Aussie Life
Language
I’ve been intrigued recently by the verb ‘to unsee’. It turns up as a trendy way of saying that something…
Aussie life
The public shaming of elite pole vault coach Alex Parnov reminds me of the time I was sent to cover…
Language
We missed it! Back on January 18 we should have been celebrating National Thesaurus Day. Mind you, the day is…
Aussie life
As if Hollywood’s elite didn’t have enough to be worried about, the Governor they elected, and whose homelessness laws and…
Language
It is easy to miss the fact that a good deal of slang has a long-forgotten rhyming component (and is…
Aussie life
It’s hardly surprising that Doris Day’s jaunty homage to Marcus Aurelius ‘Que sera, sera’ was one of the 1956’s best-selling…
Language
At the start of each year, Lake Superior State University publishes a list of ‘Banished Words.’ These are the words…
Aussie life
Like many Speccie readers I was shocked by the public expressions of anti-Semitism which blighted the closing months of 2024.…
Language
The verb ‘to unsee’ turns up as a snappy, or trendy, way of saying that something is unforgettable—in a bad…
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…
