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Dr Aisling Mulvihill and her children.

Why adults are using gendered language on our kids at childcare

A University of Queensland study has explored why there is a disparity in the words used in early education when talking to girls versus boys.

  • Catherine Strohfeldt

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English is tough. Can’t you C?

And bowlers are jack of hurling, too.

A leap of language.

Fair dinkum, Albo, you’ve mangled the language

The prime minister assures us the budget will strive for equity, resilience and social cohesion. Something’s lost in the translation.

  • Parnell Palme McGuinness
Since 2010, the proportion of secondary students studying Chinese, Japanese or Indonesian has fallen 25 per cent, to just 3.3 per cent.

Speaking the region’s language: Why fluency is our new front line

With university enrolments in South-East Asian languages in freefall, Labor is investing in the migrant-run weekend schools that have kept these tongues alive.

  • Rob Harris
Sean McLoughlin teaches Irish language classes in Sydney.

The ‘endangered’ language having its moment in a Sydney pub

Two years ago, the Irish language school had 20 or 30 students attending lessons, now it has between 70 and 80.

  • Aidan Elwig Pollock
Jane Caro: “I love an expletive and none of them are off the table.”

I’ve always been a proud swearer. There are no ‘bad’ words, just poor uses for them

The ‘worst’ word in the world shows the wonderful complexity - and danger - of language.

  • Jane Caro
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Dionne Gain

The C-word is still taboo in Australia. Why can’t we say it out loud?

The absence of this particular word in the national discussion is holding us back.

  • Malcolm Knox
A simple act of kindness can change your day.

I was about to launch into faux politeness. A $1.50 gesture from a stranger changed my mind

I was irritated and ready to unleash words full of contempt wrapped up in faux politeness. A $1.50 gesture from a stranger changed my mind.

  • Fotis Kapetopoulos
Hugh Hartigan, his wife Henny and children Sophia and Tommy.

If Indonesia’s so important, why are we treating its people so badly?

Our relationship with our biggest neighbour is going backwards. It’s a failure of policy and imagination.

  • Hugh Hartigan
Cryptic crosswords

Want to solve cryptic crosswords? Here’s how to crack them

Our experts reveal some of the common cryptic tricks and share their top solving tips.