Posted by Philip Bell on December 23, 1998 at 13:06:09:
In Reply to: Re: Shocking language in Ports of Call! posted by Martin Read on December 22, 1998 at 07:05:39:
: I presume the loss of "Arse" from general American usage was the result of Victorian prudery which affected America even more severely than Britain. Is this also the reason Americans use the ponderous cicumlocution (wow almost Vancean) "In back of" to avoid saying "Behind?"
Can't really comment on that, but "Made in America" by Bill Bryson is an excellent book on the origins of the American language, and the differences between UK and USA. Starts of a bit dry, but gets very interesting, with sidesteps into American history as well
Philip