instances of racist and rough language in Phillip Gwynne’s
novel. Racism is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different
race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. Let’s look at some quotes that highlight it
within the novel. Your task is to try and explain why it is a racist and rough remark. Please answer in
1-3 full sentences.
Quote from the text
It is racist because….
When Blacky says, “It was 25, unbelievable. He was
wearing Jezza’s number, my hero. The best
footballer on the planet and this dumb Nunga who
didn’t even know what position he played was
wearing it…” (P.22)
It indicates that Blacky thinks that all
Aboriginals are undeserving of wearing such a
great footballer’s number.
Mad Dog says, “Don’t shake hands with no
Boongs”(P.29)
“Pickles was a hopeless footballer. There were
plenty of Nungas not in the team who were better
than him. But Pickles was from the Port.” (P.58)
“There were no wogs living in the Port, but
sometimes wogs from town would come up to the
jetty.” (P.67)
“If you wrote something like ‘MONICA IS A SLUT’
then it wouldn’t last very long, maybe a week, but
‘BOONGS PISS OFF’ had been there for ages,”
(P.121)
Darcy says, “You be careful of these gins now,
lad. Nice girls, but they’ve all go the clap*, every
last one of them.” (P.122)
*clap is the slang term used for the sexually transmitted disease
chlamydia.
Page | 2
Exploring Aussie English in Deadly, Unna?
Activity 3: Exploring Slang & Sayings in Deadly Unna
Context
Other kinds of words (apart from sport-related words)
are also used in special ways in the extract. One example
of this is the nickname. The extract mentions a character
called ‘Arks’. This is not his real name, but it is how he is
identified by people in the community.
Questions
1.
2.
What does the nickname show about this
person’s relationship with the group or
community?
Does it seem like a good relationship? Where is
this shown?
Your responses
1.
2.
A nickname can express a particular aspect of a person’s
identity or personality. In Australia, for example, men
with red hair are often called ‘Bluey’, especially by other
men.
3.
What nicknames do you use in your family and
among your friends?
4.
Can you think of other examples of this kind of
characteristically Australian humour?
What does this sort of humour suggest about
Australia’s national character?
Your response
3.
The example of ‘Bluey’ shows that red hair is unusual
enough to be considered a person’s most defining
feature. It also highlights an aspect of the Australian
identity – Australian humour and the use of ‘irony’. Using
‘irony’ means saying the opposite of what you mean in
order to draw attention to something.
5.
Your responses
4.
5.
Page | 3