Voices of Regional Australia: The linguistic patterning of local attachment

A better understanding of the sense of community in regional Australia is central to social cohesion. Variability in speech and language provides a window on how people identify with their community. While much work has been done in Australias major cities, we know very little about how sociolinguistic features manifest in regional Australia (representing around a third of the nations population). This project will address this gap through the compilation of oral testimonials as an enduring record of contemporaneous speech and of lived experiences of regional Australians, in particular, their experiences facing bushfire. This project will expand our understanding of the social-symbolic dimensions of Australian English, and will shed light on regional social dynamics as evidenced in local attachment. The testimonials will provide an avenue for Australians at the forefront of natural disasters to share their stories; contribute to the historical record of such e