Book Description
Is the growing influence of Spanish threatening to displace English in the United States? Are America's grammatical standards in serious decline? Has the media saturation of our culture homogenized our speech?
These and other questions catapulted Robert MacNeil and William Cran, coauthors of the language classic The Story of English, on a journey that took them around the country in search of answers. Do You Speak American?, the companion volume to a PBS special, is the tale of the surprising discoveries they made while interviewing a host of native speakers and observing everyday verbal interactions across the country. Examining the histories and controversies surrounding both written and spoken American English, MacNeil and Cran address highly emotional anxieties and assumptions about our language-and offer some unpredictable responses.
With insight and wit, MacNeil and Cran bring us a compelling follow-up to The Story of English that is at once a celebration and a potent study of our singular language.
Customer Reviews:
A survey of American grammatical standards and how they are being influenced by both other cultures and media.......2006-05-23
Deserving of ongoing mention is a fun companion to the PBS TV special which stands well on its own and promises lasting lending value: a survey of American grammatical standards and how they are being influenced by both other cultures and media. The authors co-wrote THE STORY OF ENGLISH, which was a historical overview; DO YOU SPEAK AMERICAN shares the discoveries they made while interviewing native speakers and observing everyday verbal interactions. A fascinating account evolves.
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch
An interesting read!.......2006-01-04
Language is not constant. It is continually evolving with cultural and ethnic influences impacting a region's speech. Authors Robert MacNeil and William Cran have examined the English language through interviewing native speakers and observing the verbal interactions of people across the country.
I found Do You Speak American? fascinating. As a native speaker from the Midwest, it always surprises me when I'm traveling that people can pinpoint where I'm from. Being from the Midwest, I always thought that I didn't have an "accent." Wrong! My speech patterns, class, choice of words, word order, pronunciation (vowel changes) and perhaps the media's affect on speech, give me away.
The authors' journey across the country, studying regional conversations, is interesting and enlightening and offers explanations that might surprise the reader. I particularly enjoyed the sections on teaching computers to speak American; the one on Hispanic immigration and its impact on American language; and the section on bad-mouthing black English.
While Do You Speak American? is not an in-depth study, it is a wonderful beginning for those who are interested in the subject.
Armchair Interviews says: If you enjoy words and are curious about how Americans speak, you'll enjoy Do You Speak American?
A little too thin and scattered.......2005-11-13
While this may be an okay companion to the television series, it is not well organized and tries to cover too much ground without enough depth and structure. Anything by Bill Bryson (or the author's own Story of English) would be better. Not really recommended unless you can get a super clearance deal and want something to read on a quick flight.
Good, informative, and easy read.......2005-08-13
Language is one of my interests, and so I found this to be a fascinating book on the English language as Americans speak it. As previous readers mentioned, it is an easy read, with a narrative style. The authors relate some of the origins of our accents, how they are evolving, combining, and differentiating, including what linguists are looking at in the future of our language.
Having read the book, I have a new appreciating of dialects different from my own (Midwestern). However, this book is far from comprehensive. I'd like to have seen more about deviations from the Standard Midwestern accent in the Midwest, and I think Canadian accents should have been given a more systematic treatment, rather than just mentioned in examples. After all, Canada can be considered American by virtue of its location, and the fluidity with which people move across the border make it easy to argue that English as Canadians speak it is as American as the English I speak, eh.
One thing the authors could have left out, in my opinion, is the chapter on getting computers to speak and understand speech. As a book on English as Americans speak it, it seems out of place. While informative, I feel it deserves a separate treatment.
an excellent, excellent book!... substantiated... current... upbeat..........2005-07-19
I read this book because I am fascinated by words and dialects and how (some) linguistics experts can tell where you grew up just from the way you speak.
"Do You Speak American" satisfied my craving to learn more about dialect in the United States but it went WAY beyond my expectations.
