Lexicography and world Englishes from Australia to Asia

  This paper provides a history of the Macquarie Dictionary with an emphasis on the elements necessary for the successful publication of a national dictionary of Australian English. A brief description is given of aspects of the variety captured in the dictionary, as well as of the social context in which the dictionary was published. Research into English in South‐East Asia followed to determine firstly if varieties of English existed, and if publication of a dictionary range was viable. The introduction of dictionaries into the education market in Asia was not successful. However, a whole dictionary range is being published in India with indications of success. The situation in Asia with regard to dictionaries that capture the local varieties of English is still doubtful.