British or American pronunciation? What English to learn. Which language to study: British or American English

“The British and I have the same language, we just use it differently.” This is how a random African American acquaintance explained the essence of the issue to the author. Indeed, the differences between the American and British dialects, although noticeable, are not so important as to seriously bother with this issue. If your level of English is still far from ideal, then you should not spend more than ten minutes reading this article on studying American-British differences.

Differences in pronunciation

It is in the accent that the greatest differences between British and American English appear. If when reading a text it is usually difficult to determine who wrote it, then oral speech instantly reveals a person’s nationality. More details about the peculiarities of American pronunciation and intonation are written in the article about the American accent (we recommend reading it, because knowledge of these nuances greatly facilitates listening comprehension). And you can get acquainted with the differences in pronunciation: all scenes are taken from American films, and the training video at the end was recorded by a Briton.

In addition to accent differences, there are also differences in the pronunciation of certain words:

The word schedule in the British version begins with the sound w, and in the American version it sounds sk at the beginning of the word.

In the words either and neither, the first two letters can mean either the long sound i or the diphthong ai. It is believed that the first option is more American, the second – more British. However, both of them can speak differently in different situations.

In many words of non-English origin (often names and titles), for example, Mafia, Natasha, the British pronounce the stressed sound as [æ], and the Americans pronounce it as [a].

The word lieutenant in the British version sounds like lɛf`tɛnənt, and in the American version it sounds like lu`tɛnənt

There are quite a lot of similar words, but most of them are rarely used (which is why the differences have not had time to smooth out). For those interested, you can find many examples on Wikipedia - American and British English pronunciation differences.

Differences in word formation

The suffix "-ward(s)" is usually used as "-wards" in the British dialect, and as "-ward" in the American dialect. We are talking about the words forwards, towards, rightwards, etc. However, the word forward is actively used in Britain, and the words after, towards, forwards are not unusual in the American dialect.

For American English, word formation through compounding is more typical. Today, it is most often in the Western Hemisphere that established phrases are transformed into new words. When forming phrases consisting of a noun-subject and a verb talking about its purpose, in the British version the gerund (sailing boat) is more often used, while Americans would prefer to simply glue the verb with the noun (sailboat).

The same thing applies to phrases meaning an object and its owner - dollhouse vs. doll's house. It is clear which version is American and which is British.

Differences in spelling

Words that end in -our in the British language have been shortened slightly by Americans, and they end in -or: labor, color, favor instead of labor, color, favor.

The British words apologise, paralyse are written in American as apologize, paralyze.

Some words of French origin that ended in –re, in the American version end in –er: center, theater instead of centre, theater.

The word "gray" in British spelling looks like grey, and in American spelling it looks like gray.

Differences in word meanings

Americans and British often use different words for the same concepts. For example, an American will not call a toilet toilet, but exclusively bathroom, even if there is neither a bathtub nor a shower even close. The period (the one that is placed at the end of the sentence) in British will be full spot, and in American - period.

Here is a table of the most common differences. Source - M. S. Evdokimov, G. M. Shleev - “A short guide to American-British correspondences.”

Sometimes the differences are more subtle. In American English, the word quite has a connotation of increasing meaning; it can more often be translated as “quite” or even “very”. In British it should rather be understood as "to some extent".

Differences in grammar

This section was written using information from the article American and British English differences

In American English, nouns denoting a group of people (army, government, committee, team, band) usually have a singular form. The British can use these words either in the singular or in the plural, depending on whether they want to emphasize the plurality of people or their unity. If the name of the group has a plural form, then in any case the plural should be used. The Beatles are a well-known band.

There is a difference in the use of irregular verbs in the UK and the US. Thus, the verbs learn, spoil, spell, dream, smell, spill, burn, leap and some others in the British version can be either regular or irregular, having the endings ed or t, respectively. In America, irregular forms are used much less frequently, except burnt and leapt. The verb spit in British English has the form spat, and in American it can be both spat and spit, with the former often used in a figurative sense in the sense of “spit out” (a phrase) or “spit out some object”, rather than saliva. The past participle of the word saw in the British version sounds like sawn, in the American version it sounds like sawed. In America, the past participle of the word get can take the form gotten, from forget - forgotten, and from prove - proven. There are other differences in the use of irregular verbs, mainly related to local dialects, and this issue can be studied for quite a long time.

