Category: Language
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What is going to be the Oxford Australian Children’s Word of the Year?
We have been enjoying reading through the entries for the 2018 Children’s Word of the Year writing competition, which closed this week. Hundreds of entries from primary schools across Australia, representing all year levels, have made their way into the Oxford University Press office. This year, a significant number of home-schooled students have also taken…
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Oxford Word of the Month – September: dog act
Dog act noun an action seen as treacherous, cowardly or unacceptable. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH The term dog act might bring to mind the idea of a performing dog circus act, dog control legislation or, if you are familiar with Australian English, a now defunct law that prohibited the sale of alcohol…
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Oxford Word of the Month – August: green whistle
Green whistle: noun a disposable handheld inhaler for short-term pain relief following accident or injury. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH Since the 1970s, many Australian accident and trauma victims have used the green whistle, an emergency analgesic device commonly carried by paramedics to give temporary pain relief for patients on their way to…
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Oxford Word of the Month – July: Anzac Day rule
Anzac Day rule noun a tradition that heaters should not be used in Canberra before Anzac Day. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH An Australian Government website on energy use has a page headed: ‘Your energy bill and the ANZAC Day rule’, and provides the following advice: Unknown to ACT outsiders, an ancient practice…
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What are Australian children talking about in 2018?
Are primary school aged children interested in technology or treehouses? Are they concerned about the contents of their lunch box or the nightly news report? Oxford University Press is on the hunt to discover what interests Australian primary school students with the launch of the 2018 Children’s Word of the Year. Primary school students from…
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There are many reasons to love libraries
Modern libraries can take the form of a local book exchange to a huge community centre, complete with roof gardens and cafes. The reasons why Australians love them are just as diverse. From the smell of books to the friendly librarian, there are plenty of reasons to visit, and to love, our libraries. To mark…
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Australian Word of the Year 2017: Kwaussie
Kwassie has been named Australian Word of the Year 2017! Kwaussie: ‘a person who is a dual citizen of Australia and New Zealand; a New Zealander living in Australia; a person of Australian and New Zealand descent’. The Australian National Dictionary Centre, based at The Australian National University, selected Kwaussie, a blend of Kiwi and Aussie, as…