Rooted: An Australian History of Bad Language

A colorful tour of Australian bad language and its cultural impact.

Amanda Laugesen, Chief Editor of the Australian National Dictionary, explores the engrossing social history of Australia through its bad language. From convict curses to contemporary hip-hop, discover how offensive words have reflected and shaped Australian culture and identity. This bloody beauty of a social history reveals the power of language to defy authority, liberate, and subvert, while also oppressing and punishing.

• Understand the evolution of Australian slang and swear words.
• Explore the social and cultural forces that have shaped our language.
• Discover the unique dimensions of Australian English.

Perfect for readers interested in linguistics, Australian history, and cultural studies.

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.