Do you speak american a message from the book 1 do you. As i have noted before on occasion, my native american accent is western pennsylvanian 1, one of the dialects spoken of in this book. Realizing it was time to revisit the language jungle, he recently embarked upon another pbs broadcast, this time provocatively titled do you speak american. In america, were all americanand the way we speak can and should remain different from one another. Jun 09, 2017 do you speak american, by robert macneil and william cran. Should any book ever be banned or require parental permission. Examining the histories and controversies surrounding both written and spoken american english, macneil and cran address. How do the concepts in the article apply to your life and society in general. Books speak for you publishing books, books, publishing. He talked about his life, personal experiences, the macneillehrer. Regional dialect is one of the many strongholds of all cultures and now it has reached its zenith and today it is slowly declining because it does not possess the human nature of advancement. Robert mccrum is the growing influence of spanish threatening to displace english in the united states.
A companion book of the same titled coauthored with william cran accompanied that series. Robert macneil and william cran are the coauthors of the story of english with robert mccrum. Is the growing influence of spanish threatening to displace. In the course of his interview for the pbs series transcribed in the book, even john simon, the most outspoken elitist critic of the american language, cannot help speaking in runon sentences that sound deliciously low as henry higgins would have remarked. The coauthors have traveled high and low in every sense of those words across. Is a powerful book written by robert macneil and william cran. Dysa takes viewers on a journey through the united states, exploring how the language we use can define us, unite us, or separate us. Book by robert macneil and william cran hardcover nan a. All requirements must be met for priority express publishing services, prior to run time. Manuel said that he did but in a voice which gave her no reason to expect his help. On a journey that takes them from the northeast, through appalachia and the deep south, and west to california, the authors observe everyday verbal interactions.
The coanchor of pbss the macneillehrer newshour until his retirement in 1995, robert macneil is also the author of four nonfiction works, including his two volumes of memoir, wordstruck and looking for my country, and three novels, the voyage, burden of desire, and breaking news. The making of a new american language, a look at the new lexicon created by latinos living in the united states. This book is a great study on the language of americans and how it changes in relation to the nations history and cultural values. This book the title comes from a comment by bono, lead singer of u2, after being fined by the fcc for swearing is the result of their explorations and. Pbs newshour correspondent, ray suarez speaks with author ilan stavans about his new book, spanglish. I believe its certain characteristics that set us apart from other countries.
So when i stumbled on the book speaking american by josh katz, i couldnt help but pick it up. This irony will probably be lost on the tv screen, but its stock naked on the page. An intriguing followup to the story of english, do you speak american. Katz used over 350,000 responses to a new york times quiz on american colloquialism to put together beautifully crafted illustrations and maps of the american language. Made for the public broadcasting service pbs and for dvd release, do you speak american. Families can talk about how speak has received lots of praise and is taught in classrooms, from eighth grade on up.
Do you consider that the jamaican english is a language or. Nov 20, 2019 a companion book of the same titled coauthored with william cran accompanied that series. As this is a companion book to the televised series this recent offering does not stand alone but serves as the programs enhancement. Do you speak american a companion to the pbs seriesnook book. These and other questions about american english catapulted robert macneil and william cran, coauthors of the language classic the story of english, on a crosscountry journey in search of answers. Although it was written in 2005, do you speak american. What makes you american essay what makes an american an american. The making of a new american language, a look at the new lexicon created by latinos living in. One of the drawbacks of such a book is that reading cannot have the same impact as watching, or more precisely, listening, to the documentary. The book and documentary look at the evolution of americas way of speaking from the english language to various ways of speaking in regions throughout the. Examining the histories and controversies surrounding both written and spoken american english. What people say, how they say it, and how others perceive them for doing so are all covered. Nasawikimedia nearly a century ago, just after world war i had ended, there was a groundswell of linguistic patriotism in america. As brian schend says, jamaican english is a fullfledged creole that, in its purest form basilect is essentially another language, which bears only a vague resemblance to its parent language, i.
