Northern Territory English

Aboriginal English words in the PEV

There are some terms that are used so widely by Aboriginal people in the NT, they've made their way into everyone's English. Keep an eye out for them if you're looking at the PEV! 

Mob = group of people, animals or things

Cheeky = dangerous, used mainly for animals

Payback = punishment (the PEV often talks about Jesus taking the payback for the bad things we did)

Humbug = bothersome requests

Acts 3:19 (PEV)

You mob have to change the way you live, and you have to turn back to God, so that he will not blame you or do payback to you for the bad things you did.

New Christian jargon

I also find myself using Christian jargon that I never used in Sydney.

E.g. The visiting mob from Brisbane joined in with an action song at Nungalinya graduation fellowship. (i.e. The visiting group from Darwin joined in with a dance to a Christian song at Nungalinya graduation worship night.)