The British more often use the past perfect tense (I have just arrived home), while Americans prefer the simple tense (I just arrived home), especially in phrases with the words already, just, yet.

In the British version, the forms "I have got" (possession) and "I have got to" (necessity) are more often used in colloquial speech, and the expressions "I have" and "I have to" sound more formal. In America, “I have” and “I have to” are most often used, and in informal communication you can use “I got” and “I got to” respectively. The latter expression is known to have recently mutated into "I gotta".

Americans can construct conditional sentences in oral speech as follows: "If you"d leave now, you"d be on time." The literary analogue would sound like "If you left now you'd be on time." Even Americans try not to use the first option in a letter.

In the subjunctive mood, constructions of the form are more typical for America "They suggested that he apply for the job", and for the British - "They suggested that he should apply for the job."

The auxiliary verb shall is almost never used in the USA.

Which option is better?

There are opposing opinions about which language variant to focus on when learning English. Supporters of the American version talk about its wider distribution, modernity, simplicity and convenience. They are right. Their opponents believe that only the British version is truly English, and everything else is a simplification, clogging and perversion. They are also right. The correct answer is to teach both in order to understand everyone. If we talk about grammar, most textbooks give the classic British version. American conversational norms, although they simplify British ones, do not cancel them. Don't be afraid to overwork yourself, learn English grammar. If your phrase is overly literary, then no one will think badly of you. It’s worse if, on the contrary, you try to simplify something that should not be simplified - you will look like a jamshut. As for vocabulary, first of all you should know the American meanings of words, because they are used almost all over the world, except Britain. Thanks to Photoshop, the whole world (and the British too, by the way!) knows that an eraser is an eraser, not a rubber, and thanks to Eminem, the world remembers that a closet is a closet, not a wardrobe. (However, you should know when to stop - you shouldn’t call football “soccer” anywhere except America).

Are British and American English the same thing? Find out how they differ and how they are similar. For those who want to “feel the difference” - 5 test exercises!

In contact with

Classmates

Those who complain about the difficulty of learning German don’t even know how lucky they are - because they only have to learn one language. Of course, there are different dialects in German-speaking countries, but someone who has learned standard literary German (Hochdeutsch) will have no problems and will be easily understood by residents of Germany, Austria or Switzerland.

The difficulty for those learning English is that there is no standard in this language. There are two options to learn: British English and American (even if you don’t take into account Australian, Indian, South African dialects, etc.). Despite their mutual cross-cultural influences, it seems that the vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation of British and American English are becoming increasingly different every year.

To stick to one option and, more importantly, to be understood correctly, you need to know which words differ in meaning and pronunciation in America and Great Britain. This is important not only for simple communication, but also in order to avoid awkward situations.

For example, if a woman from London says to a New Yorker: “I have left my child's dummy in the pram and his nappy in the boot,” she will only get a puzzled look in response. If a New Yorker tells her: “ You have nice pants,” she could easily consider this an insult.

In Britain, a baby's pacifier is called a dummy, in America - a pacifier, diapers in the first case - nappies, in the second - diapers. The British call a pram a pram, while the Americans call it a baby carriage. What is boot for the British is trunk for the Americans. In America the word pants means trousers, while in Britain it means underwear (underpants).

Below are examples of the main differences between the two languages, as well as some exercises.

Differences in spelling

With regard to the spelling of British English (BrE) and American (AmE), it can be said that Americans adhere to a more economical and phonetic spelling. Unpronounceable letters are skipped, and words are written closer to their sound. The most obvious example is the absence of the letter u in American words such as color, neighbor, honor, etc.

Compare also the words traveling, jewelry and program with their British equivalents - travelling, jewelery and program. However, this rule does not always apply. You might think that in America it's spelled skilful and in Britain it's spelled skillful, but it's actually the other way around!

Exercise 1

Which of the following words are written in American English and which are written in British English? Can you give a second spelling?

