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American and British EnglishAmerican and British English are dialects(方言) of English which have a recognised standard form and are equally acceptable in Academic English as long as the style and register (语域)used are appropriately formal. There are no significant differences in the academic form of other varieties of English. These tend to resemble either the American or British form. For example, Australian English generally uses the same spelling as British English.Differences between British and American English. Throughout this page, blue is used to denote British English and red to denote American English. The most noticeable difference in the academic context is in spelling. There are also grammatical differences and vocabulary differences, although relatively few in formal language. Spelling In general, both American and British spelling are acceptable, but it is important to be consistent, at least with the use of the same word - theatre or theater, but not both - and in your choice of ize or ise endings as in criticize or criticise, plagiarize or plagiarise. The Cambridge International Dictionary of English gives British, American and Australian English spelling. American spelling tends to reflect pronunciation and British spelling tends to reflect grammatical or historical implications(含义) as well. However, there may be advantages in using British spelling in certain situations. For instance, two forms: programme and program exist in British English. The former can be a noun referring to television programmes or programmes of events (plans, conferences, a theatre programme etc.). The latter can be a noun referring to computer programs. Both forms can be verbs, but there is no spelling distinction between them except in the infinitive form (as in She learned how to program the computer to calculate the value of the pound against the Euro at twelve hourly intervals) and the present tense. If you wish to make reference to both meanings in your writing, then British English makes a useful reference (meaning) distinction between the two, while American English has only one form program to refer to both. British English distinguishes between practice (noun) I haven't done my cello practice yet and practise (verb) He practises the cello for ten minutes every morning. However, American English tends to use practice as both a noun and a verb. Students taking Cambridge examinations are advised to adopt the British system as this reflects the underlying(根本的) grammatical (part of speech) distinction. Grammatical differences There are few grammatical differences between American and British English that are of concern in Academic Writing. The past participles got and gotten are one of the most obvious differences, but they are rarely used in formal writing. The Euro has got/gotten rid of the currency exchange transactions(交易) which used to be necessary before the single currency was instated(设置) is more likely to be formally expressed as The Euro has abolished the need for currency exchange transactions. American English accepts the use of the simple past tense with just, already and yet (Did you see him yet?/He just went out?/Did you go there already?) while British English requires the use of the present perfect (Have you seen him yet?/He has just gone out/Have you been there already?) In Academic English, the British form is preferable as the American form tends to be perceived as informal (rather than inaccurate). Particle differences - Clinton met with the representatives of the Daughters of the Revolution / Clinton met the representatives - are not significant, though British markers may 'correct' the with as it seems informal. American English can make what British English considers to be uncountable nouns plural, for example technologies. When this occurs with formal, technical vocabulary in a specific context - the new technologies - British English, over time, tends to adopt the same form. Vocabulary differences There are many vocabulary differences - flat, pavement, tap, trousers or apartment, sidewalk, faucet, pants, for example. Most cause few problems except where the same word has a different meaning. Pants in British English refers to underwear, for example. It may be wise to check with British friends in case meaning is different in English or in case a particular form does not exist in British English. In general, the main object in Academic English is to communicate (remember Clarity and Reality particularly here) your message to your reader - probably your tutor or examiner - so bear their understanding and preferences in mind when you make decisions about the most appropriate form to use. Doreen du Boulay, Sussex Language Institute 1998-2001. Web version by Matthew Platts. Introduction Those people who complain about the difficulties of learning German, don't know how lucky they really are - they only have one language to master. Admittedly, there are regional differences of dialect in German-speaking countries, but the non-native speaker who has learned Hochdeutsch (high or standard German) should have no problems in making himself understood by citizens of Germany, Austria or Switzerland. The difficulty for the nonnative learner of English on the other hand is that there is no standard English form. He is confronted(面对) with two English dialects to learn: British English and American English (leaving aside Australian, Indian, South African English etc.) And despite the many cross-cultural influences, it seems that the vocabularies, spellings and pronunciations of these two dialects are diverging year by year. To be consistent in his use of English and, more importantly, to be understood , the nonnative speaker needs to know which words have distinct meanings and pronunciations depending on whether they are used by a Briton or an American. This is necessary not only for sake of communication, but also to avoid embarrassment(尴尬). For example, if a Londoner tells a resident of New York that she has left her child's dummy in the pram and its nappy in the boot, she will merely be greeted with a look of bewilderment. If the New Yorker then tells the London woman that she has nice pants, he may well wonder why she doesn't seem to take his remark as a compliment. 【 In America dummies and nappies are called pacifiers and diapers; prams and boots are called baby carriages and trunks. For Americans pants are trousers but for Britons pants are what you wear under your trousers. 】 What follows are brief examples of the major areas of difference between the two languages, together with some quiz questions: Spelling differences In general, where there are differences between British English (BE) and American English (AE) spelling, it can be said that American English has the more economical and phonetic spelling. Unnecessary letters are left out and words are spelled how they sound. An obvious example is the omission in AE of the letter u in words such as color, neighbor, honor etc. Compare also the AE words traveling, jewelry and program with their BE counterparts travelling, jewellery and programme. However, this rule does not always apply. For example, you would expect skilful to be the AE spelling and skillful the BE spelling, but unfortunately you would be wrong! Quiz 1 In the following table, which words are spelled in American English and which in British English? Can you give the alternative spelling in each case? Example: AE - mustache | BE - moustache airplane cheque theatre tyre defense woolen pajamas gaol Pronunciation differences There are of course great regional differences in pronunciation within both countries, but the following is a list of words which are pronounced differently by most Americans and most British. The difference in lies either in using different vowel sounds or by stressing the word in a different place. Quiz 2 Can you say the following words both how an American and how a Briton would say them? vase route ballet address (noun) ate buoy tomato advertisement garage leisure Vocabulary differences As a percentage of the total English vocabulary the number of words which are used only in one or the other country is very small, but the problem for learners of English is that these words are among the most common in the language. There are many words that are used almost exclusively by Americans which are understood by most Britons, and vice versa. But there are others which can cause difficulty. For example, most Britons know that Americans call biscuits cookies and flats apartments, but not so many know what an alumnus or a fender is. Similarly, Americans know that what they call their yard is called a garden in Britain and that trucks are lorries, but common British English words like plimsolls or off-licence may mean nothing to them. Quiz 3 From the lists below, choose the pair of words that have the same meaning and identify them as American English or British English. Example: AE - cookie = BE - biscuit closet queue vacation fall bonnet sweets thumb tack lift bill caravan flashlight subway postman baggage movie drapes