I really like this song. I fully agree with the lyrics and it’s also a very energizing track. Sometimes punk rock is better than a morning coffee. But the first thought after listening was like: “I’ve never heard this word!”. Just …second later my friend told me that this band (The Chats) is form Australia. Australians have their own way to use English language, aren’t they?
My next step was just asking “uncle Google” about the genesis of this word. I was really amazed by the results. I was sure that this word will be found in any “slang dictionary” and nowhere else.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoko
Wikipedia told me something very different. It’s ..term which describes …short, often informal, brake during work or military duty. Even sheep shearers had their smoko, which takes it’s time between breakfast and lunch. Is it just a word? Ok, fine. But we can get that knowledge thanks to the context of song and using some computational power of our brain.
In Australia, more precisely in the north east, about 200 miles away from Melbourne, we can find a small town called Smoko. Why it’s called just like a cigarette break during work? Just because of that! In 1850s gold seekers were taking a rest with a cigarette before ..long trip across a difficult desert trip.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoko,_Victoria
Moreover, this term is also can be found in the cards of law in cases of short brakes in plants. That makes me curious about the topic of Australian odd words which also in general use there.
Do you know any Australian words with that interesting genesis? Or maybe other examples across the languages?
Maybe you also heard a song which makes you curious about words used in its lyrics?
Or you just think that I’m crazy because I wrote the entire article about a single word? 😉
I don't know the genesis of the word but they do have some very interesting ones:
ReplyDeleteplugger - flip flops
servo - petrol station
maccas - mcdonalds
durries - cigarettes
These are just a couple of them.
Interesting song, interesting lyrics :)
Servo sounds like some electronic stuff. It’s interesting why they named petrol stations like mechanism...
DeleteDo you know any Australian words with that interesting genesis? Or maybe other examples across the languages?
ReplyDelete- No, I don't know any other interesting Australian words. I don't also have an example of such a words in any other languages.
Maybe you also heard a song which makes you curious about words used in its lyrics?
- I can't remember any particular song right now, but I'm sure there were many songs I have heard with curious title or lyrics.
Or you just think that I’m crazy because I wrote the entire article about a single word?
- Not at all! You're article and questions remiended me how poor memory I have. I know for sure that I have heard a lot of such a words, but I can't point any one of them at the moment.
It’s funny because I also think that i have poor memory. Maybe I remember some odd words, but on the other hand it’s not a problem for me to forget about weekend lessons at PJATK and going to planning some weekend trips...
DeleteDo you know any Australian words with that interesting genesis? Or maybe other examples across the languages?
ReplyDelete- Not really. Such things never picked up my interest.
Maybe you also heard a song which makes you curious about words used in its lyrics?
- Recently i googled hikikomori in Quebonafide's song (Tamagotchi). I like to understand songs that I listen to so I always check lyrics.
Or you just think that I’m crazy because I wrote the entire article about a single word?
- I actually find this really fascinating. I never would have thought about writing entire article about a single word.I think it is really creative.
I’ve got inspired by many clickbait articles which I’ve seen across the web. Lot of words about one tweet or only one photo of celebrities. I wanted to check is that is as hard as I thought.
DeleteAs many people above I also didn't have interesting Australian words :(
ReplyDeleteI cannot remember any song, but sometimes I check lyrics to understand particular song. Unfortunately sometimes I would not like to know any meaning :)
No, probably you are normal, but maybe you cannot find any better topic for the presentation
I think that i’ve got your point. Songs which contains meaning known only by artist who made it. It’s mostly newshool rap music from USA in my opinion :P
DeleteI love music too! I’m a big fun of a music in any way. The most important of my life is to listen to music and share my experiences with friends. It’s nice to have an opportunity to talk with other about your interests. I like to talk about music all of the nights especially during concerts or festival when I’m in the middle of people who love music too! What kind of bands you mean when you mentioned about your friends? Any videos, music? I love drum! I’m a drummer, I’m a beginner about I can say it loudly and proudly I’m a drummer. I have my kit, it’s electronic because I don’t have opportunity to play on acoustic set but it still magical when I play. Maybe some of your friends who are in bands they looking for a drummer who is very hard working and ambitious person? But back to the topic. I don’t know any Australian words with interesting genesis. I know only one band from Australia and they are rappers. I don’t have also any examples across other languages. I like song which lyrics are very simple. The best example is the Beatles. They were amazing and they still are. Have you heard Raspberry Fields Forever song? For me it’s one the best song they made. What do you think about that song?
ReplyDeleteI completely forget about this song… It’s really cool, especially these days where the weather is so good and days are so long. I’m sure it’ll be played at first incoming bonfire with my friends. And about the drums, I think that you are the first person who started with electric drum set instead of acoustic one. I thought that there is a way of evolution of musicians from acoustic to electric instruments.
DeleteDo you know any Australian words with that interesting genesis? Or maybe other examples across the languages?
ReplyDeleteSome time ago I found very interesting initiative, made by John Koenig named "The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows" - author made up a bunch of words and videos on YouTube, for very specific, melancholic feelings. E.g "Rückkehrunruhe - the feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness".
