Divided by a Common Language : A Guide to British and American English

Davies, Christopher

ISBN 10: 0618911626 / ISBN 13: 9780618911622

Published by HarperCollins Publishers, 2007

About this Item

Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 9979034-6

Bibliographic Details

Title: Divided by a Common Language : A Guide to ...

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Publication Date: 2007

Binding: Soft cover

Condition: Good

Edition: Reprint.

About this title

Synopsis:

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.

About the Author:

CHRISTOPHER DAVIES was born and raised in England and spent several years living in Australia and New Zealand. In 1980 he settled in Florida. The many unfamiliar expressions and pronunciations that he encountered in American English led him to write Divided by a Common Language.