Sample: AmE - mustache:BrE— mustache

• airplane, check, theater, tire, defense, woolen, pajamas, gaol

Differences in pronunciation

Of course, both countries have their own regional pronunciations, but the following words are pronounced differently by most Americans and Britons. The differences are mainly in the sound of vowels or stress.

Exercise 2

Can you indicate how an American would pronounce the following words and how a British person would pronounce them?

• vase, route, ballet, address (noun), ate, buoy, tomato, advertisement, garage, leisure

Differences in vocabulary

The percentage of words that are used in only one country is very small, but the problem for English learners is that these words are among the most commonly used. Many words are used only by Americans but most Britons understand them, but others can be difficult.

For example, the British know that Americans call biscuits cookies, and flat - apartment, but not many people know what alumnus (college or university graduate) or fender (dirt shield over a car wheel) are. In turn, Americans know that a yard in Britain is called a garden, and a truck is called a lorry, but the words plimsolls (sneakers) or off-licence (liquor store) that are familiar to the British will not tell them anything.

Exercise 3

From the list below, select pairs of words that have the same meaning and classify them as American or British English.

Sample: AmE - cookie = BrE - biscuit

Differences in grammar

The grammar of British and American English is almost the same, but there are some interesting variations, for example in some verb forms. In AE, the past tense of the verb fit is fit; in BrE - fitted. Americans say I "ve gotten to know her well; the British - I"ve got to know her well. BrE often uses the Present Perfect where AmE would rather use the Past Simple.

For example, when using the words just or already, the British are most likely to say I "ve just seen him or I"ve already done it, and the Americans - I just saw him or I already did it.

Another example is that Americans are much more likely to agree collective nouns with the verb. In standard AmE it is correct to say The team is playing well this season, while in BrE it is acceptable to say: The team are playing well. The same applies to words such as government, committee, etc. In American - The government is..., in British - The government are...

Exercise 4

The following sentences are typically American. How would a Brit say them?

• 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.

Use of words

There are countless interesting nuances between AmE and BrE that relate to the use of words. AmE has a useful preposition through, which means “through, inclusive.” For example, The exhibition is showing March through June. Its equivalent in BrE is from March to June, but this can be understood in two ways.

Will the exhibition last until the beginning of June or until the end? To avoid misunderstandings, it is better to say, for example: The exhibition is showing from March to the end of June.

Another example: for Americans, the number billion contains 9 zeros (billion). For most Brits there are 12 zeros (a trillion). As for zero itself, in AmE the word zero is more common, while in BrE it is nought. Americans are more likely to pronounce the number 453 as four hundred fifty three, while the British almost always pronounce it as four hundred and fifty three. And this is only a small part!

Exercise 5

For whom are the following sentences more typical - an American or a British person?

• 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 soccer 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 quite obvious that for non-native speakers it will be very difficult to separate these two dialects. The best thing to do in this case is to purchase a good reference book. We can recommend two books on this topic:

• 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

Exercise 1 - Writing

• airplane - aeroplane
• check - check
• theater - theater
• defense - defense
• woollen - woollen
• tire - tire
• pajamas - pajamas
• jail-gaol*

* Now in Britain the word jail is also more common, but gaol is also quite acceptable (they are pronounced the same).

Exercise 2 - Pronunciation

In most cases, Americans and British accents are the same. For example, everyone says pencil and relax, cinema and consider, but the following words are stressed differently:

• ballet - BrE - ballet - AmE
• address - BrE - address * - AmE
• garage – BrE – garage – AmE
• advertisement – ​​BrE – advertisement – ​​AmE

There are words that differ in the sound of the stressed vowel. They are difficult to illustrate without resorting to phonetic symbols, which not everyone is familiar with. Therefore, they are presented in comparison with common words containing the same sound.

• vase: as in cars (BrE) - as in face (AmE)
• route: like shoot (BrE) - like shout * (AmE)
• buoy: like toy (BrE) - like the French name Louis (AmE)
• ate: like let (BrE) — like late (AmE)
• tomato: like tomarto (BrE) - tomayto * (AmE)
• leisure: as in pleasure (BrE) - first vowel as in she (AmE)

* Some Americans pronounce these words the same way as the British.

