Audio on demand

What can objects tell us about the past? Kirsten Wehner talks to history teachers about the nature of exhibitions as histories.

Peter Collignon explains why he believes that recycling water is a bad idea – particularly where there are other options – for various reasons including the health risks.

Bruce Moore describes how his life in dictionaries, and in Australian English, began when he was teaching army cadets old and middle English languages.

Mark Juddery, National Museum of Australia, facilitates the recycled water taste test and discussion among the panellists and audience.

Susan Butler and Roly Sussex discuss the idea that a living Australian English is all about change and infiltration by ‘multiple, parallel streams’ as spoken by Aboriginal people, Southern European migrants, English-speakers in other countries and so on.

Don Watson looks at the triumph of modern management-speak and how those who favour the deliberately obscure and the falsely scientific are driving us all nuts.

David Malouf talks about the importance of language and literacy, and his love of language, but also laments its overuse and debasement.

Simon Toze explains various processes for recycling water, the kinds of chemicals that appear in water (such as pharmaceuticals, oestrogen and plasticisers) and makes a case for drinking recycled water.

Jeanie Bell, a Jagera and Dulingbara woman, talks about the importance of language to Indigenous identities, the impact of the forcible loss of language and culture, and the attempts to revive Indigenous languages.

Kelly Fielding gauges the levels of support for and opposition to recycling water for human consumption, and explores the reasons behind each position.