Dec 5, 2009
A question for Australians about a nifty word in their dialect.
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Apparently, in Australia tragic can be a noun meaning someone really interested in a topic. (“I’m a blogging tragic.”)
Australians – this true?
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Yes.
It would tend to carry the idea of someone not just very interested, but obsessed beyond the social norm.
I would say it also tends to be used in regards to someone obsessed with relatively frivolous matters (sport, television ect) rather than more serious obsessions (eg math)
that makes sense
It sounds like something from the valley girl dialect.
Defs! ;)
All true, but you won’t hear anyone under 35 using that lingo…
I was going to say the same thing. I grew up in Australia, and hadn’t heard this one before, but it’s pretty consistent with the way certain Aussie demographic groups play around with nouns and gerunds. In that way, they’re very similar to England in having slang and accents specific to small regions…
I’ve never heard of it, myself. Perhaps it’s not in the Queensland dialect?
I’ve heard it used in Queensland.
I’d say it’s a combination of our ironic sense of humour with a sense of self deprecating self awareness. It’s usually associated with sport – and it seems to be an acknowledgment of disproportionate interest in a topic.
The interesting thing about this is that it is not a noun everywhere else.
Yes. We do use it that way, but it tends to be used a little tongue in cheek. As in “Running off to watch the game again? You’re a tragic.”
yeah mate, ya spot on with ya ‘nalysis.
no worries, she’ll be right cobber!
This person would also know as “a lost cause”.
Yep, you can be a golf tragic, a footy (football) tragic, a reality tv tragic, anything where your interest borders on obsessive. But I agree that I don’t think many people under 35 would be using it.