Americanisms and Briticisms; with other essays on other isms

"Americanisms and Briticisms; with other essays on other isms" by Brander Matthews is a compilation of reflective writings from the close of the 1800s, examining how American English stands apart from British English and considers how language morphs as cultures shift not only between the countries but also in places such as Australia and Canada. The author looks at the discussions caused by changes in spelling and expressions from different areas, along with what they mean for our culture. Matthews starts by laying out how pockets of the English-speaking world have picked up their own words and sayings, many times because their way of life called for new ways to speak. He brings up books of the time—one with characters from Australia—to show how confusing these different terms can be. He also thinks about how past troubles and judgments from British writers have played into how Americans see their own language, showing a sense of self-respect in how Americans speak while also looking at how British people see it. The opening then prepares us to think about language as something alive, molded by the experiences and backgrounds of those who speak it.