Case study: Pronouns and identity
As we have discussed many times this year, language is always changing. One of the most interesting changes currently happening across...
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Jul 17, 2022
Case study: Changing names, changing values
Do you know the traditional Indigenous name for the land you are standing on? Well, you'd better find out here, because it is becoming...
Jul 8, 2022
Case study: Gender equality and language
Language reveals a great deal about a person's values and attitudes towards certain groups in society, and this is commonly seen in...
Jul 7, 2022
Case study: PC apologies, sorry not sorry (2022 edition)
Every year there is inevitably some celebrity or public figure who says something in the public eye which is viewed as offensive or...
Jun 8, 2022
Useful Resource: RMIT Guide to Inclusive Language
The attached document is a 'guide to inclusive language' published by RMIT University. It contains a range of linguistic examples and...
May 29, 2022
Case study: PC language in lyrics
Songs which represent institutions will often undergo lyrical amendments if the language used in the lyrics is no longer deemed to be in...
May 25, 2022
Attitudes to PC language
The following articles discuss attitudes towards politically correct language in Australian society. ABC News - Australians say...
May 10, 2022
Texting etiquette
This article from April 2022 explores the etiquette around texting as a form of communication, including how different generations...
May 9, 2022
Case study: Honorifics in journalism
'Honorifics' are the titles we use to address people in formal language, including: Mr, Ms, Mrs, Dr, Sir, Your Honour, etc. They can be...
Mar 15, 2022
Case study: Is Dan Andrews still salty
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has a track record of using informal language to appeal to the younger voters in his audience and to craft...
Feb 8, 2022
Taboo language; offensive but extremely useful
The Conversation - Swearing: attempts to ban it are a waste of time Activity: Read the article entitled ‘Swearing: attempts to ban it are...
Feb 1, 2022
Gen Z, full stops and tone
This article explores how Gen Z (those born between approximately 1997 and 2012) perceive the use of full stops to be 'angry' in texting...
Jan 31, 2022
The speed of language change
The English language can be understood by speakers who live centuries apart, suggesting that its core vocabulary and grammar has remained...
Jan 25, 2022
The evolution of email etiquette
Consider the following questions before reading the resources below: a) What conventions* have you been taught to follow when composing...
Jan 8, 2022
'Words in English don't last forever'; is 'fewer' dying out?
The following article discusses how words can fall out of use in English, particularly when their function can be fulfilled by a similar...
Jan 7, 2022
Harry Potter and the Debatable 'Teenage Slang'
Activity: Read the Reddit post below featuring a 'Gen Z translation' of an excerpt from the first Harry Potter book. Discuss the lexical...
Dec 9, 2021
Case study: What is 'yassification'?
You may be familiar with the slang collocation 'glow up' (popular in 2020) meaning 'to undergo a physical transformation for the better'....
Nov 18, 2021
Case study: Word(s) of the Year 2021
Every year, many language-related organisations release their 'Word of the Year' selections. These choices generally reflect trends or...
Oct 25, 2021
Case study: Is today a 'No Bones Day'?
Noodle the pug has taken TikTok by storm, and is even inspiring some linguistic creativity! If you're not up to date with Noodle's fame,...
Oct 25, 2021
Case study: Is a 'vaxxie' a thing?
We have already discussed the pandemic's continued effect on our language in 2021, including the coining of the term 'vaxxie': See...
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