Talkley-ing about our generation
Professor Kate Burridge
Professor Kate Burridge from the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics has won the inaugural Talkley Award.
Professor Burridge was presented with the award during Langfest, a series of language-related conferences and workshops held in Canberra.
The award, presented by the Australian Linguistic Society (ALS), recognises ALS members who have promoted linguistics to the general public and who have positively influenced language policy by explaining how linguistic evidence can be used to solve real-life language problems.
As well as her regular linguistics segments on ABC radio and television, Professor Burridge was recognised for her part in pushing to have linguistics taught in Victorian high schools and her contribution to the development of the national curriculum.
“I’m completely gobsmacked on receiving the award,” Professor Burridge said.
“People care deeply about language and I love doing this sort of work. In fact a lot of my research has been inspired by the general public – many wonderful comments and questions that have taken me down linguistic paths I would never have imagined.”