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usage, they also reflected a phonetic pronunciation, for example VombatFlat (Wombat
Flat), Brek Nak (Break Neck) and DitperCrich fDeep Creek), or the lack of an
equivalent word or sound in ItaUan. Sometimes the immigrants used these words in
Italian constmcts, such as ciansarla (to chance it), which attached an object pronoun
to an anglicised verb, and gli stori (the stores), the Italian method of forming plurals.
Other times (as was also revealed in the Pozzi section), they adopted Anglo-Celtic
constmctions, pluraUsing, for example, storo as stors^^ The early hybridisation of
their language underUes the point that adaptation to the demands of the prevailing
Anglo-Cehic community on the part of the Italian speakers commenced very soon after
(if not before) settlement.
In sum, the 'scouting' period of the Italian-speaking immigrants was
characterised by many elements: a continuing sense of disillusionment about Australia;
an endless stmggle to survive; by a constant need to adapt to new languages and
cultures; a continued reliance on the good-will of compatriots; a questioning of village
values and traditions and by an acceptance that Australia might forever be their home.
Though this chapter has concentrated on the mining activities of the immigrants, many
ItaUan speakers had also begun to diversify their income sources by farming, opening
small businesses and, in other ways, marketing their traditional skills. As more reliance
was placed on these activities which utilised and adapted skills, the immigrants began
to emerge from the 'scouting' stage of settlement and enter another more 'committed'
phase which shall be further examined in subsequent chapters.
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