What Is This 'Mate' of Which You Speak?

For its new citizenship test, the Australian government has provided a formal definition of the word "mate." Yes, as in "G'day, mate." A 40-page guide for aspiring Aussies, the brainchild of the immigration minister, defines mateship as the condition “where people help and receive help from others voluntarily, especially in times of adversity."

A mate may be a family member but "can be also a complete stranger," the pamphlet advises. PM John Howard has been trying to formalize matehood since 1999, when he led a failed attempt to insert a definition into the constitution. The new citizenship study booklet also includes background on the Australian obsession with cricket and other helpful information. (More mate stories.)