What's Up

The idea behind this book is to make the reader aware of slang expressions used by typical Americans. Although some people might have attended institutions of higher education in their native countries, when they come to America, often they are baffled or confused by American slang, whether consciously or unconsciously. Most of my friends who went to college before coming to America also have problems because they don't let go of their understanding of the local American lingo.

Even though I came from a country-Ghana-whose official language is English, (we were colonized by the British), I had a very hard time understanding the Americans' use of the informal English language. Statements like, "Are you nuts?" meant a whole different thing to me until after I had been here for a while and then I began to decipher what the subtle meanings of these slang expressions are when it comes to the American dialect.

I began to compile these American expressions and put them together in book form so that people who are new to this country might appreciate and understand what they mean. It is my hope that this small book will help both Americans and new immigrants alike, basically by learning these expressions, using them when appropriate, and knowing when not to use expressions that may "rub people in America the wrong way."