DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AMERICAN ENGLISH AND

BRITISH ENGLISH

Introduction Historical Background Spelling Pronounciation Vocabulary Grammar Conclusion

INTRODUCTIONAmerican English and British English are two

versions of the same language.“England and America are two countries divided

by a common language”(Geoger Bernard Shaw)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

SPELLING

American

British American

British American

British

-or -our -ize -ise -ll -lflavor flavour recogniz

erecognise

fulfill fulfil

humor humorour

organize

organise

traveller traveler

Many of these spelling differences result from French influence on English:

British English has a tendency to keep the spelling of many words of French origin

American try to spell words more closely.They sound phonetically and they tend to omit some letters.

PROUNCIATIONProunciation-differences in both vovel and

consonant as well as stress and intonation

STRESSBRIT ISHadultballetbrochureadvertisement

A M E R I C A N adult ballet brochure advertisement

THE SOUND OF A

B R I T I S H [ A ] bath class chance ask after can’t

A M E R I C A N [ Ə ]

THE SOUND OF T

B R I T I S H [ T ] better water writing bottom artificial

A M E R I C A N [ D ]

VOCABULARY

AMERICAN Sidewalk President Ladybug Cotton candy Flight attendant Carry out Post code attorney

BRIT ISH Pavement Chairman Lady bird

Candy floss Airhostess Take away Zip code solicitor

CLOTHES BUILDINGS

GRAMMAR Past tense /Present perfect The verb ‘’get’’

PAST TENSE/ PRESENT PERFECTBRIT ISH I have lost my

keys Have you

finished your work?

I have already seen that film.

AMERICAN I lost my keys Did you

finished your work?

I already saw that film.

USE OF THE VERB ‘’GET’’

AMERICANHe has gotten

much better at playing tennis

He has gotten a prize

BRIT ISHHe has got much

better at playing tennis

He has got a prize

CONCLUSION