JOY Drive

4 Aug 2023

Bin chickens and maggies step into the spotlight with new word appeal

Society & Culture

Australia’s nicknames for its weird and wonderful animals have become almost as iconic as the creatures themselves.

Some are common – think bin chickens, maggies, chooks and mozzies. Others, such as Noah’s Arks (sharks) and brain-fever birds (pallid cuckoos) might leave most amateur Aussie wordsmiths scratching their heads.

Many colloquial names for flora and fauna are recorded already, but experts at The Australian National University (ANU) are hoping to collect more examples.

The Australian National Dictionary Centre (ANDC) is looking for new contributions, with a focus on plants and animals.

Guest:  Mark Gwynn – Senior Researcher, Australian National Dictionary Centre, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences

Presenter:  Warren Andrew

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:32 — 15.8MB)

Subscribe or Follow Us: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

17 Nov 2024

Snakes: Myth busting with Melbourne Zoo

Animals, News & Politics, Personal Safety, Pets

As temperatures rise, snakes are emerging from a period of reduced activity during winter seeking food and mates. Snakes may ...

17 Nov 2024

Chris Zeiher, Lonely Planet: Travel trends here to stay!

Travel

Skyscanner has released there annual survey report where 75% of Aussie travellers believe "holidays build resilience and strength to handle ...

17 Nov 2024

Lauren Rosewarne: Doom Spending

News & Politics, Popular Culture

Americans are feeling anxious — so they’re ‘doom spending'.  What exactly is "doom spending," and how did this trend emerge? ...