From the New York Times dialect quiz that ignited conversations about how and why we say what we say, a delightful exploration of the American vernacular through stunning visual maps
Did you know that your answers to just a handful of questions can reveal where you grew up? In December 2013, Josh Katz released an interactive dialect quiz in the New York Times that became the most viewed page in the paper's history. Now a graphics editor, Katz has harnessed the overwhelming responses to that quiz to create Speaking American, an extraordinary and beautiful visual tour through the American vernacular.
How do you pronounce "pecan"? What do you call a long sandwich with varieties of meats and cheeses? When you say "the City," what are you referring to? Do you cut the grass or mow the lawn?
These questions—and the distinctions they reveal about who says what and where they say it—are not just the ultimate in cocktail party fodder; they are also windows into the history of our nation, our regions, and our language. On page after page, readers will be fascinated and charmed by the stunning maps of how Americans speak. They will also gain new insights into our language and ourselves.
For fans of Eats, Shoots and Leaves and How the States Got Their Shapes,Speaking American is an irresistible feast of American regional speech.