underground luggage elevator cupboard hood mailman torch check line curtains film candy gas autumn petrol drawing pin holiday trailer Grammar British English and American English grammar are mostly in agreement; there are however some interesting variations. For example there are differences in certain verb forms. In AE the past tense of fit is fit; in BE it is fitted. Americans say I've gotten to know her well; Britons I've got to know her well. In BE the present perfect tense is used for situations in which AE would typically use the past simple. For example using the words just or already, Britons would be more likely to say: I've just seen him or I've already done it whereas in AE it would be common to hear I just saw him or I already did it. As another example, Americans are much more likely to be technically correct in the agreement of collective noun and verb form than Britons. So in standard AE it would be: The team is playing well this season whereas in BE it is common and acceptable to say The team are playing well. Similar differences can be seen in the use of words like government, committee etc.: The government is .. (AE), The government are .. (BE). Quiz 4 The following sentences are typically AE. What would the typical Briton say? Do you have any siblings? It is important that she be told. The jury has not yet reached its decision. Go fetch your book. He dove into the water. You must come visit me real soon. Usage There are countless other small and interesting differences between AE and BE, which come under the heading of usage. Take the useful expression used in AE through, meaning up to and including. E.g., The exhibition is showing March through June. The equivalent expression in BE is from March to June, but this is ambiguous. Does the exhibition close at the end of May or the end of June? To avoid any misunderstanding, it is necessary to say something like The exhibition is showing from March to the end of June. As another example: for Americans the number billion has 9 zeros (a thousand million); for most Britons it has 12 zeros (a million million). Zero itself is a much more common word in AE than in BE, where nought is more widespread. Americans say the number 453 as four hundred fifty three, whereas in Britain it would be said four hundred and fifty three. And so on! Quiz 5 Are the following sentences more likely to be said (or written) by an American or a Briton? I'll try and visit you on the weekend. Please write me when you arrive. Call me as soon as you get there. Most everyone has a telephone and a refrigerator these days. If you make a mistake, you'll just have to do it over. He was born 3/27/1981. The football team won two to nothing (2-0). She arrived at twenty of two. The secretary said, "Mr. Clinton will see you soon." Conclusion It is clear that the poor nonnative speaker has an almost impossible task to keep the two languages separated. The best he can do is to acquire a good reference book. Two books that I can recommend on this topic are: Practical English Usage, M. Swan (1995) , Oxford University Press The Right Word at the Right Time (A guide to the English language and how to use it) (1985) Readers Digest Answers Quiz 1 - Spelling In the following table the red spellings are American English and the blue spellings are British English: airplane - aeroplane check - cheque theater - theatre defense - defence woolen - woollen tire - tyre pajamas - pyjamas jail - gaol* * Jail is more common in BE too nowadays, although gaol is still perfectly acceptable (and pronounced the same as jail!) Quiz 2 - Pronunciation Americans and Britons agree in most cases on where a word in stressed. For example, everyone says pencil and relax, cinema and consider, but the following words from the table are stressed differently in the two dialects: ballet - BE | ballet - AE address - BE | address * - AE garage - BE | garage - AE advertisement - BE | advertisement - AE The differences in pronunciation of the other words lie in the vowel sounds, not in differently-stressed syllables. They are therefore more difficult to illustrate in writing without recourse to phonetic script, which few people know. Their proununciations are illustrated therefore by reference to common words with the same sound vase: vays as in plays (BE) | vace as in face (AE) route: root as in shoot (BE) | rout * as in shout (AE) buoy: boy as in toy (BE) | booey as in the French name Louis (AE) ate: et as in let (BE) | ate as in late (AE) tomato: tomarto (BE) | tomayto * (AE) leisure as in pleasure (BE) | leesure (lee as in