American English and British English

 

American English and British English 

(Sahil Sharifdin Bhat )

Things to be learnt 

Introduction 

Difference in Spelling 

Difference in Words/vocabulary

Difference in Grammar 

Difference in Pronunciation /accent

 

Introduction 

English language is more than 1400 years old . Its seeds were sown in 5th century AD by some Germanic people (Also called Anglo-Saxons ) who came from Central Europe and Scandinavia [ now those areas are called northwest Germany, southern Denmark and the Netherlands ] . They spoke various dialects . All dialects spoken by them and later by the natives of Britain from 5th to 11th century AD are collectively known as Old English . Remember, The people of Britain spoke Celtic languages and possibly Latin before they began to speak Old English. Moreover , When William conquered England in 1066 , English language began to be influenced by French language and it marked the beginning of Middle English . Middle English lasted about four centuries and then it was replaced by Modern English . Modern English which we use today Or which was used by William Shakespeare emerged in the late 15th century AD with the introduction of the printing press to London , the publication of the King James Bible and the reformative movement like Great Vowel Shift to reform the spelling, pronunciation etc of English language in order to establish a standard dialect of English language. Britishers spread English language all across the world through colonisation and missionary activities. Now English language is the dominant language in Britain , Ireland the USA ,  Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many smaller former British colonies . It is widely spoken in India , Pakistan , parts of Africa , and elsewhere . There is British English, American English, Australian English , Indian English and various other dialects [englishes] . Today , It has approximately 160 dialects. It has one million words in store and about 1,70,000 words in use. It has over 1 billion speakers all over the world. It is called a lingua franca of the world. However, the numbers of its dialects , accents , vocabulary etc are on the constant rise . The biggest two dialects , rather , two varieties of English language are : British English and American English . Mark my words , they are not two different languages , in fact , they are the two biggest and most popular dialects of the same language . The differences between these two Englishes are minor . Some differences are in spelling , some in using vocabulary , some in pronunciation and some in grammar . These two Englishes are 98% same . Some teachers or linguists of English language make a big fuss over these minor differences only to run their tuition centers or to sell their books . The learners of English language need not panic . They must know that these differences are mostly political and regional . Sometimes , a speaker knows both the popular dialects but deliberately uses one and ignores the other . So, don't assume that Americans are totally ignorant of British English or vice versa. I personally wish that there would evolve a global dialect of English language acceptable to all people of all places including the people of America and England. 

Difference in Spelling between American and British English 

British English spellings are mostly referring to the origin of words but America English spellings are mostly based on the sounds of words . British English spellings are based on Samuel Johnson's Dictionary whereas America English spellings are based on Noah Webster's dictionary .

I) Americans use OR where Britishers use OUR ;eg 

British English = American English

Colour = color 

Humour = Humor 

Neighbour = Neighbor 

II) Americans use ZE where Britishers use SE ;eg 

British English = American English

Organise = Organize 

Apologise= Apologize 

Analyse = Analyze 

Paralyse = paralyze 

III) Americans use single L where Britishers use Double L ; eg 

British English = American English

Traveller = Traveler

Cancelled = Canceled 

IV) Americans use e where Britishers use ae/oe ;eg 

British English = American English

leukaemia = leukemia

manoeuvre = maneuver

oestrogen = estrogen

paediatric = pediatric

V) Americans use S where Britishers use C ;eg 

British English = American English

Practice = Practise 

defence =defense

licence = license

offence =offense

pretence = pretense 

VI) Americans use Og where Britishers use Ogue ; eg 

British English = American English

Analogue = analog 

Catalogue = catalog 

Dialogue = dialog

Difference in Words/vocabulary between American and British English 

As stated above, a speaker may know both sets of words but he uses the one and ignores the other . So, don't assume that Americans are totally ignorant of British words or vice versa. Both sets of words belong to English language and a user of English language must know both of them .

