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American vs. British English
Basic Differences and Influences of Change
Introduction
American English acquired international significance after World War II, when the United States assumed a more global role and political, economic and technological developments promoted American influence worldwide. American English currently asserts a dominant influence on \"world English\" (cf. British English) largely due to the following:
1. Population: U.S. vs. U.K. (SAE/SBE ca 70% vs. 17% of all native English;
2. Wealth of the U.S. vs. the U.K. economy, & influences
3. Magnitude of higher education in America vs. the U.K.
4. Magnitude of the publishing industry in America
5. Magnitude of mass media and media technology influence on a worldwide scale
6. Appeal of American popular culture on language & habits
7. International political and economic position of the U.S.
American and British English are both \"variants\" of the English Language, more similar than different, especially with \"educated\" or \"scientific\" English. Most divergence is due to differences in national history and national cultural development, varying regional and local idioms and colloquialisms, and media/advertising influences.
The following general categories of difference between standard American English (SAE) and standard British English (SBE) each have their own sociolectic value:
I. Different Pronunciation, although same spelling
• Advertisement (advert, ad)
• Controversy, Laboratory, Secretary
• Leisure, schedule, dance, dynasty
• Renaissance, oregano, clerk [bank, office], ate
• \'PC\'-influence examples: harass, harassment, Uranus, etc.
II. Different Spelling, although same pronunciation
• Colour — color, Centre — center
• Cheque — check (noun form [bank]; verb \"to check\" the same)
• Defence — defense (noun form), Licence (noun form) — license
• Alright — all right; Manoeuvre — maneuver; tyre — tire
• Ageing — aging; Whisky — whiskey (U.S. & Ireland)
• Gaol — jail
III. Same Term, different but similar spelling and pronunciation
• Aluminium — aluminum
• Polythene — polyethylene
• Maths — math (shortening of \"mathematics\")
• Rise — raise (more money in salary, wages)
IV. Same Words, Different or Additional Meanings in One Variety
• Pavement (GB) = Sidewalk (US); Pavement (US) = Road (GB)
• I married a homely girl. The opening of our new play was a bomb!
• Nigel and Trevor purchased 7-day Travelcard season tickets.
• Evelyn took a coin out of [his/her] purse (GB=male, coin purse; US=female, handbag)
• The committee tabled the motion (put it on the table).
• We all had tea and biscuits. (cf Harry Potter, \'crumpets\' vs \'English muffins\')
• The corn harvest was exceptional this year. (cf. \"maize\", \"sweetcorn\")
• We needed a torch for the dark trail. (cf. flashlight, electric torch, flaming torch)
• IBM made over a billion dollars last year. (cf \"thousand million\"; changing GB standards)
• Trousers (GB) = Pants (US); Pants (US) = underwear (GB)
• Jumper (GB) = Sweater (US); Jumper (US) = pinafore [dress] (GB)
• Shorts (US) = underwear (GB); Vest (US) = underwear (GB)
• Pekka was climbing in the lime tree (lehmus, cf linden, basswood, common lime)
V. Grammar, Syntax, Punctuation, General Usage
Punctuation
• Business letter salutations, colons vs commas
• Date writing, number/word order (Never use only numbers!)
• Use of commas and periods inside quotation marks
• Capitalization of titles of articles, essays
Grammar
1. (U.S.) Finnair has a flight to London today.
(G.B.) Finnair has/have a flight to London today. (large collective nouns)
2. (U.S.) England has (...) played well today, even if it lost.
(G.B.) England have played well today, even if they lost.
3. (G.B.) The Government are acting like themselves again.
4. (G.B.) Have you got your grade in history yet?
(U.S.) Have you gotten your grade in history yet?
5. (G.B.) He went on a course. How many were on the course?
(U.S.) He was in a course. How many were in the course?
6. (G.B.) We lived in the High Street. (cf \'street people ...)
(U.S.) We lived on Main Street (\"on\" plus article plus High/Main)
7. (G.B.) He\'s in hospital with a broken leg.
(U.S.) He\'s in the hospital with a broken leg.
8. (G.B.) I have got a car. vs. (U.S.) I have a car. I got a car. (different implications)
9. (G.B.) We weren\'t able to catch him up;
(U.S.) We weren\'t able to catch him, catch up with him, catch up [with him].
10. One was different from/than the other.
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