Austral English

Step into a linguistic time‑capsule that captures the colourful chatter of a young continent. The author, a professor at Melbourne, explains how the great Oxford English Dictionary called for local contributions, sparking a personal quest to gather every uniquely Australasian term he could find. What began as a scattered heap of quotations soon blossomed into a dedicated reference, offering listeners a glimpse of the scholarly effort behind the pages.

Beyond the dry mechanics of definition, the work celebrates the words that sprang from Aboriginal, Maori, and early settler life—names of native plants, animals, and everyday expressions that still echo today. It also reflects a hopeful, if unrealised, vision of a collaborative network of readers across the colonies, all eager to preserve their linguistic heritage. As you listen, you’ll hear the enthusiasm of a scholar determined to record a language in flux, turning ordinary conversation into a lasting record of cultural identity.