’Strine now official

Press, 14 November 1981, Page 16

’Strine now official

From

KEITH HOOPER,

in Canberra

A dictionary “war" appears to be breaking out in Australia, and a new dictionary is to blame. It is the first dictionary of English spoken and written in Australia, compiled and produced by Australians.

The seven-section, 2000page work, titled "The Macquarie Dictionary,” is the product of 11 years' effort by a team of linguistic specialists at Sydney's Macquarie University headed by Professor Arthur Delbridge, who called on the talents of more than 100 editors, researchers, and academics.

Until now, Australians had to rely on British or American dictionaries, which included some Australian words, but often with an incomplete or incorrect definition of the words' true meaning to Australians.

Coupled with its publication, a Macquarie Dictionary Society has been formed, offering purchasers of the dictionary, priced at $29.95, a year's full membership at $2O.

More over, sales of the dictionary are getting a boost by its being offered not only through brookshops but also by ordering from the leading daily newspaper in each State — the Sydney “Morning Herald." the Melbourne “Age," the Adelaide “Advertiser,” the Perth “West Australian.” the Brisbane “Courier-Mail," and the Hobart "Mercury." The press advertising points out that, although Au’-

tralians speak English, it is not the same English as spoken by Britons, Canadians. New Zealanders, and others, because pronunciations and usage differ. All spellings, definitions, and pronunciations are as applied in Australia, fitting the distinctive Australian history and lifestyle. It is not an English dictionary "with Australian words tacked on."

A foreword contributed by the present most distinguished Australian academic, Professor Manning Clark, Emeritus Professor of History at the Australian National University in Canberra, says: “This dictionary is a magnificent collection of

the words and idioms we use, not just when we talk or write to each other, but of the essential tools with which we will cut a mark on humanity’s epitaph.” It is interesting that Professor Clark should have written the introduction, because a team at the A.N.U. also is working on an Australian dictionary believed to be close to completion.

Meanwhile, overseas publishers of dictionaries have begun stepping up promotional activity for their

products, clearly illustrating that they are taking the appearance of “The Macquarie Dictionary” as a threat to their future sales.

One, Collins, is running commercials on television around the country showing what it describes as its '“Australian English Dictionary,” which, one suspects, was the dictionary available previously but republished and dressed up now with a new jacket.

As yet. the Australian competitor has not been seen in television commercials.