It is an excellent laymans introduction to the variety of language and dialect that permeates the united states. Robert macneil, author, william cran, author nan a. Books speak for you publishing books, books, publishing service. Jan 02, 2016 in all american boys, a video of a policeman beating a black student goes viral. Journalist robert macneil travels across the usa to observe the current state of the spoken american english language. Robert macneil talked about the book he cowrote with william cran, do you speak american. Zaworski robert macneil, distinguished journalist of the macneillehrer report, put together a fantastic book and documentary television series in the 1980s called the story of english, which was a look at both the history of the english language as well as the current state of the english language in a global sense. Apr 01, 2006 these and other questions about american english motivated robert macneilpast cohost of pbss the macneillehrer newshourand william cran to canvass the country in search of the answers. In all american boys, a video of a policeman beating a black student goes viral. With robert macneil, orlagh cassidy, tom ammiano, kirk arnott.
Robert macneil analyzes the english language and reveals many dialects that culturally defines us. After accidentally busting an end of summer party due to an unnamed incident, melinda is ostracized by her peers because she will not say why she called the police. It answered some questions i had about the language such as why some american dialects are rhotic while others are not and brought up some ideas that i hadnt thought about. Authors of all american boys talk about how book has. Dec, 2016 language can mark us as different, but that should be okay. Has the media saturation of our culture homogenized. Sep 22, 2004 overall, do you speak american is both entertaining and informative. Is the growing influence of spanish threatening to displace english in the united states. Macneillehrer productions paladin invision, ltd wnet television station. The companion book of the new broadcast, also coauthored with cran, has now been published.
Books speak for you offers priority express 7 day book publishing, 14 day publishing or 21 day general publishing. Talese, dec 28, 2004 african american literature book club celebrating our literary legacy since 1997 black literature is for everyone african american literature book club. There are some dialects, and this is one of them, that have a mixed sort of prestige. Macneil and cran bring us a compelling book that is at once a celebration and a potent study of our singular language. Welcome to books speak for you welcome to books speak for you welcome to books speak for you call now and make your dream of becoming a published author come true 18007570598 toll free or 2673188933.
Do you speak american, by robert macneil and william cran as i have noted before on occasion, my native american accent is western pennsylvanian 1, one of the dialects spoken of in this book. Are americas grammatical standards in serious decline. Is it the accent, the clothing, the fact that you can speak the english language, or is it the fact that you were born on american soil. Robert macneil, former coanchor of the macneil lehrer newshour, was interviewed about the book he cowrote with william cran, do you. Speak, published in 1999, is a young adult novel by laurie halse anderson that tells the story of high school freshman melinda sordino.
The book s authors, jason reynolds and brendan kiely, talk about how their story is sparking conversations about race. The book and documentary look at the evolution of americas way of speaking from the english language to various ways. These and other questions about american english motivated robert macneilpast cohost of pbss the macneillehrer newshourand william cran to canvass the country in search of the answers. The books authors, jason reynolds and brendan kiely, talk about how their story is.
Examines sociolinguistic questions and the dynamic state of american english, a language rich in regional. Some of the concepts do apply in my life when i am with friend i speak different than when i am with someone i am doing business, knowing also that some of the words phrases or language i use my friends know what do i mean without confusing them. Do you speak american a companion to the pbs series by. A pronunciation guide to the 150 most commonly mispronounced wordsand their tangled histories of misuse. They put in a lot of time to travel and record the many facets of american speech across the united states. But its controversial subject matter has also made it a target of censors. Overall, do you speak american is both entertaining and informative. The documentary takes on the stuff of sociolinguisticsthe discipline that studies less the mechanics of language than the social ramifications of languageand asks questions about power, education, and access to resources. A common way of referring to the sounds of speech and can refer to distinctive characteristics of the way a group of people speak their native language or the way people speak a second language shaded with characteristics of their first. Each wave of immigration has brought new words to enrich the american language. With insight and wit, macneil and cran bring us a compelling book that is at once a celebration and a potent study of our singular language.