In order to properly see the extent of deviation or difference from the British English, we shall look at the uniqueness of the AmE by comparing it with the BrE. And we shall do this at the levels of spelling, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The list of examples we shall provide is in no wide exhaustive.
(i) Differences in Spelling
AmE BrE
(or) (our)
color colour
favor favour
honor honour etc.
(dgment) (dgement)
acknowledgment acknowledgement
judgment judgement etc.
(o) (ou)
mold mould
smolder smoulder etc
(er) (re)
center centre
liter litre
theater theatre etc
(e) (ae/oe)
fetus foetus
medieval mediaeval
maneuver manoeuvre
(se) (ce)
defense defence
license licence
offense offence
(in) (en)
indorse endorse
insure ensure etc
(single consonant) (double consonants)
counselor counsellor
libelous libellous
quarreling quarelling
(double consonants) (single consonant)
fulfillment fulfilment
installment instalement
skillful skilful
Others Spelling Differences
Check cheque
Draft draught
Gage gauge
Mustache moustache
Plow plough
Program programme
Story storey
Sulfur sulphur
Tire tyre
Whisky whiskey etc.
Differences in Vocabulary
AmE BrE
Faucet tap
Muffler silencer
Candy sweets
Driver’s license driving license
Generator dynamo
Zero nought, nil
Line queue
To ring to call
Game match
Soccer football
Gas petrol
Airplane aeroplane
Casket coffin
Cookie biscuit
Corn maize
Diaper nappy
Drapes curtains
Bookstore bookshop
Living room sitting room
Smock overall
Bill bank note
Flash light touch tight
Headlamp headlight
Candidature candidacy
Centennial centenary
Cook cookery
Racist, racism racialist, racialism Transportation transport etc.
Differences in Grammar
AmE BrE
I’ll see you at the weekend I’ll see you during the weekend
It’s twenty after four it’s twenty past four I haven’t seen her in ages I haven’t seen her for ages Monday through Friday Monday to Friday inclusive Sundays we go to church On Sundays we go to church I looked out the window I looked out of the window Half the cash goes for clothes Half the cash goes on clothes They live on Broad street They live in Broad street I moved toward the car I moved towards the car Do you have the time? Have you got the time?
The house was burned down The house was burnt down
It’s a half hour It’s half an hour
We shall see in the future We shall see in future She is still in the hospital She is still in hospital The government is democratic The government are
democratic
I’ll go momentarily I’ll go in a moment I feel real good I feel really good etc.
Differences in Pronunciation
Item AmE BrE (RP)
Asthma ‘azma ‘asma
Chassis tȓȓȓȓ asi:s ‘ȓȓȓȓ asi:s
Clerk klзrk kla:k
Clique klik kli:k
Data deitə da:tə
Leisure ‘lizə ‘lezə
Medicine ‘medisin ‘medsin
Erase i’reis i’reiz
Missile ‘misəl ‘misail
Lieutenant lu:’tenənt lef’tenənt Schedule ‘skedzuəl ‘ȓȓȓȓ edju:l
Z zi: zed etc.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2
1. Describe some features of American grammar.
2. Different between AmE spelling from BrE spelling.
4.0 CONCLUSION
The Americans have established for themselves a language culture and uniqueness that is peculiar to their environment. It is one mother tongue variety of the English that has influenced other varieties including the Canadian and the British English itself. Today the AmE is noticeable in many new Englishes in Asia, and Africa.
5.0 SUMMARY
English came to America in the 17th century following the first British settlement in Virginia in 1620. Some later groups landed in Massachusetts, Philadelphia, New York and some other parts of the United States. English was then established as the colonial language of administration and social communication. Different settlers with different linguistic backgrounds also meant distinct varieties and accents
of English. Pidgin and Creole developed in Caribbean following the transportation of black slaves to the new world. This was the beginning of new Englishes in the United States. Concern for linguistic and literary development was rather slow in America. With the scholarly efforts and writings of American scholars like Noah Webster, a new-awakening for purely American linguistic identity was born. America had obtained its political independence in 1776, and this new feeling and hunger for a new nation aided the emergence of what is today known as American English. The uniqueness of the American variety can be seen in its distinct spelling, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
1. Compare and contrast between the American English spelling with that of the British.
2. Write at least fifteen (15) words that are American and give their British equivalents.
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS
Crystal (2002). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of English Language, 2nd Ed. Cambridge: CUP.
Jenkins, J (2003). World Englishes: A Resource Book for Students.
London: Routledge.
Trudgil, P & Jean, H. (1982). International English. London: Edward Arnold.