English Language - Language Journal

Question 1

Orright You Spunkrats, Here’s Where All Our Aussie Summertime Language Came From
The Conversation, Jan 2022
Manns and Burridge

Answer 1

Explain
* Article explaining the origins and history of common Australian slang terms related to summertime
Example
* ‘Wowsers’, ‘Spunk’ , ‘Bikies’, ‘Esky’, ‘Akubra’, ‘Flybog’, ‘Boardies’, ‘Swag’, ‘Splaydes’, ‘Sangers’, ‘Togs’, ‘Stickybeak’
* ‘A sandwich short of a picnic’, ‘A few snags short of a barbie’, ‘A stubbie short of a sixpack’
Elaborate
* Australian slang celebrates summer in Australian ways
* “Australians deal with summer in a very Australian way – irony, humour and idiom” (Manns and Burridge)
* “When we grab that snag, swag or esky… we’re celebrating [summer] in Australian ways, and with Australian words” (Manns and Burridge)

Question 2

Yeah, Nah: Aussie Slang Hasn’t Carked It, But We Do Want to Know More About It
The Conversation, Aug 2022
Burridge, Hughes, Manns, Burke, Allan, Musgrave

Answer 2

Explain
* Article explaining how some slang terms have fallen out of use
Example
* ‘fair suck of the Siberian sandshoe’
* ‘flat out like a lizard drinking’
* ‘dinkum’
* ‘carked it’
* ‘yakka’
* ‘sparky’
* ‘dunny’
* ‘strides’
* ‘drongo’
* ‘thunderbox’
* ‘dead horse’
* ‘cheese and kisses’
* ‘prawn’, ‘swimmer’, ‘lobster’, ‘pineapple’, ‘avo’
Elaborate
* Draw on metaphor, irony and features of sound
* Some slang terms have fallen out of use
* “lightning rod for pride, prejudice and confusion” (Burridge, et. al)
* “slang is different things to different people” (Burridge, et. al)
* “a cabinet of linguistic wonders” (Burridge, et. al)

Question 3

The C-bomb Has Been Defused, Now We Weaponise More Dangerous Words
The Age, Jul 2023
Malcolm Knox

Answer 3

Explain
* Article detailing how the degree of offense caused by dysphemistic language has changed over time and with generations
* Article follows Knox being called a ‘c’ while crossing the road
Example
* ‘Cnt’
* ‘Dck’
* ‘Prick’
* ‘Cck’
* ‘KNTY 4 U’
* ‘Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve & Talent’
* ‘Plurry awful’
* ‘Spstic’
* ‘Fggot’
* ‘Nr’
* ‘Pf’
* ‘Rtard’
Elaborate
* Generational shift in offensive words – moving away from sexual organs
* Most offensive words are female genitalia – suggestive of a misogynistic culture
* ‘Cnt’ weaponised in favour of abortion rights
* ‘Bloody’ and ‘bastard’ previously offensive but no longer are
* Contemporary offensive language related to historic abuse and discrimination
* Swearing liberated by culture wars
* ‘Fck’ and ‘Cnt’ now appear innocent and nostalgic
* “life’s disappointments are easier to take if you swear at them” (Knox)

Question 4

Lidia Thorpe Tells Pauline Hanson to ‘F*** Off’ After Bombshell Speech in Senate
news.com.au, Jun 2023
Samantha Maiden

Answer 4

Explain
* Thorpe initially declared Parliament as unsafe for women
* Hanson told Thorpe that she was ‘intimidating’ other Senators → ‘f* off reply’
Example
* ‘F* off’
Elaborate
* Dysphemistic language used to express anger and frustration, while also seeking to shock

Question 5

10 Ways Aboriginal Australians Made English Their Own
The Conversation, Jun 2022
Louro and Collard

Answer 5

Explain
* Article highlighting the unique features of Aboriginal Australian English and the way it is used in contemporary Australian society
Example
* ‘Auntie’/’Uncle’ to convey respect
* ‘Grannie’ used to refer to grandmother or granddaughter – reciprocal
* Discourse particle ‘unna’ to seek conformation on shared knowledge
* Adjective ‘deadly’ meaning really good
* Adjective ‘hungry’ meaning great
* Adjective ‘cruel’ used as an intensifier
* Noun ‘shame’ meaning embarrassed
* Borrowings from Aboriginal languages – ‘boya’ meaning money; ‘boodjar’ meaning country; ‘maya-maya’ meaning home; ‘moordity’ meaning awesome
Elaborate
* Aboriginal slang and borrowings have added to the richness of Australian English
* “speakers sprinkle their speech with words from original Australian languages” (Louro and Collard)
* “Aboriginal English has its own structure, rules and same potential as any other linguistic variety (Louro and Collard)

