Edible Publishing - Edible English

R e v i e w o f E d i b l e E n g l i s h

Review by:
David Baxter
Lecturer in Literacy & English
Department of Curriculum Studies
Faculty of Education, Health & Professional Studies
University of New England
ARMIDALE NSW 2351

This is a highly readable and accessible reference book for teachers and students of secondary English, with particular relevance to New South Wales.

Its aim is to provide a 'ready-reckoner' of terminology in a wide variety of domains of English studies. Terms from fields as diverse as formal grammar, film, literary theory, stylistics, media and multimedia are all covered in this book.

Judy McLaughlin writes in the easily recognisable voice of the English teacher, using the full repertoire:-

from humour (Ambience 'is a gorgeous word—use this one as often as you can’ - p. 5),
to narrative (Judy’s account of her reading of the ending of You’ve Got Mail to illustrate bathos—p. 15),
to examination expert (‘Unless it is specifically a short answer question, don’t make the mistake of being too brief. Show what you know about the topic,’ - p. 1, in explaining the application of account),
to academic (the definition of deconstruction, p. 36).

Perhaps the greatest talent of the skilled teacher is to make the complex seem simple so that students can first grasp it and then, through the confidence so gained, play, manipulate and transform it. Such a talent is often on display in this book, especially when dealing with the dreaded deconstruction. The use of concrete examples and applications, as in the analysis of a simple furniture advertisement to demonstrate multiple readings and perspectives (p. 37), is effective in bringing the arcane vocabulary of literary theory to a level appropriate for the Stage 6 student.

It was an interesting exercise to cross-reference the terms in Edible English with J.A. Cuddon’s Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory (1991, third edition, Penquin). Some concepts, like appropriation and transformation, which play such a significant part in the NSW Stage 6 Syllabus, do not appear in Cuddon’s text, but are clearly defined in Edible English. The latter is particularly useful as a starting point for all students in understanding and applying the new theories and terms of HSC English, whereas a tome like the former gives a more detailed, historical and academic approach to the dreaded ‘-isms’ and may be useful for Advanced and Extension students.

Each term in Edible English is treated systematically in relation to three aspects:-

Its meaning and field of reference;
Its application, usually with reference to specific, widely-used texts;
And its purpose and effect.

The result is a comprehensive coverage which demystifies and simplifies much of the vocabulary of subject English without forfeiting a due respect for the meaning of the terms. Judy McLaughlin is obviously a widely-read English teacher, with a depth of knowledge concerning her chosen texts.

This was a challenging task. It has been enhanced by a striking (blue!) layout and the visual extended metaphor of the text as menu and the terms as dishes, represented by computer graphics.

The indigestibles (particularly grammar and theory) are rendered 'edible', consumable, even tasty.

The result is a text unlike the conventional dictionary or thesaurus, but instead, personal, energetic, inventive, engaging and accessible. It deserves to be successful.

David Baxter
Phone: 02 6773 3812
Fax: 02 6773 3878
Email: dbaxter@metz.une.edu.au

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