Differences between AMERICAN ENGLISH BRITISH ENGLISH Changes There

Differences between: AMERICAN ENGLISH & BRITISH ENGLISH

Changes § There are quite a few noticeable differences between the British English dialect and the dialect of American English. These are the ones we will cover: Spelling Pronunciation Vocabulary

Spelling AMERICAN – “-or” BRITISH – “-our” Color Colour Honour Favorite favourite AMERICAN – “-ze” BRITISH – “-se” Analyze Analyse Criticize Criticise Memorize Memorise AMERICAN – “-ll” BRITISH – “-l” Enrollment Enrolment Fulfill Fulfil Skillful skilful

Spelling, continued AMERICAN – “-er” BRITISH – “-re” Center Centre Meter Metre Theater theatre AMERICAN – “-og” BRITISH – “-ogue” Analogue Catalogue Dialogue AMERICAN – “-ck” or “-k” BRITISH – “-que” Bank Banque Check Cheque

Spelling, continued AMERICAN – “-e” BRITISH – “-ae” or “-oe” Encyclopedia Encyclopaedia Maneuver Manoeuvre Medieval Mediaeval AMERICAN – “-dg” “-gu” BRITISH – “-dge” “-gue” Aging Ageing Argument Arguement Judgement AMERICAN – “-ense” BRITISH – “-ence” License Licence Defense Defence

Spelling, continued Other word-specific differences -AMERICAN BRITISH Jewelry Jewellery Draft Draught Pajamas Pyjamas Plow Plough Programme Tire Tyre

Spelling {last one!} Base words that end in L normally double the L in British English when a suffix is added. BASE WORD AMERICAN BRITISH Counseling Counselling Equaled Equalled Modeling Modelling Quarreling Quarrelling Signaled Signalled Traveling Travelling The letter can double in American as well – but ONLY IF the stress is on the second syllable of the base word. BASE WORD AMERICAN BRITISH Excelling Propelling

Pronunciation �The way words are pronounced in America differs quite substantially from the Commonwealth. This goes to accents, of course, which differ vastly even WITHIN America AND within individual Commonwealth countries. However, there are some common elements that definitely distinguish Americans from Commonwealthers. 8

Pronunciation, continued � The Rounded A � People in the Commonwealth pronounce many of their A in a rounded way. That is, their mouths have a rounded shape. American's pronounce some A this way, such as "park" and "car", but most a's have a flatter sound, like the a in "hat". � Example: the "a" in the word "ask" is pronounced like the a in "hat" in America but in the Commonwealth the "a" in "ask" is pronounced more like the "a" in "car" or "park". 9

Pronunciation, continued �T's versus D's �Commonwealthers pronounce their t sounds with precision. Americans tend to either drop their t completely, or replace them with a d. Here are some examples: �Mountain/Moun'in �Daughter/Dawder, �Letter/ledder �Norton/Nor'in 10

Pronunciation, continued �The “ing” form �American do not pronounce the "g" in many words ending "ing". Examples"Running/Runnin’ Walking/Walkin’ Riding/Ridin’ Driving/ Drivin’ 11

Pronunciation: Emphasis � Where the emphasis in words is placed varies between Americans and Commonwealthers as well. Americans tend to place the emphasis in most words on the first syllable. In the Commonwealth, more often it is on the second syllable. This can make the word sound VERY differently. � USA: CON-troversy/ Br. Con-TROV-ersy � USA: A-dddress/ Br. A-DDRESS � USA: IS-sue/Br. Is-SUE 12

Pronunciation: Stress �Americans and Britons agree in most cases on where a word in stressed. For example, everyone says pencil and relax, cinema and consider, but the following words from the table are stressed differently in the two dialects: �ballet - BE : ballet - AE �address - BE : address * - AE �garage - BE : garage - AE �advertisement - BE : advertisement - AE 13

Vocabulary American & British English sometimes have different words for the same things -- AMERICAN BRITISH Apartment Flat Argument Row Carriage/coach Pram Bathroom Loo Can Tin Cookie Biscuit Diaper Nappy Elevator Lift Eraser Rubber Flashlight Torch Fries Chips Gas Petrol Guy Bloke/chap

More Vocabulary AMERICAN BRITISH Highway Motorway Truck Lorry Hood {of a car} Bonnet Trunk Boot Jelly Jam Vacation Holiday Kerosene Paraffin Windshield Windscreen Lawyer Solicitor License Plate Number Plate Line Queue Pacifier Dummy Mail Post Parking lot Car park Napkin Serviette Pharmacist Chemist Nothing Nought Sidewalk Pavement Period Full stop Soccer Football Potato chips crisps Trash can Bin

More Vocabulary § American and British English speakers often use the same words but intend very different meaning with them: WORD AMERICAN BRITISH Biscuit Dinner roll Cookie Brew Beer Tea Bureau Chest of drawers Writing table/desk Casket Coffin Jewelry Box First Floor Ground Floor “Second” Floor To hire To employ To rent http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/List_of_words_having_different_meanings_in _British_and_American_English {for more examples!}

Sources Intemann, Dr. F. “Teaching English Grammar and Lexis. ” http: //www-public. tu-bs. de: 8080/~intemann/BA/grammar-lexis/bara-ristauschubert. pdf § Jones, Susan. “List of American vs. British Spelling. ” http: //www 2. gsu. edu/~wwwesl/egw/jones/spelling. htm § Wallechinsky, David & Irving Wallace. “Trivia on History of Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary Part 1. ” http: //www. trivia-library. com/b/history-of-merriam-webster-dictionary-part-1. htm § Wikipedia. “British English. ” http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/British_English § Wikipedia. “American and British English Differences. ” http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/American_and_British_English_differences §