The purpose of this essay is to give a detailed examination of some of the most significant features at which American English and British English diverge.
Despite having the vast majority of linguistic forms in common, American English (AmE) and British English (BrE), which are regarded as the two major varieties of the English language, differ in numerable points. For better understanding and easier comparison, the General American accent (GenAm), which "is used by two thirds of the American population", is used as a representative for the American English variety (Allerton 2002:16). The same function is applied to the Received Pronunciation (RP), because, although it is only spoken by circa three per cent of the population in England, it is the "most widely understood" and "most thoroughly described" accent in Britain (Hughes/Trudgill, 1996:4).
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Pronunciation
- 3. Spelling
- 4. Grammar
- 5. Lexis
- 6. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to provide a detailed comparison of American English (AmE) and British English (BrE), focusing on their key differences. General American (GenAm) and Received Pronunciation (RP) are used as representative accents for AmE and BrE respectively. The analysis focuses on pronunciation, spelling, grammar, and lexis, highlighting significant divergences between the two varieties.
- Pronunciation differences between GenAm and RP, including vowel phonemes, rhoticity, and stress patterns.
- Spelling variations arising from simplification, derivation, and regularization processes.
- Grammatical differences in verb conjugation and the use of past participles.
- Lexical variations, including historical and cultural influences on vocabulary development.
- The potential future convergence or divergence of AmE and BrE.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the essay's objective: to examine the notable differences between American English (AmE) and British English (BrE). It highlights that despite sharing most linguistic features, AmE and BrE exhibit numerous divergences. The chapter introduces General American (GenAm) and Received Pronunciation (RP) as representative accents for comparison, emphasizing their widespread understanding and detailed descriptions despite not representing the entirety of their respective dialects. The essay's purpose is clearly stated: to provide a thorough examination of key differences between these two major English varieties.
2. Pronunciation: This chapter focuses on the pronunciation differences between GenAm and RP. While consonants are largely similar, the number of vowel phonemes differs (20 in RP, 16 in GenAm), primarily due to fewer diphthongs in GenAm. The chapter contrasts the rhotic nature of GenAm (pronouncing /r/ consistently) with the non-rhotic nature of RP (/r/ only pronounced before vowels). The concept of linking /r/ in RP is also explained, illustrating how it connects words phonetically even without spelling indication. Finally, the chapter notes numerous instances of individual words and stress patterns differing between the two accents, along with differences in intonation.
3. Spelling: This section explores the spelling variations between AmE and BrE, highlighting AmE's tendency towards simplification, exemplified by "program" vs. "programme," and "counselor" vs. "counsellor." Conversely, it discusses BrE's simplification of suffixes like "<-ection>" to "<-exion>," while AmE utilizes derivation through connecting a verb's substantive. The chapter also addresses the regularization system resulting in different spellings, particularly the "-our" vs. "-or" ending. It illustrates the lack of systematic criteria in BrE and AmE's preference for the simpler "-or" form, except when the "-our" ending is stressed.
4. Grammar: The chapter details grammatical differences, particularly focusing on past tense and past participle forms of verbs ending in nasal sounds or "I." BrE shows a preference for irregular forms (e.g., "burnt"), whereas AmE leans towards regular forms ("burned"). It also examines the distinct uses of "have got" in AmE and BrE, highlighting the additional meaning of "receive" for "have gotten" in AmE, which is absent in BrE.
5. Lexis: This chapter analyzes lexical variations between AmE and BrE, using examples from Finegan's work on automobiles, traffic, and travel. It contrasts terms like "freeway" (AmE) and "motorway" (BrE), "traffic circle" (AmE) and "roundabout" (BrE), "trunk," "gas," and "truck" (AmE) with "boot," "petrol," and "lorry" (BrE). The chapter then explores explanations for these differences, including the historical perspective of American colonialists adapting to new landscapes and adopting words from Native American languages. It also considers the impact of America's growing independence on the divergence of the two varieties and discusses the independent development of education systems and cultural habits influencing vocabulary in fields like university and sports.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
American English, British English, General American, Received Pronunciation, pronunciation, spelling, grammar, lexis, vocabulary, diphthongs, rhoticity, linking /r/, verb conjugation, past participles, historical linguistics, cultural influence.
American and British English: A Comparative Analysis - FAQ
What is the purpose of this essay?
This essay aims to provide a detailed comparison of American English (AmE) and British English (BrE), focusing on their key differences in pronunciation, spelling, grammar, and vocabulary. It uses General American (GenAm) and Received Pronunciation (RP) as representative accents for AmE and BrE respectively.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
The essay explores pronunciation differences (vowel phonemes, rhoticity, stress), spelling variations (simplification, derivation, regularization), grammatical differences (verb conjugation, past participles), and lexical variations (historical and cultural influences). It also considers the potential future convergence or divergence of AmE and BrE.
What is covered in the introduction?
The introduction establishes the essay's objective: to examine the notable differences between AmE and BrE while acknowledging their shared linguistic features. It introduces GenAm and RP as representative accents for comparison and clarifies the essay's purpose – a thorough examination of key differences between these two major English varieties.
How does the essay address pronunciation differences?
The pronunciation chapter focuses on the differences between GenAm and RP. Key differences include the number of vowel phonemes (fewer in GenAm), rhoticity (consistent in GenAm, not in RP), linking /r/ in RP, and variations in individual word pronunciations and stress patterns.
What are the key spelling variations discussed?
The spelling chapter highlights AmE's tendency towards simplification (e.g., "program" vs. "programme") and BrE's simplification of suffixes (e.g., "<-exion>" vs. "<-ection>"). It also discusses the "-our" vs. "-or" ending and the lack of systematic criteria in BrE compared to AmE's preference for the simpler "-or" form.
What grammatical differences are analyzed?
The grammar chapter details differences in past tense and past participle forms of verbs, particularly those ending in nasal sounds or "I" (e.g., "burnt" vs. "burned"). It also examines the distinct uses of "have got" in AmE and BrE, including the additional meaning of "receive" for "have gotten" in AmE.
How does the essay discuss lexical variations?
The lexis chapter analyzes lexical variations using examples from Finegan's work, contrasting terms like "freeway" (AmE) and "motorway" (BrE). It explores explanations for these differences, including historical influences (American colonialists adapting to new landscapes and adopting words from Native American languages), America's growing independence, and the independent development of education systems and cultural habits.
What are the key words associated with this essay?
Key words include: American English, British English, General American, Received Pronunciation, pronunciation, spelling, grammar, lexis, vocabulary, diphthongs, rhoticity, linking /r/, verb conjugation, past participles, historical linguistics, cultural influence.
- Quote paper
- Adrian Müller (Author), 2013, Differences between American and British English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/315663
