100 Words That Make Us Kiwi by Mark Broatch

What an entertaining book! This is perfect for anyone interested in language, iconic kiwi words and quirky phrases. Mark Broatch has researched their origins and how they have evolved over the years. Curious to know more about ‘gumboots’, ‘ghost chips’, ‘dawn chorus’, ‘cultural cringe’, ‘per capita’, ‘yeah nah’, and ‘bogan’? This compact hardback is a treasure trove of information about our distinctive language.

The author has put in a mammoth amount of work in creating this book, but what an excellent resource of fascinating words, which is also an account of Aotearoa, revealed through the language that has evolved here over the years in New Zealand. Like magpies, we have borrowed words freely from around the world, which makes NZ English lively and fun. Mark also explores the interaction between English and te reo Māori.

In 100 Words That Make Us Kiwi, you can learn about the debate about the origins of jandals in New Zealand, if we have a gothic streak running through our souls, the influx of 501s, and all about our middle-distance runners. Then there is information about the famous phrase ‘Get in Behind’, the song lyrics ‘Four Seasons in One Day’ that holds true to where I live, and the annoying  ‘Tall Poppy’ syndrome phrase.

To quote a word from the book: Choice!

Reviewer: Karen McMillan

Bateman Books