"Bonza", "sanga" and "bogan" are just some examples of the Australian vernacular being considered for inclusion in the next version of Microsoft Office 2007.
Microsoft Australia has given a panel of Australian experts the task of identifying unique local words that could be included in the next version of the Office suite.
The panel includes founding member of the editorial committee of the Macquarie Dictionary, David Blair, sports writer Peter FitzSimons, radio host Adam Spencer, columnist Ruth Wajnryb and the director of Microsoft Australia's information business group, Tony Wilkinson.
Other candidate words include: ridgy-didge, trackies, woomera, Bradman, Phar Lap and sheila.
"While Office features an already comprehensive Australian spelling option, based on the Macquarie dictionary, we felt that many commonly used Aussie words were being left out. We approached the Office 2007 development team and they agreed to include a selection of new Aussie words. So we called together a panel of leading experts on Australian language to help us start to make our selection," said Wilkinson.
The public can vote on the words suggested by the panel via www.microsoft.com.au. The words to be included will be announced in June, according to Microsoft.
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Pat Koopman
13/06/2007 10:49 AM
PC Lover. Who the hell are you loser. What have you done with yourself in life. I bet your one of those ferrels who sits in the gutter out the front of Centrelink waiting for your payments every Thursday. Go and do something with your life and leave the ones alone who are having a go in life and going places...
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CA
14/06/2007 09:45 AM
I do not know who you think you are Microsoft Office User but perhaps it is time you got a life and moved away from your computer which seems to be your only way of social interaction. I listen to Gareth on the news each week night and do not understand how you could think he does not use proper English. From your comments regarding the English language I can only assume that you are not from Australia or that you have spent your whole life in front of a computer and have not had much contact with people. People like you seem to have too much time on their hands and the only way you feel you can make yourself feel better is by putting other people down. Perhaps you should be supporting the younger generation who are out there trying to make a living and from what I have seen of Gareth, I would say it is a very successful living.
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Microsoft Office User
15/06/2007 03:56 AM
CA, how do you know that I'm a "computer nerd"? You assume that I am just because I am a Microsoft Office User. And for your information cobber, I am a 6th generation Australian of English, Welsh and Irish descent and I play footy and tennis. You make the assumption that I am just a "computer nerd" whose daily interactions are with a computer. Yes, I do use the computer on a daily basis, but that does not mean that I don't have a life. What about you? How do we know that you're not a computer nerd? You probably are but you're just not saying so because you want to defend Gareth Hall. CA answer this, why do so many people (other than those here) believe that Gareth needs to improve his accent a bit? I bet that you do agree on this but you so happened to like the bloke for some reason.
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non-jock but alright at Tennis
31/07/2007 01:29 AM
Gareth Hall from WIN News is the one who likes to put others down. Gareth Hall made other guys feel **** about themselves for not being good at sports as he is. He called them names and got his jock mates to give **** to them as well. How can you say that Gareth Hall is a top bloke CA? And to you Pat Koopman, Gareth Hall from WIN News is a racist!
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