Australian Aboriginal English in Contemporary Cinematography

Jakovljev, Marta. (2014). Australian Aboriginal English in Contemporary Cinematography. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of English Language and Literature. [mentor Josipović Smojver, Višnja].

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Abstract

In this MA thesis,Australian Aboriginal English is analysed on the basis of three films, Australia, The Tracker and Rabbit Proof Fence. The thesis begins with a short historical and social background of the emergence of the variety as well as the linguistic factors that influenced its development. The fact that Aboriginal English is a set of continua ranging from basilectal varieties which are close to the creole, and acrolectal varieties which are close to Standard English is clarified. Aboriginal English is stated as the third major non-Standard variety spoken throughout the whole continent and Torres Strait Islands. In addition, it is a symbol of Aboriginal identity. Then, some major linguistic features present in the majority of basilectal and acrolectal varieties of the variety are outlined. Upon completion of this, Australian Aboriginal English in the three films under consideration is analysed on the phonetical, phonological, grammatical and lexical level. Lastly, gestures are illustrated as an essential part of the nonverbal communication in the films at hand. They are shown to be substituting utterances in certain cases. In the conclusion part of this thesis, it isremarked that the portrayal of the varietyvaries in the films. From the acrolectal varieties in Australia, to the varieties close to the basilectal spectrum of the dialect continua. These are found in The Tracker and Rabbit Proof Fence. Further on, the difference in the variety is observed within the same films, even in the speech of the same characters. The focus is often on the acrolectal side of the dialect continua in order to make it as intelligible as possible, especially in Australia. Finally, the diversity of the varieties within Australian Aboriginal English is demonstrated on the basis of these three films in which the variety frequently tends towards linguistic regularization to achieve intelligibility.

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