[Event] Susan Butler – Editor of The Macquarie Dictionary

Language lovers take note: Susan Butler, the Editor of the Macquarie Dictionary is coming to the mountains on Monday August 4 to give a talk on The Dictionary as a Cultural Document.

Susan is an engaging presenter and her topic will provide a fascinating look into how Australia’s national dictionary sees its role in the broad landscape of our language. Here’s a taste of what Susan will cover on the night:

Dictionaries are practical reference works but they are also cultural documents. In digital form they can include more than print dictionaries have done in the past and can truly aim to be as complete a record of the language of the community they represent as possible.

We live in a world where English has a plural and where a number of different varieties are emerging. A dictionary can be descriptive rather than prescriptive and still meet the needs of the reader who wants to explore usage problems. This means conveying not just the words themselves but the attitudes of the language community to the words.

Her talk promises to be a lively exploration of our evolving language and will include plenty of examples of words and phrases that have recently entered the dictionary or are evolving in interesting ways.

Event details
Where: The Clarendon Guesthouse, 68 Lurline St, Katoomba
When: 5.30-7.00pm, Monday August 4, 2014
Cost: Free!
RSVP: admin@bmee.org.au or 4782 6555.

Image by Louise Kennerley via The Australian Financial Review