Exercise 3 - Vocabulary

• 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, bill is the bill you ask the waiter in a restaurant. In America it is called a check, while a bill is a banknote.

Exercise 4 - Grammar

• AmE - Do you have any siblings?
• BrE — Have you got any brothers or sisters?
• AmE — It is important that she be told. *
• BrE — It is important that she is told.
• AmE — The jury has not yet reached its decision.
• BrE - The jury have not yet reached their decision.
• AmE - Go get your book.
• BrE - Go and fetch your book.
• AmE - He dove into the water.
• BrE - He dived into the water.
• AmE — You must come visit me real soon.
• BrE — You must come and visit me really soon.

* AmE uses the subjunctive form much more often than BrE.

Exercise 5 - Using words

This was a tricky task because in reality all of these sentences are more likely to be said by an American than by a British person! Here are their UK equivalents:

• AmE — I"ll try and visit you on the weekend.
• BrE — I"ll try to visit you at the weekend.
• AmE — Please write me when you arrive.
• BrE — Please write to me when you arrive.
• AmE - Call me as soon as you get there.
• BrE — Ring me (phone me) as soon as you get there.
• AmE — Most everyone has a telephone and a refrigerator these days.
• BrE — Almost everyone has a telephone and a refrigerator these days.

In contact with

Do you know which version of English you are learning - British or American? In most cases, this question puzzles people, and in response they ask: “What's the difference?”; or they say: “I don’t know. Just English.”

Those who are a little in the know may answer something like: “I’m learning American because it’s easier,” or: “I’m learning British because it’s more classical.” These people already have an idea of ​​the difference, and therefore they have preferences. What is the point here?

The fact is that there are several varieties of English. It is customary to distinguish two predominant options: British and American - they are the most common in the world, and the majority study one of them.

At the same time, there are other varieties of English: Canadian, Australian, Irish, Scottish, Indian, South African and Jamaican English - all of them, except Canadian, are branches of the British version, that is, they are more similar to it.

British and American are not very different. But sometimes Americans, having visited England, say that they experienced some difficulties in understanding the English. This may sound surprising to some, but it demonstrates how different British and American English are from each other.

Let's look at their differences:

Pronunciation. If you haven’t paid attention to this yet, you can listen to British radio (BBC radio) and American radio (Voice of America) one after the other - the difference in pronunciation is obvious.

Vocabulary. The British and Americans use different words for some things. Offhand, there are about 500 of them. For example, “shop” in British is ‘shop’, and in American it is ‘store’. And in most cases, the British and Americans not only do not use the words of their “language colleagues,” but sometimes they don’t even know them at all.

Writing some words are different. For example, the word “color”: the British spelling is ‘colour’, the American spelling is ‘color’.

Grammar. There is a slight difference in grammar. For example, in American English the 'Present Perfect' tense is formally used in fewer situations.

Wealth of expressions. British English is richer in terms of words and expressions. American, being a derivative of British, did not borrow everything from it - many words, phrases, etc. remained, so to speak, “overboard.” In other words, the baggage of British English has accumulated over centuries, and Americans have only taken part of it. Therefore, it is generally accepted that American English is “simpler.”

In connection with all this - advice:

At the beginning select one of the English options. Follow it 100 percent - pronunciation, words, expressions and grammatical features; use educational materials based on the option you choose; listen to the radio, audio books, podcasts, etc., and also read material and sources in the chosen version of English, at least in the initial stages. Why?

Firstly, to lay the right foundation of the language. If you take information from “mixed” sources (i.e., both British and American), “your English” will turn into an incomprehensible hybrid. Native speakers themselves do not do this - the British speak British, and the Americans speak American. Why should you do this?

Secondly, it will make the learning process easier for you, especially during the period of getting used to the language - its sound, vocabulary, grammar. If you mix options, “mess” cannot be avoided. If you listen to something with a British accent, your subconscious gets used to it. And if tomorrow you listen to something in American, a “glitch” will occur in your head - what you heard yesterday does not correspond to what you hear today - what then should you remember, what should you get used to?