Question 6

Help For Parents to Ensure Doctors Don’t Ignore Fears over Dying Kids
The Age, Aug 2023
Rachel Eddie

Answer 6

Explain
* In response to 240 incidents between 2021-22 with 88 involving children
* Deaths and harms caused by system or process deficiencies
Example
* Noun phrase ‘Sentinel Events’
Elaborate
* Euphemistic to soften sensitive and taboo topic of death
* Criticised as being double-speak and seeking to hide meaning
* “attempt to spin away and cover up their own findings” (Crozier, Shadow Health Minister)

Question 7

Nazi Salutes, Memes and Assaults: Jewish Students Say State Schools Unsafe
The Age, Jul 2023
Nicole Precel

Answer 7

Explain
* Racial discrimination of Jewish students in public schools
Example
* Noun phrase ‘Dirty Jew’
* Noun ‘Jewboy’
* Noun phrase ‘Jewish rat’
* Clause ‘All Jews should be exterminated’
* Imperative ‘Go back to the camps’
* Noun phrase ‘Filthy Jew’
* Clause ‘All of you were supposed to die’
Elaborate
* Anti-sematic bullying and discrimination
* Has led to students becoming withdrawn and refusing to go to school
* Based on cultural heritage
* Clear racism
* “distressing and disturbing” (Department of Education)
* “nothing short of a nightmare” (Abramovich, Anti-Defamation Commission chairman)

Question 8

A Reflection of Hate: Ugle-Hagen’s Mother Addresses Vile Racist Abuse
The Age, Mar 2023
Ratcliffe, McGowan and Vinall

Answer 8

Explain
* AFL Western Bulldogs player
Example
* ‘C**n’
Elaborate
* Racial vilification and abuse
* “so fundamentally wrong” and “disgusting” (Petracca)
* “totally inappropriate” (Lethlean, St Kilda Chief Executive)

Question 9

I Wouldn’t Want My Kids to be Around That: Khawaja Decries Abuse From Crowds
The Age, Jul 2023
Daniel Brettiq

Answer 9

Explain
* Abuse directed at Australian cricket team by members of Lord’s Cricket Club following the stumping of Johny Bairstow
Example
* ‘Cheat’
* ‘C*nt’
Elaborate
* Offensive and dysphemistic language used to criticise, express anger and shock
* “I can’t believe you can actually say that in a public domain anywhere” (Khawaja)
* “It must have affected him because he didn’t seem his normal self” (Duckett)

Question 10

Brekkies, Barbies, Mozzies: Why Do Aussies Shorten So Many Words?
The Conversation, Jan 2023
Burridge and Manns

Answer 10

Explain
* Article discussing how Australian slang and diminutives were formed, changed and spread overseas
Example
* ‘Defo’, ‘Journos’, ‘Pommies’, ‘Pollie’, ‘Smoko’, ‘Sunnies’, ‘Boardies’, ‘Surfie’, ‘Budgies’, ‘Tradie’, ‘Bottle-o’, ‘Muso’, ‘Housos’, ‘Wharfies’, ‘Truckies’, ‘Garbos’, ‘Bikies’, ‘Sickie’, ‘Rellos’, ‘Weirdo’
Elaborate
* Salient features of Australian English
* Expressions of informality and solidarity
* Integral to Australian culture
* “Uniquely suited to the Anglo-Australian ethnos… and style of interaction” (Wierzbicka, linguist)
* “Especially associated with Australia” (Oxford Dictionaries)

Question 11

McDonald’s Releases Potato Scallops, Igniting Age Old Debate
The New Daily, Jan 2023
Ash Cant

Answer 11

Explain
* Debate exists over the name of potato cakes in each state
* McDonald’s decision to name their new product ‘potato scallops’ has caused anger
Example
* ‘Potato cake’ vs ‘potato scallop’ vs ‘potato fritter’ vs ‘hash brown’
* ‘Parma’ vs ‘parmi’
* ‘Tuckshop’ vs ‘canteen’
* ‘Jaffle’ vs ‘toastie’
* ‘Bathers’ vs ‘swimmers’ vs ‘togs’ vs ‘cozzies’
Elaborate
* One of the few examples of regional variation in Australia
* “While the appeal of the battered treat is universal… the name is not” (Cant)

