Australian rules Sir, – The Australian elimination of syllables and phonetic shortening of common words, discussed by Frank McNally (An Irishman's Diary, September 25th), was described as "Strine" 50 years ago in the "Cinnamon Herod" (Sydney Morning Herald).
Australians everywhere gather on New Year’s Eve to display their mastery of metanalysis, syncope and elision by singing “Shoulder Quaint’s Beef Cot”, also known as “Frolang Zine”. – Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN DOHERTY
Operngasse,
Vienna.
Pet theory
Sir, - Never mind Irish Water not granting a water allowance to your reader’s dog Harry (September 26th). What about the goldfish? - Yours, etc,
MARY P WILKINSON,
Galway.
On the map
Sir, - So what if it’s in the context of the ghost estate “Fontanelle Heights”, but my native village of Ballivor has received the ultimate accolade - a namecheck in Ross O’Carroll Kelly’s column (Magazine, September 20th).
We have arroived! - Yours, etc,
JOHN QUINN,
Stradbally North,
Clarinbridge,
Co Galway.