That's Not English
That's Not English, by Erin Moore
Blurb:A lifelong Anglophile, Erin Moore spent holidays in the UK, worked as an editor with British authors and married into an English-American family. So, when she finally moved to London, the last thing she expected was a crash course in culture shock. And the first thing she learned was to take nothing for granted, even the language these two countries supposedly share. In That’s Not English, the seemingly superficial variations between British and American vocabulary open the door to a deeper exploration of historical and cultural differences. Each chapter begins with a single word and takes the reader on a wide-ranging expedition, drawing on diverse and unexpected sources. In ‘Quite’, Moore examines the tension between British reserve and American enthusiasm. In ‘Pull’, her theme is dating and sex; ‘Cheers’ is about drinking. American readers will find out what the British mean when they say ‘proper’ and why it is better to be bright than clever. British readers will discover that not all Americans are Yankees and why Americans give – and take – so many bloody compliments, and never, ever say ‘shall’. (Well, hardly ever.) That’s Not English is a transatlantic survival guide and a love letter to two countries that owe each other more than they would like to admit. My Review This book was both amusing and interesting and had some very clever insights into not only the way British and American speech is different, but also how we are culturally different. These differences are very well explained and I feel like I have a better grasp in American attitudes, as well as understanding better why, as a British citizen, I say things in a certain way. I've never given it much thought before, but reading this book made me examine my own thoughts, reasonings and personality and I found it really interesting!
Blurb:A lifelong Anglophile, Erin Moore spent holidays in the UK, worked as an editor with British authors and married into an English-American family. So, when she finally moved to London, the last thing she expected was a crash course in culture shock. And the first thing she learned was to take nothing for granted, even the language these two countries supposedly share. In That’s Not English, the seemingly superficial variations between British and American vocabulary open the door to a deeper exploration of historical and cultural differences. Each chapter begins with a single word and takes the reader on a wide-ranging expedition, drawing on diverse and unexpected sources. In ‘Quite’, Moore examines the tension between British reserve and American enthusiasm. In ‘Pull’, her theme is dating and sex; ‘Cheers’ is about drinking. American readers will find out what the British mean when they say ‘proper’ and why it is better to be bright than clever. British readers will discover that not all Americans are Yankees and why Americans give – and take – so many bloody compliments, and never, ever say ‘shall’. (Well, hardly ever.) That’s Not English is a transatlantic survival guide and a love letter to two countries that owe each other more than they would like to admit. My Review This book was both amusing and interesting and had some very clever insights into not only the way British and American speech is different, but also how we are culturally different. These differences are very well explained and I feel like I have a better grasp in American attitudes, as well as understanding better why, as a British citizen, I say things in a certain way. I've never given it much thought before, but reading this book made me examine my own thoughts, reasonings and personality and I found it really interesting!
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