In addition to presenting and discussing a FASCINATING map of major dialect regions and changes in the U.S., this book addresses two key current social issues: The (unfounded) phobia that Spanish will take over from English as the dominant language of the United States, and the (still valid) issue that even as "African American English" contributes to our culture, it separates many kids from economic mainstream access through linquistic prejudice (e.g., "if you sound like THAT you must be DUMB")
The book doesn't stop there but continues addressing MORE fascinating topics including the origins of "Valley Girl/Surfer Dude" California dialects (like, totally!) and computer speech recognition efforts by BMW and Microsoft.
I found the overall tone of the book UPBEAT. The research findings and interpretations presented show it's quite possible and quite HUMAN to be "bilingual" in DIALECTS as well as languages. So that we can maintain our language-based identity (where we grew up) AND claim our stake in the mainstream economy.
Product Description
On-the-go Instrction Because your time is valuable... All Audio All on the go! Beginning level instruction is presented in an all-audio format on 4 digitally-recorded CDs. You have the opportunity to learn on the go, taking advantage of time normally wasted. Study in your car, while exercising, doing yard work anywhere you can safely listen to a CD player. No accompanying books are needed to help you complete the lesson activities. Why can t learning be fun? It can! Linguaphone has chosen to present the allTalk series in an entertaining, soap-opera format. No dry old teacher with a monotone voice putting you to sleep, you follow the adventures of a visitor to a Spanish-speaking country as she interacts with individuals in a variety of interesting situations, learning the language and beginning to understand the culture. Actually learn the language Tired of spending money on language courses that don t work? Did you ever think the problem could be with the course and not you? With Linguaphone s unique learning sequence: Listen, Understand, Speak, you will find yourself actually using the language in no time at all! You are presented with a unit of the language, it is then broken down and explained to you, then you put it back together with greater understanding than just repeating what you may not have understood in the first place. . . . and learn it well! The all Talk methodology not only teaches well, but will have you speaking and understanding basic spoken Spanish in no time at all. Other popular all-audio courses require four times the cds, four times the money and four times the time to do what Linguaphone s allTalk Basic does with 4-one hour CDs.
Customer Reviews:
Great Resource.......2006-06-17
I bought this pocket-sized book in 1993 before heading down to Mexico for language school. I then used it to learn medical Spanish in class. On returning, I kept it in my labcoat pocket and used it as often as any medication reference. It used to be available in so many languages, now I can't find a good copy for my partner, who will be doing medical missions in Central America. Bring it back! Bring it back!
Product Description
All-Audio Advantages Take advantage of effective on-the-go learning! All Audio Learn on the go! Instruction is presented in an all-audio format on 16 digitally-recorded CDs. You have the opportunity to learn on the go, taking advantage of time normally wasted. Study in your car, while exercising, doing yard work anywhere you can safely listen to a CD player. No accompanying books are needed to help you complete the lesson activities. Why can t learning be fun? It can! Linguaphone has chosen to present the allTalk 1-2-3 in an entertaining, soap-opera format. No dry old teacher with a monotone voice putting you to sleep, you follow the adventures of a visitor to a Spanish-speaking country as she interacts with individuals in a variety of interesting situations, learning the language and beginning to understand the culture. Actually learn the language Tired of spending money on language courses that don t work? Did you ever think the problem could be with the course and not you? With Linguaphone s unique learning sequence: Listen, Understand, Speak, you will find yourself actually using the language in no time at all! You are presented with a unit of the language, it is then broken down and explained to you, then you put it back together with greater understanding than just repeating what you may not have understood in the first place. You don't just study the language--you gain real proficiency in using your new language! . . . and learn it well! The allTalk methodology not only teaches well, but will take you to full intermediate level in speaking and understanding spoken Spanish. Other popular all-audio courses require three times the cds, three times the money and three times the time to do what Linguaphone s allTalk does with 16-one hour cds.
Average customer rating:
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Do You Speak American?: An article from: Verbatim
Ron Kaplan
Manufacturer: VERBATIM
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
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ASIN: B000ALQ5NA
Release Date: 2006-07-14 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Verbatim, published by VERBATIM on September 22, 2004. The length of the article is 860 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Do You Speak American?
