The Prodigal Tongue

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Description: Lynne Murphy explores the special relationship (and sibling rivalry) between English on both sides of the Atlantic. As an American linguist teaching in England, she is in a unique position to analyze the ever-evolving English language and unravel the prejudices, stereotypes, and insecurities that shape our attitudes toward it.

With great humor and new insights, Murphy looks at the social, political and linguistic forces that have driven American and British English apart; why British and American accents are diverging further from each other, and what different things we mean when we say estate, frown, or middle class. Is anyone winning this war of the words? Will Yanks and Brits ever really understand each other?

Author bio: Lynne Murphy grew up in New York State and studied linguistics at UMass Amherst and the University of Illinois. She has taught at universities in South Africa and Texas and she is now Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sussex and author of the award-winning blog, Separated by a Common Language. As @lynneguist she tweets the U.S.–U.K. Difference of the Day. She lives in Brighton, England, with her English husband and dual-citizen daughter.

Following Prof. Murphy's talk there will be a reception and book signing.

Fee: $15

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