History of English
Content page
1.Introduction 2
2. American and British English 3
3.British and American English pronunciation 3
3.1. Pronunciation 3
4. British and American English vocabulary 5
4.1. Vocabulary 5
5. The difference between British English and American English 6
6. Conclusion 8
7. Bibliography 9
Introduction
Nowadays, English is probably the most frequently spoken language in the world, either as an official language, or as a foreign language. Speaking English has become more than a trend, more than a fashion. Relative fluency in English is getting more and more to be a must when it comes to communicating with people belonging to other nations or applying for a job. But the question is: what kind of English do we speak? For English is not at all a homogenous language. In this task we are going to talk about British and American English pronunciation and vocabulary. According to the Merriam-Webster (2018) pronunciation is the act or manner of pronouncing something.
According to Merrim-Webster (2018) Vocabulary is a list or collection of words or of words and phrases usually alphabetical arranged and explained or defined.
Vocabulary may indeed refer to the collection of words known by individual or by large group of people. It may also signify the body of specialized terms in a field of study or activity.
There are many differences between British English and American English Vocabulary. However, the most complicated for English language learners is probably the differences in vocabulary, including idioms and phrasal verbs.
American and British English
British English (BrE) is the form of English used in the United Kingdom. It includes all English dialects used there.
American English (AmE) is the form of English used in the United States. It includes all English dialects.
3. British and American English pronunciation
3.1. Pronunciation
According to the Merriam-Webster (2018) pronunciation is the act or manner of pronouncing something.
Pronunciation means how we say words. Most people speak the dialect of Standard English with accent that belongs to the part of the country they come from or live in. Learners of British English commonly hear RP (receive pronunciation).
How we use spoken stress and rhythm is also an important part of pronunciation. For example, it is important to know which syllables in a word are stressed and how different patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables are pronounced.
There are some pronunciation rules which are different in British and American English. The most important of all are those concerning stress, some vowel sounds, the voiced t and vowels followed by an ‘r’.
Stress
Stress is defined by psychologists as the body’s reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental, or emotional adjustment or response. Dyer, K.A. (2006).
American and British speakers have different ways of emphasizing a certain syllable when they utter certain words of two syllables, such as: word British English American English ballet [`bæleī] [bæ`leī] debris [`debri:] [də`bri] Similar differences can be encountered in words like garage, gourmet, paté, chalet etc. In words with more than two syllables, Americans tend to emphasize the end. For example: word British English American English secretary [`sekrətri] [`sekrəteri] preparatory [prīpærətri] [prīpærətəri] Other words that stick to this rule are conservatory, inflammatory, territory etc; an interesting case is the word laboratory, which is pronounced [lə`br(ə)tri] in British and [`læbrət:ri] in American English. Another distinguishing element for American English is the reduction of syllables in words ending in –ile, such as mobile, missile, docile etc. For example: word British English American English hostile [`hstaīl] [`hɑ:stl] fragile [`frædl] .
Vowel Sounds
According to Roach (1992: 10 - 11), vowels are sounds in which there is no obstruction to the flow of air as it passes from the larynx to the lips. For example, say 'ah' and try to feel the airstream from the larynx; you will feel the air passing through your mouth without any obstruction. Consonants, however, are sounds in which there is obstruction to the flow of air as it passes from the larynx to the lips.
The vowel sounds [a:] and [æ] The British [a:] is pronounced [æ] in American English before fricatives (f, s, θ), nasals (m, n, η) and the consonant l followed by another consonant. For example: word British English American English dance [dɑ:ns] [dæns] after [`ɑ:ftə] [`æftər] can’t [kɑ:nt] [kænt].
The sounds [ju:] and [u:] There are some words in which Britons say [ju:] and Americans say [u:]. For example: word British English American English tune [tju:n] [tu:n] tulip [`tju:līp] [`tu:līp].
Vowel sounds [] and [ɑ] Americans usually pronounce an open o before the p, t, k and l consonants, instead of the British darker sound. For example: word British English American English hot [ht] [hɑ:t] body [`bdi] [`bɑ:di] problem [`prbləm] [`prɑ:bləm].
