Yes, some people do say some of the terms Branwyn and the others mentioned, although I don't say them, they are said. The main exception to this is 'g'day' no matter how hard I try not to say it...it just comes out. Its embedded, the same as "bloody". We also have a tendacy to chop off part of our words, but I can't think of any others this second.
A lot of our slang words originated years ago, and I guess many of them we have out grown, except for those Australian's who like to think of themselves as okers, or"true blue" aussies. It is more pravilient in the country areas or elderly people.
I agree with JJ Cooper that I wouldn't use many of the ones mention in a novel. They're not needed and although some are a general part of our every day speach, I think they would be jarring to a reader. I know when I was in the states I got told I sounded like a country girl, yet I was from Australia's largest city. I think the main reason for this was that American's seem to speak much slower. I was told I speak quickly, and to slow down.
As for Paul Hogan at the time of his movies, that speech was very much used to a degree.
If you are trying to capture a little bit of our charachter without jarring you're reader then some of the following would probably be understood universally if put in dialouge the way we use them.
"G'day" and "mate" are probably a couple of the most common words we do say in every day speech.
With the examples you gave, I wouldn't use them, unless your charachter was from the remote country towns of Australia or elderly. My grandmother and some elderly people I come across still use those terms but the terms you mention will not be understood by the masses outside our country...I thinks.
I don't think we have any special cursing words that would be used daily apart from, "bloody bastard", and "bloody" in front of any other curse word you can think of, plus "bugger" but I would use bugger, in a different sense for eg. "Bugger, I almost fell over." or "bugger, I just burnt dinner."
I have pm you one, which I don't think appropiate for the forum, but someone has mentioned the word "piss" in a different context then in the following context.
"Piss off," is an emotionally charged saying and done when angry commonly by both men and women. Eg - a fight "Piss off." Piss meaning get. 'Piss off mate, before I smash you."
A woman fighting with a lover..."Piss off, I've had enough."
The other is "bugger" but used in the following sense.
A boy who skips school..."You are a little bugger."
Another use..."Bugger, I just burnt dinner."
"Bugger, I almost fell down the steps."
"Bloody" - "If you don't get out my sight this bloody second, I'll kill you."
The same is with terms of endearments, but one that comes to mind is "sweetie" or "luvie". My mother and aunts all use "luvie" as in "Luvie, how was your day?" I unconsciously call my husband, 'babe' long before the movie was every released.
A fellow looking at a woman. "Now, that's a hot chick."
