The Aside - Translating Liz Morden (Our Country's Good)

The Aside Podcast

The Aside Podcasts are a free resource supported by Drama Victoria - Australia’s oldest Drama Association In this episode of The Aside, we translate a number of words from Liz Morden's Monologue from Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker. Links below for the sources. Please feel free to email [e-mail] to ask a question. We will try and answer on a future podcast. Sources: https://www.hamptonhilltheatre.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-07/Programme%20-%20Our%20Country%27s%20Good_0.pdf https://www.mansioningles.com/recursos149.htm https://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/convict-sydney/flash-language https://sites.google.com/site/motman/Home/information/slang https://writinginmargins.weebly.com/home/nymphidia-and-the-fairies-of-michael-drayton#:~:text=Katharine%20Briggs%20suggested%20in%20An,hang%20for%20a%20halfpenny.%22 https://sites.google.com/site/motman/Home/information/slang https://www.definition-of.com/mother+of+all+saints List of words: Shifts it’s bob – moves out of the way A bob can be the weight attached to a plumb line. A ship is said to bob out when it bounces and bobs in heavy seas without making any remarkable headway. This is a particularly distressing occurrence for those afflicted with seasickness. Waves bobble when they seem to crash without any specific set or direction as during cross currents or riptides. Born under a Ha’penny planet - halfpenny = worthless, planet – circumstances of births Said of any person remarkably unsuccessful in his attempts or profession. Nibbler -nibbler a pilferer or petty thief Crapped - crap’d - hanged Titter – girl, young girl, toddler girl, small laugh of a child, women’s breast Wiper – Handkerchief Shoulder-clapped – arrested Cudgel – short thick stick/weapon Prig – a thief, or stolen, to steal or pilfer Trine for a maker – wait for a Wap for a winnie – pull for a horse If she will not lie with a man for a penny, let her hang for a halfpenny Dimber mort -pretty girl Swell – elegantly dressed, or stylishly dressed mollisher – a woman, a villian’s mistress Miss Laycock – female genitals, prostitute Mug – face Sell my Mother of saints – female genitals Swell cove – “swell” man. Bobcull – good natured man Mossie face - a slang, potentially endearing term for the pudendal region of a woman Shiners - money Spice (steal) the swells – steal from the gentlemen (steal the loot) Lifts it – steal it /take it Stir my stumps – move my legs Swell Squeals beef – gentleman shouts ”thief” Snoozie – constable for the night watch Nibbed – caught / arrested Up the ladder to rest – walk up the ladder/stairs to be hanged. Nap – get/receive Across the herrring pond – across the coean Rantum scantum – sex (for food/water or preferential treatment on the ship – which was common) Nob it here - become A person of wealth or high social position (short for noble) Bobcull gov – good natured government person Niffynaffy - easy Rufflers – vagabonds/vagrant Nibbed – arrested again Up the ladder to rest – up the ladder/stairs to be hanged to death