I’ve noticed a few peculiarities to Australian English since I’ve arrived (colourful slang aside, of course). For example, on the train up the coast the other day, we heard “… Passengers for Caloundra, please detrain here.” Detrain??! As in, disembark or alight?!
Detrain doesn’t get too many Google references (most of them are French, “…de train”, etc). And it’s not just me who finds it strange, either. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News had a reader write in and complain about it here, and had the following to say about its origins:
The Macquarie lists “detrain” as meaning “to alight from a railway train” – and says it['s] chiefly military slang. Although it’s not listed in either D.H. Dowling’s Digger Dialects or in Amanda Laugersen’s Diggerspeak – so it’s not Aussie military slang. The opposite (getting on board) is covered by another military word “entrain”… And similar words are used in the military of aircraft: if you get on board you “enplane” and if you get off you “deplane”.
It even gets a mention in the online Urban Dictionary, but with very specific Australian (and even more specifically, Brisbane) references:
A newspeak-esque term QRail train conductors use to describe the act of getting off a train.
Train conductor: Passengers for the Ipswich, Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines, please detrain at Central. Make sure you collect all of your belongings before detraining. Thank you.
Passenger: WTF!?!?
The whole misuse of English debate is often levelled at terms like this, but I don’t buy it. (I’m sure being native to a country with a “non-standard” form of English plays a part in my opinion too.) Here we have an example of a word with valid origins being used as management jargon by Queensland Rail. That’s not misuse, it’s re-use. So pretty standard language behaviour, then.
Mind you, I’ve yet to hear the average Joe use it, but given it’s short, snappy and does the job, it seems to fit the requirements of Australian English just nicely!
About the author
Sarah Dillon is a qualified, accredited and experienced professional translator originally from Co. Clare in Ireland. She specialises in producing English-language texts that don't "sound" like translations, ensuring her clients' message has the desired impact in their overseas market. She is based in Brisbane, Australia and works with corporate clients, small businesses, agencies and nonprofit organisations all over the world. In her spare time, Sarah is also Marketing Director of eCPD Webinars.
Sarah Dillon has written 252 posts for There's Something About Translation.
{ 8 comments }
Hello Sarah,
I am a Japanese to English freelance translator living in Japan. (I am also British Australian;)) I have been lurking around your blog for the past few months and really enjoy your posts. A lot of what you have had to say has been really useful, Thank you!
I also wanted to say thanks for the big laugh you gave me today reading this post. I too was bewildered with ‘detrain’ when I visited Brisbane. At least they talk slower up there! It gives you time to think!
Hello Sarah,
I am a Japanese to English freelance translator living in Japan. (I am also British Australian;)) I have been lurking around your blog for the past few months and really enjoy your posts. A lot of what you have had to say has been really useful, Thank you!
I also wanted to say thanks for the big laugh you gave me today reading this post. I too was bewildered with ‘detrain’ when I visited Brisbane. At least they talk slower up there! It gives you time to think!
Hi Cat
Lovely to hear from you, and thanks for the comment. I’m glad you enjoy the posts – and you’re so right about the slower talking!! It’s my excuse for dosing off while my other half is mid-sentence (a Sunshine Coast boy, and equally amused by “detrain”, incidentally)… best of luck with the freelancing!
Sarah
Hi Cat
Lovely to hear from you, and thanks for the comment. I’m glad you enjoy the posts – and you’re so right about the slower talking!! It’s my excuse for dosing off while my other half is mid-sentence (a Sunshine Coast boy, and equally amused by “detrain”, incidentally)… best of luck with the freelancing!
Sarah
I have heard “deplane” before (as in “dismbark from an aeroplane”), therefore this work doesn’t “upset” me as such.
Hope Australia is fun – greetings from the Manzana in the northern hemisphere…
I have heard “deplane” before (as in “dismbark from an aeroplane”), therefore this work doesn’t “upset” me as such.
Hope Australia is fun – greetings from the Manzana in the northern hemisphere…
‘Detraining’ became common parlance on Amtrak trains in the US about five years ago – hideous! Made up for in part by the fact that they still shout ‘All aboard!’ just before the train, erm, destations . . .
‘Detraining’ became common parlance on Amtrak trains in the US about five years ago – hideous! Made up for in part by the fact that they still shout ‘All aboard!’ just before the train, erm, destations . . .