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Rooted

An Australian history of bad language

Author: Dr Amanda Laugesen  

Paperback

Letting rip with a choice swear word or two has long been a very Aussie thing to do. From the defiant curses of the convicts and bullock drivers to the humour of Kath and Kim, Amanda Laugesen takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of Australia's bad language to reveal Australians preoccupations and concerns.

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Summary

Letting rip with a choice swear word or two has long been a very Aussie thing to do. From the defiant curses of the convicts and bullock drivers to the humour of Kath and Kim, Amanda Laugesen takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of Australia's bad language to reveal Australians preoccupations and concerns.

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Description

Longlisted for ABDA Awards 2021

Included in ABR's Books of the Year 2020

Bugger, rooted, bloody oath… 

What is it about Australians and swearing? We've got an international reputation for using bad language and letting rip with a choice swear word or two. From the defiant curses of the convicts to the humour of Kath & Kim, Amanda Laugesen, Chief Editor of the Australian National Dictionary, takes us on an engrossing journey through the tumultuous history of Australia's bad language.

Bad language has been used in all sort of ways in our history: to defy authority, as a form of liberation and subversion, and as a source of humour and creativity. It has also been used to oppress and punish, notably Indigenous Australians and women. Revealing the fundamental tensions, conflicts, preoccupations and anxieties that have shaped our past and continue to shape our present, the story of bad language is a story about what it means to be Australian. 

'This is an engrossing social history – a bloody beauty – from one of our leading  experts on Australian English.' — Frank Bongiorno

'Australia is built on blood, sweat and swears. Digging up the dirt, Amanda Laugesen finds out why, with flair, ferocity and other f-words.' — David Astle 

'Laugesen's history of "bad language" in Australia, provides a new and instructive gateway to understanding Australian culture and identity.' — Bruce Moore

'In Rooted, Amanda Laugesen proves that so-called "bad language" makes for some of the most inventive, descriptive and even character-defining in the world.' — Jonathon Green

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Critic Reviews

“'This is an engrossing social history - a bloody beauty - from one of our leading experts on Australian English.' --Frank Bongiorno”

If you’ve ever wondered why to use bad language in Australia is to ‘swear like a bullocky’, Amanda Laugesen’s Rooted will give you the answer. Taking us on a colourful tour of more than two centuries of bad language that extends from the mildly offensive to the completely filthy, Laugesen tells the story of Australia through those words and phrases that have often been seen as unfit to print. This is an engrossing social history – a bloody beauty – from one of our leading experts on Australian English.""- Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, The Australian National University

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About the Author

Amanda Laugesen is a historian and lexicographer, and is Director of the Australian National Dictionary Centre at the ANU. She is the author of a number of books in Australian and US history, including several books on aspects of the history of the Australian lexicon. She is Chief Editor of the Australian National Dictionary, as well as being editor of a range of Australian Oxford dictionaries.

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Product Details

Publisher
NewSouth Publishing
Published
1st November 2020
Pages
320
ISBN
9781742236636

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CUSTOMER REVIEWS

07 Jan, 2021
good work
By peter
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