Australian historical lexicography and the treatment of slang and colloquial language

Abstract

This article explores the treatment of Australian slang within the context of lexicography, in particular focusing on the way in which the Australian National Dictionary: Australian Words and Their Origins (first edition, 1988, second edition, 2016, online edition forthcoming) has dealt with slang. It places this treatment within the broader context of debates and discussions around Australian slang, as well as considering the treatment of slang by other English-language dictionaries, primarily those based on historical principles. It explains the decisions made around the treatment of slang and colloquial language in the Australian National Dictionary. These decisions were as much informed by the ways in which Australian slang has been constructed and shaped by cultural discourses, myths, and perceptions as by any objective categorization of language. Show more