Do You Speak American?

Do You Speak American? is a documentary film and accompanying book about journalist Robert MacNeil's investigation into how different people throughout the United States of America speak. The book and documentary look at the evolution of America's way of speaking from the English language to various ways of speaking in regions throughout the country. Divisions of ethnicity, geography and social status and how they affect how Americans communicate are addressed. As part of the project, MacNeil traveled across the country conducting interviews with ordinary people as well as experts such as William Labov.

Do You Speak American?
Title card from the three-part documentary, featuring co-author and host Robert MacNeil.
Screenplay byWilliam Cran & Robert MacNeil
Directed byWilliam Cran
StarringRobert MacNeil
Theme music composerPaul Foss
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersWilliam Cran, Christopher Buchanan
EditorJoe Frost
Running time180 minutes (3 episodes, 60 minutes each)
Production companyThirteen/WNET
Original release
ReleaseJanuary 5, 2005 (2005-01-05)[1]
Do You Speak American?
The cover as seen on the hardback, first edition printing.
AuthorRobert MacNeil & William Cran
LanguageEnglish
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherNan A. Talese (hardback),
Mariner Books (paperback),
Nan A. Talese, Random House Digital, Inc. (E-book)
Publication date
December 28, 2004 (hardback),[citation needed]
November 14, 2005 (paperback),[citation needed]
December 18, 2007 (E-book)[citation needed]
Media typePrint (hardback and paperback),
Digital (E-book)
Pages240
ISBN978-0-385-51198-8

In the United States, the documentary was broadcast in several parts on PBS. The companion book (ISBN 0-385-51198-1) was co-authored by MacNeil and William Cran.

References

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  1. ^ "Do You Speak American? About the Broadcast". PBS.com. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
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