Vowels followed by [r] These are called rhotic or r-colored; the [r] is not pronounced in British English, but many American speakers pronounce it. For example: word British English American English poor [puə] [puər] here [hiə] [hi(ə)r] dirt [d:t] [dərt].
Voiced Sound
When the vocal cords are drawn together, the air from the lungs repeatedly pushes them apart as it passes through, creating a vibration effect. They are voiced sounds.
The voiced t This is also an American invention; it is a t that sounds very much like d. It is heard when it occurs between two vowels (e.g. better, butter, letter, matter etc), between a voiced vowel and a consonant (e.g. plenty, winter, bounty, painted, quantity etc), or between two unstressed syllables.
British and American English vocabulary
4.1. Vocabulary
According to Merrim-Webster (2018) Vocabulary is a list or collection of words or of words and phrases usually alphabetical arranged and explained or defined.
For many, the word vocabulary is primarily associated with the number of words that a person knows;
Vocabulary may indeed refer to the collection of words known by individual or by large group of people. It may also signify the body of specialized terms in a field of study or activity.
There are many differences between British English and American English Vocabulary. However, the most complicated for English language learners is probably the differences in vocabulary, including idioms and phrasal verbs.
Below you will see a few of the main vocabulary differences between British and American English:
British English
American English
anti-clockwise
counter-clockwise
Autumn
Fall
boot (of a car)
Trunk
Chips
fries or French fries
Crisps
potato chips
dustbin or bin
garbage can or trash can
Film
Movie
flat (to live in)
Apartment
Garden
Yard
Holiday
Vacation
Lift
Elevator
Motorway
freeway or expressway
Nappy
Diaper
The difference between British English and American English
One of the most obvious differences between British English and American English is the pronunciation, but there are also variations in grammar, spelling and vocabulary. American English often uses the past simple while British English uses the present perfect (I already did it – I’ve already done it); have got is usually used to talk about possession in British English while have is used in American English; prepositions are often used differently, e.g. Write me soon in American English versus Write to me soon in British English. With regards to spelling, American English often has a single consonant while British English has a double consonant (traveling – travelling) and it uses the spelling -ize, -or and -er whereas British English traditionally prefers -ise, -our and -re (organize – organise, color – colour, center – centre). Variations in slang and colloquial expressions naturally exist in the two nations, but even everyday words can be different – pants and trousers, elevator and lift, autumn and fall – which can lead to misunderstandings.
In British English, got is used both as the past tense and as the past participle of the verb get; gotten is not used. In American English, got is used as the past tense, while either got or gotten is used as the past participle, depending on, among other things, the meaning of the verb.
För corresponds to in /favour/favor/ of only in the sense ‘be supportive of’, e.g. Jag röstade för det här förslaget.
This difference concerns the use of the suffi x -ise/-ize to form verbs, e.g. real + -ize > realize. The form -ize is used in both British and American English; the form -ise is chiefl y used in British English, where it is more frequent than -ize.
The adjective corresponding to Swedish lärd in, for instance, en lärd akademiker is learned in both British and American English, but the pronunciation is different: /"l3;nId || "l3;nId/.
When the English word corresponds to Swedish taxameter or mätare, it is spelt meter in both British and American English (the pronunciation is the same).
However, computer programs are usually spelt programs even in British English.
The two English words are not completely equivalent: a British academic year is often divided into three terms, while it is more usual for an American academic year to be divided into two semesters.
Conclusion
On the whole, these would be the main differences between British and American English; as expected, there are others, as well, but they are topics for other group. On the other hand, however different these two varieties might seem, there is only one English language, which is presently spoken by more than a third of the world’s population. Choosing what variant to speak remains a matter of preference, but a good speaker of English should know how to juggle with both or at least should know how to recognize them. Perhaps, at a certain time in the future, the differences will be erased and we will all speak one single language. That common language might as well be English; for the time being, English is a universal language that helps communication between peoples become easier.
