If playing with words lightens the mind and the heart, it does not hurt, but yes, it needs to be done with some self awareness so that misunderstandings and confusions do not abound. Ambivalence can be a tool ...
Hugs @Maggie @outlander @Shaz51 @eth

I learned a new word today ... "swale" I have been shaping the countours of soil in my garden for water flow ... and now I find there is a proper name for it. Mine is a tiny garden so they are mini swales.

Love your discussion of normal. @Wanderer I started life with a heavy load of ..."abnormal" and "pathological" ...
Yes Australian lingo is a peculiar beast. I was mainly socialised at the poorer, rougher end of society, although neither of my parents were rough or loud or drinkers etc. I did not realise we were sensitive. For many years, part of me recoiled from Australianess and dived into books and music.
It is interesting we came to linguistics via different routes. @Wanderer I was surprised by my son's lenition ... of "t" to "d" when he sang italian, but he asserted his very well educated and well trained Italian singing teacher had taught him that way ... more like spanish ...and also in playing recorder ... there is specific uses of t and d and g and k ... in tonguing techniques to sculpt the flow of air.
The wiki mentioned lenition ... is more common than the opposite fortition ...strengthening consonants ... in singing we are endless told off for lazy consonants and but maybe Australian accents have something to do with conserving energy. I figure working in the heat makes people less likely to put effort in enunciating.
Re learning Irish language, I visited for a few weeks in 1980 I liked and noted that reclamation work was going on. The main change in direction after my travels was to get an education and go to uni. Travel gave me lots of alternative images of how people lived their lives and the world is an amazing place. I focussed on earth science at first, as there seemed far too many languages ... to pick one.
@eth @Zoe7 @Faith-and-Hope @Bunniekins @Exoplanet @utopia @Kurra @Sans911 @Snowie @Owlunar and @Former-Member and all the female friends I have made on the forum have helped shift my sense of shame in the roughness of Australians. My mother told me off for having an Australian accent in the last year of life. She was a bit of a snob despite our dire poverty. There are lots of sensitive people here too.
