A Gift to the Nation

As part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Oxford University Press Australia they are making available online to all Australians The Australian National Dictionary. First published in 1988 it took ten years to compile, and was the product of the fullest and most detailed research ever undertaken into the history of the Australian English vocabulary.

It was the first comprehensive, historically based record of the 10,000 words and idioms that make up the Australian contribution to the English language. Each entry provides its own fascinating insight into Australia’s rich and diverse linguistic heritage.

This is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in Australian English, as is Speaking Our Language: The Story of Australian English, a wonderful book being published by OUP in October.