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The Prodigal Tongue
The Prodigal Tongue: The Love-Hate Relationship Between American and British English | Lynne Murphy
10 posts | 6 read | 4 to read
An American linguist teaching in England explores the sibling rivalry between British and American English “English accents are the sexiest.” “Americans have ruined the English language.” Such claims about the English language are often repeated but rarely examined. Professor Lynne Murphy is on the linguistic front line. In The Prodigal Tongue she explores the fiction and reality of the special relationship between British and American English. By examining the causes and symptoms of American Verbal Inferiority Complex and its flipside, British Verbal Superiority Complex, Murphy unravels the prejudices, stereotypes and insecurities that shape our attitudes to our own language. With great humo(u)r and new insights, Lynne Murphy looks at the social, political and linguistic forces that have driven American and British English in different directions: how Americans got from centre to center, why British accents are growing away from American ones, and what different things we mean when we say estate, frown, or middle class. Is anyone winning this war of the words? Will Yanks and Brits ever really understand each other?
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rwmg
Pickpick

Anybody who has read the author's blog at all regularly will know what to expect: a look at what people actually say and write and how that has changed to bring the two varieties closer together or push them further apart rather than jeremiads about language degeneration based on no more than gut feeling.

Something anyone feeling the urge to pontificate about language should read first.

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rwmg
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hike.read.repeat
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Pickpick

Te Araroa kilometers tramped: 572.9 of 3005.3

Books completed on trail: 9

This book is thorough! A linguistic and cultural comparison of the differences between American and British English. It made me self conscious about coming off as rude when interacting with Kiwis tho. I learned that the way Americans ask for things in restaurants can come off as rude to others. 😩 #hoopla

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annamatopoetry
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Mehso-so

It got better - the first few chapters were infuriating. Murphy is much better when she's not trying so damn hard to be funny, and later chapters have some actual linguistics. But also meh.

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cavecibum
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In Boston English, a regular coffee has cream and sugar and can come in any size!

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annamatopoetry
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"Do you think that pedigree would make Marcus want to order a 'regular americano' rather than a 'medium' one? No, I didn't think so either."

Then why are you fucking writing this fucking book, Lynne? What is the point of this????

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annamatopoetry
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It's the very last day of vacation for me. I haven't done much reading, mainly due to back issues preventing my two favourite reading positions (sitting cross legged and lying on my stomach. ) I'm ready to be done with Murphy, though.

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annamatopoetry
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Cool enough for hot coffee, yay! Gotta get through this book. #bokfika

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annamatopoetry
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This may not be the best way to persuade me of the equality of the two Englishes.

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annamatopoetry
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Jesus fuck this is the worst definition of cognitive bias I've ever had the significant displeasure of laying my eyes on.