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)
- Introduction
- Pronunciation
- Spelling
- Grammar
- Lexis
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to provide a detailed examination of the most significant differences between American English (AmE) and British English (BrE), focusing on pronunciation, spelling, grammar, and lexis. The essay utilizes General American (GenAm) as a representative for AmE and Received Pronunciation (RP) for BrE, highlighting the key features that distinguish these two varieties.
- Pronunciation differences between AmE and BrE, including vowel phonemes, rhoticity, and intonation patterns.
- Spelling variations between AmE and BrE, including simplification in AmE, regularization, and the <-our> / <-or> ending.
- Grammar differences between AmE and BrE, including past tense and past participle forms of verbs, and usage of the verb "get."
- Lexical differences between AmE and BrE, including vocabulary related to automobiles, traffic, and travel, as well as historical and cultural influences on language development.
- The potential future convergence or divergence of AmE and BrE based on the influence of media, technology, and globalization.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter establishes the context for the essay, highlighting the commonalities and differences between AmE and BrE. It introduces GenAm and RP as representative accents for each variety and outlines the essay's objective to explore key points of divergence.
- Pronunciation: This chapter focuses on pronunciation differences between AmE and BrE, specifically contrasting the number of vowel phonemes, rhoticity, and intonation patterns. It also discusses the use of linking /r/ in RP.
- Spelling: This chapter examines spelling variations between AmE and BrE, noting the tendency toward simplification in AmE, contrasting regularization processes, and exploring the different uses of the <-our> / <-or> ending.
- Grammar: This chapter explores grammar differences between AmE and BrE, focusing on the past tense and past participle forms of verbs, particularly for those ending in a nasal or an I. It also highlights the different usage of the verb "get" in both varieties.
- Lexis: This chapter delves into lexical differences between AmE and BrE, examining vocabulary related to automobiles, traffic, and travel. It also explores historical and cultural influences on language development, including the impact of colonialism and the independent development of education systems.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This essay focuses on the key terms and concepts related to the differences between American English and British English. These include pronunciation, spelling, grammar, lexis, General American, Received Pronunciation, rhoticity, intonation, simplification, regularization, <-our> / <-or> ending, past tense, past participle, lexical variation, historical influences, and cultural influences.
- Quote paper
- Adrian Müller (Author), 2013, Differences between American and British English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/315663
