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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Aug 14, 2022
Case study: Aboriginal AE in the media 2022 Part 2
We have already looked at some examples of Aboriginal Australian English in the media this year, but there seem to be more popping up...
Jul 18, 2022
Case study: Aboriginal Australian English in the media 2022
Below are several examples of Aboriginal Australian English from the media in 2022. Activity: For each example, discuss the social...
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 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...
Nov 19, 2021
Case study: Audience, purpose and lexical choice
As students of English Language, we know that context greatly affects communication decisions. Linguistic choices will be influenced by...
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: 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 23, 2021
Intro to ethnolects
These resources are a starting point for learning about different ethnolect varieties in Australian English. Students should not use...
Sep 18, 2021
Case study: Brands and Aussie slang
Companies love to cash in on our unique brand of English by using it to advertise their products. The proliferation of these kinds of ads...
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 13, 2021
Case study: Paralympics and language
Preferred terminology around disability can be difficult to navigate, especially given that even people with disabilities disagree about...
Sep 13, 2021
Case study: Australia Day vs Invasion Day
It seems that every year the debate around the date for our national holiday grows more heated. Let's take a look at some of the...
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...
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