Question 12

Salman Rushdie Calls Revisions to Roald Dahl Books ‘Absurd Censorship’
The Age, Feb 2023
Jennifer Hassan

Answer 12

Explain
* Changes made to Dahl’s books to make them more inclusive and accessible have caused public debate
Example
* Adjective ‘fat’ → ‘enormous’
* Noun phrase ‘weird African language’ → ‘African language’
* Adjective ‘reddish brown’ to describe skin removed
* Noun phrase ‘small man’ → ‘small people’
* Noun phrase ‘cloud man’ → ‘cloud people’
Elaborate
* Preference to include gender neutral terms and avoid negatively connoted adjectives
* However, while making the books more inclusive and accommodating, these changes can reduce the descriptiveness of the books
* “absurd censorship” (Rushdie)
* “small and carefully considered” and “not unusual” (Roald Dahl Story Company)
* “dilute the power of storytelling” (Nassel,
* “evolve with the times” (Esqueda,

Question 13

From ‘Technicolour Yawn’ to ‘Draining the Dragon’: How Barry Humphries Breathed New Life into the Australian Slang
The Conversation, May 2023
Manns, Burke, Burridge and Musgrave

Answer 13

Explain
* Abuse directed at Australian cricket team by members of Lord’s Cricket Club following the stumping of Johny Bairstow
Example
* ‘Flog the lizard’ and ‘jerk the gherkin’
* ‘As ugle as a hatful of arseholes’
* ‘Technicolour yawn’ and ‘liquid laugh’
* ‘Drain the dragon’ and ‘point percy at the porcelain’
Elaborate
* Emerged in an era of growing colloquiality
* Giving old words new life and coined some of his own
* Cheeky ways to discuss taboos
* “an upsurge of nationalistic fervour in Australia… heralding the decline of Britishness in Australia” (Collins and Yao, linguists)
* “[To survive, slang expressions require a] perfect lexicographical storm” (Zimmer, linguist)

Question 14

Cheers to ‘Shoey’ and ‘Smoko’: How The Two Australianisms Went Global
The Age, Mar 2023
David Astle

Answer 14

Explain
* Australian vocabulary and diminutives have made their way overseas through musicians and public figures
* Shoey has been popularised by Harry Styles after discovering its meaning at a Perth concert
Example
* ‘Smoko’
* ‘Tradie’
* ‘Rabbitoh’
* ‘Cuppa’
* ‘Shoey’
* ‘Bottle-o’
* ‘Fleeceo’
* ‘Rollie’
Elaborate
* Diminutive endings unique to the Australian vernacular
* “homegrown slang amplified by music” (Astle, broadcaster)
* “Australians love people to win, but we don’t want people too over the top or to proud” (Guiffre, academic)

Question 15

Police Called Over TV Presenter’s Heartbreaking Email Reveal
news.com.au, Nov 2022
Tyson Otto

Answer 15

Explain
* ABC TV presenter, former Swans player and Barranbinya man, Tony Armstrong, was subjected to online racist abuse
* Abuse came after comments Armstrong made in relation to the Newtball Australia and Hancock Prospecting agreement that was cancelled
Example
* ‘Abbo bullshit’
* ‘Abbo crap’
* ‘1% Aboriginal filthy scum’
* ‘1% Boong’
* ‘Abbo scum’
* ‘1% Abbo dog’
Elaborate
* Intolerable in contemporary Australian society
* Armstrong has received significant support from other media and sports personalities, who have condemned the abuse
* “This harassment is sickening… our journalists should not be attacked or subjected to abuse for doing their jobs” (Stevens, ABC News Director)
* “This sh*t had gotta stop” (Armstrong)

Question 16

What These Autistic People Want You to Call Them
SBS News, Sep 2022
Stephanie Corsetti

Answer 16

Explain
* New research from Trends in Neuroscience challenges person first language used to describe people
Example
* Noun phrase ‘autistic person’ preferred over noun phrase ‘person with autism’
* Noun phrases ‘specialised interests’, ‘intense interests’ and ‘focussed interests’ preferred over noun ‘obsessions’
* Adjectives ‘non-Autistic’ and ‘Allistic’ preferred over adjective ‘normal’
* Noun phrase ‘specific support’ preferred over nouns ‘cure’ or ‘treatment’
Elaborate
* Person first language was thought to be more precise and respectful
* However, identity first language describes the person and clearly indicates that the condition is part of their identity, while person first language is seen as distinguishing from the person
* Navigating disability requires careful choices
* Users need to be aware of connotations and semantics of language to ensure they are being accurate, precise and respectful
* “language represents more than just words” (Monk, researcher)
* “language can be disempowering, dehumanising and degrading” (Monk, researcher)
* “changing our language… not just empowers those individuals but changes perceptions of the whole community” (Whitehouse, researcher)

