Dear
In response to your letter (below), I have several comments.
The group who coordinated metric conversion in Australia were extremely
imaginative and forward looking when they chose the values for Australian
metric quantities. They clearly saw that by slightly increasing each of the
main cooking quantities, by between 9�% and 10�%, then recipes would most
readily convert from old measures to metric. Examples are:
2 lbs. (avdp.) to 1 kg flour = 10�% increase
1 pint of milk (imp.) to 600�mL milk = 9.5�% increase
1/2 pint of milk (imp.) to 300�mL milk = 9.5�% increase
1 cup liquid (8 fl. oz. imp.) to 1 metric cup = 9.1�% increase
1/2 cup liquid (4 fl. oz. imp.) to 1/2 metric cup = 9.1�% increase
1 oz. (avdp) to 30 grams = 9.4�% increase
1 fl. oz. (imp.) to 30 mL = 9.5�% increase
Prior to metrication, Australian teaspoons and tablespoons had no fixed or
coordinated values � their sizes varied randomly. The Australian metric
conversion cooking leaders surveyed available spoons and decided that a
value of 5 mL would reflect and slightly increase the size of a level
teaspoon and that 20�mL would do the same for level tablespoons. They also
ignored all saltspoons, dessertspoons, lean teaspoons, and heaped spoonfuls.
In the light of the values given above, it was decided to have milk and
other (liquid) dairy products slightly increased (by 9.5�%) to fit in with
other frequently used cooking measures. In this way if you converted 1 lb.
to 500 grams of flour (up 10�%) and added it to 600 �mL of milk (up by
9.5�%) the overall amount would increase slightly but � most importantly �
the proportions would remain almost the same and there would be little, if
any, need to do clumsy calculations in a busy kitchen.
***
The Australian language is remarkable in that it has little regional
variation even though it is quite large nation on a single continent of some
8 Mm2 (or 7 686 849 km2 to be more exact).
However, there is one place that Australians carefully preserve their
linguistic diversity � in the pub. Here is a list of the most common names
of glasses, but be warned there are many others.
New South Wales: Glass (200 mL), Middy (285 mL), Schooner (425 mL)
Northern Territory: Six (200 mL), Seven (285 mL), Handle (425 mL)
Queensland: Glass (200 mL), Pot (285 mL), Schooner (425 mL)
South Australia: Butcher (200 mL), Schooner (285 mL), Pint (425 mL)
Tasmania: Seven (200 mL), Ten (285 mL), Pint (425 mL)
Victoria: Glass (200 mL), Pot (285 mL)
Western Australia: Bobby (200 mL), Glass (285 mL), Pot (425 mL)
It�s interesting to note that some common terms, between states, refer to
different sized glasses, and the names that clearly refer to the old ounces
and pint sizes: �six�, �seven�, �ten�, and �pint� are only approximately
related to the old measures � if at all � and they are all smaller.
***
Currently, the pub industry is reintroducing the word pint back into
Australia. However I stress that it is the 'word' pint that is being
reintroduced; there appears to be no thought of reintroducing the quantity
of a pint � either from the UK or the USA. Recently a friend ordered a
'pint' of Guinness in a country pub in Victoria; the 'pint' came in a can,
clearly labelled 440�mL, which was poured into a 'pint' glass and this
filled it (including the froth) to the brim. Clearly my friend received a
'pint' of 440 mL.
The most glaring case of pint-o-mania in Australian pubs is a pub in Punt
Road in Melbourne � recently it renamed itself 'The Pint on Punt'. It's nice
alliteration but it's lousy metrology.
Dear Anna,
I'll give you one guess as to why Pat is such an expert on beer glass sizes!
I, on the other hand, drink wine, and there is no such thing as a 'standard'
when it comes to a 'glass' of wine. That's exactly what they are. An
indeterminate quantity of a red or white liquid in a glass container.
Pat's wife Wendy
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
CAMS - Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist
- United States Metric Association
ASM - Accredited Speaking Member
- National Speakers Association of Australia
Member, International Federation for Professional Speakers
--
Anna's letter
Can I conduct a straw poll of those who have lived in Australia on this
list?
Since I was old enough to go to pubs in Australia (late 1970s), I have
never heard anyone there ask for a pint of beer. I lived in South
Australia and Victoria.
How many of us have actually heard this being used (and if so where)?
I ask this, because as a group, we're saying that this term is still
current in Australia, but modified to 600ml. That is just not my
experience at all.
