Boobooks Meeting 1076
About
Speaker: Kate Burridge
Topics: Slang expressions — the loose cannons of the linguistic world
One of the many puzzling features of slang is its lifecycle. English has amassed around 2, 500 drink related expressions. Most have dropped by the wayside — so why did booze and grog survive and after 100s of years? In this short talk, I’ll look at what might account for slanguage success stories — what factors combine to create the “perfect lexicographical storm”.
Kate Burridge (Monash University, Australia)
Kate Burridge is Professor of Linguistics at Monash, and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and the Academy of Social Sciences of Australia. In 2003 she received the Centenary Medal for Service to Australian Society and the Humanities in Linguistics and Philology. Her research interests include the structure and history of English, taboo and euphemism, popular attitudes to language and the ins and outs of language change. Kate has authored / edited more than 20 books on different aspects of language.
COST PER TICKET: $98.00
Date
Wednesday 8 October 2025 6:45 PM - 10:00 PM (UTC+10)Location
Matthaei Room, University House. Melbourne University
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Boobooks Meeting 1076
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