Of Pavlova, Poetry and Paradigms: Essays in honour of Harry Orsman

Orsman, Harry (1928-) n. 1 Maker of dictionaries; editor. 2 (to many) Teacher, mentor, colleague, friend. 3 formerly Grocer's assistant; hospital orderly. 4 A jolly good fellow.

Harry Orsman's friends, colleagues and former students have prepared this book to honour him on his retirement from his position at Victoria University of Wellington.

These essays deal with words – old and new, local and exotic – from many different angles: the perennial Australian-New Zealand debate over the origins of pavlova, bad language in the Bible, making dictionaries, the medieval mind, personal reminiscence and poetry.