Language in Australia

Linguists and non-linguists will find in this volume a guide and reference source to the rich linguistic heritage of Australia.

Language in Australia provides a wide-ranging account of the present linguistic situation in Australia, primarily from a sociolinguistic perspective. The focus is mainly descriptive, and the chapters aim to provide a comprehensive overview and summary of what is known about Australia's languages as well as a guide to current areas of research interest. Throughout the volume, the contributors pay special attention to issues arising from the socio-historical situation in which Australia's languages and language varieties coexist. The volume covers both indigenous and non-indigenous languages, and contains a section specifically on 'community' languages, and also one on public policy and social issues relating to English. No other book offers such a broad survey of the language situation in Australia. Linguists as well as non-linguists will find in this volume, which is a companion to Language in the USA and Language in the British Isles, a guide and reference source to the rich linguistic heritage of Australia.

Introduction Suzanne Romaine; Part I. Aboriginal and Islander Languages: 1. Overview of Indigenous languages of Australia Michael Walsh; 2. Languages in Aboriginal Australia: social dialects in a geographic idiom Peter Sutton; 3. Aboriginal English - an overview Ian Malcolm and Susan Kaldor; 4. Communicative strategies in Aboriginal English Diane Eades; 5. Language and communication in Aboriginal land claim hearings Harold Koch; 6. Warlipiri in the 80s: and overview of research into language variation and child language Edith Bavin and Tim Shopen; 7. Kalaw Kawaw Ya Kevin Ford and Dana Ober; 8. Understanding language shift: a step towards language maintenance Patrick McConvell; Part II. Pidgins and Creoles: 9. Overview of the pidgin and creole languages of Australia Peter Muhlhausler; 10. Queensland Kanaka English Peter Muhlhausler; 11. Torres Strait creole Anna Shnukal; 12. Kriol - the creation of a new language John W. Harris; 13. A sketch of the structure of Kriol John Sandefur; Part III. Translated Languages Other Than English: 14. Overview of 'immigrant' or community languages Michael Clyne; 15. Dutch in Australia: perceptions of the attitudes towards transference and other language contact phenomena Anne Paulwels; 16. German and Dutch in Australia: structures and use Michael Clyne; 17. Modern Greek in Australia Anastasios Tamis; 18. Language variety among Italians: anglicisation, attrition and attitudes Camilla Bettoni; 19. First generation Serbo-Croatian speakers in Queensland: language maintenance and shift Jacques Doucet; Part IV. Varieties of Australian English: 20. A survey of regional usage in the lexicon of Australian English Pauline Bryant; 21. Finding a place in Sydney: migrants and language change Barbara Horvath; 22. Gender differences in Australian English Anne Pauwels; Part V. Public Policy and Social Issues: 23. National language policy and planning: migrant languages Uldis Ozolins; 24. Social class differences in the lexicon David Corson; 25. Plain English: some socio-linguistic revelations Robert Eagleson.

Language in Australia provides a comprehensive account of the present linguistic situation in Australia, primarily from a sociolinguistic perspective. The volume covers both indigenous and non-indigenous languages, and a section specifically on 'community' languages, and also one on public policy and social isues relating to language.