Black-and-white archival footage. Shot of a male reporter in a suit holding a microphone, standing in front of an American Coffee shop on a city street.
REPORTER:
Hello, everybody. We're in the international part of Sydney today - Kings Cross - under rather doubtful-looking skies, to ask the passing people a question. What is our question? Oh, yes. Do Australians speak with a bad accent?
Shot of the reporter interviewing an elderly, well-dressed lady with cat-eye glasses.
WOMAN:
(Australian accent) Er, no, not really. I think they're careless in their speech, but I don't think it's a bad accent. I'm a true Aussie and I really like to talk about them really well. So, I don't think there's anything wrong with their speech at all, only that they're a little careless.
REPORTER:
You're proud as an Australian?
WOMAN:
I am.
Shot of the reporter interviewing an elderly man in a trilby hat.
MAN:
Bad accent?
REPORTER:
Yeah, bad accent.
MAN:
A bad accent.
REPORTER:
Yes, a bad accent.
MAN:
I don't think so. I think we've got a good accent.
Shot of the interviewer stopping a middle-aged man in the street.
REPORTER:
Do you think Australians speak with a bad accent?
MAN 2:
No, a good accent.
REPORTER:
Why do you say that?
Shot of the man smiling, then brushing the reporter off and walking away.
MAN 2:
Oh... (Mutters indistinctly)
Shot of the reporter interviewing two elderly ladies.
REPORTER:
Do you think Australians speak with a bad accent?
WOMAN 2:
No, I think they speak with a very good accent.
REPORTER:
Why do you say that?
WOMAN 2:
Real Australian.
REPORTER:
Hmm?
WOMAN 2:
Real Australian.
WOMAN 3:
I like the way they speak because we're the same.
WOMAN 2:
Because we're Australian. (Chuckles)
Shot of the reporter stopping a young woman wearing a headscarf and sunglasses, carrying a bunch of flowers.
REPORTER:
Do you think Australians speak with a bad accent?
WOMAN 4:
Well, it just depends. Some of them do. Some of them don't. It just depends.
REPORTER:
Oh? Depends on what?
WOMAN 4:
Well, I really don't know. I've often wondered about that. I often find that some of them speak with bad accents and some of them don't.
REPORTER:
What do you call a bad accent?
WOMAN 4:
Um... One with a very pronounced difference in the type, you know... the type of voice.
REPORTER:
What sort of accent do you have, do you think?
WOMAN 4:
Well, I've always been told that I've had a slightly English accent, but then I've just met a friend and she tells me I have a very Australian accent.
Shot of the reporter interviewing a well-dressed, middle-aged woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
WOMAN 5:
Well, I'm English, so I do really think they do.
REPORTER:
Oh? Why do think they do because you're English?
WOMAN 5:
Well, because I'm used to different accents, I suppose.
REPORTER:
You mean a better one, a worse one or a different one?
WOMAN 5:
Well, I think you speak nicely, but I think some speak too nasal.
REPORTER:
Well, I like you anyway. (Chuckles)
Shot of the reporter interviewing a smiling young blonde woman in dark cat-eye sunglasses.
REPORTER:
Do you think Australians speak badly?
WOMAN 6:
(Poshly) Extremely badly.
REPORTER:
Oh, why do you say that?
WOMAN 6:
Well, they speak... A friend of mine who's a producer once said they speak as though they have a piece of barbed wire clamped on both sides of their jaw. (Clenches mouth) And they speak like that with their mouth like that, you know?
REPORTER:
I see. Thank you. Thank you very much.
WOMAN 6:
Quite alright. Come on, sweetheart.
Shot of a little blond boy grabbing the woman's hand as she continues on her way.
Shot of the reporter interviewing a spectacled elderly man in a trilby.
MAN 3:
(Ocker accent) No, Australian accent, a bloody good accent. I don't know if that's being recorded on that or not, is it? Good accent. We're not trying to imitate the bloody Pommies or anyone else, we've got our own way of talkin'. I'm from the country and they all reckon I drawl.
Shot of a black-haired woman in a floral dress, who hides behind a telephone pole.
REPORTER:
Come over here.
WOMAN 7:
Oh, are you going to take my picture? 'Cause I look awful.
REPORTER:
Look at me now.
WOMAN 7:
No, this is the best profile.
The woman emerges and turns side-on to the camera, laughs, then turns to the reporter.
REPORTER:
Do you think Australians speak with a bad accent?
WOMAN 7:
Um... (British accent) How did you know that I was not an Australian?
REPORTER:
Well, that's trading one question for another. I'll answer yours in a minute if you answer mine first.
WOMAN 7:
Um... No, I think some accents are rather attractive.
REPORTER:
In this country, you mean?
WOMAN 7:
Yes. Yes.
REPORTER:
Well, answering your question, I didn't know you were British until you spoke.
Shot of the black-haired woman laughing. Shot of the reporter stopping a young man with slicked hair and an open shirt.
REPORTER:
Do you think Australians speak with a bad accent?
MAN 4:
No, I don't at all.
REPORTER:
Why do you say that?
MAN 4:
Oh, well, wherever you go, there's always one different language and some of them have different languages, that's why.
REPORTER:
Ah. You mean within Australia?
MAN 4:
Oh, yeah, I mean everybody got a different way and accent, and that's what they've got. It all depends where you go. Different accent - England, Scotland, Wales.
REPORTER:
Yes, but here, within Australia, I mean.
MAN 4:
All depends - I mean, most majority of people are Australians and half 'Eyetalians' as well. So, you got a, what... a dago language in between 'em, plus an Aussie in between 'em.
Shot of the reporter interviewing an elderly woman and man.
WOMAN 8:
Oh, no. I don't think so.
MAN 5:
Not all of them.
REPORTER:
What do you think?
MAN 5:
Many Sydney people do. We come from Melbourne. (Laughs)