Bibliography
Peter Streven, British and American English, Collier-Macmillan, 1972
Margaret Moore, Understanding British English, Citadel Press, 1989
Colleen Cotter (Editor), Sally Steward, 2nd Edition, Lonely Planet USA Phrasebook: Understanding Americans & Their Culture, Lonely Planet, August, 2001
Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2002
1.Introduction 2
2. American and British English 3
3.British and American English pronunciation 3
3.1. Pronunciation 3
4. British and American English vocabulary 5
4.1. Vocabulary 5
5. The difference between British English and American English 6
6. Conclusion 8
7. Bibliography 9
Introduction
Nowadays, English is probably the most frequently spoken language in the world, either as an official language, or as a foreign language. Speaking English has become more than a trend, more than a fashion. Relative fluency in English is getting more and more to be a must when it comes to communicating with people belonging to other nations or applying for a job. But the question is: what kind of English do we speak? For English is not at all a homogenous language. In this task we are going to talk about British and American English pronunciation and vocabulary. According to the Merriam-Webster (2018) pronunciation is the act or manner of pronouncing something.
According to Merrim-Webster (2018) Vocabulary is a list or collection of words or of words and phrases usually alphabetical arranged and explained or defined.
Vocabulary may indeed refer to the collection of words known by individual or by large group of people. It may also signify the body of specialized terms in a field of study or activity.
There are many differences between British English and American English Vocabulary. However, the most complicated for English language learners is probably the differences in vocabulary, including idioms and phrasal verbs.
American and British English
British English (BrE) is the form of English used in the United Kingdom. It includes all English dialects used there.
American English (AmE) is the form of English used in the United States. It includes all English dialects.
3. British and American English pronunciation
3.1. Pronunciation
According to the Merriam-Webster (2018) pronunciation is the act or manner of pronouncing something.
Pronunciation means how we say words. Most people speak the dialect of Standard English with accent that belongs to the part of the country they come from or live in. Learners of British English commonly hear RP (receive pronunciation).
How we use spoken stress and rhythm is also an important part of pronunciation. For example, it is important to know which syllables in a word are stressed and how different patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables are pronounced.
There are some pronunciation rules which are different in British and American English. The most important of all are those concerning stress, some vowel sounds, the voiced t and vowels followed by an ‘r’.
Stress
Stress is defined by psychologists as the body’s reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental, or emotional adjustment or response. Dyer, K.A. (2006).
American and British speakers have different ways of emphasizing a certain syllable when they utter certain words of two syllables, such as: word British English American English ballet [`bæleī] [bæ`leī] debris [`debri:] [də`bri] Similar differences can be encountered in words like garage, gourmet, paté, chalet etc. In words with more than two syllables, Americans tend to emphasize the end. For example: word British English American English secretary [`sekrətri] [`sekrəteri] preparatory [prīpærətri] [prīpærətəri] Other words that stick to this rule are conservatory, inflammatory, territory etc; an interesting case is the word laboratory, which is pronounced [lə`br(ə)tri] in British and [`læbrət:ri] in American English. Another distinguishing element for American English is the reduction of syllables in words ending in –ile, such as mobile, missile, docile etc. For example: word British English American English hostile [`hstaīl] [`hɑ:stl] fragile [`frædl] .
Vowel Sounds
According to Roach (1992: 10 - 11), vowels are sounds in which there is no obstruction to the flow of air as it passes from the larynx to the lips. For example, say 'ah' and try to feel the airstream from the larynx; you will feel the air passing through your mouth without any obstruction. Consonants, however, are sounds in which there is obstruction to the flow of air as it passes from the larynx to the lips.
The vowel sounds [a:] and [æ] The British [a:] is pronounced [æ] in American English before fricatives (f, s, θ), nasals (m, n, η) and the consonant l followed by another consonant. For example: word British English American English dance [dɑ:ns] [dæns] after [`ɑ:ftə] [`æftər] can’t [kɑ:nt] [kænt].
The sounds [ju:] and [u:] There are some words in which Britons say [ju:] and Americans say [u:]. For example: word British English American English tune [tju:n] [tu:n] tulip [`tju:līp] [`tu:līp].
Vowel sounds [] and [ɑ] Americans usually pronounce an open o before the p, t, k and l consonants, instead of the British darker sound. For example: word British English American English hot [ht] [hɑ:t] body [`bdi] [`bɑ:di] problem [`prbləm] [`prɑ:bləm].
