can you help me listen to this

[jasonlulu_2000]

Enclosed is a clip from BBC. I cannot make out some words he is saying.

"Police in the United States have said at least three people have been killed and many more injured in two powerful explosions right by the finishing line of the Boston marathon. They were seconds apart just as hundreds of runners were ending their race cheered on by a large crowd about _________ ________"

1. I want to confirm whether it is "they" or"There" in the underlined part.

2. What are the last two words in this clip of Mp3?

Thanks for your help!

Jason

 

[probus]

1. It is "they". "There" makes no sense.

2. I have listened very hard to try to make out those last two words, but I cannot. I suspect they have been truncated in the recording process.

 

[probus]

FINALLY I got it. He says "about four ranks deep." It is Strine.

 

[jasonlulu_2000]

FINALLY I got it. He says "about four ranks deep." It is Strine.

Thanks for your help!

But what does "about four ranks deep" mean in this case?

Jason

 

[SoothingDave]

A rank is a line of people. The crowd consisted of people lining the streets with people standing behind other people, who were standing behind other people, who were standing behind other people. 4 rows deep.

 

[Raymott]

FINALLY I got it. He says "about four ranks deep." It is Strine.

Sure doesn't sound like Strine to me. Does the BBC have Australian reporters in Boston?

 

[probus]

Sure doesn't sound like Strine to me.

I stand corrected.

 

[Rover_KE]

Note for the curious: Strine.

 

[Raymott]

Note for the curious: Strine.

The phonological derivation is this.
You begin with "Australian"; drop the 'l' which is common, to get "Austrayan'; leave off the beginning, for "Strayan", then flatten the vowel.
/ǝstraijǝn/ is actually common, but /straɪn/ is a bit far-fetched.