The Prodigal Tongue: The Love-Hate Relationship Between American and British English by Lynne Murphy

Goodreads Summary:

An American linguist teaching in England explores the sibling rivalry between British and American English 

"English accents are the sexiest."
"Americans have ruined the English language." 

Such claims about the English language are often repeated but rarely examined. Professor Lynne Murphy is on the linguistic front line. In The Prodigal Tongue she explores the fiction and reality of the special relationship between British and American English. By examining the causes and symptoms of American Verbal Inferiority Complex and its flipside, British Verbal Superiority Complex, Murphy unravels the prejudices, stereotypes and insecurities that shape our attitudes to our own language.

With great humo(u)r and new insights, Lynne Murphy looks at the social, political and linguistic forces that have driven American and British English in different directions: how Americans got from centre to center, why British accents are growing away from American ones, and what different things we mean when we say estate, frown, or middle class. Is anyone winning this war of the words? Will Yanks and Brits ever really understand each other?

I loved this book on American and British English differences! Lynne Murphy is sharp and witty and I loved reading about her experiences as an American linguist living in the UK for over 20 years. She has a very unique ability to talk about this from both sides of the aisle, especially as a linguist.

I would almost call this book an introduction into the study of linguistics. I sure wish I had this to read while getting my linguistics degree back in the day. She breaks language terms down and also has some history about how and why our dialects and accents have become so different.

She also brings up global English and how we as North Americans and British do not have control over how English is developing around the world and that's a good thing and we should embrace all the English in it's multi-colored and various forms.

If you love language or are curious about English its varieties, this one is for you!