Speak American: A Survival Guide to the Language and Culture of the U.S.A.

by Dileri Borunda Johnston

Imagine that you're from England, or India, or Hong Kong, and your English is impeccable. But when you travel to America, you get a funny look when you tell a colleague,"I'll knock you up tomorrow at half-eight." And you can't find bangers on a single restaurant menu.

You feel like you speak a foreign language-because you do! You need to know how to survive in American English, and this book will help you do it. This user-friendly guide focuses on the vocabulary that newcomers to the U.S. really need to know. Arranged by subject, from driving to shopping to eating, the book includes information on basic cultural and linguistic differences between British and American English, including particular pitfalls to watch for, and a handy glossary.

Each chapter begins with a quick-reference summary of key confusable words. Americanisms, grammar, and cultural points.

Offers guidance on social issues such as tipping and addressing people.

Perfect for travelers, businesspeople, and students.

Genres: Nonfiction

232 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2000

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another quick read at a bookstore. Though written for British English speakers new to the U.S., I read this as a now-native speaker of American English who used to live in Australia. I ended up learning a good deal about British English (and some about American English). Overall, it was an interesting read and brought my attention to a number of differences I hadn't ever realized. It would be a useful addition to a reference library for teachers of English as a foreign language, and it might be of interest to linguistics students for highlighting dialectal differences, as well as to anyone studying Anglophone cultural differences. There are a few errors here and there (or maybe the language has changed, or California English is different than the American English discussed here), but they are relatively minor, and overall the content is quite accurate and relevant, despite the book being now 13 years old.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice way for the British to learn how Americans speak