The different between american english and british englis1.doc

The difference between American English and British EnglishName:Cai Fengjiao Number:20099383With the development of modern society and globalization，English is used more and more widely than ever before.As one of the most important languages in the world，the using of English is definitely significant.English is one unmistakably one language but can be grouped into two major varietiesAmerican English and British English.Even though they share some similarities sometimes,therere still differences between them.For the studentes whose major is English,distinguishing the differences is benefitable in the process of study.Key words：American English British English differences pronunciation spelling meaning use Historical background The English language was first introduced to the Americas by British colonization, beginning in the early 17th century. Similarly, the language spread to numerous other parts of the world as a result of British trade and colonization elsewhere and the spread of the former British Empire, which, by 1921, held sway over a population of about 470570 million people: approximately a quarter of the worlds population at that time.Over the past 400 years, the form of the language used in the Americasespecially in the United Statesand that used in the United Kingdom have diverged in a few minor ways, leading to the dialects now occasionally referred to as American English and British English. Differences between the two include pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary (lexis), spelling, punctuation, idioms, formatting of dates and numbers, and so on, although the differences in written and most spoken grammar structure tend to be much more minor than those of other aspects of the language in terms of mutual intelligibility. A small number of words have completely different meanings between the two dialects or are even unknown or not used in one of the dialects. One particular contribution towards formalizing these differences came from Noah Webster, who wrote the first American dictionary (published 1828) with the intention of showing that people in the United States spoke a different dialect from Britain, much like a regional accent.This divergence between American English and British English once caused George Bernard Shaw to say that the United States and United Kingdom are two countries divided by a common language; a similar comment is ascribed to Winston Churchill. Likewise, Oscar Wilde wrote, We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, the language (The Canterville Ghost, 1888). Henry Sweet falsely predicted in 1877, that within a century, American English, Australian English and British English would be mutually unintelligible. It may be the case that increased worldwide communication through radio, television, the Internet, and globalization has reduced the tendency to regional variation. This can result either in some variations becoming extinct (for instance, the wireless, superseded by the radio) or in the acceptance of wide variations as perfectly good English everywhere. Often at the core of the dialect though, the idiosyncrasies remain.Nevertheless, it remains the case that although spoken American and British English are generally mutually intelligible, there are enough differences to cause occasional misunderstandings or at times embarrassment for example, some words that are quite innocent in one dialect may be considered vulgar in the other.English is most studied and used language in the world.There are many different aspects between American English and British English,and here,I just want to introducte the differences in the following aspects:spelling,pronunciation，vocabulary，grammar etc.differences in spellingAmerican English and British English are belong to the same system.But the two countries in the spelling system are still a little different.(1)American spelling always more adjusted to the spelling regularity and pronunciation than British English.The most typical example in American English is in the use or or er instead of our or reE.g.:color colour center centre Humor humour kilometer kilometre(2) American spelling always aviod the repetition of the letter of consonant，generally,l is not doubled in American English.E.g.:canceled canceling cancelled cancellingMarveled marveling Marvelled marvelling (3) American spelling always simplified some letter compound like e ae oe o ou Eg: esthetic aesthetic mold mould（4）American spelling always omit the un-pronounced lettersE.g: catalog catalogue ax axedialog dialogue good-by good-bye.differences in pronunciationdifferences in individual soundsAmerican English retain the r at the end of the words,car,etc.or before consonants as in hard,etc. in British English the r is un- pronounced as in teacher tit.BrE：starst： cark：AmE：star str car krinterms of consonants,the most obvious systematic difference is the pronunciation of r behind vowels in American English。But this pronunciation dont exist in British English.Here are some examples:BrE:door do: father f: pleasure plAmE：door do:r father f:r pleasure plrThe other important systematic is the pronunciation of /t/between two vowels.It prefer as /t/ in British English.But pronounced as/d/ in American English.e.g: butter better matter fatterAmerican English prefer to use flat a similar to /,in words path,grass,answer,etc. against the broad a currently usd by Englishmen.The third obvious systematic difference is related to/l/.there is difference between clear/l/and dark/l/ in British English,but not in American English. Americans pronounced it as dark /l/ anytime.e.g.:calm/ka:lm/ /ka:m/The letter a in consonant combination,at ,ask, ass, ath, alf and ance is pronounced as/a:/ in British English.Whereas a is pronounced as / / in American English.e.g.: after/ a:ft/ / ft/half/ha:f/ /h f/ in British English is pronounced as / in American English.e.g.: cup/kp/ /kp/diphthongs in British English are replaced by long vowels in American English.e.g.: /ei/by /e/ /u/by /by /e/ /i/by /i/ /ju:/ in British English pronounced as / u: / after a dental in American English.e.g.: duke/du:k/ /d ju:k/ news/nu:z/ /nju:z/ differences in stress There is obvious change on stress in British English and American English. British English tends to stress strongly one syllable,usually the firsr hurry over the rest of the word. American English tends to put the stress on the first syllable,but also to put a secondary stress on the latter syllable and pronunces the remaining syllables more distinctly. words ends up with ate in American English always put the stress on the first syllable,but it was put on the last syllable in British English.Examples : like donate migrate vacate most words ended up with ary ery ory put the stress on the first syllable,in American English,a secondary stress will be put on the penultimate syllable.But in British English,the penultimate vowels usually be lightened or omitted.differences in vocabulary and idiomsEnglish basic vocabulary system is British English and American English commom vocabulary core.Leave this core,whether British English or American English will not exist.British English and American English the same words with different meaning:the same word in the united states to both in English,also appeared in British English,but said the concept of completely different respectively.For example:BrE:biscuit (苏打饼干)billion（万亿）overall（紧身裤）AmE ：biscuit（软饼）billion（十亿）overall（工装裤） different words with the same meaning：British English and American English in different words respectively the same concept. For example:film moive 电影sweets candy 糖果banknote bill 钞票long jump broad jump 跳远railway railroad 铁路train trolley 电车ring sb. Up call sb. Up 打电话 A number of English idioms that have essentially the same meaning show lexical differences between the British and the American version:for example:BrE:touch wood ; see the wood for the trees throw a spanner(in the works)AmE:knock on wood; see the forest for the trees; throw a(monkey) wrench(into a situation).differences in grammerGenerally speaking，British English and American English is using the same grammatical system.Little difference are very small，basically have the following different： In some cases，British English use now complete,sometimes Americans with general in the past,especially in the expression of the sources. for example:Translation：他刚回家了。BrE：He has just went home.AmE: He just went home.我刚吃完早餐。BrE：I had just had breakfast.AmE: I just had breakfast.喔！天啊!我把车撞坏了！BrE：Oh，my god!I have crashed the car!AmE: Oh，my god!I crashed the car! The different use of prepositions,for example:BrE AmE在周末 at the weekend on the weekend在家 at home home不同于 different from/to different than The different use of have in British English and American EnglishIn British English have usually used to talk about with,mutual relations often use the present prefect tense have said, for example:我买了一辆车：I have got a new car.我爸爸有两个兄弟：My fathers got two brothers.这个套间是不错，只是没有一个像样的浴室：Its a nice flat,but it hasnt got a proper bathroom.In American English have not only represent have to talking about all the action.have can be used as a verb. American English usage is much simpler than the British English usa