Throughout the 20th century, Standard British English (hereafter BrE) and Standard American English (hereafter AmE) made up the two ‘reference varieties’ of the English language. Even today - in the 21st century – BrE and AmE represent “a large proportion of all native speakers of English (83 per cent)” [Svartvik & Leech 2006: 150] in the world. The reason why these two varieties have aquired such a prestigious position among many other varieties of English is that in Great Britain and in the United States - two of the most influential nations of the 20th century in terms of political power and economical strength – “English has been institutionalised longer than anywhere else” [Cheshire 1991: 13]. Consequently, BrE and AmE “provided the chief native-speaker models which non-native speaking teachers of English” [Svartvik & Leech 2006: 150] aim to instil.
Although both ‘reference varieties’ of English seem to be very much the same at first sight, “British and American English undoubtedly are different, and Englishmen and Americans undoubtedly know it.” [Partridge & Clark 1951: 308]. Closer investigations reveal that AmE is different from BrE at levels of phonetics, phonology, grammar, lexis and spelling. Whereas the fields of pronunciation and lexis definitely share the most prominent and numerous differences between AmE and BrE, the field of spelling shows only a couple of minor differences. Today, the vast majority of English lexis is spelled the same in AmE and BrE. However - to a certain extent - there are some characteristic spelling differences between AmE and BrE which many learners of English are not well familiar with.
In the following, this paper concentrates on pointing out the major differences in spelling between contemporary AmE and BrE since this linguistic field of interest is very strongly related to the different historical and political developments America and Great Britain went through. Therefore, this paper will first work out some historical reasons for the development of spelling differences between the two ‘reference varieties’ and highlight America’s most influential attempts to standardise American spelling. Afterwards, it will give a detailed overview about the most prominent and common spelling differences between AmE and BrE by categorising them into three major groups and providing a couple of examples for each group, and finally, this paper will briefly reflect on the situation of AmE and BrE in the world today.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Historical stages and reasons for the development of spelling differences between AmE and BrE
- A brief survey of the first settlements, the establishment of printing, and the beginning of American writing
- Early efforts of spelling reform and their influence on American spelling
- The linguistic patriotism and the standardisation of American spelling
- Further reform efforts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
- Overview about differences between contemporary AmE and BrE in spelling and punctuation
- Standard spelling
- Simplification
- Regularisation
- Derivational uniformity
- Reflection of pronunciation
- Individual words differing in spelling
- Punctuation
- Standard spelling
- Situation of AmE and BrE in the world today
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to highlight the major spelling differences between contemporary American English (AmE) and British English (BrE), exploring their historical and political roots. It investigates the historical development of these differences, focusing on significant standardization efforts in America. The paper also provides a categorized overview of common spelling variations and briefly discusses the current global standing of AmE and BrE.
- Historical development of spelling differences between AmE and BrE
- The role of standardization efforts in shaping American spelling
- Categorization and examples of common spelling differences between AmE and BrE
- The influence of political and cultural factors on language evolution
- The current global distribution and status of AmE and BrE
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This chapter introduces the two "reference varieties" of English, AmE and BrE, highlighting their significant global prevalence and influence in the 20th and 21st centuries. It emphasizes that despite initial surface similarities, considerable differences exist in phonetics, phonology, grammar, lexis, and spelling, with the latter showing comparatively fewer variations. The paper focuses on exploring the major spelling differences between AmE and BrE, linking them to historical and political developments in America and Great Britain.
Historical stages and reasons for the development of spelling differences between AmE and BrE: This chapter delves into the historical evolution of spelling differences between AmE and BrE, beginning with the initial colonization of North America and the establishment of printing. It explores the early influence of British spelling, the impact of diverse linguistic contact with Native American languages, and the relatively limited influence of the early printing press due to high costs and limited distribution. The chapter further examines the role of prominent American writers, like Benjamin Franklin, in shaping early American writing styles and their efforts to bridge the gap with English spellings to gain wider recognition. Finally, it discusses the role of education in maintaining early similarity between AmE and BrE spelling.
Early efforts of spelling reform and their influence on American spelling: This chapter focuses on early attempts at spelling reform in America, arising in the 1760s alongside the increased availability of English children's books. These reforms aimed to simplify English spelling for increased accessibility. Motivations also included missionary work and creating alphabets for diverse languages. The chapter highlights that these early efforts, despite their intentions, had limited impact on the official American spelling system due to a lack of widespread acceptance and divergent proposals from different philologists.
The linguistic patriotism and the standardization of American spelling: This section centers on the rise of linguistic patriotism following America's declaration of independence in 1776. It highlights the significant role of Noah Webster, a key figure in advocating for an independent American English. The chapter discusses Webster's influential publications, such as *The American Spelling Book* and *The Elementary Spelling Book*, and their impact on standardizing American spelling in American schools. It also analyses his proposals for spelling reform, advocating for the omission of silent letters and other alterations, reflecting a conscious effort to create a distinct American orthographic system.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
American English, British English, spelling differences, spelling reform, Noah Webster, linguistic standardization, historical linguistics, language variation, orthography, AmE, BrE.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Overview of American and British English Spelling Differences
What is the main topic of this text?
This text provides a comprehensive overview of the spelling differences between American English (AmE) and British English (BrE). It explores the historical development of these differences, focusing on standardization efforts in America, and categorizes common spelling variations. The text also touches upon the current global standing of both varieties.
What historical factors contributed to the development of spelling differences between AmE and BrE?
The text traces the development of spelling differences back to the initial colonization of North America, the establishment of printing, and early efforts at spelling reform. It highlights the influence of factors such as early settlements, the limited impact of the printing press due to cost and distribution limitations, the role of prominent American writers in shaping early American writing styles, and the influence of linguistic contact. The rise of linguistic patriotism following American independence played a crucial role in the standardization of distinctly American spelling.
Who was Noah Webster, and what was his contribution to American English spelling?
Noah Webster was a key figure in advocating for an independent American English. His influential publications, such as *The American Spelling Book* and *The Elementary Spelling Book*, significantly impacted the standardization of American spelling in American schools. He proposed spelling reforms including the omission of silent letters and other alterations, creating a distinct American orthographic system.
What were the key objectives of early spelling reform efforts in America?
Early spelling reform efforts in America, beginning in the 1760s, aimed to simplify English spelling for increased accessibility. Motivations also included missionary work and creating alphabets for diverse languages. However, these efforts had limited impact due to a lack of widespread acceptance and divergent proposals from different philologists.
What are some examples of categories of spelling differences between AmE and BrE?
The text categorizes spelling differences under simplification, regularization, derivational uniformity, and reflection of pronunciation. It also addresses individual words that differ in spelling between AmE and BrE, though specific examples are not extensively provided in this preview.
What is the current global standing of AmE and BrE?
The text briefly addresses the current global distribution and status of AmE and BrE, though a detailed analysis is not provided in this preview. It does state that both varieties hold significant global prevalence and influence in the 20th and 21st centuries.
What are the key themes explored in this text?
The key themes include the historical development of spelling differences between AmE and BrE, the role of standardization efforts in shaping American spelling, common spelling differences between AmE and BrE, the influence of political and cultural factors on language evolution, and the current global distribution and status of AmE and BrE.
What are the key words associated with this text?
Key words include American English, British English, spelling differences, spelling reform, Noah Webster, linguistic standardization, historical linguistics, language variation, orthography, AmE, and BrE.
- Quote paper
- Master of Education Thomas Schachtebeck (Author), 2007, Spotlight on Standard American English and Standard British English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/165055
