Case study: EOFY word play
The 'end of financial year' is commonly known in financial circles by the acronym 'EOFY', and is a popular time of year for financial...
top of page
Search
May 25, 2022
Attitudes to PC language
The following articles discuss attitudes towards politically correct language in Australian society. ABC News - Australians say...
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...
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...
Sep 29, 2021
Case study: Brands and creative language use
Some brands use linguistic innovation and creativity to present an image of playfulness to their customers, or to make their products...
Sep 29, 2021
Case study: Gender-neutral language in sport
Linguistic changes generally reflect changes taking place in wider society, and this has certainly been the case in the sporting world...
Sep 24, 2021
Generational language change and slang
Change is inevitable in any living language, and English's global dominance has made it particularly susceptible to such natural...
Sep 23, 2021
Case study: Language for the vaccine rollout
Now that our experience of the pandemic is shifting from lockdowns to vaccine targets, its influence on our language is also changing....
Sep 18, 2021
Internet and linguistic innovation
The internet is a natural breeding ground for all kinds of creative language use. In some cases, linguistic innovation serves a specific...
Sep 18, 2021
Emoji(s), identity and language change
These articles discuss how emoji can serve a variety of communicative functions, illustrate generational differences in language use, and...
Sep 16, 2021
The role of dictionaries in recording language change
This article from September 2020 discusses how Dictionary.com must adapt its entries for certain words due to the constant changes...
Sep 12, 2021
Case study: The rise of 'woke'
The story of woke's journey from African-American street slang to politically conservative catchcry is both long and complicated so, for...
Sep 12, 2021
Case study: 'Deadly' and 'mob' in Aboriginal English
Adjective 'deadly' and common noun 'mob' are both frequently used in Aboriginal Australian English and have become recognisable markers...
Sep 12, 2021
Case study: Nicknames in politics - friend or foe?
If you're an Australian politician, you haven't really made it until you've got a nickname. The examples below explore the purposes of...
Sep 12, 2021
Case study: 'Vaxx', 'jab' and the pandemic's enduring influence on our language
These articles both make reference to the rise in linguistic creativity among Australians when referring to the Covid-19 vaccination....
Sep 12, 2021
Case study: Adelaide footballer Cam Ellis-Yolmen and 'uncle'
In this tweet from August 2021, Adelaide footballer Cam Ellis-Yolmen congratulates fellow Indigenous player Eddie Betts on his 350th game...
Sep 12, 2021
Case study: 'Blak' - Australian Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe
Lidia Thorpe is a Senator for the Australian Greens political party, and is also an Aboriginal Gunnai-Gunditjmara woman. In this tweet...
bottom of page