Re: Guardian 23000

Dr Ivan D. Reid wrote:
> 
> On Mon, 01 Dec 2003 18:16:35 +0000, Brian Skinner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>  wrote in <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
> > "Dr Ivan D. Reid" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> 
> >>      I suspect we inherited it from the US or somewhere else, though, as
> >> the prototypical Australian two-syllable abbreviation invariably ends in
> >> -ie, e.g. "cossie" for (swimming) costume, "brekkie" for breakfast, even
> >> "Ivie" for Ivan!
> 
> > A recent UK puzzle had a clue with a 4-letter answer, the definition
> > part of which was "Australian PM" . The answer was [ROT13]: NEIB

That's an Estonian composer ...

>         Good one!  Yes, that's an exception...  (I think my original
> (self-)observation was that we seemed to always abbreviate to two
> syllables, later on realising that most of then ended in -ie.)  As an off-
> the-cuff observation, -o is most often used for peoples' names: Jacko, Robbo,
> Davo, yes, even Ivo (But note, Macka!).  "cuppa" I'd argue is a contraction
> of "cup of (tea)".

Surely "cuppa" is Brit?
-- 
Peter T. Daniels                       [EMAIL PROTECTED]