British vs. Australian Accent: Key Differences in Sounds & Words

English is the most spoken language globally, with more than 1.35 billion speakers worldwide. It has long since ceased to be just another language, with over 160 dialects currently spoken around the world, and the number keeps increasing with time! However, most English speakers without realising it consciously, speak in a particular accent or dialect.
An accent is a particular way in which people around the world pronounce words of any language. The British, Irish, Australian, and American accents are some of the most popular English accents worldwide. All accents have their quirks and differences, however, through this article, you can understand the variation in the words, sounds, and phrases in the British vs. Australian accent.

Actual Differences: British vs. Australian Accent!

The British accent comes directly from the British Received Pronunciation (RP) which was the elite way of speaking and carried the highest social prestige. The Australian accent is a mixture of dialects of the various settlers of Australia. Despite emerging from the British accent, the Australian accent had its evolution due to its isolation from Britain, and the minute variances in the accent can be differentiated by:

1. Pronunciation Differences

The Standard British accent has a few prominent differences from the Australian accent. 
1. In British English, the ‘r’ sound is only pronounced before a vowel sound. The ‘r’ sound is generally dropped in Australian English, except when a vowel does not follow it.
2. In Australian English, the ‘a’ sound is elongated more than in British English. For example, "car" is pronounced "Caah" in Australia and "Cah" in British English.
3. Australian English is known for using inflection at the end of sentences, which can make statements sound like questions.

2. Phonetic Diversity

The phonetic differences between British and Australian accents are seen in vowel sounds, consonant pronunciation, and intonation. Australian accent tends to shift the vowels upwards (move the tongue towards the roof of the mouth) and make them nasalised (coming from the nose).Example: "trap" sounds like /træp/ in the British Accent (RP) but shifts closer to /trep/ in the Australian Accent. 
The Australian accent also makes ‘t’ sound like ‘d’ between vowels. Example: Butter may sound like /bʌdə/ unlike the British accent which sounds like /bʌtə/. The British accents’ intonation tends to have a wider pitch range, where the sentences rise and fall melodically, whereas Australian accents’ have flatter and monotonal intonation. 

3. Vocabulary

The vocabulary differs primarily in slang and words that have originated due to immigration. Keep reading to learn all the important slang terms used in British vs. Australian accents!
Some examples of British vs. Australian accents in vocabulary are:
1. Pants: In British English, refers to underwear; in Australian English, refers to trousers.
2. Football: In Britain, usually refers to soccer; in Australia, it can refer to Australian Rules Football (AFL) or Rugby.
3. Tea: Refers to tea and snacks in British English, however, is limited to only the drink in Australian English.
4. College: British - a post-secondary or non-university institution, Australian - high school years or university-affiliated institution.
5. Shout: British - to yell, Australian - to pay for someone’s drinks.

British and Australian Spellings

Spellings for the British and Australian accents remain the same, owing to their origin. Australian English having evolved from British English exhibits similar spellings, with some pronunciation differences. ‘S’ and ‘z’ do not change as they do in American English. Understand the similarities between British and Australian spellings from this table:

British vs. Australian: Important Slangs you must know!

Slang is an unconventional way to say conventional things. Slangs come in handy when you want to mean something you might not want to say. Knowing slang will help you understand any local or regional content with more depth and emotion, and can make you sound cool! Here are all the British Slang Words and Phrases You Need to Know as well as all the Australian sayings you can use, to help speed your learning journey up! Have you used any of them unknowingly before?

History of British and Australian Accent

The British accent is a culmination of a variety of accents including Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, and many more! However, the ‘British accent’ usually refers to the Standard British Received Pronunciation. The commonly used ‘Standard British accent’ has sprouted from the British Received Pronunciation (RP) which was the upper-class speech of the twentieth Century. Used commonly by the nobility, it was also called ‘The Queen’s English’. 
The Australian accent emerged when the First Fleet established a colony in New South Wales in 1788. The Australian accent is a mixture of the dialectical intertwining of the settlers and convicts who had moved from Great Britain, Ireland, and South East England. The immigrant and indigenous communities came together to form the Australian accent. Hence the Australian accent across the continent is quite similar. To understand the nuances in British vs. Australian accents, these are the prominent factors that can be taken into account.

1. Socio-Cultural Factors Affecting the Accent

Britain’s hierarchical society is reflected in speech patterns, with formal tones often associated with politeness and tradition. British Received Pronunciation (RP) is widely regarded as being the symbol of sophistication, and class, due to its noble origins. Other British accents also emerged based on geographical locations and class. Australian culture values informality, equality, and humor, which is reflected in their relaxed and approachable accent. The absence of rigid class structures minimised the pressure to modify accents for social mobility. 

2. Economical Factors 

Australian society prides itself on being relatively egalitarian and classless, and the similarities of the Australian accent throughout the continent are a strong indicator of it. Australia has a general accent that is used in most of the urban areas and the minor changes in the accent are not based on the economic strata of the population. However, the British accent is influenced by class distinction and geography. British Received Pronunciation (RP) was primarily used by the people in authority and reflected their social standing. The Cockney accent is known for its working-class roots.

To sum up, British vs. Australian accents, have their ways of expressing themselves that are rooted in their geographies, cultures, and histories. There are differences in pronunciation and vocabulary, that you can start noticing once you get familiarised with the respective culture. Learn all about the culture and history of Britain and Australia through a Comprehensive Guide to the UK, Great Britain, and England and Fun Facts About Australia. These guides will help you understand more about the culture and aid you in getting acquainted with the traditions and customs too!