Roland, David is it then ok

[Jim Franklin]

for me to express a Goodonya and a Fairdinkum when I read that Australia's unemployment rate is at 5.1% which is much lower that the about the 9.5% level it is here in Yankeeland.

[Roland Hearn]

Ok, here is how that would sound if you wanted to use those expressions in a congratulations: "Fairdimkum, I just noticed the Australian uneployment rate that's fantastic', goodonya." Or: "Are those unemployment rates fairdinkum? Goodonya for weathering the fininacial crisis so well."

[Shea Zellweger]

Onya, Roller.

[David Graham]

Here in Australia we seem to take great delight in "brutalising" the English language. I even heard a county person (a lady in fact) use the word "Dinkumest" in the context of e.g. "Roland is the dinkumest person I have ever met". It was used in relation to a particular Queensland Senator and drew a contrast between him and other politicians. Personally, I would never say that of any politician.

[Marg Shurtliff]

Here in Australia we seem to take great delight in "brutalising" the English language. I even heard a county person (a lady in fact) use the word "Dinkumest" in the context of e.g. "Roland is the dinkumest person I have ever met". It was used in relation to a particular Queensland Senator and drew a contrast between him and other politicians. Personally, I would never say that of any politician.

But you would say that of Roland ?

[Roland Hearn]

But you would say that of Roland ?

It's a compliment about integrity. David was just giving an example of how it might be used.

[Shea Zellweger]

It's a compliment about integrity. David was just giving an example of how it might be used.

and a fitting example at that.

[Marg Shurtliff]

It's a compliment about integrity. David was just giving an example of how it might be used.

So it is actually a good thing then ? Thank you for explaining .

[Roland Hearn]

"Dinkumest" would be a conversion of the noun "dinkum", a shortened form of "fair dinkum", into an adjective. Fair dinkum means truthful, honest, worthy, valuable. Used as a question "fair dinkum?" it would mean something like "are you telling me the truth?", like a person might hear a report and say, "honest?" Or, "seriously?" So to say that about a politician is is to say "this person is the most honest person I have ever met. " David was saying he wouldn't be prepared to say that about a politician.

[Hans Deventer]

Is there an English-Australian dictionary?

[Roland Hearn]

Actually yes there is but there is also an official Australian dictionary that is a fully research endorsed dictionary in every sense of the word that includes all Ausrtalian idioms, it is called the Macquarie Dictionary. (http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anonymous@9c99159465735/-/p/dict/index.html)

[Shea Zellweger]

http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-speak-australian-slang