We have a bonza episode for you this week and a bonzer special guest. Bonza might sound like an unusual Australian word - because it is. And its origins are not Australian at all. Just like our word, our special guest, one of our favourite seppos, has his origins in the southern United States. Previously we spoke to Evan about the gold-rush slang that Australia and the South and Western states of the United States share. Bonza, is one of those words. Originally used as bonanza, to express a surprisingly positive discovery, as in discovering gold, it was shortened once reaching the shores of Australia. Now, bonza is a common adjective expressing these same sentiments. We talk to Evan about his recent move to New York city, and his postgraduate work in documentary journalism. We talk about how his language skills have helped him open doors to new communities and new opportunities with his work. We discover and talk about the similarities between how languages change and evolve in immigrant communities, just like they have, and continue to evolve in countries influenced by immigration, such as Australia. So, enjoy this bonza episode. And if you have any examples of how languages and words have been used in other countries, we would love to hear it.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related