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The Prodigal Tongue: The Love-Hate Relationship Between American and British English by Lynne Murphy
walinchus's review against another edition
5.0
A great read! Top things I learned from The Prodigal Tongue & things the author (or someone) should address for a next book:
- Who knew this was such a big issue. The British complaining about imperialism? Wow the English do love irony.
-Yes! The monarchy is entertaining precisely because it's silly. Why could I never articulate that?!
- You know I had heard that Americans have an older accent but I had never actually put the image together in my mind: that every single Shakespeare movie has the wrong pronunciation.
-I was very surprised to learn that there are words that Americans pronounce "IZE" though they also don't write them that way. Americans, you may have to re-read that last sentence.
-Wait an estate is the projects?!
-Most courts that interpret dictionaries say something like: The contract uses this word. Every moron understands this word, it's the dictionary definition. Therefore this is the context of the Contract. But if English courts address the "context only" how does that work?
- Wait the English didn't invent diagramming sentences? But putting things in their proper place seems so... British. @lynneguist has busted another bias it seems.
-I can't even spell the American version of anesthetic. That word needs no superfluous vowels. Though superfluous does I suppose.
-Overall, probably does a better job assuaging American-Brit relations better than any politician ever could!
- Who knew this was such a big issue. The British complaining about imperialism? Wow the English do love irony.
-Yes! The monarchy is entertaining precisely because it's silly. Why could I never articulate that?!
- You know I had heard that Americans have an older accent but I had never actually put the image together in my mind: that every single Shakespeare movie has the wrong pronunciation.
-I was very surprised to learn that there are words that Americans pronounce "IZE" though they also don't write them that way. Americans, you may have to re-read that last sentence.
-Wait an estate is the projects?!
-Most courts that interpret dictionaries say something like: The contract uses this word. Every moron understands this word, it's the dictionary definition. Therefore this is the context of the Contract. But if English courts address the "context only" how does that work?
- Wait the English didn't invent diagramming sentences? But putting things in their proper place seems so... British. @lynneguist has busted another bias it seems.
-I can't even spell the American version of anesthetic. That word needs no superfluous vowels. Though superfluous does I suppose.
-Overall, probably does a better job assuaging American-Brit relations better than any politician ever could!
allyexa's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
4.0
A very thorough and fairly fun journey through the world of English, and very handy for Americans who are tired of being “well, actually”-ed by their British friends and colleagues.
I recommend the audio version for all the nuances in pronunciation, though the spelling chapter was kind of a pain.
I especially liked her wrap up of “ultimately it’s not important what is correct English, since it’s an evolving and living language, and there are much more pressing matters to worry about.”
5/6/24
I recommend the audio version for all the nuances in pronunciation, though the spelling chapter was kind of a pain.
I especially liked her wrap up of “ultimately it’s not important what is correct English, since it’s an evolving and living language, and there are much more pressing matters to worry about.”
5/6/24
catherine_thegreat's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
seclement's review against another edition
5.0
By far my favourite book so far this year. This is the book I wish I could carry with me and show to people when they claim a certain word, phrase, or syntax is an Americanism. 8 times out of 10, I bet they would be wrong. Not that the sort of people who complain about Americanisms are open to new knowledge, but a girl can try. This book is comprehensive, covering a wide range of facts with common myths and historical events to really understand the difference between British and American English, and why those differences may exist. As with most proper linguists, she does this in a neutral way, carefully pointing out that these are just differences. No one way is right or wrong; it's just different, and Murphy discusses both the differences and the possible reasons for it. The book contains information on general trends and tendencies and specific examples of words and phrases. It is also entertaining and often funny whilst still being informative. If you have ever found yourself poking fun at British phrases or Americanisms, or if you have ever read one of those grumpy media articles claiming that the purity of the English language is being tainted and you actually believed it, then you need to read this book. Like all linguistics books, I wish I could get every grumpy grammarian in my life to read it, but I know that their love of the rules has no room for information about how language changes or why those rules are often entirely unfounded. This is a book for language lovers, curious native speakers of English, and those for whom English is a second language alike. I loved this book.
jackphoenix's review against another edition
funny
informative
medium-paced
5.0
It’s dry, it’s fun, it’s a hoot, it’s brilliantly educational; worth the labor or labour of reading.
hollanddavis's review against another edition
4.0
Overall a very interesting book about the differences between American English and British English. I enjoyed it as someone who has a passing interest in linguistics and as someone who has noted the differences between the “nationlects” but never understand the nuance behind those variations. Murphy explores the contrast in spelling, idioms, emphasis on class, and more.
Fair warning: if you listen to this book as an audiobook, there is a point where all of the words thats are spelled differently between the two countries (ex. labor vs labour) will be listed and then promptly spelled at you
Fair warning: if you listen to this book as an audiobook, there is a point where all of the words thats are spelled differently between the two countries (ex. labor vs labour) will be listed and then promptly spelled at you
chlslnbd10's review against another edition
2.0
America vs British. Who speaks English better? Brits think Americans are ruining the English language and Americans think Brits are full of themselves and their way of speaking and spelling. Lynne Murphy is an American-born Brit who teaches Literature and runs a blog centered around this never-ending argument. This book pits the Americans vs the Brits in a down and out battle and who will win?
This book was tedious. I wasn't sure what I was expecting but I don't think this was it. Murphy spends the book comparing the two languages in an endless cycle of America vs England.
This book was tedious. I wasn't sure what I was expecting but I don't think this was it. Murphy spends the book comparing the two languages in an endless cycle of America vs England.