At the same time, there is no need to take the choice of option too seriously or critically. You just need to start, with anyone. Despite the differences, it will still be authentic English, which you will not be lost in knowing.

Further you can add a second option. When your knowledge has already “strengthened” and a reliable base has been created, you can expand the range of sources. This is even useful because it will help you understand the key differences between the two options and navigate different situations.

For example, if you have learned the British version and are talking to an American, you may hear the familiar word ‘flat’, but you will understand that he means “flat tire” - this is the meaning that Americans use it.

At a more advanced level, you can “retrain” to use another version of English. You can even master both and, in the right situations, “switch” from one to the other. All this is real. The main thing is to start, take the first step!

Variants of the most used words:

If you want to see an expanded list, see.

For our English through Stories course, we chose American English. In the modern world, it is more common and popular, and therefore most people prefer it.

P.S. If you have questions or suggestions, you can leave a comment!

Which version of English is better: British or American?

Of course, there is no clear answer to this question, but today we will look at 5 points that need to be taken into account when choosing one of them.

What is British or American English?

In its most general sense, English is the term used to designate the form of English used in the United States, including all dialects used there. A English is the form of English used in the United Kingdom and all its varieties.

What are the differences between British and American English?

In general, both of these varieties of English are very similar. There are some subtle differences, but they usually do not interfere with communication or understanding. Some of these differences exist...

• in vocabulary: most words are the same, but there are some exceptions. For example, the English say biscuit and the Americans say cookie. However, people from both countries understand each other very well.
• in grammar: most verbs and structures are the same, but there are some differences in usage. For example, a British person might say: "Have you had dinner?", and an American would say: "Did you have dinner?"
• in slang: there are several differences here. For example: a Briton might say: "Alright, mate?", and an American would say: "OK, buddy?" And, of course, there are a great many varieties of slang in both the US and the UK.
• in spelling: most words are spelled the same, but some words in the American version are simplified in terms of spelling. For example, the British write color And gynecology, while in the American version it is written color And gynecology.
• in pronunciation: the British prefer to pronounce the sound [ə] in words ending with -er (water, later, never). While the Americans make a sound [r] more pronounced.

Which option is easier to learn?

It is impossible to say definitively which version of English is the simplest. Much depends on which version you prefer. Any British or American who speaks clearly enough will be equally easy to understand. For example, if you're listening to a BBC or CNN presenter, you probably won't notice much of a difference in accent. Of course, in both countries you may meet people who are difficult to understand.

Which version is recognized as official English?

There is no official version of the English language. There is Standard English (the type of English you find in newspapers, official letters and legal documents), but it is not official English. And linguists classify Standard English as a dialect, just like all other varieties such as Canadian English, New Zealand English, South African English, Australian English, British English, American English, Scottish English, Irish English.... So no the English version is not superior to another - they are all used equally.

So which version of English should you choose?

In the end, it is up to you to decide which version of English you choose to study. Since the differences between varieties of English are minimal and there is no "official" version of English, it really doesn't matter. Of course, if you are planning to emigrate to the USA, it is better to pay more attention to the American version of English; and if you're planning to travel to Australia, you should probably focus on Australian English. However, if these things are not a problem, then the best thing would be to listen to different versions of English, including non-local ones, to get a feel for this international language.

The question of which English to learn: British or American is a subject of debate among millions of people studying this language around the world. Some say that the American version is more modern and simpler, others call for a return to the classic British one. Let's try to find out today which option is most relevant for you.

The English language is no less bright and multifaceted than Russian. Should we stick to the classics or live by today's ideals? Let's try to find out what advantages both languages ​​have and make the right choice in favor of one of them.

