That's The Way It Crumbles

The American Conquest of the English Language

Matthew Engel

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Paperback

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English

Profile Books Ltd
23 May 2018

Language: reference & general; Popular culture

Are we tired of hearing that fall is a season, sick of being offered fries and told about the latest movie? Yeah. Have we noticed the sly interpolation of Americanisms into our everyday speech? You betcha. And are we outraged? Hell, yes. But do we do anything? Too much hassle. Until now.

In That's The Way It Crumbles Matthew Engel presents a call to arms against the linguistic impoverishment that happens when one language dominates another. With dismay and wry amusement, he traces the American invasion of our language from the early days of the New World, via the influence of Edison, the dance hall and the talkies, right up to the Apple and Microsoft-dominated present day, and explores the fate of other languages trying to fend off linguistic takeover bids. It is not the Americans' fault, more the result of their talent for innovation and our own indifference.

He explains how America's cultural supremacy affects British gestures, celebrations and way of life, and how every paragraph and conversation includes words the British no longer even think of as Americanisms. Part battle cry, part love song, part elegy, this book celebrates the strange, the banal, the precious and the endangered parts of our uncommon common language.

By: Matthew Engel
Imprint: Profile Books Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: Main
Dimensions: Height: 194mm, Width: 128mm, Spine: 22mm
Weight: 203g
ISBN: 9781781256695
ISBN 10: 1781256691
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 23 May 2018
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Matthew Engel is a journalist and author. He writes regularly for the Guardian and Financial Times, among other publications, and was the editor of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack for twelve years. He is also a baseball enthusiast. His books include Eleven Minutes Late: A Train Journey to the Soul of Britain,Extracts from the Red Notebooks and Engel's England: Thirty-nine Counties, One Capital and One Man (Profile, 2014) [9781846685729].

Reviews for That's The Way It Crumbles: The American Conquest of the English Language

An acerbically witty and entertaining survey ... a work of stubborn persistence, or resistance. * Sunday Times * Highly entertaining. * Spectator * Throughout his entertaining history, Engel argues for a stout forward defence against this onslaught of cool and fun and you guys . -- Tim Adams * The Guardian * Engel [hunts] down his prey like a linguistic witchfinder-general ... short-tempered but consistently witty. -- John Sutherland * New Statesman *