• American and British English
    463 replies, posted
I´ve been studying English for more than six years and I´ve had a good experience with it, as it is not my first language. I´m used to see both American and British variations of this language. [img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0Ee5x1NBG2k/S7id7E04zcI/AAAAAAAAAxU/_ZFZigYHXVU/s1600/USA-Flag.jpg[/img] [img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rtgXhcUvwbc/S9Cv6j_88xI/AAAAAAAAALg/HgAuO2tQ8CI/s1600/British-Flag.jpg[/img] Because of this, I´m now doing a little research to see the differences between these variations, involving speaking, pronunciation and writing. I´d like you to discuss this topic as you will help me with this little research =)
I've been told American English sounds more nasal.
[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;28233321]I've been told American English sounds more nasal.[/QUOTE] Yeah that´s true, also American English sounds kinda "faster"
Americans stole british english and ruined some pronunciations.
They are the same, for the most part.
[QUOTE=Xenoyia v2;28233535]Americans stole british english and ruined some pronunciations :argh:[/QUOTE] Any examples?
[QUOTE=aolflash2;28233577]Any examples?[/QUOTE] tuesday british: chews-day american: toos-day tuna british: chew-na american: toona
[QUOTE=Sparkwire;28233564]They are the same, for the most part.[/QUOTE] Well you can still see some differences in words that mean the same: Truck-Lorry Garbage-Rubbish
There's only one language, English.
[QUOTE=aolflash2;28233577]Any examples?[/QUOTE] They waste ink by adding an unnecessary u to many words (colour vs. color.) Oh then there's Aluminum (British: AL-you-min-e-um, while American: a-LUM-in-um)
[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;28233595]They waste ink by adding an unnecessary u to many words (colour vs. color.)[/QUOTE] To me colour looks like a proper spelled word, color looks like a misspelling.
we say hold the fort as a metaphor as in, we're going out to get stuff, mind the house for me americans say hold down the fort, which makes no sense unless the fort is a bouncy castle
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;28233634]To me colour looks like a proper spelled word, color looks like a misspelling.[/QUOTE] This. [editline]23rd February 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=XanaToast.;28233640]we say hold the fort as a metaphor as in, we're going out to get stuff, mind the house for me americans say hold down the fort, which makes no sense unless the fort is a bouncy castle[/QUOTE] Thank you for your responses Any more ideas?
oi m8 shrimp on the barbie
This is just going to turn into a lot of flaming
We never say fortnight.
You yanks keep forgetting the second 'i' in aluminium.
American English tends to add in "z"s and "f"s where British English uses "s" and "ph". For example: Sulfur and Sulphur Civilization and Civilisation Then there's the fact that British English has "u"s in words too - colour, harbour, neighbour and so on.
Is "Ain´t" colloquial or is it from a variation? That´s alittle debt i´ve always had
civilisation looks wrong to me
[QUOTE=Moose;28233748]civilisation looks wrong to me[/QUOTE] It's the correct UK spelling.
[QUOTE=Moose;28233748]civilisation looks wrong to me[/QUOTE] I'm afraid that I beg to differ. I see civilization as wrong! Have to say, I prefer British English as opposed to American English, but that's probably because I'm from the UK.
Iran: British: ih-ran American: eye-ran Same for Iraq
[QUOTE=Terminutter;28233709]American English tends to add in "z"s and "f"s where British English uses "s" and "ph". For example: Sulfur and Sulphur Civilization and Civilisation Then there's the fact that British English has "u"s in words too - colour, harbour, neighbour and so on.[/QUOTE] I´ve never seen that before. Thank you
[QUOTE=Xenoyia v2;28233762]It's the correct UK spelling.[/QUOTE] wELL IT DOESNT SOUND RIGHT ITS NOT 'SIV-IL-I-SAY-SHUN-' IT'S 'SIV-IL-I-ZAY-SHUN-'
[QUOTE=Moose;28233808]wELL IT DOESNT SOUND RIGHT ITS NOT 'SIV-IL-I-SAY-SHUN-' IT'S 'SIV-IL-I-ZAY-SHUN-'[/QUOTE] Hey, no need to get angry, this is a discussion thread, you don´t have to be like that Everybody has his own accent, that makes your language interesting ^^
[QUOTE=alien_guy;28233768]Iran: British: ih-ran American: eye-ran Same for Iraq[/QUOTE] I've heard plenty of people pronounce it either way, so it's not exactly correct. Or this is just quaint anecdotal evidence.
[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;28233866]I've heard plenty of people pronounce it either way, so it's not exactly correct. Or this is just quaint anecdotal evidence.[/QUOTE] England has a massive variation in pronounciation all around the country - if you were to take me to the north of England, I'd stick out like a sore thumb. For example, up north, the word bath is pronounced "baff" (looks unflattering, but the best way I could type it out) Down in the southeast it's a "b-aah-th" or so. (I really can't type pronounciation...) America has got statewide accents, I think, there's less variation between the accents or something. (I'm clueless with the USA)
[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;28233866]I've heard plenty of people pronounce it either way, so it's not exactly correct. Or this is just quaint anecdotal evidence.[/QUOTE] I think its Ih-ran in both variations, but i cant have an opinion, this is not my first language
I predominately use American spelling, though I live in a country in which British English tends to be more accepted. The exceptions to this are colour and neighbour and so on. Other differences: center - centre theater -theatre The pronunciation of route and many more.
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