The lingo

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Short is sweet Cynics might think we shorten our words just so we can spend more time drinking beer – something I can't really refute. To speak “Australian,” cut your words after their first syllable, then add a vowel. Firefighters: firies. Sunglasses: sunnies. The service, or gas, station: the servo. Not quite, cobber Nobody puts “shrimp on the barbie.” Aussies eat prawns, and they're usually eaten cold. And don't even try to bust out “sheila” (woman), “cobber” (mate) or “blimey” (you know that one).

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