That's Not English: Britishisms, Americanisms, and What Our English Says About Us
by:
Erin Moore (author)
Lynne Truss (contributor)
An expat’s witty and insightful exploration of English and American cultural differences through the lens of language that will leave readers gobsmacked. In That’s Not English, the seemingly superficial differences between British and American English open the door to a deeper exploration of a...
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An expat’s witty and insightful exploration of English and American cultural differences through the lens of language that will leave readers gobsmacked.
In That’s Not English, the seemingly superficial differences between British and American English open the door to a deeper exploration of a historic and fascinating cultural divide. In each of the thirty chapters, Erin Moore explains a different word we use that says more about us than we think. For example, "Quite" exposes the tension between English reserve and American enthusiasm; in "Moreish," she addresses our snacking habits. In "Partner," she examines marriage equality; in "Pull," the theme is dating and sex; "Cheers" is about drinking; and "Knackered" covers how we raise our kids.
The result is a cultural history in miniature and an expatriate’s survival guide. American by birth, Moore is a former book editor who specialized in spotting British books—including Eats, Shoots & Leaves—for the US market. She’s spent the last seven years living in England with her Anglo American husband and a small daughter with an English accent.
That’s Not English is the perfect companion for modern Anglophiles and the ten million British and American travelers who visit one another’s countries each year.
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Format: hardcover
ISBN:
9781592408856 (1592408850)
Publish date: 2015-03-24
Publisher: Gotham
Pages no: 223
Edition language: English
Given the number of times I read parts of this book out loud to MT, and the fact that it didn't drive him nearly as crazy as it usually does when I did so, I should rate this book higher than I did. It's good: interesting, funny and informative. The title is 80% accurate but I'd argue that it's a...
Reading about words is always an irresistible meta-pleasure for me, but Erin Moore’s book about the differences between British and American English adds another layer of fascination by exploring the cultural reasons behind the word use variations--why it is that two nations who share so much, inclu...
Overall, it's an interesting read, and I like reading about linguistics and cultural differences so the main topic of the book is quite (meant in the American sense) spot on for me. The moments when she discusses the cultural loss of her daughter to the UK were some of my favorite moments in the boo...