Explains the uniquely American cultural references that appear in American English for students and professionals to increase their written command of the language. Language is a window into the soul of a culture. The hardest part for newcomers who want to master American English is not learning the alphabet, grammar, or vocabulary — it's understanding the distinctive way Americans approach the world. This book shows readers how to do just that. The American Way of Writing guides readers through the nuances of American English, providing a toolkit for non-native speakers who come to the United States to study, as well as international business and legal professionals who have to work and communicate with Americans in a professional or business context. Understanding what makes Americans uniquely "American" is a challenging subject for anyone to master. Such characteristics are always in flux and a source of constant debate. Steven D. Stark's comprehensive approach to American English in The American Way of Writing is suited to Americans and foreigners alike, offering a deeper understanding of the ties that bind rather than divide.

Can ghoti really be pronounced fish? Why is "o" short in glove and love, but long in rove and cove? Why do English words carry such extra baggage as the silent "b" in doubt, the silent "k" in knee, and the silent "n" in autumn? And why do names like Phabulous Phoods and Hi-Ener-G stand out? Addressing these and many other questions about letters and the sounds they make, this engaging volume provides a comprehensive analysis of American English spelling and pronunciation. Venezky illuminates the fully functional system underlying what can at times be a bewildering array of exceptions, focusing on the basic units that serve to signal word form or pronunciation, where these units can occur within words, and how they relate to sound. Also examined are how our current spelling system has developed, efforts to reform it, and ways that spelling rules or patterns are violated in commercial usage. From one of the world's foremost orthographic authorities, the book affords new insight into the teaching of reading and the acquisition and processing of spelling sound relationships.

REA's Celebrate the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to Language & Culture with Audio CD + MP3 The emphasis is on fun in this lighthearted guide to language and culture in the United States! The warm and witty authors of English the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to Language and Culture in the U.S. are back with the second book in the series, Celebrate the American Way, another fun ESL guide to English language and culture. This friendly guide takes you on a year-long journey through American culture, highlighting the meanings behind the U.S. holidays and special events celebrated in each season. You will learn why Americans celebrate Independence Day, discover the history of Thanksgiving, get tips on wedding etiquette, find out how to carve a Jack O' Lantern, and more! Our ESL author experts (Sheila MacKechnie Murtha and Jane Airey O'Connor) give English language learners all the must-know vocabulary, common expressions, and wacky idioms that help explain the major celebrations and social customs in the United States. You'll have fun improving your English language and grammar skills. Along the way, quiz yourself with fill-in and matching exercises as you learn about commonly confused words, adjectives, and synonyms. Practice speaking English like an American until you're perfect! Improve your listening and speaking skills with the dialogues included on our audio CD and Mp3 download. No matter what the season, Celebrate the American Way is an excellent resource for ESL students and teachers, English language learners, and professionals of all ages and all nationalities. Whether you want to improve your understanding of American culture or just expand your everyday vocabulary, this fun and friendly guide will help you build your skills and communicate with precision - and success! Don't miss the first book in the series… English the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to English Language and Culture in the U.S.

A journalist traces her 2009 immersion into the national food system to explore how working-class Americans can afford to eat as they should, describing how she worked as a farm laborer, Wal-Mart grocery clerk, and Applebee's expediter while living within the means of each job.

REA's English the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to Language & Culture in the U.S. with Audio CD + MP3 New Second Edition! A fun guide to everything American for the English language learner! The warm and witty authors of English the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to Language & Culture in the U.S. are back with a new second edition of this bestselling title. Featuring updated units on technology and social media, plus all-new fun-filled word-picture matchups, English the American Way is your companion to everyday life in the United States. Engaging, easy-to-follow chapters highlight important topics in American culture, such as: making friends, getting around, dining out, dealing with money, buying a home, what to do in an emergency, visiting the doctor, handling a job interview, and more. Our ESL author experts (Sheila MacKechnie Murtha and Jane Airey O'Connor) give English language learners must-know vocabulary, commonly used phrases, wacky idioms, and sample dialogues that illustrate everyday American life. You'll have fun along the way as you improve your English language and grammar skills with sentence completions, quizzes, and helpful tips. Practice speaking English like an American until you're perfect! Improve your listening and speaking skills with the dialogues included on our audio CD and MP3 download. English the American Way is an excellent resource for ESL students and teachers, English language learners, and professionals of all ages and all nationalities. If you're looking for a fun and easy way to improve your English language skills, this is the book for you! Don't miss the other books in this series… Celebrate the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to English Language and Culture in the U.S and College the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to English Language and Campus Life in the U.S.

Only the scathing wit and searching intelligence of Jessica Mitford could turn an exposé of the American funeral industry into a book that is at once deadly serious and side-splittingly funny. When first published in 1963, this landmark of investigative journalism became a runaway bestseller and resulted in legislation to protect grieving families from the unscrupulous sales practices of those in "the dismal trade." Just before her death in 1996, Mitford thoroughly revised and updated her classic study. The American Way of Death Revisited confronts new trends, including the success of the profession's lobbyists in Washington, inflated cremation costs, the telemarketing of pay-in-advance graves, and the effects of monopolies in a death-care industry now dominated by multinational corporations. With its hard-nosed consumer activism and a satiric vision out of Evelyn Waugh's novel The Loved One, The American Way of Death Revisited will not fail to inform, delight, and disturb. "Brilliant--hilarious. . . . A must-read for anyone planning to throw a funeral in their lifetime."--New York Post "Witty and penetrating--it speaks the truth."--The Washington Post

Designed for foreign-born professionals working in the U.S. who already possess good English skills and yet are not polished communicators in a U.S. business environment, this resource provides practical advice for becoming more effective in typical business situations.