Author: Ron Kaplan
Publication:
Verbatim (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2004
Publisher: VERBATIM
Volume: 29
Issue: 3
Page: 27(2)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from ATQ (The American Transcendental Quarterly), published by University of Rhode Island on September 1, 2001. The length of the article is 8112 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: "Your Sister Cannot Speak to You and Understand You As I Do": Native American Culture and Female Subjectivity in Lydia Maria Child and Catharine Maria Sedgwick.
Author: Mark G. Vasquez
Publication:
ATQ (The American Transcendental Quarterly) (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 2001
Publisher: University of Rhode Island
Volume: 15
Issue: 3
Page: 173
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
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Do You Speak Doctor?: International Medical Language Guide : Latin American Spanish (Do You Speak Doctor Series)
Gregg M. Cox
Manufacturer: Pandemic Intl
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1879574136 |
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Creative Essence: Cleveland's Sense Of Place (Cleveland Artists Foundations Dialogue)
Nina Freedlander Gibans
Manufacturer: Kent State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0873388194 |
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Essence of English Life
Sheila Pickles
Manufacturer: Pavilion Books
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Binding: Paperback
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In Search of England
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England as You Like It
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My Love Affair with England: A Traveler's Memoir
ASIN: 1857938259 |
Book Description
A warm and nostalgic mood colors this celebration of British life, homes, and landscapes. Organized by the rhythm of the seasons, this volume brings readers along for an intimate look at traditional English holidays, events, and pastimes. Sheila Pickles embroiders her prose with excerpts from well-loved British authors, and both are accompanied by sumptuous still-life photographs.
40 full-color photographs.
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Essence of Place
Martha Odum , and
Eugene P. Odum
Manufacturer: Univ of Georgia Georgia Museum
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0915977397 |
Book Description
This remarkable book is almost impossible to classify or pin down. Dr. Eugene P. Odum covers art, ecology, literature, history, and geography in a manner that reflects his doctrine of holistic ecology. His text bridges the supposed gap between art and science, linking the watercolors of his late wife, Martha, to an ecological perspective of the world.
Product Description
this booklet the effect of prayer, principles of scientific prayer, different types of prayers, and topic related to prayers.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Tea & Coffee Trade Journal, published by Lockwood Trade Journal Co., Inc. on January 1, 1998. The length of the article is 2192 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Flavored syrups sweeten world cups. (part 1)
Author: Suzanne Brown
Publication:
Tea & Coffee Trade Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 1998
Publisher: Lockwood Trade Journal Co., Inc.
Volume: v170
Issue: n1
Page: p58(6)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Bookwatch, published by Midwest Book Review on February 1, 2005. The length of the article is 555 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: New Page Books.(The Worlds Most Haunted Places: From The Secret Files Of Ghostvillage.com)(Becoming Psychic: Spiritual Lessons For Focusing Your Hidden Abilities)(Witchcraft From An Irish Witch)(Witchcraft From An Irish Witch)(Self-Initiation For The Solitary Witch: Attaining Higher Spirituality Through A Five-degree System)(Which Witch Is Which?: A Concise Guide To Wiccan And Neo-Pagan Paths And Traditions)(Guide To Divination: Finding, Crafting And Using Fortune-Telling Tools From Around Your Home)(Essence Of The Tarot: Modern Reflections On Ancient Wisdom)(Celebrating The Seasons Of Liff: Samhain To Ostara )(Book Review)
Publication:
The Bookwatch (Magazine/Journal)
Date: February 1, 2005
Publisher: Midwest Book Review
Page: NA
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Ice Cream Reporter, published by Ice Cream Reporter on October 20, 2000. The length of the article is 545 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: New Splenda sweetener finds place in ice cream market.
Publication:
Ice Cream Reporter (Newsletter)
Date: October 20, 2000
Publisher: Ice Cream Reporter
Volume: 13
Issue: 11
Page: 1
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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