VCE English Language guide - units 3 & 4

These pages link to many of the resources listed by the VCAA. For any further resources, check our Library catalogue

Some of the suggested films might be available through free and subscription streaming services or on youtube.

Print books:

• The aitch factor : adventures in Australian English (2014)
• Australian accents : an introduction to language (1998)
• The Australian slanguage : a look at what we say and how we say it (1989)
  Note: 1986 edition also available.
• The Cambridge Australian English Style Guide (2007) ^
  Note: Various editions and eBook copies available.
• Death Sentence : The Decay of Public Language (2003) ^
  • eBook version only accessible within Library
• Describing Spoken English (1997) ^
• English in Australia and New Zealand: An Introduction to its History, Structure and Use (1998)
• Euphemism & dysphemism : language used as shield and weapon
• Forbidden Words: taboo and the censoring of language (2006) ^
• Globish: How the English Language Became the World’s Language (2010)
• Going Home : stories (1990)
  Note: 1986 edition and sound recording also available.
• An introduction to language (2018)  *
• Language and the Internet, 1st edition (2001) *^
• Language in Australia (1991)
• Language Power and the Press (1996)
• Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage (1987)
• Rooted : an Australian history of bad language
• Secret Language : Codes, Tricks, Spies, Thieves, and Symbols (2010) * ^
• Speaking our language: the story of Australian English
• Story of Australian English ^
• Txtng. The Gr8 Db8, 2nd edition (2008) ^
• Verbal Hygiene (1995)
• What did I say? Using Non-Discriminatory Language (1998) *

* Please note that this is not the same edition recommended by VCAA.

^ eBook version available. 

Articles

• Liddicoat, Anthony & Brown, Annie & Döpke, Susanne & Love, Kristina. (1992). The Effect of the Institution: Openings in Talkback Radio. Text - Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of Discourse. 12. 10.1515/text.1.1992.12.4.541.
  • choose the Download PDF option to access full text
• Liddicoat, Anthony & Döpke, Susanne & Love, Kristina & Brown, Anne. (1994). Presenting a point of view: Caller's contributions to talkback radio in Australia. Journal of Pragmatics. 22. 139-156.
  • choose the Download PDF option to access full text
• Mulder, J. (1999) Exploring the language of newspaper headlines Literacy learning : secondary thoughts.Vol.7 No. 1 
  • Not online. Print copy only.

While the Library does not hold copies of the documentary, The Making of Modern Australia (2009), we do hold copies of the book inspired by this television program:

• The Making of Modern Australia (2010)
  Note: eBook version also available (onsite use only).

General language resources:

• Australian voices, Macquarie University (sound bites of Australian English)
• Australian Word Map, Macquarie Dictionary
• Language in use
• Teach It - Resources written by teachers, for teachers
• Urban Dictionary

Other websites:

• ABC Education
• Australian War Memorial
• Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities

Audio:

• Coodabeens Footy Show, ABC Radio
• National Anthems

Speech transcripts, reviews and other resources:

• Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples on the Parliament of Australia website
• National Apology on the National Museum Australia website
• 'Keating speech to be honoured', The Age (August 25, 2010)
• 'On Obama's victory style', DC Blog (November 9, 2008)
• Transcript of Paul Keating’s Remembrance Speech 1993 on the Australian War Memorial website

Videos:

• 'David Crystal on Texting (S1E2 of It's Only a Theory)'
• 'How to Talk Australians' YouTube playlist (online satire on Australian language and attitudes)
• 'War of Words - UK' (David Crystal and Lynne Truss express different attitudes to the ‘use and abuse’ of English)