Question 17

Naur, yeah: Australia, You’re Performing Linguistic Magic When You Pronounce The Two-Letter Word ‘No’
The Conversation, Dec 2022
Amy Hume

Answer 17

Explain
* Awareness of the Australian accent and pronunciation of the negative adverb ‘no’ took prominence on TikTok
Example
* Negative adverb ‘no’ can be pronounced as a diphthong or triphthong - /ə/ or /əƱ/ or /Ʊ/
* Monophthongs: ‘keep’, ‘down’, ‘far’, ‘soon’, ‘curl’, ‘cat’, ‘bed’, ‘hut’, ‘kid’, ‘nod’, ‘put’
* Diphthongs: ‘loud’, ‘prize’, ‘bay’, ‘void’, boat’, ‘cone’
* Triphthong: ‘no’ (in some pronunciations)
Elaborate
* ‘No’ can have different meanings depending on pronunciations – can be polite, empathetic or unsure
* Broad Australian speakers tend to lengthen vowel and draw it out
* “In actor training… vowels are the emotional components of words, and consonants are the intellect” (Hume)
* “Social media has created new platforms for sharing the voices of everyday speakers… we’re now hearing different accent varieties that may not have been heard by a global audience” (Hume)

Question 18

I’ve Lived in Malbourne My Whole Life and I Was Just Informed There’s a Malbourne Accent?
Pedestrian, Apr 2022
Aleksandra Bliszczyk

Answer 18

Explain
* Article published detailing pronunciation differences in Melbourne/Victoria compared to the rest of Australia
Example
* ‘Celery’ pronounced as ‘salary’
* ‘Ellen’ pronounced as ‘Allan’
* ‘Elly’ pronounced as ‘Ally’
* ‘Allergy’ pronounced as ‘Elergy’
* ‘Elephant’ pronounced as ‘Alaphant’
* ‘Deli’ pronounced ‘Dalle’
* ‘Bet’ pronounced with short ‘a’
Elaborate
* Victorians have a specific regional accent with short ‘e’s pronounced as ‘a’
* Teenagers are starting to speak differently to their parents
* “It is the younger speakers who tend to instigate change” (Squires)

Question 19

Labor Senator Apologises for Calling Nationals Senator a ‘Naughty Little Girl’
The Age, Nov 2022
Lisa Visentin

Answer 19

Explain
* Senator Glenn Sterle had targeted Senator Bridget McKenzie
* Disrepectful language came after a pledge from Labor to improve culture at Parliament House, and following previous instances of disrespectful language
Example
* Noun phrase ‘naughty little girl’
Elaborate
* Negative and belittling connotations of noun phrase
* “completely unacceptable” (Watt, Agriculture Minister)
* “out of order” (Sen. Sterle)

Question 20

‘Bloody Aboriginal’: Liberal Candidate Rails Against Indigenous People, Abortion and Climate Change
The Age, Nov 2022
Sumeyya Ilanbey

Answer 20

Explain
* Timothy Dragan was an ultra-conservative Liberal candidate at the 2022 State election
* Dragan opposed action of climate, change, apportion and held a belief that there was no such thing as ‘traditional Australians’
* This follows another candidate, Renee Heath, who was disendorsed for her conservative views
Example
* ‘There’s no such thing as traditional Australians’ ‘Because Australia is a post-colonial concept’
* ‘We won this land fair and square’
* ‘It’s absolute bollocks’
* ‘If we’re going to go by what’s Aboriginal, we might as well abolish everything, get or camping chairs and live in the desert’
* ‘It’s [institutions and government] European – it’s not bloody Aboriginal’
Elaborate
* Harmful connotations that inflict hurt and hatred on Indigenous people
* Fringe views that are disrespectful and misinformed
* “Insensitive and inappropriate language” (Dragan)

Question 21

Australian Open 2023: ‘F*** Off’ – Tennis Villain Daniil Medvedev at it AGAIN in Fiery Clash Fan
Fox Sports, Jan 2023

