american and british english differences

AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH DIFFERENCES As everybody knows, our auxiliary English teacher, , a lovely, sweet American girl, is teaching at our school this year. She is a friendly, talkative, sociable young girl from Wisconsin in the mid­western region of the States. also speaks a fluent Spanish but when she converses in Shakespeare's language, we inmediately notice a peculiar accent and some varieties of English we are not used to. It is true that American and British English are the most common varieties that are taught in Spanish schools. Both versions are “ correct “ and are accepted but there are some preferences in use. The difficulty for the non­native learner of English is that there is no Standard English form and he is confronted with two English dialects: British English and American English. It seems that the vocabulary, spellings and pronuntiations of these two dialects are diverging year by year. Amalia Martín.­ Dto. Inglés Página 1 AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH DIFFERENCES American English has the most economical and phonetic spelling, so, unnecessary letters are left out and other words are spelled how they sound. ­Omission in AE of the letter “ U” in words such as: color, neighbor, honor… ­In AE: TRAVELING, JEWELRY, PROGRAM compared with BE : TRAVELLING JEWELLERY, and PROGRAMME Which words are spelled in AE and which in BE and write their equivalent? AIRPLANE THEATER CHECK PAJAMAS TIRE DEFENSE Amalia Martín.­ Dto. Inglés Página 2 AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH DIFFERENCES The difference lies either in using different vowel sounds or by stressing the word in a different place. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADDRESS ADDRESS GARAGE GARAGE Amalia Martín.­ Dto. Inglés Página 3 AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH DIFFERENCES There are many words used almost exclusively by Americans which are understood by most Britons, and viceversa , 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 British English words like plimsolls or oflicence may mean nothing to them. Identify the pair of words in BE and AE: CUPBOARD CLOSET
VACATION QUEUE GAS PETROL MAILMAN BAGGAGE POSTMAN SUBWAY LIFT HOLIDAY LINE UNDERGROUND FALL FILM WINTER LUGGAGE ELEVATOR SWEETS MOVIE AUTUMN Amalia Martín.­ Dto. Inglés Página 4 AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH DIFFERENCES There are differences in certain verb forms. In BE the present perfect tense is used for situations in which AE would use the past simple past. In AE the past tense of FIT is FIT ; in BE it is FITTED. Americans say: “i´ve gotten to meet them. Britons say “i´ve got to meet them” These sentences are tipically AE . What would the typical Briton say? Amalia Martín.­ Dto. Inglés Página 5 AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH DIFFERENCES Americans are likely to say the number: as five hundred forty three, whereas in Britain it would be said : five hundred forty three and so on! Are the following sentences more likely to be said or witten 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 He was born 3/26/ 1987 She arrived at twenty of two Amalia Martín.­ Dto. Inglés Página 6 AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH DIFFERENCES •
PYJAMAS AEROPLANE CHEQUE •
THEATRE TYRE DEFENCE •
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THE SOLUTION IS IN THE USE OF THE DIFFERENT COLOURS QUIZ 2 QUIZ 1 Closet­cupboard vacation­holiday queue­line fall­autumn sweets­candy Movie­film gas­petrol Lift­elevator subway­underground postman­mailman baggage­luggage QUIZ 3 Have you got any brothers or sisters? I have already done it Go and fetch your book. ….reached its decision. He dived into the water You must come and visit me really soon QUIZ 4 ´ll try to visit you at the weekend Please write to me when you arrive Ring me as soon as you get there He was born on 3/27/1987 She arrived at twenty of two She arrived at twenty to two. QUIZ 4 Amalia Martín.­ Dto. Inglés Página 7 AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH DIFFERENCES BRITISH ENGLISH TROUSERS PANTS/UNDERWEAR/KNICKERS PLIMSOLLS POLO NECK DRESSING GOWN RUBBER MATHS PUBLIC SCHOOL HOLIDAY HEADMASTER/HEADMISTRESS COMMA GO OUT FILM FOOTBALL CHIPS CRISPS PAVEMENT SHOP CAR LORRY LIFT PETROL SWEETS MATCH QUEUE AUTUMN PROGRAMME BISCUITS POST Amalia Martín.­ Dto. Inglés AMERICAN ENGLISH PANTS UNDERWEAR/PANTIES SNEAKERS TURTLE NECK BATHROBE ERASER MATH PRIVATE SCHOOL VACATION PRINCIPAL PERIOD HANG OUT MOVIE SOCCER FRENCH FRIES CHIPS SIDEWALK STORE AUTOMOBILE TRUCK ELEVATOR GASOLINE CANDY GAME LINE FALL SHOW COOKIES MAIL SIGNIFICADO PANTALONES ROPA INTEERIOR ZAPATILLAS DEPORTYIVAS JERSEY CUELLO ALTO ALBORNOZ GOMA DE BORRAR MATEMATICAS COLEGIO PÚBLICO VACACIONES DIRECTOR COMA/PAUSA SALIR PELICULA FUTBOL PATATAS FRITAS PATATAS FRITAS EN BOLSA ACERA TIENDA/COMERCIO COCHE CAMIÓN ASCENSOR GASOLINA DULCES/CHUCHES PARTIDO COLA/FILA OTOÑO PROGRAMA TELEVISIÓN GALLETAS CORREO Página 8