differences between british english and american english.doc

Differences between British English and American EnglishAbstract: I want to explain the differences in the following aspects: pronunciation, spelling, grammar, vocabulary. I will compare these two languages in theory and use some examples in order to make it clear. I think we can learn more and understanding better through this kind of research.Key words: differences, American English, British English, pronunciation, spelling, grammar, vocabulary.English is one of the most important languages in the world because its widely used. There are many countries used English as their official language and let English class be one of the compulsory classes in students education. Undoubtedly, when it comes to science, technology,international communication and so on, English plays an irreplaceable role. However, as for us, language learners, are often mistaken by these two language, especially in listening and understanding. We are more likely to be confused by them. As a result, I want to find some special characters of these two languages which may help us master these two languages better. As I mentioned above, I will try to illustrate the differences from four aspects.and I hope after my research, I will have a better idea toward these two languages.A. Differences in pronunciationIf the differences of spelling and even part of the vocabulary between British and American English often pass unnotices, the variant of pronunciation or accent would readily identify a speaker as belonging to one country or the other. The chief differences lie in the vowel sounds, but as to consonants, there are still some differences.1. Consonants: In British English, the letter r is not pronounced before consonant; at the end of a word, r is pronounced if the next word begins with a vowel but not otherwise, e.g. , farm /fa:m/, door /d:/, a member of / memb v/; whereas r is pronounced in all position in American English: farm /farm/, door /dr/, a member of / membr v/. The digraph wh is pronounced /w/ in British English, but /hw/ in American English e.g. , when /wen/, AmE. /hwen/ Word British American ate /et/ /eit/ depot /depu/ /di:pu/ leisure /le/ /li:/ schedule / Fedju:l/ /skedjul/ vase /va:z/ /veis, veiz/In regard to stress, although identical systems of stress and rhythm are used by British and American English, it should be added that British tends to emphasize the syllables with primary stress while obscuring other syllables, whereas in American speech a polysyllabic words has a stronger secondary stress than in British English: American British English address address advertisement advertisement detail detail laboratory laboratory recess recessDifferences of vowel sounds between British and American EnglishBrit AmE. Key words British American/a:/ / fast, advance /fa:st/, /dva:ns/ /fst/, /dvns/C/ /a/ hot, stop /hCt/, /stCp/ /hat/, /stap/C/ /C:/ dog, moth /dCg/, /mCW/ /dC:g/, /mC:W/ /ju:/ /u:/ tube, absolute /tju:b/, /AbsElju:t/ /tu:b/, /AbsElu:t/iEr/ /I(:)r/ hero /hiErou/ /hi:rou/uEe/ /I(:)r/ curious /kjuEriEs/ /kjutiEs/Qr/ /E:r/ hurry, scurry /hQri/, /skQri/ /hE:ri/, /skE:ri/ai/ /E/ agile /AdVail/ /AdVEl/e/ /i:/ leisure, premier /leVE/, /premiE/ /li:VE/, /pri:miE/B. Differences in spellingTo put it in a nutshell, the American and British systems are essentially the same, but there are few words spelling have obvious differences. There are two major factors: one is because the English which the colonists brought to the new continent allowed great variation in spelling; the other is Noah Webster and eminent persons like Benjamin Franklin proposed numerous reforms on spelling. In brief, there are regularities in the spelling of American English and British English. Some examples follow: Divergences British spelling American spelling our-or colour, neighbour color, neighbor ou-o mould, smoulder mold, smolder re-er centre, theatre center, theater gue-g catalogue, dialogue catalog, dialog ll-l travelling, skillful traveling, skillful mme-m programme, gramme program, gram omission of slient-e axe, judgement ax, judgment ce-se defence, licence defense, license e-i enquire, enclose inquire, inclose y-i tyre, dyke tire, dike c-k sceptic, disc skeptic, disk s-z cosy, tsar cozy, tzar xion-ction connexion, inflexion connction, inflection ae-e aesthetic, encyclopaedia esthetic, encyclopedia ise-ize naturalise ,utilise naturalize, utilize British American cheque, cigarette check, cigaret draught, gaol, grey draft, jail, gray kerb, plough, pyjamas curb, plow, pajamas Storey, waggon story, wagon. C. Differences