Words Fail Me: A Journey Through Australia's Lost Language

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Words Fail Me: A Journey Through Australia's Lost Language
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Hugh Lunn
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:418
Dimensions(mm): Height 234,Width 154
Category/GenreLanguage - reference and general
Sociolinguistics
ISBN/Barcode 9780733322518
ClassificationsDewey:427.994
Audience
General

Publishing Details

Publisher ABC Books
Imprint ABC Books
Publication Date 1 November 2010
Publication Country Australia

Description

This long anticipated follow-up to the hugely successful and popular LOST FOR WORDS revisits the rich, inventive and rogueish language Australians used to speak, before globalism stole it away. Hundreds of readers have responded to author Hugh Lunn s request and donated a torrent of forgotten words and sayings that he overlooked in his first book. 'So many arrived it was like trying to take a sip out of a fire hose,' Hugh said. 'And these words were so obvious, that if they were a snake, they would have bitten me by now.' WORDS FAIL ME intertwines the sayings and phrases of yesteryear with true stories and anecdotes and recaptures what Australian used to be like back when. Hugh also casts a satirical eye on modern language madnesses: the road signs, the asterisks, the gobbledegook andcorporate speak that have replaced our euphonious direct language. As they would say today: 'He is having issues!' Lovingly collected, WORDS FAIL ME takes delight in the way we once were; a people with their own unique lingo - clear, exaggerated and joyful.

Author Biography

Journalist and author Hugh Lunn has been behind many of Australia's most successful books including his childhood memoir, Over the Top With Jim and Vietnam: A Reporter's War, which won The Age Book of The Year. He lives in Queensland and continues to write books.