Customer Reviews

Dictionary of American Regional English: Volume 2: D-H

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

How do you pronounce the stuff you pour on top of pancakes? Surp? Syr-up? Serep? The answer tells a lot about you. What do you call the thing in which you carry groceries? Bag? Sack? Poke? Again, the asnwer tells much about you, and your regional heritage. Cassidy and Hall have spent many years interviewing hundreds of people from all parts of the United States and literally "mapping" their speech patterns. This book series will be on the desk of every serious linguist in the nation. BUT -- it's surprisingly interesting reading. Want to know the origin of "the last rose of summer?" Interested in what "love bite" means? These and thousands of other interesting American words and phrases are found here. This is a word lover's Disney World.

I don't have the 1st volume of DARE, but most libraries I've visited have it, but rarely the second one, and never the third and so forth. So i bought the 2nd volume D-H knowing what i was buying ahead of time anyways. It is naturally a continuation of the 1st volume ABC in quality, level of interest, and methodology. This is the most in-depth research project into American regional dialects that i myself have come across. If the reader is interested in studying the regional origins of American words and expressions, this is the best choice. (ex. Northern, North Midland, Southern, South Midland, TX, Western states, etc; with geographical maps offered on some words throughout the book.) Bear in mind that the 2nd volume, (and most likely the following ones), does not have the full introduction of explanatory materials which is found in the front matter of the 1st volume. These notes offer explanation of abbreviations, methods, speech mapping, background of the project, etc. to be used to make full sense and use of the volumes. However, a short reminder preface is there in the 2nd volume, so you're not "out there alone without a clue" in case you're unfamiliar with the DARE series :)

I appreciate obtaining used books in as like new condition as possible while still saving money from the original sales price. This book filled that requirement. It was well packed and arrived in excellent condition and was not misrepresented. I will definitely purchase from this source again.

I would have given it 5 stars, but as a member of the TELEVISION series "Hotel Balderdash" - referred to as a 'radio' show under HARVEY (Bag), I feel that I can't.