Vowels followed by [r] These are called rhotic or r-colored; the [r] is not pronounced in British English, but many American speakers pronounce it. For example: word British English American English poor [puə] [puər] here [hiə] [hi(ə)r] dirt [d:t] [dərt].
Voiced Sound
When the vocal cords are drawn together, the air from the lungs repeatedly pushes them apart as it passes through, creating a vibration effect. They are voiced sounds.
The voiced t This is also an American invention; it is a t that sounds very much like d. It is heard when it occurs between two vowels (e.g. better, butter, letter, matter etc), between a voiced vowel and a consonant (e.g. plenty, winter, bounty, painted, quantity etc), or between two unstressed syllables.
British and American English vocabulary
4.1. Vocabulary
According to Merrim-Webster (2018) Vocabulary is a list or collection of words or of words and phrases usually alphabetical arranged and explained or defined.
For many, the word vocabulary is primarily associated with the number of words that a person knows;
Vocabulary may indeed refer to the collection of words known by individual or by large group of people. It may also signify the body of specialized terms in a field of study or activity.
There are many differences between British English and American English Vocabulary. However, the most complicated for English language learners is probably the differences in vocabulary, including idioms and phrasal verbs.
Below you will see a few of the main vocabulary differences between British and American English:
British English
American English
anti-clockwise
counter-clockwise
Autumn
Fall
boot (of a car)
Trunk
Chips
fries or French fries
Crisps
potato chips
dustbin or bin
garbage can or trash can
Film
Movie
flat (to live in)
Apartment
Garden
Yard
Holiday
Vacation
Lift
Elevator
Motorway
freeway or expressway
Nappy
Diaper
The difference between British English and American English
One of the most obvious differences between British English and American English is the pronunciation, but there are also variations in grammar, spelling and vocabulary. American English often uses the past simple while British English uses the present perfect (I already did it – I’ve already done it); have got is usually used to talk about possession in British English while have is used in American English; prepositions are often used differently, e.g. Write me soon in American English versus Write to me soon in British English. With regards to spelling, American English often has a single consonant while British English has a double consonant (traveling – travelling) and it uses the spelling -ize, -or and -er whereas British English traditionally prefers -ise, -our and -re (organize – organise, color – colour, center – centre). Variations in slang and colloquial expressions naturally exist in the two nations, but even everyday words can be different – pants and trousers, elevator and lift, autumn and fall – which can lead to misunderstandings.
In British English, got is used both as the past tense and as the past participle of the verb get; gotten is not used. In American English, got is used as the past tense, while either got or gotten is used as the past participle, depending on, among other things, the meaning of the verb.
För corresponds to in /favour/favor/ of only in the sense ‘be supportive of’, e.g. Jag röstade för det här förslaget.
This difference concerns the use of the suffi x -ise/-ize to form verbs, e.g. real + -ize > realize. The form -ize is used in both British and American English; the form -ise is chiefl y used in British English, where it is more frequent than -ize.
The adjective corresponding to Swedish lärd in, for instance, en lärd akademiker is learned in both British and American English, but the pronunciation is different: /"l3;nId || "l3;nId/.
When the English word corresponds to Swedish taxameter or mätare, it is spelt meter in both British and American English (the pronunciation is the same).
However, computer programs are usually spelt programs even in British English.
The two English words are not completely equivalent: a British academic year is often divided into three terms, while it is more usual for an American academic year to be divided into two semesters.
Conclusion
On the whole, these would be the main differences between British and American English; as expected, there are others, as well, but they are topics for other group. On the other hand, however different these two varieties might seem, there is only one English language, which is presently spoken by more than a third of the world’s population. Choosing what variant to speak remains a matter of preference, but a good speaker of English should know how to juggle with both or at least should know how to recognize them. Perhaps, at a certain time in the future, the differences will be erased and we will all speak one single language. That common language might as well be English; for the time being, English is a universal language that helps communication between peoples become easier.
Bibliography
Peter Streven, British and American English, Collier-Macmillan, 1972
Margaret Moore, Understanding British English, Citadel Press, 1989
Colleen Cotter (Editor), Sally Steward, 2nd Edition, Lonely Planet USA Phrasebook: Understanding Americans & Their Culture, Lonely Planet, August, 2001
Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2002
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