Just two days ago I found really nice word which spark my interest - this time its actually existing word - "nemophilist" - it's someone who likes forests and solitude you feel in a forest.
Maybe you also heard a song which makes you curious about words used in its lyrics?
Usually the for me most nonsense lyrics have rap songs, they have a lot of slang. Good thing that there is "Urban dictionary" in internet.
Or you just think that I’m crazy because I wrote the entire article about a single word?
No! The music was very cool ("im on smoko, so leave me alone" is very cachy :)
Rückkehrunruhe, i have to check pronunciation of this word because i think that is going to be used in my daily routine :P
DeleteDo you know any Australian words with that interesting genesis?
ReplyDeleteI don’t rally but that have really funny slang for words, I know that they call Maccas.
Or maybe other examples across the languages?
Not much a genesis but the way British slang sounds, like cheeky nandos, ta as shorter way of saying thank you or bollocks as something they think it’s untrue in mean way.
Maybe you also heard a song which makes you curious about words used in its lyrics?
Definitively. I know band called D2C. They use so much remixes that I am not sure what they are singing about.
Oh, I also heard a word “bollocks” in song. When i’ve been in UK my friend were playing it in a loop. What is the worst thing, that I only remember the song title and part of melody… Now I’m going to search it till I find this song...
DeleteDo you know any Australian words with that interesting genesis? Or maybe other examples across the languages?
ReplyDeleteI don't know any words that would be as interesting as the one you found. :)
When I think about the words I particularly like The Lord of the Rings comes to my mind. I love the names Tolkien created - Minas Tirith, Galadriel, the Riders of Rohan, Mithril and many more. I think they have a special charm and are really beautiful.
Maybe you also heard a song which makes you curious about words used in its lyrics?
If I did, I don't remember such song at the moment.
Or you just think that I’m crazy because I wrote the entire article about a single word?
Well, I'm not the one to judge... Just kidding. :) It was an interesting text and I really like the sound of the band.
Maybe you can say that i’ve spend my life closed in wardrobe but i didn’t knew these names :P But surely they sounds very nice.
Deletewow, very nice article. You probably have many free time. ;) I never interested about this type of words. I have problem with learning english words. :). I promise that I will be listen music with detection similar words.
ReplyDeleteOk, if I remember i’ll ask you in a while how many words did you find :P Free time? My main life rule is to have as many free time as it’s possible.
DeleteI only heard that Australians often make new words by adding an 'o' at the end of shorter form of given word. And there it is - smoke plus o is smoko :D which means some kind of smoky I suppose. Just like servo is a shortening for servomechanism for us, for them is a description for a mechanical repair station. Language is a living thing :)
ReplyDeleteI know an interesting loanword from polish and that is lody for icecream :D but unfortunately english use wrong pronounciation and speak it as 'ladɪ' in phonetical transcription.
I think you are tricksy that you were able to use such a topic to make a homework from it :DD
I have to somehow deal with it… if I could write articles more often than once per semester, I probably would not go to PJATK ;-)
DeleteUnfortunetly, I don't know any examples of Australian words with that interesting genesis.
ReplyDeleteMany artists changes or modifies words, creating new ones to make their songs more rhythmic.
In my opinion, you are not crazy but unfortunately this article is very difficult to create a comprehensive answer.
I know your pain… Many times, when it comes to write something below article, i was like “what I can write here… I have no idea about that topic”
Delete1. Do you know any Australian words with that interesting genesis? Or maybe other examples across the languages?
ReplyDeleteUntil today I did not know any Australian words with that interesting genesis. Your article inspired me and I made a little research. In my search I came across the australian country song "Waltzing Matilda", in which you can find couple such words. For example:
Jumbuck - an Australian word for a 'sheep'
matilda - a collection of goods and daily supplies carried by a traveler, especially a roll wrapped with a blanket
2. Maybe you also heard a song which makes you curious about words used in its lyrics?
I often check the lyrics and the meaning of some words, for example Californication.
3. Or you just think that I’m crazy because I wrote the entire article about a single word?
I think you're very creative if you can write an entire article about one word. Well done.
Jumbuck sounds like Jumbo Jet rather than just a sheep :D
DeleteI'm not familiar with Australian english so I can't tell of any odd words. And I can't recall any other example of such word either. Well writing 400 words presentation about a single word is quite a stunt, congratulations.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a tribute ;-)
DeleteDo you know any Australian words with that interesting genesis? Or maybe other examples across the languages?
ReplyDeleteI dont know Australian words. In other languages, 'Badonkadonk' comes to my mind, but you have to check for yourself what it means ;)
Maybe you also heard a song which makes you curious about words used in its lyrics?
There were certainly many such words, but I dont remember them now :( most likely, these were words from the slang of the southern states.
Or you just think that I’m crazy because I wrote the entire article about a single word?
No! Just great, that you have a passion for such things, I admire :)
Unfortunately I don't know any words like this, but that's interesting that it drew your attention :)
ReplyDeleteMostly I'm just interested in music itself, in melody, and when lyrics draw my interest then it's related to lyrics message not a phonetic aspect.
Haha, not at all, for me it only shows that you are curious of the world