America In So Many Words

Download or read book America In So Many Words written by Allan Metcalf and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 1999-09-13 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents a unique historical view of American English. It chronicles year by year the contributions Americans have made to the vocabulary of English and the words Americans have embraced through the evolution of the nation. For important years from the settlement of Jamestown until 1750, and for every year from 1750 through 1998, a prominent word is analyzed and discussed in its historical context. The result is a fascinating survey of American linguistic culture through past centuries. The authors -- both lifelong students of American English -- bring great depth of understanding to these key words that have made America, and American English, what they are today.