Case study: Pronouns and identity
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As we have discussed many times this year, language is always changing. One of the most interesting changes currently happening across...
- 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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