Jack Yan: the Persuader Blog: Newzild

The Daily Telegraph has a story on a new compendium, written by broadcaster Max Cryer, about New Zealand English, called Godzone Dictionary (thanks to Rob O’Neill at NZBC for the link).
It’s worth this off-topic mention, since I do get asked about the New Zealand dialect frequently from foreigners, plus others have talked about which slang words are distinctively Kiwi. Quite often we come up with those that are shared with Australians and Britons, but Max may have come up with a bunch that are unique to these parts. This may place this blog in some context.
The book seems well researched, based on the quotations Max has given. And for those of us who remember Max Cryer on the radio and the telly, it’s a case of, ‘If Max doesn’t know, then I’ll be buggered if I know who does.’
At least it is not a silly book like Newzild, on the Kiwi accent written in the wake of Australian Afferbeck Lauder’s Let Stalk Strine, that only served to show non-New Zealanders that we were a bunch of followers.

Posted by Jack Yan, 13:00 permalink

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Comments:

Hey Jack! Thanks for the comments on my blog. I see you're Kiwi! NZ is well represented in the blogosphere, it must be really popular there?
-Pete

# posted by

amillionpieces: 7/05/2006 10:11:00 PM

Hi Pete: thank you for popping by! I wonder sometimes about the popularity of blogs here. The mainstream media reported blog as a “new word for 2006” late last year, which made me wonder just how advanced we are. I have a feeling that a small minority is responsible for a great majority of New Zealand blog activity.

# posted by

Jack Yan: 7/05/2006 10:17:00 PM

Yes, I see what you mean. That may be good though, they have invaded the mainstream media here, and there are lots of mainstream media attempts at blogs which aren't really blogs, they're just another outlet for their usual content without much attention paid to feedback.
Have you ever read cre8d-design? She's a kiwi blog designer, great site.

# posted by

amillionpieces: 7/05/2006 10:23:00 PM

I have read that blog—wonderful design and wonderful experiments with the standard blog template. You have hit on something there: a site can have blog-like functionalities, but that is all useless if the feedback isn’t taken into consideration. Excellent food for thought: it’s the interaction that counts, and it is what people seek.

# posted by

Jack Yan: 7/05/2006 10:30:00 PM

Yes, you're right, it's sad because they say it's revolutionising media, yet traditional media is not grasping it very well. Still, they'll catch on eventually.

# posted by

amillionpieces: 7/05/2006 10:45:00 PM

Ah, it gives room for us independents to get ahead of the game. :)

# posted by

Jack Yan: 7/05/2006 11:02:00 PM

I think that it has changed the web and those that use it a lot. Maintstream will catch on, because people aren't designing that many sites anymore, they are designing blogs.

# posted by

djrange: 7/06/2006 03:20:00 AM

True, Range, I believe that is the way forward, too.

# posted by

Jack Yan: 7/06/2006 09:55:00 AM

No doubt about that. I used to design web sites before moving into finances and now, if I meet someone who wants a web site, I tell them start a blog and build a site around that.

That's what people want and it's way more personal.

# posted by

djrange: 7/06/2006 12:23:00 PM

That is quite a shift, Range—how are you ﬁnding the ﬁnance world? I have learned an awful lot about it in the last few years.

# posted by

Jack Yan: 7/07/2006 03:24:00 PM

I wouldn't mind being an analyst in an investment bank.

The last few years, I've been counseling people on investments and insurance. There are parts of my job that I enjoy, complex financial planning and maneuvering to minimize income tax, there are other parts I hate.

That's why I'm moving to BC, fresh start out of the insurance business and get an accounting degree so that I can further myself.

Meanwhile, if blogging takes off as a career, I wouldn't say no. In fact, I'd like that a lot. The freedom that comes with it.

# posted by

djrange: 7/07/2006 03:42:00 PM

I might have to ask your advice one of these days, Range! Accounting could be a good career move. Meanwhile, like you, I would love to blog all the time—it’s a great hobby and you get to help people.

# posted by

Jack Yan: 7/08/2006 01:54:00 PM