she) (AE) * Some Americans pronounce these words as Britons do. Quiz 3 - Vocabulary First AE Second BR | closet - cupboard | vacation - holiday | fall - autumn | thumb tack - drawing pin | flashlight - torch | subway - underground | baggage - luggage | movie - film | drapes - curtains | elevator - lift | hood - bonnet | mailman - postman | check - bill * | line - queue | candy - sweets | gas - petrol | trailer - caravan | * In England you ask the waiter for the bill at the end of your meal. In America you ask for the check. A bill in AE is a synonym for a banknote. Quiz 4 - Grammar AE - Do you have any siblings? BE - Have you got any brothers or sisters? AE - It is important that she be told. * BE - It is important that she is told. AE - The jury has not yet reached its decision. BE - The jury have not yet reached their decision. AE - Go get your book. BE - Go and fetch your book. AE - He dove into the water. BE - He dived into the water. AE - You must come visit me real soon. BE - You must come and visit me really soon. * AE is much more likely to use a subjunctive form than BE. Quiz 5 - Usage This was a trick question because in fact all of the sentences are more likely to be said or written by an American than a Briton! Here they are again with their English equivalents: AE - I'll try and visit you on the weekend. BE - I'll try to visit you at the weekend. AE - Please write me when you arrive. BE - Please write to me when you arrive. AE - Call me as soon as you get there. BE - Ring me (phone me) as soon as you get there. AE - Most everyone has a telephone and a refrigerator these days. BE - Almost everyone has a telephone and a fridge these days. AE - If you make a mistake, you'll just have to do it over. BE - If you make a mistake, you'll just have to do it again. AE - He was born 3/27/1981. BE - He was born on 27/3/1981. AE - The football team won two to nothing (2-0). BE - The football team won two-nil (2-0). AE - She arrived at twenty of two. BE - She arrived at twenty to two. AE - The secretary said, "Mr. Clinton will see you soon." BE - The secretary said: "Mr Clinton will see you soon." Differences
in Vocabulary
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英语美语(British and American English)
| British |
American |
| A Accumulator
Afters Aggro Air screw All-in Alsatian Aluminium Anorak Antenatal Anticlockwise Argentine, Argentine Argy-bargy Artic Aubergine Autumn B Back of beyond Ball Banger Bank holiday Bap Barrister Berk Bill (restaurant) Bin Bin liner Biscuit Biscuit, savoury Black Maria Blancmange Blighty Block of flats Bloke Bloody Blotto Bobby Bollocks Bonnet Book Boot Bounder Braces Brock Brolly Brooch Bubble and squeak Bugger-all Bum Bun in the oven Bung (noun) Bung (verb) Busker Butty C Cabinet maker Calabrese Caravan Car park Carpet Carriageway Carrier bag Chat show Chat up Cheerio Cheers Chemist Cheque Chips Chuffed Cinema Clingfilm Clippie Close Conker Cooker Coppice Copse Cotton wool Courgette Cracker Creche Crisps Crumpet Cul de sac Cuppa Current account Cutting D Daft Daps Dear Diary Din into Diversion Doctor Doddle Dodgy Donkey's years Dotty Downmarket Draughts Drawing pin Dummy Dustbin Dustman Duvet E Elastoplast Electric fire Estate Agent F FA Cup Fancy (verb) Film First Floor Fishmongers' Flat Flog Flyover Football Form Fortnight Fringe Fruiterers' Full stop G Gaffer Gammon Gaol Garden Gas fire Gents Geordie Gormless Guard Guard's van H Hair pin Hedgerow High street Hire purchase Holiday Homely Hood Housing I Ice lolly Identity parade Interval Ironmongers' J Jacket potato Jam Jelly Joiner Joint Jumble sale Jumper K Keep Fit Keeper Kerb Knackered Knickers L Lad Ladder Ladies' Ladybird Lay-by Lead Leader Legless Lemonade Lift Lollipop lady Loo Lorry Lounge M Mac Mackintosh Mange tout Marmite Marrow Match Mean Mince Minder Minder Motorway Muesli N Nail varnish Naff Naff off Nappy Natter (noun or verb) Naturist Naughts and crosses Nick (verb) In good nick Number plate Nutter O OAP Off Off license Old age pensioner Over the moon Over the top P Page 3 girl Panda car Pants Paracetamol Paraffin Paralytic Parting Pavement Peckish Pelican crossing Petrol Pickle Pilchards Pinch Pissed Pitch Plait Plimsolls Plonk Post (noun or verb) Postal code Postgraduate student Power point Pram Prat Presenter Press up Pub Public school Pudding Pulses Pumps Put down Put paid to Q Queue Quid Quids in R Rabbit (verb) Rank Redundant Refectory Removal Removal man Removal van Return Ring Rise Roundabout Row Rubber Rucksack S Sack (verb) Saloon car Savory biscuit Scatty School leaver Scouse Self-catering Sellotape Serviette Sheath Sideboards Silencer Single Skint Skirting-board Slate Sleeper Sleeping Policeman Slide Sloane Ranger Slowcoach Smalls Snooker Sod Sod off Solicitor Sort code Spanner Sparky Specs Spot Spot on Squash Starkers Stone Strop Stroppy Subway Sultanas Surgery Suspenders Swede Sweets Swimming costume T Tailback Tap Telly Terrace Tin Tip Torch Tout Tower block Trainers Transport cafe Treacle Tuition Tyre U Underground Upmarket V Vest Vet Vice girl W Waistcoat Wally Wanker Water Closet W.C. (Water Closet) Wellies Wellingtons Whinge (noun or verb) Wholefood Wonky Y Y-fronts Yanks Yob Yobbo Yonks Z Zebra Crossing |
