Do You Speak American?

This was a great book. It discussed the linguistics of the very different American dialects and changing trends in pronunciation. Even if you are not a linguistic. It is an excellent layman's introduction to the variety of language and dialect that permeates the United States. What people say, how they say it, and how others perceive them for doing so are all covered. The tendency of mainstream America to look down upon the speech of African Americans, immigrants, and other minorities is explored. This book is an excellent study on the language of Americans and how it changes in relation to the nation's history and cultural values. It answered some questions I had about the language. It is an insightful book on the evolution of the English language in America.