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New Zild - The Story of New Zealand English

Television (Full Length) – 2005

New Zealand's unique accent is often derided across the dutch for its vowel-mangling pronunciation ("sex fush'n'chups", anyone?) and being too fast-paced for tourists to understand. In this documentary Jim Mora follows the evolution of New Zealand English, from the "colonial twang" to Billy T James. Linguist Elizabeth Gordon explains the infamous HRT (High Rising Terminal) at the end of sentences, and Mora interprets such phrases as "air gun" ("how are you going?"). Lynn of Tawa also features, in an accent face-off with Sam Neill and Judy Bailey.

Produced by

Logo for Bright Spark Television

Bright Spark Television

Source

Logo for Bright Spark Television

Bright Spark Television

Acknowledgements

Made with funding from NZ On Air

Music

‘G’Day Mate’ composed by Gavin Buxton and performed by the Ponsonby DCs

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