Australia in 100 Words

<p><strong style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Bonzer. Arvo. Tucker. Sickie. Pash. Illywhacker.</strong></p><p><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>There are plenty of words to choose from to tell the story of Australia - from iconic Australianisms like </span><em style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>mateship</em><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> </span><em style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>fair dinkum</em><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> and </span><em style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>bogan</em><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> to </span><em style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>drop bears</em><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> </span><em style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>budgie smugglers</em><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> and </span><em style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>bin chickens</em><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>And while you aren't likely to hear </span><em style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>crikey</em><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> </span><em style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>cobber</em><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> or </span><em style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>wowser</em><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> walking down the street you will hear </span><em style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>no worries</em><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> </span><em style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>mate</em><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> and </span><em style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>yeah nah</em><span style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>. Words underpin myths and stereotypes of Australian identity; they have also obscured harsh realities and inequalities. Together these words shine a spotlight on our culture past and present. Historian and Director of the Australian National Dictionary Centre Amanda Laugesen brings us an innovative linguistic history of Australia.</span></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>'From drop bears to bin chickens raw prawns to faceless men Laugesen has wrangled every telling word in the Australian menagerie. Far more than 100 words this gathering of Australian language is an eavesdropping of our ongoing conversation.' - David Astle</strong></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(55 65 81 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>'A culture and a history unpacked through 100 words and phrases. What a brilliantly conceived and thoroughly engaging book from one of the country's most creative social and cultural historians - who also happens to be its leading scholar of Australian English.' - Frank Bongiorno. </strong></p>