Comments on: A question for Australians about a nifty word in their dialect.

By: Marny

Marny — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:13:35 +0000

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.

By: Joel

Joel — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:07:27 +0000

This person would also know as “a lost cause”.

By: Al

Al — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:14:47 +0000

yeah mate, ya spot on with ya ‘nalysis.
no worries, she’ll be right cobber!

By: Nathan

Nathan — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 07:35:37 +0000

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.

By: Jason Harris

Jason Harris — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:50:24 +0000

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.”

By: Lauren

Lauren — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:39:41 +0000

Defs! ;)

By: Rachael Starke

Rachael Starke — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:02:40 +0000

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…

By: geoffc

geoffc — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:04:56 +0000

The interesting thing about this is that it is not a noun everywhere else.

By: Anika Q

Anika Q — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:01:47 +0000

I’ve never heard of it, myself. Perhaps it’s not in the Queensland dialect?

By: Jono Smith

Jono Smith — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:32:21 +0000

All true, but you won’t hear anyone under 35 using that lingo…

By: Jonathan P

Jonathan P — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:41:16 +0000

that makes sense

By: Jo Neufeld

Jo Neufeld — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:17:24 +0000

It sounds like something from the valley girl dialect.

By: Joanna

Joanna — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:01:14 +0000

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)

By: Joanna

Joanna — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:59:26 +0000

Yes.

It would tend to carry the idea of someone not just very interested, but obsessed beyond the social norm.