Opinion

It’s principally right down to the success of the Australian animated youngsters’s sequence “Bluey” — an Emmy-winning program that premiered on the Australian Broadcasting Corp.’s youngsters’s channel and has garnered a global viewers due to Disney Plus. There’s even a stage present coming to the United States later this yr, kicking off at Madison Square Garden. (Disclosure: I current the present “Drive” on ABC Radio Sydney.)

Reports of this linguistic contagion deliver me huge pleasure. Finally, we have now our revenge.

At start, it appeared, Australians of my technology have been enrolled in a PhD program in U.S. standard tradition. For me, it was “McHale’s Navy” and “F Troop.” For later generations, “Beverly Hills, 90210” or “Friends,” to not point out the films, music and politics.

We paid the worth for our enthusiasm, repeatedly scolded by our dad and mom for “using those terrible American words.” These included “sidewalk” as an alternative of “footpath” and “trash” as an alternative of “rubbish.”

Of course, it wasn’t simply American affect. I additionally learn infinite Enid Blyton adventures, by which youngsters would feast on “ices” — a deal with that held me entranced, till I noticed that “ices” was only a British time period for “ice cream.”

And but I’m happy they didn’t translate “ices” — the fantasy added one thing of its personal. As Bluey’s younger American followers understand, a part of the pleasure in watching an imported present lies in these mysteries and surprises.

In Bluey, we meet a household of canine residing within the suburbs of tropical Brisbane. Imaginative play is on the middle of every story — the 2 inexhaustible dad and mom encouraging their younger pups, Bluey and Bingo, to be taught by video games about life, its conflicts and its pleasures. The finest episodes dig deep: “Early Baby” is about untimely start; “Camping” is about pals who enter your life then disappear; “Copycat” is about demise and, in a means, resurrection.

Is Bluey significantly Australian? Despite occasional criticism of the present, it presents a kindly however hopefully correct view of Australian suburban life. There’s a playful father who shares equally in each parenting and house responsibilities, and a loving, vigorous mom who calls for respect. The youngsters are pleasant. The dad and mom are in love. There is countryside close by for the pups to play.

Some faults within the nationwide character are famous. Australian humor can embrace extreme banter and teasing. One episode explores the problem, as the daddy admits he has misjudged the road between playful and imply.

What’s by no means doubted is the glory of Australian English. The program makers — as one just lately defined to me on Sydney radio — are grateful their worldwide companions have allowed the Australian phrases to face. Some notable phrases embrace:

Bodgy: Inferior or substandard.

Budgie: A colourful Australian chook. Separately, see additionally: “Budgie smugglers” for the revealing swimming briefs. And “the Singing Budgie” for our celebrity Kylie Minogue.

Brekkie: Breakfast. All Australian phrases, if attainable, are shortened.

Bubbler: Most Americans name it “drinking fountain.” I believe we Australians have it proper.

Bush: Farmland, but additionally wilderness. An Australian “heading for the bush” could be headed for a hip regional city with glorious espresso, or a crocodile-infested swamp with no roads. “Bush bashing,” additionally featured within the present, means strolling although countryside with out utilizing a path.

Chips: These are fats variations of french fries. Adding to the confusion, we use the identical identify for potato crisps, so — on this phrase alone — you might be higher, America, to go your personal means.

Chook: A hen. In the present, it’s splendidly used within the phrase “made you look, you dirty chook.” See additionally: “Bin chicken,” an uncharitable identify for the ibis, a chook whose lengthy beak could make fast work of a garbage bin.

Dunny: A rest room, historically outdoor however extra generally now indoors. The phrase is vulgar — therefore the Bluey episode by which the mom, Chilli, cautions the youngsters towards it, earlier than finally relenting. Americans may additionally care to coach their toddlers within the nice Australian insult: “May your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny down.”

Grey nomads: Retired folks who circle Australia in caravans or motor properties, stopping to speak (and work) alongside the best way.

State of Origin: The world’s finest sporting contest, between the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland within the sport of rugby league soccer.

Tradie: A talented tradesperson who visits your own home, typically a “sparky” (electrician), “chippy” (carpenter) or “bricky” (bricklayer).

Ute: A utility automobile. By the best way, it was our concept.

Australia is typically portrayed internationally as a land of shark assaults, lethal droughts and difficult outback males like Crocodile Dundee. In reality, we’re a (principally) suburban individuals, with (principally) benign wildlife, populated by individuals (principally) for whom parenting is life’s most essential work.

How odd that it has taken a household of anthropomorphic canine to indicate the world the true Australia.