Driller Speak: The Australian Edition

OK, So lately I've been complaining (a lot) about being stuck in the bush, and how I have not had a half decent conversation in ... a long time. Hopefully this post should shed some light on what exactly I am dealing with here.

In Bill Bryson's book "Mother Tongue" he divulges into great detail over the English language, and how it is likely one of the fastest evolving languages especially in modern times. Bryson states, "It has been said that English is unique in possessing a synonym for each level of our culture: popular, literary, and scolarly - so that we can, according to our background and cerebral attainments[...]" etc etc

I agree with Bryson on this topic, especially when referring to what I (and others) like to call the English sub-dialect "Driller Speak". Oh, and in this case, the operative word(s) in paragraph 1 would have to be cerebral attainments...


Driller: Hey Dave, how deep is this fucking hole gonna go
Me: 500 - 600m
(OK, maybe not the best example, but this particular question has been asked of me every day for the past week by the same driller)

next

Me: Hi guys, how was the shift
Driller: Meh not to fucking bad. Still drilling that same fucking shit.
Me: Oh yea? Still in the green rock?
Other Driller: (astonished look on his face) Did our geologist just call it rock?

next

Me: Oh, and by the way, are you aware that Tracie has an epi pen in the refrigerator?
Driller: (before I had a chance to finish explaining that Tracie is allergic to bee stings) I don't care, I ain't got no allergies

next

Driller: Dave, when are we going to get out of this fucking hard shit
Me: I don't know, soon
Driller: Well why don't you fucking know
Me: If I knew exactly what we were going to hit than why would we be drilling here?
Driller: (confused look)

next

Cook: Hey [driller], are you going to have some dinner?
Driller: Nah, I'm on a diet (7 empty beer cans and a pack of smokes)

next

Driller: So what part of America you from