Divided by a Common Language
A Guide to British and American English
HarperCollins · Print & ebook · September 26, 2007
Puzzled by signs warning you to “mind the gap” in the London Underground?
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- Who it’s for
- A practical, amusing guide to the words and everyday customs that shift across the Atlantic.
- Themes
- British and American English differences, Everyday customs in the U.K. and U.S., Cross-cultural expressions and meanings
- Genres
- Sociolinguistics, Travel Resources, Spelling & Vocabulary
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Puzzled by signs warning you to “mind the gap” in the London Underground? Wondering what will be on your plate if you order “toad in the hole” in a London café? In Divided by a Common Language, Christopher Davies explains these expressions and discusses the many differences in pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary between British and American English.
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He compares the customs, manners, and practical details of daily life in the United Kingdom and the United States, and American readers will enjoy his account of American culture as seen through an Englishman’s eyes. Davies tops it off with an amusing list of expressions that sound innocent enough in one country but make quite the opposite impression in the other. Two large glossaries help travelers translate from one variety of English to the other, and additional lists explain the distinctive words of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Divided by a Common Language is the ideal travel companion for both British visitors to the U.S. and American visitors to the U.K. It is also the perfect book for Britons interested in American culture and Americans enjoying British novels, movies, and television at home.
English, Both Ways
A practical, amusing guide to the words and everyday customs that shift across the Atlantic.
Come here for
- Decode British and American expressions, pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary
- Compare daily customs through an Englishman’s view of American culture
Expect
- Two glossaries for translating between British and American English
- Extra word lists for Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa
Where it sits
| Travel Resources | 27% |
|---|---|
| Spelling & Vocabulary | 26% |
| Sociolinguistics | 22% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Sociolinguistics
- Spelling & Vocabulary
- Dictionaries
- Practical Guides
Show all 8 publisher categories
- Word Lists & Usage
- Great Britain Travel
- Travel Resources
- Travel in the United States
- Authors
- Christopher Davies
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- September 26, 2007
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- British and American English differences · Everyday customs in the U.K. and U.S. · Cross-cultural expressions and meanings
- Reading lane
- Sociolinguistics