more Australia-related questions

[kindkit]

The fic I'm working on has generated a couple more Australia-related questions that google isn't answering:

1) What's a common kind of tree that someone might have in their garden, in the Melbourne area?

2) Is there an endearment that a middle-class man in his early thirties might use to address his wife? He's speaking in an offhand way--thanking her for something minor--rather than in a romantic or highly emotional context. If he were an American he'd say "Thanks, honey," but I don't know if there's an Australian equivalent.


Many thanks and geographically appropriate endearments to anyone who can help!

Comments

[lilacsigil]

What kind of tree? You might have a banskia, a magnolia, a camellia, a wattle tree, a cypress hedge, a lemon tree (pretty common in most suburbs), a nectarine tree... If it's an outer suburb, especially in the Dandenongs, it might have a gum tree.

"Thanks, love" or "Thanks, darling", but probably just "Thanks, [name]".

[kindkit]

Um, a very ordinary tree? Pretty, but not at all interesting or rare, just a typical tree for a middle-class suburban house. It sounds like a lemon tree may be just the thing.

"Thanks, love" or "Thanks, darling", but probably just "Thanks, [name]".

*nods* I'd use the name, but I specifically want an endearment here because one of the things the story is about is conventions, expectations, and roles. The lack of individuality is the point, if that makes sense.

Thanks very much!

[lilacsigil]

A lemon tree is very ordinary and suburban. "Love" would be fine for a regular, middle-class man. I think in the UK they use "love" like the Southern US uses "hon", to address just about anyone, but it's rarely used that way here. "Darl" would be our equivalent to the UK "love" or US "hon".

[shehasathree]

Agree re lemon trees and casual terms of endearment.

[kindkit]

Thanks!

[kindkit]

I think in the UK they use "love" like the Southern US uses "hon", to address just about anyone, but it's rarely used that way here.

I've been told that in the UK, class and region are huge factors in when/how "love" is used--with the result that I'm now nervous about using it in fic, ever.

Actually "hon" as a generic term of address in the US is quite regional and class-based, too. It's mostly southeastern, as you said, and it's also pretty working-class.

Argh, why must language be so complicated?!

[kindkit]

You know, since reading your comment I've realized that people say "darl" all the time on Australian TV--it's just that I thought they were saying "doll"! Which would be wonderfully 1930s, actually.

[lilacsigil]

That's lovely! I don't think "doll" was ever really used here, though "dollybird" was for a bit. I suppose doll/darl would work in a lot of accents, but not Australian!

[damned_colonial]

I was going to say "Thanks, love." Agreed on list of trees also. Lemon trees are everywhere in suburban backyards, especially rental properties of a certain age.

[kindkit]

I was going to say "Thanks, love."

Yay! That's what I originally wrote, but then I wasn't sure if it was too British.

Thanks!