British = American

Set A —Set B 

Pint = Beer 

Mates = Friends 

Reckon = Think 

The bonnet of car = The hood of car

Go on holidays = Go on vacation 

Live in flats = Live in apartments

Rubbish = Garbage/trash 

Ground floor = First floor 

Lift = Elevator 

Telly = TV

Pavement = Sidewalk 

The underground = the subway 

Trousers = pants 

Angry = mad 

Anywhere = anyplace 

Autumn = fall 

Bank note = bill 

Barrister = attorney 

Biscuit = cookie 

Caretaker = Janitor 

Chemist's = Drug store 

Chips = french fries 

The cinema = the movies 

Constable = the patrolman

Cooker = stove 

Maize = corn 

Cotton = thread 

Crossroads = intersection 

Curtains = drapes 

Dustbin = trashcan 

Engine = motor 

Film = movie 

Flyover = overpass 

Garden = yard 

Graduate = alumnus 

Gym shoes = sneakers 

Handbag = purse 

Hoarding = billboard 

ill = sick 

Interval = intermission 

Jersey = sweater 

Jug = pitcher 

Lorry = truck 

Luggage = baggage

Main road = highway 

Maths = math 

Mean = stingy 

Motorway = freeway 

Nappy = diaper 

Nursing home = private hospital

paraffin = kerosene

Peep = peek 

petrol = gasoline 

Post = mail 

Postbox = mailbox 

Postman = mailman 

Pub = bar 

Public toilet = restroom 

Queue = line 

Railway = railroad

Rubber = eraser 

Shop = store 

Staff = faculty 

Sweet = dessert

Tap = faucet 

Taxi = cab 

Term = semester 

Timetable = schedule 

Tin = can 

Underpants = shorts 

Waistcoat = vest 

Wardrobe = closet 

Zip = zipper 

Difference in grammar between American and British English  

I) Use of collective noun : 

The police is coming . ( American)

The police are coming . ( British ) 

 The team is stong . ( American)

The team are strong. ( British ) 

II) Americans use ''will'' or '' should'' mostly and Britishers use mostly ''shall'' to express future tense. 

I will be there . ( American)

I shall be there . ( British ) 

Should I go out tonight ? ( American)

Shall I go out tonight ? ( British ) 

III) Difference in conjugation: 

 British English = American English

GET GOT GOT = GET GOT GOTTEN 

Learn learnt learnt = Learn learned learned 

Dream dreamt dreamt = Dream dreamed dreamed 

Burn burnt burnt = Burned Burned Burned 

Smell smelt smelt = Smell smelled smelled 

Spell spelt spelt = spell spelled spelled 

Spill spilt spilt = spill spilled spilled 

Dive dived dived = Dive dove dived 

IV) Americans use the preposition ''on'' where Britishers use ''at'' ;eg 

At the weekend . ( British ) 

On the weekend . ( American)

V) one's vs His ? 

One should do his duty . ( British) 

One should do one's duty . ( American)

VI) Americans prefer to use Past simple where Britishers use present perfect ;eg 

 

Where is Sarah ? 

She has gone to her home . ( British) 

Where is Sarah ? 

 She went to her home . ( American)

He has just left . ( British) 

He just left . ( American)  

VII) Americans use the delexical verb ''take'' where Britishers use ''have '' ;eg 

 ( British) 

Have a bath . 

Have a shower .

Have a nap . 

Have a holiday. 

 ( American) 

Take a bath .

Take a shower .

Take a nap . 

Take a vacation . 

VIII) Americans use ''Have got '' where Britishers use ''have '' ;eg 

I have a big house . ( British) 

I have got a big house . ( American)  

I have to buy food . ( British) 

I have got to buy food . ( American) 

IX) Needn't versus Don't need to 

You needn't come . ( British) 

You don't need to come . ( American) 

X ) Use of Auxiliaries : 

Are you joining us ?

I might do . ( British) 

Are you joining us ?

I might . ( American)  

XI) Use of prepositions :

She wrote to me . ( British) 

She wrote me . ( American)  

I promise to write to him daily . ( British) 

I promise to write him daily . ( American) 

She studies at University/ at school. ( British) 

She studies in university / in school . ( American) 

She is at hospital . ( British) 

She is in hospital . ( American) 

This place is different from/to that place . ( British) 

This place is different from/than that place . ( American) 

Difference in pronunciation /accent between American and British English  

Pronunciation means a way of saying out words and accent means a distinct way of saying out words . Pronunciation reveals the correct sound of a word whereas accent reveals the culture , upbringing , education , region and roots of the speaker also . 

