Divided by a Common Language

A Guide to British and American English

By: Christopher Davies

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Paperback | 26 September 2007

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258 Pages

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19.05 x 12.07 x 1.91

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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. 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.

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Foreword	p. v
Acknowledgments	p. v
Guide to Pronunciation and Other Symbols Used	p. vi
How Did British and American English Become So Different?	p. 1
Some Answers	p. 1
The Industrial Revolution	p. 3
Countries that Enriched the American Language	p. 4
Pronouncing British Place Names	p. 7
Tips for the Tourist	p. 8
At the Airport	p. 8
At the Hotel	p. 8
Practical Information	p. 10
Automobiles	p. 10
Gasoline (Petrol)	p. 11
Telephones	p. 12
For the Technically Minded	p. 15
Plumbing	p. 15
Electricity	p. 16
Institutions and Services	p. 18
The Postal System	p. 18
Banking	p. 20
The Currency	p. 21
Restaurants	p. 23
Bars	p. 30
Shopping	p. 31
Pronunciation of Food Names	p. 33
Some Different Cooking Measurements	p. 34
Groceries Known by Different Names	p. 34
Clothing and Shoes Known by Different Names	p. 38
Schools	p. 40
Health Care	p. 43
The Political Systems	p. 44
Museums	p. 46
The Theatre	p. 46
Differences in Customs and Etiquette	p. 48
Transportation	p. 54
Pronunciation and Grammar	p. 73
Spelling	p. 84
Sundry Terms	p. 95
Some Different Furnishing Terms	p. 95
Some Different Terms for Tools	p. 96
Some Different Medical Terms	p. 97
Carnival (Funfair) Terms	p. 99
Some Different Gardening Terms	p. 100
What Not to Say	p. 101
Idioms and Expressions	p. 108
Notes on Symbols and Abbreviations	p. 131
Miscellaneous Information	p. 134
UK-US Lexicon	p. 137
US-UK Lexican	p. 178
Explanations	p. 220
Other Varieties of English	p. 228
Canada	p. 228
Australia	p. 230
New Zealand	p. 234
South Africa	p. 235
Cockney Rhyming Slang	p. 237
Afterword	p. 240
Index	p. 243
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Divided by a Common Language

A Guide to British and American English

At a Glance

Paperback

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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