A Car battery (dated) Dessert Deliberate troublemaking Propeller (dated) Inclusive German shepherd Aluminum Parka Prenatal Counterclockwise The Argentina Argentinian Heated argument Tractor-trailer Eggplant Fall B Middle of nowhere Prom Sausage, firecracker or old car National holiday Hamburger bun (regional) Trial lawyer Moron Check Garbage can Garbage bag Cookie Cracker Paddywagon A gelatin-like pudding England (dated) Apartment house Guy Mild expletive; very Drunk Policeman Balls (testicles) Hood Reserve Trunk Cad Suspenders Badger (dated) Umbrella Pin Cabbage & potato dish Nothing Buttocks Pregnant Stopper Toss Street performer Sandwich C Skilled carpenter Broccoli rabe Motor home Parking lot Reprimand Highway Shopping bag Talk show Chat flirtatiously Goodbye Thank you Pharmacist Check French fries Pleased Movie theater Plastic wrap (brand name) Bus conductor (Scotland) Dead end Horse chestnut Oven Thicket Thicket Cotton Zucchini Party favor Day care center Potato chips Attractive woman Dead end Cup of tea Checking account Clipping (eg from a newspaper) D Stupid Sneakers Expensive Appointment book Hammer (an idea) into someone's head Detour Spay, neuter Easy task Iffy, suspect A long time Feeble-minded Seedy Checkers Thumbtack Pacifier Garbage can Garbageman Comforter E Bandaid (both brand names for bandages) Heater (electric) Realtor F Superbowl of Soccer Like Movie Second floor Fish Store Apartment Sell Overpass Soccer Grade Two weeks Bangs Fruit store Period (the punctuation mark) G Boss Ham Jail Yard Gas heater Men's room Newcastle (person from) Stupid Conductor Caboose H Bobby pin Hedge High street Main street Hire purchase Credit Holiday Vacation Homely Pleasant Hood Vinyl Top (of convertible) Housing estate Tenement I Popsicle Lineup Intermission Hardware store J Baked potato Jelly Gelatin Carpenter Roast Yard sale Sweater K Exercise class Curator Curb Exhausted Panties L Boy Run (in stockings) Lady's room Ladybug Rest stop Leash Editorial Drunk Carbonated beverage Elevator Crossing guard Bathroom Truck Living Room M Raincoat Raincoat Snow peas Yeast extract Squash Game Stingy Ground beef Babysitter Bodyguard Highway Granola N Nail polish Worthless or unfashionable Go away Diaper Chat Nudist Tic-Tac-Toe Steal, (noun) prison In good condition License Plate Kook O Senior citizen Spoiled Liquor store Senior citizen Elated Carried away P Model (of sorts) Police car Panties or briefs Acetaminophen Kerosene Drunk Part Sidewalk Hungry Pedestrian crossing Gas Relish Sardines Steal Drunk Playing field Braid Sneakers Wine (cheap) Zip code Graduate student Electrical outlet Baby carriage Jerk Newscaster Push up Bar Private school Dessert Beans Sneakers Put to sleep Put an end to Q Line One pound sterling Lucky or well off R Chat Taxi stand Unemployed Cafeteria Moving Mover Moving truck Round-trip Call Raise Traffic circle Quarrel Eraser Backpack S Fire Sedan Cracker Scatter-brained Dropout or graduate Of or from Liverpool No meals included Plastic tape (brand name) Napkin Condom Sideburns Muffler One-way Broke Baseboard Criticize Railroad tie Speed bump Barrette Preppie Slowpoke Underwear Billiards Unpleasant person (from sodomist!) Go away Lawyer Routing number (in banking) Wrench Energetic Glasses (dated) Pimple Perfect Juice concentrate Naked Fourteen pounds Bad mood Argumentative Pedestrian crossing Golden raisins Doctor's examination room Garter belt Rutabaga Candy Bathing suit T Traffic Jam Faucet TV Bleachers Can Dump Flashlight Scalper High-rise Sneakers Truck stop Molasses Instruction Tire U Subway Classy V Undershirt Investigate or Interrogate Prostitute W Vest Nerd Unpleasant person Bathroom Bathroom Rubber Boots Rubber Boots Whine Healthfood Unstable Y Men’s Underpants Americans Hooligan Hooligan Ages Z Zebra Crossing Pedestrian Crossing |
 American
and British English |
British
and American English |
| Differences
in Vocabulary |
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