Aussie Life
Aussie life
It is customary for magazines like this to devote some of the final issue of the year to an appraisal…
Language
The clever lexicographers at the Australian National Dictionary Centre have chosen ‘Colesworths’ as their Word of the Year 2024. They…
Aussie life
The University of Sydney’s Environment Institute (SEI) was launched in 2014 by Professor David Schlosberg ahead of a lecture discussing…
Language
Speccie reader Louise has been in touch with an intelligent question that must have occurred to many of us over…
Aussie life
Let me be absolutely clear: when I referred to the next president of Australia’s most important military ally and economic…
Language
Speccie reader Doug writes to ask about ‘mansplaining’. This comes from the same feminist language cauldron as ‘toxic masculinity’ (meaning…
Aussie life
Were you to pop down to the shops and buy a Wagon Wheel these days, chances are you’ll be disappointed.…
Language
Here’ s a style guide suggestion – it’s time to resurrect the word ‘Aboriginal’. With a lower case ‘a’ this…
Aussie life
I am not worried about being outed as a recipient of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ hospitality. Yes, it is true that…
Language
I never thought I’d grow up to be a Grumpy Old Man – but look how good I am at…
Ausie life
‘Now, Jill, what would you like to be when you grow up?’ ‘I’d like to be an equal opportunity commissioner.’…
Language
A Speccie reader (Greg) has asked me to say something about the expression ‘AI’, meaning artificial intelligence. The expression is…
Aussie life
Despite historically owning less property than men, women have always exerted a powerful influence in the sector. Like lyre birds,…
Language
When human rights commissions were established both federally and in all the states, we assumed this was a good thing…
Aussie life
Picture this: it’s a stinking hot arvo in Sydney. The sun’s cooking everything like a snag on a BBQ, and…
Language
I have recently come across the worst case of language vandalism I’ve encountered for many years. Namely, the claim that…
Aussie life
Everyone has a Dan Andrews statue opinion. After two years of Covid lockdowns, rings of steel, #IluvDan hashtags and daily…
Language
Given the time of year we must once again be ready to pull sour faces and make rude noises when…
Aussie life
‘When I was 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have him around,’ wrote Mark Twain,…
Aussie life
At the same time you were hearing about the second attempt on Donald Trump’s life, you can be sure that…
Language
Speccie reader Peter has written asking me to write something about ‘begs the question’, which, he says, is ‘regularly misused…
Aussie life
The recent sci-fi movie Paradise Hills delivered one gem for this viewer; the choristers’ white ruffs setting off each young…
Language
Speccie reader Raymond has asked me to explain the meaning of the compound noun ‘common sense.’ It was Aristotle who…
Aussie life
Recently the ABC online, and the Weekend Australian, both published detailed articles about problems within the Northern Territory Aboriginal communities.…
Language
Can ‘difficult’ be used as a verb? Surely not, I hear you mutter. But on the web I encountered the…
