BRITISH AND

AMERICAN ENGLISH
LECTURE -04
 Bringing English to
America
English- speaking settlers arrive in
North America as part of the British
Colonization Movement. (Early
1600s)
Brought English now known as
Emigrant Language.
Settlers continue to speak their own
native tongue.
 Over the next 400
Years
Between the 17th and the 21st
century, gradual changes took place
in form of the English Language.
The Americans and the British
diverge drastically the Forms of their
languages that they are now
considered two separate English
language Dialects.
 Historical Origins
English Spelling was standardized
after the publishing of influential
dictionaries.
British- Samuel Johnsons
A Dictionary of the English
Language (1755)
American- Noah Websters
American Dictionary of the
English Language (1828)
 British English
West- Germanic
A Borrowing Language - enriched
by Anglo-Saxon, Scandinavian, and
Norman influences.
Evolved over many centuries;
experienced many shift/ changes.
Spread of British English is attributed
to trade and commerce throughout
the established British Empire.
 American English
Noah Webster created an American
English dictionary in the early 1800s
did more than just add new words to
British English
Revised the spelling of many common
words (eliminate what he saw as
unnecessary letters).
His new spellings were adopted in the
United States but not the UK, and these
spelling differences remain to this day.
 British Vs. American
English
American English British English
(AmE) is the form (BrE) is the form of
of English used in English used in the
the United States. United Kingdom. It
It includes all includes all English
English dialects dialects used
used within the within the UK.
USA. Received
General Pronunciation
American (GA) is (RP) is considered
considered to be standard.
standard.
 Which is Correct?
British and American English are taught
as Foreign Language Programs.
No one version is Correct.

RULE: be consistent in your usage.

The largest difference is probably in the

choice of vocabulary and pronunciation.
 Common Spelling
Differences
Greek Spelling: -our, -se/ -ce, -re/ -er
Latin- derived Spelling: -ise/ -ize,
-yse/ -yze, -ouge/ -og
Doubled Consonants ll
Dropped L, A, E, and O.
OUR- OR Type Words
British American
Armour Armor
Behaviour Behavior
Colour Color
Demeanour Demeanor
Humour Humor
Dishonour Dishonor
Endeavour Endeavor
Favour Favor
Glamour Glamor
RE - ER Type Words
British American
Centre Center

Fibre Fiber

Kilometre Kilometer

Litre Liter

Meagre Meager

Metre Meter

Sceptre Scepter

Theatre Theater
SE - ZE Type Words

British American
Analyse Analyze

Civilise Civilize

Cosy Cozy

Fuse Fuze

Italicise Italicize

Organise Organize

Paralyse Paralyze

Realise Realize

Recognise Recognize
CE - SE Type Words

British American
Ascent Assent
Defence Defense
Licence License
Offence Offense
Practise Practice
Vice Vise
 L - doubles
British American

Enrol Enroll

Enthral Enthrall

Distil Distill

Fulfil Fulfill

Instralment Installment

Instil Instill

Skilful Skillful
GUE - OG Type Words

British American

Catalogue Catalog

Dialogue Dialog

Travelogue Travelog

Monologue Monolog

Prologue Prolog
 L - Missing
British American

Cancelled Canceled

Councillor Councilor

Dialling Dialing

Leveller Leveler

Marvellous Marvelous

Medallist Medalist

Signalled Signaled

Travelled Traveled
 A - Missing

British American
Anaesthetic Anesthetic

Archaeology Archeology

Mediaeval Medieval
 O - Missing

British American

Amoeba Ameba

Cestrogen Cestrgen

Diarrhoea Diarrhea

Homoeopathy Homeopathy

Moustache Mustache

Oestrogen Estrogen
 Vocabulary Differences
The most complicated differences for
English language learners is probably
the differences in vocabulary.
Below you will see a few of the main
vocabulary differences between
British and American English.
 aeroplane airplane
agony aunt columnist
anti-clockwise counter-clockwise
autumn autumn, fall
barrister attorney
bill(restaurant) bill, check
biscuit cookie
block of flats apartment building
bonnet(clothing) hat
bonnet(car) hood
boot trunk
caravan trailer
car park parking lot
chemist's shop drugstore, pharmacy
chest of drawers dresser, chest of drawers,
bureau
chips fries, French fries
the cinema the movies
Coffin coffin, casket
crisps potato chips