Toy company Mattel has created a world-first country specific version of the classic much-loved board game, Scrabble.
Launching in Australia this September, the new Aussie Scrabble edition celebrates Australia’s quirky deviations from the English language, adding homegrown flavour with an all-Aussie slang glossary featuring our localised lingo.
Mattel took to social media with partner Jetstar in 2016 to crowd source the best slang words from across the country for potential inclusion into the final glossary. More than 20,000 submissions via the Jetstar Facebook page were put forward, with words such as ‘arvo’, ‘crikey’, ‘biffo’, ‘shonky’ and ‘cozzie’ forming the official word glossary.
The bend to the original rules allows participants to use terms coined from an extensive list of popular Australian colloquialisms. The ‘strewth cards’ introduce another layer of fun, such as allowing players to draw extra tiles for extended game play.
Jacinta Whitehead, Mattel senior marketing manager, says asking everyday Aussies for their favourite lingo was the ideal way to build on the localised version of Scrabble in the Australian market.
“Australian slang is synonymous with everyday life and national pride―yet many of us may not even recognise some of our favourite everyday words are actually Australian adaptations of the universal English language,” says Whitehead.
“Scrabble has always been a popular game for friends and families to play. This special edition is sure to enrich our Aussie vocabulary and produce lots of laughs and entertainment over the Christmas holidays.
“Not to upset the traditionalists, we worked closely with the Australian Scrabble Players Association on the localised vocabulary to ensure these additions added excitement to the timeless board game.
“Our slang is truly unique and a language in its own right. Australian Scrabble players will rejoice in the Aussie edition that rightfully includes a new, homegrown glossary to challenge them further.”
Jetsetters travelling across Australia will experience the local flavour of Aussie Scrabble, as iconic landmarks and animals featured in the game are brought to life on selected Jetstar flights.
Aussie Scrabble is retailing for $39.99 and will be available until stocks last.
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