Monat: September 2023

Remember your trusty old Macquarie Dictionary from primary school? It turns out it’s trying to stay relevant- with the quirk and banter Aussies use to make sense of some wildly new experiences! And boy, have we had some over the last few years.

How would you put the past three years into words? Would „Barbiecore“, „goblin mode„, and „spicy cough“ make your cut? Because these cheeky terms just scored a spot among 3,000 new additions to our favourite Aussie lexicon’s ninth edition.

It does seem a little like the Macquarie Dictionary is playing cultural catch-up, but knowing you can drop ‚goblin mode‘ in a year 9 essay with the Dictionary’s approval is rather amusing – and it does make you wonder exactly how a word ends up in the dictionary. 

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The managing director of Macquarie Dictionary, Victoria Morgan, told The Guardian that the word hunt for new additions to Australia’s vibrant vocabulary is perpetually on. According to Morgan, the method for identifying new entrants is to look for terms that both „fill a hole“ and are commonly used by Australians on a daily basis. 

Morgan stated that editors must „always have our eyes open,” adding, “It doesn’t matter whether we’re reading or watching or listening to something for pleasure, or for work. Anything that seems a little bit unfamiliar, we’ll jot it down and research later.”

Anyone is welcome to reach out and nominate new words as well – so we suggest keeping your eyes peeled for any words that particularly tickle your fancy.

Morgan anticipates that the full multivolume dictionary will be available soon, but in the meantime, here is the glittering new lineup so you can brush up on some brand-new entrants.

Spicy Cough: First, we have the „Spicy Cough“ – a sassy little nickname for the not-so-sassy Covid-19, and Morgan’s favourite of the bunch.

Situationship: Next, enter „situationship,“ which is all about the thrills and frills of a relationship without the „partner“ label. 

Bachelors handbag: Oh, and don’t forget to grab a „bachelor’s handbag“ – last year’s people’s choice winner, depicting nothing less than a takeaway roast chicken in all its glory!

Ick: But wait, there’s more! Ever found yourself experiencing a sudden case of the „Icks“? That’s when your once-charming beau suddenly seems less than charming.

Doomscrolling: Let’s not forget the infamous „doomscrolling“, where we can’t seem to get enough of the latest online melodramas, despite their grim tone.

Omicron: Do you need reminding? Probably not. With a few changes to the genetic makeup of the original Covid-19 strain, the „Omicron“ variety made quite a dramatic entry on the world stage.

Long Covid: Meet „Long Covid“ the prolonged encore to the Covid-19 pandemic that nobody asked for.

Menty B: If you’ve ever felt a surge of ‚Menty-b‘ coming on, you’re not alone. That little storm of mental tantrums and breakdowns feels impossible to avoid. 

Orthosomnia: And then there’s „orthosomnia“, the insomniac’s nemesis, in which the pursuit of that perfect night’s sleep via a sleep tracker turns into a nightly torment of dread.

Goblin Mode: „Goblin Mode“ is a sublime state of laziness and unkemptness, indolence and slovenliness – but sometimes, it’s just what the doctor ordered.

Barbiecore: It’s doubtful that you missed „Barbiecore“ which was inspired by Greta Gerwig’s hit Barbie flick and the flurry of wellness and aesthetic trends that followed 

Scientists are calling for the definition of menopause to undergo a refurb, because they say, its existing name only really represents women experiencing the menstruation side of the hormonal change.

A team of international experts led by Professor Susan Davis, the head of Monash University Women’s Health Research Program, found through their analysis of 200 sources over a 71-year period that ‘menopause’ is only one part of the equation.

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Davis and her team are calling for, “a proposed new definition for menopause as ‘final cessation of ovarian function‘. 

“Among other things, this would encompass those without regular periods before menopause, who used certain types of contraception like IUDs, and had hysterectomies,” the review stated. 

“Menopause is the cessation of ovarian function, with loss of reproductive hormone production and irreversible loss of fertility. It is a natural part of reproductive aging. The physiology of the menopause is complex and incompletely understood,” the review explained.

“Globally, menopause occurs around the age of 49 years, with geographic and ethnic variation. The hormonal changes of the menopause transition may result in both symptoms and long-term systemic effects, predominantly adverse effects on cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal health.

The team of authors from Australia, Italy and the US want “healthy ageing” to be a focus for more researchers, so better treatment options for women on all walks of ‘final cessation of ovarian function’.

“The road to menopause is not difficult for all, but for some, symptoms may be severe or even disabling and disruptive to work and family,” Davis and her team wrote.

“Recognition that menopause, for most women, is a natural biological event, does not exempt the use of interventions to alleviate symptoms. Optimising health at menopause is the gateway to healthy ageing for women.”

Davis herself said treatments should also be individually tailored because not all women suffer from the same symptoms or impacts. “Optimal menopause-related care involves shared decision making which means quality, evidence-based information needs to be available for the general community and health care providers.”

Again, this comes down to the period of life being more complex and diverse than we’re led to believe.

Other key findings from the report included the following:  

• The timeline of menopause phases vary from person to person, so age restrictions on prescriptions and therapies are problematic and not always logical.
• Menopause treatments range from hormone therapies to lasers, and even plant products, but few have been researched adequately. 
• Each treatment type has potential side effects and health concerns. Even the most effective, like hormone therapy targeting oestrogen, isn’t the best solution for all.
• Symptoms vary widely, from severe to none.
• Socio-economic factors can have a negative impact on menopausal symptoms.
• Regular exercise and maintaining a protein-rich nutritious diet can reduce the likelihood of symptomatic health complications from menopause.