Furphies and Whizz-Bangs ─ Anzac Slang from the Great War

This book illuminates Australian soldiers' voices, feelings and thoughts, through exploration of the words and language used during the Great War. It is mostly concerned with slang, but there were also new words that came into Standard English during the war with which Australians became familiar. The book defines and explains these words and terms, provides examples of their usage by Australian soldiers and on the home front that provides insight into the experiences and attitudes of soldiers and civilians, and it draws out some of the themes and features of this language to provide insight into the social and cultural worlds of Australian soldiers and civilians.

Amanda Laugesen, Director, Australian National Dictionary Centre

Dr Amanda Laugesen is Director of the Australian National Dictionary Centre at ANU. She completed her PhD in the History Program at the ANU in 2000, and subsequently worked as a research editor at the Australian National Dictionary Centre, ANU, as well as undertaking teaching in the History Department. Amanda was appointed as a Lecturer in History at the University of Southern Queensland in 2004, and Lecturer in History and American Studies at Flinders University in 2006. She returned to Canberra at the end of 2008.

Amanda's research includes publications in the areas of historical memory, the history of reading, libraries and publishing, cultural history (with a particular interest in the cultural history of war), the history of Australian English, and lexicography.