Answer 21

Explain
* Tennis World No. 7, Daniil Medvedev in first round match against Marcos Giron swore at a spectator, causing the crowd to gasp
Example
* Expletive ‘f*** off’
* Previously labelled fans as ‘low IQ’ and ‘empty brain… idiots’
Elaborate
* Breached social conventions especially given the public context and expectations regarding the status of tennis
* “really strange” (Henman, former tennis player)
* “Not smart on my part” (Medvedev)

Question 22

Why It’s Time to Grow Up and Learn to Pronounce Non-English Names
The Age, Jan 2023
Lauren Ironmonger

Answer 22

Explain
* Unwillingness for Australians to pronounce non-English names has led to individuals with non English names choosing to use different names out of convenience of necessity
* This disregard has been likened to racism
* Names have traditionally been used as a way of situating people within a racial order
Example
* ‘Huong Pham’
* ‘Huss Mustafa’ who uses the name ‘Chris’
* Australian diminutives and nicknames ‘Warnie’ and ‘Steevo’
Elaborate
* Choice of avoiding non-English names is discriminatory and a way of excluding others
* This is unacceptable in contemporary Australian society which is highly multicultural
* Makes people with non-English names feel uncomfortable and not accommodated
* “tied to a racist monolingual heritage that situates non English words as un-Australian” (Piperoglou, lecturer)
* “names are very important for cultural identity and hold linguistic significance” (Dovchin, researcher)

Question 23

‘This Was Hate Speech’: Hindu Community Alarmed by Temple Attacks
The Age, Jan 2023
Matthew Knott

Answer 23

Explain
* Use of anti-Hindu slogans in recent attacks on temples around Melbourne
* Attacks received widespread criticism from political figures in Australia and India
* Attacks made by a group seeking independent Sikh state, Khalistan
Example
* ‘Hindustad Murdabad’ meaning ‘Death to India’
* ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ meaning ‘Long Live the Sikh Homeland’
Elaborate
* Language used to offend, shock, harm and exclude based on race
* “clear attempts to sow hatred and division” (Indian High Commission)
* “hate speech and religious vilification” (Saka, monk)
* “Racial and religious hatred, vilification and vandalism have no place in multicultural Australia” (Burns, MP)

Question 24

No Campaigner’s Comments on Stan Grant, Lidia Thorpe Labelled ‘Disgusting’, ‘Grotesque’
The Age, Aug 2023
Paul Sakkal

Answer 24

Explain
* Comments from Australian Jewish Association head, David Alder, in relation to Thorpe’s Aboriginal heritage and Grant’s skin have been challenged
* Comments come days after Grant stepped down from hosting TV program, Q+A, citing racist abuse
Example
* ‘STAN GRANT’S COMPLEXION SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED’ ‘Look at the 3 pics. Can anyone explain?’
* ‘IS STAN GRANT DOING ‘BLACK FACE’? If so, why?’
* ‘What % Aboriginal are you? You appear quite white’
* ‘Not so sure she’s blak (or Black)’
Elaborate
* Offensive and disgraceful comments on people’s race and heritage
* Seek to discriminate and exclude based on race
* “a racist No campaign that is encouraging racists and hurting our people” (Thorpe, Senator)
* “disgusting comments… is nothing short of grotesque’ (Leibler, co-chair of panel on constitutional recognition)
* “an unrepresentative extremist” (Leibler, co-chair of panel on constitutional recognition)

Question 25

Arnott’s Brings Back Chicken Parmi Shapes after they were Discontinued in 2020: Where can I Buy them in Australia?
Daily Mail Australia, Aug 2023
Shania O’Brien

Answer 25

Explain
* Release of chicken parmigiana flavoured shapes biscuit with diminutives ‘Parmi’ and ‘Parma’ on each side of the box
Example
* Diminutive ‘Parmi’ vs ‘Parma’
Elaborate
* Regional variation of the diminutive with the nation divided over their name
* “The Parmi/Parma debate may rage on forever, but our new Shapes flavour is one great taste that Aussies can unite over” (Arnott’s)

Question 26

Controversial Foul-Mouthed Grocer Causes Outrage After Making a Disgusting Slur Against the Matildas
Daily Mail Australia, Aug 2023
Kylie Stevens

Answer 26

Explain
* Controversial greengrocer, John Kapiris, posted a bizarre video ahead of Australia’s World Cup semi-final against England
Example
* ‘carpet munchers’
* ‘roll out the red CARPET for them’
Elaborate
* Kapiris claimed he was not being homophobic, and only made the video for fun
* The slang term is used to refer to lesbians, and is offensive, disrespectful, discriminatory and hurtful