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

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.

A Call to Arms Against Linguistic Impoverishment

In That's The Way It Crumbles, Matthew Engel presents a compelling call to arms against the linguistic impoverishment that occurs when one language dominates another. With both dismay and wry amusement, Engel:

• Traces the American invasion of the English language from the early days of the New World.
• Explores the influence of cultural icons such as Edison, the dance hall, and the talkies.
• Examines the Apple and Microsoft-dominated present day.
• Investigates the fate of other languages trying to fend off similar linguistic takeover bids.

Engel argues that this phenomenon is not the Americans' fault, but rather the result of their talent for innovation combined with British indifference.

The Impact of America's Cultural Supremacy

Engel explains how America's cultural dominance affects:

• British gestures, celebrations, and way of life.
• Everyday language, where words the British no longer recognize as Americanisms creep into every paragraph and conversation.

A Celebration of Our Uncommon Common Language

Part battle cry, part love song, and part elegy, this book celebrates:

• The strange, the banal, the precious, and the endangered elements of the English language.

It is a thought-provoking exploration of what happens when languages collide, and a reminder of the richness that can be lost in the process.