Lexicography
The Australian National Dictionary (AND) is a historical dictionary of Australian English, documenting words and phrases that originated in Australia or have a special significance there. It is published by Oxford University Press and is based on the same principles as the Oxford English Dictionary, tracing the history of each word from its earliest recorded use. The first edition appeared in 1988, and a second edition was published in 2016, with a continuously updated online version.
The Australian National Dictionary was conceived in the 1970s as a project to record the distinctive vocabulary of Australian English. The first edition, edited by W.S. Ramson, was published in 1988 after a decade of research. It drew on a wide range of sources, including colonial records, literature, newspapers, and oral histories. The second edition, edited by Bruce Moore, was published in 2016 and expanded the dictionary's scope to include many new words and senses that had emerged in the intervening years. The dictionary is now maintained as an online resource, with regular updates.
The dictionary covers words that are either unique to Australia or have a special meaning or significance in the Australian context. This includes terms from Indigenous languages that have entered English, such as 'kangaroo' and 'boomerang', as well as words from the convict era, the gold rushes, and rural life. It also includes colloquialisms and slang, such as 'barbie' (barbecue) and 'thongs' (flip-flops). Each entry provides a definition, pronunciation, etymology, and illustrative quotations arranged chronologically, showing how the word has been used over time.
Beyond the well-known 'Aussie' terms, the dictionary includes many obscure and surprising entries. For example, 'bunyip' is not only a mythical creature but also a 19th-century term for an impostor or pretender. 'Kangaroo' has given rise to 'kangaroo court' and 'kangaroo tail' (a type of soup). The dictionary also records words from Australian pidgins and creoles, such as 'gammon' (nonsense) and 'humbug' (to tease). It includes terms from the two World Wars, like 'Anzac' and 'digger', and from the environmental movement, such as 'green ban'. The online edition allows users to trace the evolution of words in real time.
The Australian National Dictionary is a key reference for scholars of linguistics, history, and Australian studies. It has been used to inform legal decisions, such as the interpretation of historical documents, and to support the revival of Indigenous languages. The dictionary has also influenced popular culture, with words like 'selfie' being added to the online edition. Its methodology has been adopted by other national dictionary projects, and it remains a model for historical lexicography.
The Australian National Dictionary is a major resource for understanding the unique character of Australian English.
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