FromthecreatoroftheNewYorkTimesdialectquizthatignitedconversationsabouthowandwhywesaythewordswesay,astunninganddelightfulexplorationofAmericanlanguage.Didyouknowthatyouranswerstojustahandfulofquestionscanrevealwhereyougrewup?WhenJoshKatzreleasedhisinteractivedialectquizintheNewYorkTimesin2013,itbecamethemostviewedpageinthepaper’shistory.Nowagraphicseditor,KatzharnessedtheoverwhelmingresponsetothatquiztocreateSpeakingAmerican,anextraordinaryandbeautifultourthroughtheAmericanvernacular.Howdoyoupronounce“pecan“?Whatdoyoucallalongsandwichwithvarietiesofmeatsandcheeses?Doyoucutthegrassormowthelawn?Theanswerstothesequestions--andthedistinctionstheyrevealaboutwhosayswhatandwheretheysayit--arenotjusttheultimateincocktailpartyfodder;theyarealsowindowsintothehistoryofournation,ourregions,andourlanguage.Onpageafterpage,readerswillbefascinatedandcharmedbythesestunningmapsofhowAmericansspeakastheygainnewinsightsintoourlanguageandourselves.ForfansofEats,ShootsandLeavesandHowtheStatesGotTheirShapes,SpeakingAmericanisanirresistiblefeastofAmericanregionalspeech.