Americans usually pronounce all letters in a word . If there are silent letters in words , they prefer not to write them . Colour , dialog , pediatrician , honor etc are American words . On the contrary , Britishers do not pronounce some letters in some words but they don't drop them either . 

The key differences between American and British pronunciation are here : 

 

I) Pronouncing /r/

 Britishers do not pronounce ''r'' when it comes after a vowel sound but Americans do . Therefore , American English is rhotic whereas British English is non-rhotic : 

Word=British English = American English

Park= pɑːk = pɑrk 

Horse= hɔːs = hɔrs 

Further= ˈfɜːðə = ˈfɜrðər 

Car = kɑː = kɑr 

Bar = bɑː = bɑr 

 

II) Britishers use the back vowel /ɒ/ where Americans use /ɑ/ : 

Word=British English = American English

Shop = ʃɒp = ʃɑp 

Lost = lɒst = lɑst 

Want = wɒnt = wɑnt 

III) Britishers use mostly /a/ where Americans use /ɛ/ : 

Word=British English = American English

Carry= kari = kɛri

Embarrass= ɪmˈbarɪs =ɪmˈbɛrəs

Harry = hari = ˈhɛri 

IV) Britishers use /ɜː/ where Americans use /ɜː(r)/ . Americans use this intrusive (r) :

 

Word=British English= American English

Heard =hɜːd = hɜː(r)d

First = fɜːst = fɜː(r)st

Worst = wɜːst = wɜː(r)st 

Colonel = ˈkɜːnəl =ˈkɜː(r)nəl

V) Britishers use /ɔː/ where Americans use ɔ(r) or /ɑ/ : 

Word=British English = American English

Force=fɔːs= fɔ(r)s

Sword=sɔːd= sɔ(r)d

Thought=θɔːt=θɑt

Law= lɔː = lɑ

VI) Americans pronounce /t/ in the middle of a word as /d/ or they don't pronounce it : 

Word= American English

Latter = Ladder 

Butter = Budder 

Twenty = Twenny 

Dentist = Dennis 

VII) Loss of /j/ : Americans have dropped /j/ in most words : 

Word= British English = American English

News = njuːz = nuːz

Tuesday = ˈtjuːzdeɪ = ˈtuːzdeɪ 

Suit = sjuːt = suːt

Resume = rɪˈzjuːm = rɪˈzuːm

VIII) Use of /ʍ / by Americans when they pronounce the words beginning with WH- . 

 [ /ʍ / gives ''hw'' sound ]

Word = American English

Why = ʍaɪ 

Where= ʍɛə(r)

Whiskey= ˈʍɪski 

Whale = ʍeɪl

IX) Americans mostly use /ɑː/ where Britishers use /ɒ/ : 

Word = British English = American English

Dog = dɒɡ = dɑːɡ

Pot = pɒt = pɑːt

Cot = kɒt = kɑːt

X ) Americans use /æ/ where Britishers use /ɑː/ : 

Word = British English = American English

Laugh = lɑːf = læf

Dance = dɑːns = dæns

Sample = sɑːm.pəl = sæːm.pəl

Branch = brɑːntʃ = bræntʃ

Path =pɑːθ = pæθ 

XI) Americans use /ə/ where Britishers use /aɪ/ : 

Word = British English = American English

Mobile = məʊbaɪl = moʊbəl 

Missile = mɪsaɪl = mɪsəl

Hostile = hɒstaɪl = hɑstəl 

Docile = dəʊ.saɪl = dɑː.səl 

XII) Americans pronounce final syllables quite differently than Britishers do : 

Word = British English = American English

Territory = terɪtəri = terɪtɔːri

Laboratory = ləˈbɒrətri = læbrətɔːri 

Satisfactory= sætɪsˈfæktri = sætɪsˈfæktɔːri

Conservatory = kənˈsɜː.və.tri = kənˈsɜː.vətɔːɹi

Note : You will learn more about British English and American English by watching news and movies , by reading books and by touring the USA and the UK .