in grammarOn the whole American and British English use the same grammar system. Differences are few in number and trifling in nature. The following are some main divergences:1. The use of subjunctive: American English generally preserves the traditional subjunctive form, whereas British English commonly adds should to the subordinate clause except in legal or formal contexts. Example: I suggest that the meeting should be postponed. (BrE) I suggest that the meeting be postponed. (AmE) It is important that the motion should be placed on the agenda. (BrE) It is important that the motion be places on the agenda. (AmE)2. The treatment of a repeated subject after the indefinite pronoun one: BE: one is repeated, as in One cannot succeed unless one tries hard. AE: he is used, as in One cannot succeed unless he tried hard.3. Past participle forms for get:.AmE has two past participle forms for get(got and gotten) whereas BrE has only got.4. Differences in preposition: AmE BrEMary aims to become a writer. Mary aims at become a writer.Lets check that out. Lets check up on that.Please fill out the form. Lets fill in the form.My plan is different than yours. My plan is different from yours.He starts his vacation on Friday. He starts his holidays on Friday.The conference begins March 1. The conference begins on March 1.The swimming pool is open days from The swimming pool is open each d June through September. day from June to September. Is George home? Is George at home?I live on Lawton Street. I live in Lawton Street.Lets stay home this evening. Lets stay at home this evening.5. A difference in the articleWith words like school, hospital, church, when the idea expressed concerns the use made of the building, the definite article is not used in BrE but used in AmE: He has gone to school. (BrE) He has gone to the school. (AmE)6. Do you have, have you got, did you have, had you got- It was noted that to ask “DO you own or possess at this moment”, AmE used Do you have., BrE used “Have you got”. Since the early 1970s, however, many speakers og BrE, especially in the younger age-groups, have begun to use Do you have., and Have you got. Has become much less frequent even in BrE. (Strevens 1972:47)D. Differences in vocabularyDue to the differences in the social and economic conditions, physical environment and population structure, there are some differences between American English and British English. Although the majority vocabulary share the same meaning, there are still a few words reflecting the differences. The major differences can be divide in to three parts.1. Words without counterparts or equivalent.Roughly, words within this category can be further classified into three types: First, when the English colonists began and continued to settle in the new land, they constantly needed expression to donate the plants, animals, features of landscape and life new to them, which are either borrowed from American Indians and non-English immigrants or coined with formative brought over from home. Eg: bayon (F. , landscape), pitch pine (Eng. , plant), oppossum (Ind. , animal), logroll (Eng. , life) Second, after the English and other European immigrants settled down and shares a common life and struggle, especially since independence, they developed their own political, economic and other institutions and ways of life; they had their own course of history, consequently large numbers of expression with no exact equivalent in English have come into existence. Eg: electoral college, lynch, New Deal, rock-and-roll, purple heart. Third, British institution and way of life have also been changing since the colonization of American; thus term for British organization and culture having no counterparts in the United States have come into being. Eg: back benches, White Hall, George Cross, shadow cabin, Privy Purse.2. Same words, different meaningsSome vocabulary developed individually in the two languages. This phenomenon may make the words lost their basic meaning and gradually obtained some new meaning. As a result, it has changed the meaning of the vocabulary in the two languages. For example, in American English, subway means the train under the ground, while it means pavement under the ground in British English. Some more examples follow: Word American British bill bank note a demand for payment of a debt billion a thousand million a million million enjoin to forbid by law to compel, to order by law pressman an operator od a printing office a newspaper man veteran an ex-service man of any age an old soldier of long service3. Common ideas, different wordsUs