[Ads-l] More Australians, and the "Y" word ("yarn" as a verb)

[Emily Gordon]

I happened on this paper recently, and thought you all might enjoy it.

Simpson, J. H. (2026). *Yarn* as a verb meaning ‘talk’ in Australian
English varieties. *Australian Journal of Linguistics*, *46*(1), 30–50.
https://doi.org/10.1080/07268602.2025.2554125

[begin quote]

Abstract:

The word *yarn* in the sense of ‘talk’ and pronounced [ja:n] has gained
currency as a marker of Australian Indigenous Englishes. I explore its
origins in Australian Aboriginal languages, in early Australian contact
language sources, and in early Australian, New Zealand and British English
sources. In the nineteenth century the English expression *spin a yarn* became
accepted as sailor talk for storytelling. The noun *yarn* became used for
‘story’, and *yarn* then became used as a verb. Evidence is sparse for
*yarn* in early English-derived Australian contact languages, or in
languages of the Sydney area. However, a verb *yarn-in* ‘speak, talk, say’
was recorded in 1843 in the Ngarrindjeri language. Verbs with forms and
meanings similar to Ngarrindjeri *yarn-in* are found in other Aboriginal
languages in inland NSW and Queensland. The modern Australian English use of
 *yarn* for ‘informal talk’ diverges from the earlier English use of *yarn* for
entertainment talk, and is closer in meaning to the Ngarrindjeri *yarn-in*.
*Yarning* is now adopted as a label in institutional discourse for talk
with and among Australian Indigenous people. I suggest that the modern use
is influenced by both the verbs in some Australian Aboriginal languages and
the English sailor-talk use.

[end quote]

On Sun, Nov 1, 2026 at 2:46 PM Jonathan Lighter <
00001aad181a2549-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:

>
> https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/love-c-word-might-australian-140015647.html
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
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>

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org