Synopses & Reviews
Where are you when people < br=""> & bull; go to the coast instead of the beach< br=""> & bull; tote things as well as carry them< br=""> & bull; wait on line instead of in line< br=""> & bull; get groceries in a paper sack instead of a paper bag < br=""> & bull; say things like & quot; The baby needs picked up& quot; and & quot; The car needs washed& quot; < br=""> & bull; eat solid rectangular doughnuts that are also called beignets< br=""> & bull; complain when something is spendy (& quot; costly& quot; )< br=""> & bull; are chilled by a blue norther< br=""> & bull; ask for tonic instead of soda< br=""> & bull; go & quot; dahntahn& quot; to shop.< br=""> < br=""> Allan Metcalf answers these and many other fascinating questions in his new book, How We Talk: American Regional English Today. In short, delightful essays, Metcalf explains the key features that make American speech so expressive and distinct. He begins in the South, home of the most easily recognized of American dialects, and travels north to New England, then on to the Midwest and the far West, even to Alaska and Hawaii. It& #39; s all here: the northern Midwest & quot; Fargo& quot; accent, Louisiana Cajun and New Orleans Yat, dropped r& #39; s as in Boston& #39; s & quot; Hahvahd Yahd, & quot; and intrusive r& #39; s as in & quot; Warshington, & quot; especially common in America& #39; s midlands. With additional chapters on ethnic dialects and dialects in the movies, Metcalf reveals the resplendence of one our nation& #39; s greatest natural resources & mdash; its endless and varied talk.
Synopsis
In short, delightful essays, a professor of English explains the key features that make American speech so expressive and distinct. With chapters on ethnic dialects and dialects in the movies, the author reveals the resplendence of one of our nation's greatest natural resources--its endless and varied talk.
Synopsis
Where are you when people go to the coast instead of the beach tote things as well as carry them wait on line instead of in line get groceries in a paper sack instead of a paper bag say things like The baby needs picked up” and The car needs washed” eat solid rectangular doughnuts that are also called beignets complain when something is spendy (costly”) are chilled by a blue norther ask for tonic instead of soda go dahntahn” to shop.
Allan Metcalf answers these and many other fascinating questions in his new book, How We Talk: American Regional English Today. In short, delightful essays, Metcalf explains the key features that make American speech so expressive and distinct. He begins in the South, home of the most easily recognized of American dialects, and travels north to New England, then on to the Midwest and the far West, even to Alaska and Hawaii. Its all here: the northern Midwest Fargo” accent, Louisiana Cajun and New Orleans Yat, dropped rs as in Bostons Hahvahd Yahd,” and intrusive rs as in Warshington,” especially common in Americas midlands. With additional chapters on ethnic dialects and dialects in the movies, Metcalf reveals the resplendence of one our nations greatest natural resources its endless and varied talk.
About the Author
Allan Metcalf is a professor of English at MacMurray College, executive secretary of the American Dialect Society, and author of books on language and writing. His books on language include AMERICA IN SO MANY WORDS (with David K. Barnhart), THE WORLD IN SO MANY WORDS, HOW WE TALK: AMERICAN REGIONAL ENGLISH TODAY, PREDICTING NEW WORDS, and PRESIDENTIAL VOICES. His books on writing include RESEARCH TO THE POINT and ESSENTIALS OF WRITING TO THE POINT. He lives in Jacksonville, Illinois.