According to Lance Rainey of Lanitza, Aussies can’t be held responsible for introducing the shortening of names (C8). “Scots have always had their Robbies, Jamies, Lachies, Geordies et al. The diminutive usually being a sign of affection rather than condescension. I believe it was they, and their border and Northern English brethren, who brought the ubiquitous ‘ie’ ending to Australia. Now I’ll sign off and finish brekkie.”
Janice Creenaune of Austinmer suggests there is another theory that “Aussie ‘shortenings’ (C8) are caused by the over-abundance of flies in this country, causing mouths to be narrowed and words shortened to allow the absolute minimum time to speak. Some may argue that the Aussie accent is resultant as well.”
Brian Barry of Port Macquarie and his wife had five children, naming “the first four with normal names (C8). All of them became abbreviations. We called the fifth Paul, which seemed safe. Of course all his friends called him Paulie.”
Steve Cornelius of Brookvale agrees with Nola Tucker that “schedule has no ‘k’ (C8). And neither do scheme, school, schism, scherzo, schizoid, scholar and schooner.” Adding to Column 8’s ever-expanding file of linguistic complaints, Steve also observes that “troubled politicians are always embattled, bystanders are innocent, attacks are withering. No-one is just armed any more, always heavily armed.”
“Nola Tucker, you have gotten right to the point with your item (C8), which had an impact on me and I absolutely agree with you,” teases Joan Brown of Orange. Joan added that “‘school’ doesn’t have a ‘k’ either,” a piece of information that was responsible for the overwhelming majority of emails received by Column 8 in the past 24 hours.
