The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #118662   Message #2568560
Posted By: Rowan
16-Feb-09 - 04:53 PM
Thread Name: BS: English grammar question
Subject: RE: BS: English grammar question
No woop woop east?

Pardon the diversion, please. Oz was colonised (by English speakers) from the east, so all references to "the back of beyond" , "beyond the black stump" etc (even "back o' Bourke") carry an implication that you're referring to something "out west", where the pelican builds its nest. I suspect it builds on northern European folkloric notions about the west being somewhat mythical and/or unattainable.

So, while Woop Woop shares its existence with a lot of other places real or mythical, there can be no Woop Woop East and WW South or North are most unlikely; Woop Woop West is the real "boondocks", isolated "Hicksville", "Royston Vasey" equivalent.

Cheers, Rowan