One of the philosophical bases of modern radical feminism is that our very language oppresses women. Therefore in order to assist in stamping out this alleged oppression we must pander to those who would destroy our language.

There is another group in existence that has via the subtle world of advertising made us pander to them. This is the Bible translation industry. We are made to feel that unless we have the latest translation or version then we are not full and complete Christians. And the publishing and printing companies are reaping a financial harvest of plenty!

The Good News Bible is a non-scholarly but quite acceptable translation into modern colloquial English, the language which is generally spoken in Australia. Yet the Bible translation industry decided to make the Bible more understandable for Australians.

Yet Australians speak standard English with minimum variation!

And what does this unnecessary version give readers so that they might think they have something new? "Sick" instead of "ill"; "paddock" instead of "field"; "people" instead of "persons"; "dinner" instead of "supper". This linguistic triumph gives us "jailed" instead of "imprisoned", only the spelling is incorrect, it should be spelled "gaoled".

However, given the colloquial English usage, perhaps "rooster" instead of "cock" is at least one justifiable change!

Ask of him	Ask him for
Be on guard	Watch out
Bound	Tied up
Bushel of corn	Bag of wheat
Chicks	Chickens
Cock	Rooster
Dish	Plate
Fasten	Do up
Field	Paddock
Fields	Farms
Fix your hair	Do your hair
ill	Sick
Imprisoned	Jailed
Lighting	Landing
Manure	Fertiliser
Mock	Make fun of
Motioned	Signalled
Noon	Midday
Not at all!	Not likely!
Oxen	Bullock
Penny	Cent
Persons	People
Pounds	Dollars
Refuse	Garbage
Riverside	Riverbank
Rivers overflowed	Rivers flooded
Seized	Grabbed
Sheep fold	Sheepyard
Sows in the field	Plants in the ground
Spoils	Goes bad
Take up	Pick up