A brief excursion into the history of the emergence of the American language

First, let's remember history, it will help us understand where the division of languages ​​came from. Remember who discovered America? Great, now tell me, who began to explore the new continent? That's right, a variety of representatives of European countries. It is quite natural that this motley crowd needed a common language of communication. They didn’t bother too much with this issue, choosing the common language of Foggy Albion. You, of course, understand that the British Queen and other decent people did not go to America. As a rule, traders, the petty bourgeoisie, and those who needed to escape criminal prosecution sought to get to the new continent. They set off in search of happiness and safe shelter. How do you think these people communicated? Naturally, perfect pronunciation, prim British vocabulary and precise grammatical structures were out of the question! In addition, the abundance of immigrants from France, Italy, and Portugal did not at all contribute to the use of the refined language of the English nobility. So a simplified version emerged, which became the foundation of American English. Needless to say, this language is still one of the most flexible and rapidly changing along with Russian.

And now about the advantages of American English

American English is for those who are looking for the easiest way. Which English is better to learn: American or British? Of course, the American variation of the language attracts us with its ease, accessibility, and modernity. We, like immigrants from Europe many years ago, want to simplify our lives. Slang words and colorful idioms are the favorite child of the American language (although British has plenty of them too). Apparently, the genes of the immigrants are still making themselves felt: Americans do not like to understand the rules and nuances of speech. They distort pronunciation, shorten words, abbreviate phrases, which horrifies the aristocratic British.

What's good about the American version?

• Simple grammar. Americans most often use only three simple tenses: Present, Past, Future. They may well replace Past Perfect with Past Simple. And this same Past Simple can even replace the Present Perfect. In the UK, for taking such liberties you would be given, at a minimum, a contemptuous look. This does not bother the people of America. The point here is not about “stupid Americans”, but about the desire to communicate dynamically, simply and quickly.
• Slang. To be honest, even passionate adherents of classical literature like to throw in a bright word from time to time. Slang expressions make speech lively and quickly convey ideas to the interlocutor.
• Idioms. There are plenty of them in both the British and American versions. Only in the latter they are more concise, precise, “newfangled”. For example, hit the books - prepare for an exam, study, study a lot. Or duck soup - it's as easy as shelling pears.
• Influence of other languages. In a conversation with an American friend, you may be surprised to discover the words tacos, adios, doritos, borrowed from Spanish. Also pay attention to the words employee (employee), tutor (tutor). Do you feel a taste of French? Yes, Americans actively use the suffixes of this language. Still, such an “explosive mixture” has its own charm.

Now let's see what British English can do against this




Why you should learn English via Skype with a native speaker

• A native speaker, whether American or British, will teach you a living, relevant language. He will only use words and phrases that are used in real life. This way you will protect your speech from using outdated expressions and other archaisms. Current vocabulary is the main thing in learning English.
• He will explain how easy it is to master grammar, construct a sentence, and will methodically guide you through the material you have covered.
• Native speakers who teach English professionally speak without an accent. They will teach you pure pronunciation without any admixture of Americanism, Spanishism and other languages.
• The most valuable thing in classes is the experience of communicating with a foreigner. You will finally immerse yourself in the language environment and try English “by ear”. If you manage to understand your tutor’s speech, then there will be no problems understanding Americans or English; after all, the difference between the languages ​​is not as great as it seems at first glance.

Which version of English should you learn: British or American?

A thing well said will be wit in all languages.

A well-expressed thought sounds smart in all languages.

And now, when you are almost ready to choose the option you like, we will tell you the most interesting facts.

• Both varieties of language are 93-97% similar to each other. So, by and large, it doesn't matter which type you choose. Residents of both countries communicate without a translator, so they will understand you in England, America, and Australia (they also have their own dialect, no less bright than all the others).
• English teachers around the world are celebrating the emergence of... a new variation. This is something between the British and American versions. It has already been dubbed “international English”. It is quite neutral in emotional tone and contains a minimum of slang and idioms. As you understand, it is used mainly by residents of non-English speaking countries.
• According to the experience of philologists and teachers, it is best to teach the classical basis, while simultaneously supplementing it with the most commonly used slang words and idioms.

As you can see, any option will be relevant and will definitely be useful to you in the future. When choosing a language, focus on your goals: if you are going to the UK, learn British, if you are going to America, learn American. Listen to the audio recordings and choose the option whose sound you prefer to hear, because love for the language is one of the components of successful learning. And thanks to your love for the English language, you can learn any version of it: both American and British.