Oddeus: One thing that puzzles me since forever: What is the correct pronunciation of the word "species"? I heard three different versions from native speakers. One is "speeshees". The others are "speecees" and "spashees" (like in "space").
Strangely the most common I heard is "speecees", although the LEO dictionary says it´s "speeshees".
Is this a regional thing?
Okay. I'll explain the Aussie difference.
Let's start with ''speecshees''...........This is not to be mixed up with ''Sheila'' be right mate'' which means ''Oddeus, it will be okay''.........It is actually the specks of rain on glasses or being caught in a down pour with glasses on and if it has happened to you then you would be screaming ''bloody speecshees'' I can't see.
''speecees'' is another not to mixed up with the three legged Bombat that occasionally walks/hops up the interior wall of the house carrying a spider in it's mouth and sometimes a Funnel Web but mostly the huge Timber Spider that we have down here,that can be bigger that a hand.It is actually another name for Wombat, which down here means ''idiot'' so if visiting our Country and you hear something along the lines, Oddeus is a bloody Wombat or ''speecees'' you will know what it means.
''spashees''......this one is much harder to explain so I'll try but if anything is not understood then a quick Google search may be needed.Imagine the middle of Winter 4am and thru the mud and slush you reach the long drop.After putting down the seat as it must always be kept up ''law of the land''.Why? you may ask is because the snakes and spiders and even a Bombat was spotted under one that had been left down by a Wombat or ''speecees'' and trudging thru the rain and getting ''bloody speecshees''it would be for some a nasty scare.
After placing one's ''clacker''in the correct position as I'm sure you realise,it is a long drop and called that for a very specific reason.(Check Google) at this stage as I don't want to confuse people with falling over a cliff which I might add at this point has happened.Okay,in position and out comes a small brick that actually sometimes if the weight isn't distributed properly make the brick in it's flight start to spin and twist and apon entering the long drop area which can be a 30 foot drop, instead of entering the qoogmire in a perfect splash as in competition diving (no splash).This beast will explode like a massive rock hitting the surface and the ''spashees'' as it's known down here can actually knock you off the seat.Now imagine on top of that with ''bloody speeshees'' and around the camp fire your buddies start cackling and laughing because they heard the ''spashees'' and then yelled out ''Sheil be right,mate and more laughter.....''Do you need a Lifeguard? Well, more laughter "Your'e on your own,Pat Malone as there's none in the bush''
''species'' is the correct term as all the others have a different meaning.But,in saying that a massive brick could be loosely termed a ''rare species''as it would take a rare breed to produce one.
I hope that has clarified your questions and anytime you need more clarification,don't hesitate to ask:)