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Difference between american english and british english...

is there any similarities between us english and uk english.?

Jul 28, 2014 1:43 AM
Comments · 8
2

is there any similarities between us english and uk english.?

Are there any similarities between American English and British English?

 

I think that it would be more logical to ask the question the other way round, i.e. "what are the differences between American English and British English?"

 

In written English the main differences are in spelling. For example, Americans drop the "u" in words like colour, honour, and spell centre, center, metre, meter, programme, program, and so on. There are also quite a few differences in vocabulary, like boot/trunk (of a car). With respect to style, there is a difference, but this is not something I can articulate. I just know that I read an article written with American spelling, but somehow I felt that it wasn't written by an American. When I got to the end I saw that the writer was British and lived in America.

 

In speech, there are many different regional/ethnic/class accents within both countries, and of course slang also varies in the same way.

 

Here's a fun song on the subject:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhninL_G3Fg

July 28, 2014
2

They are both pretty much the same. I am a kiwi (New Zealander), we have our own accent, but most foreigners consider it close to the british accent. If you simply want to be understood, both the British and American forms of English are easliy understood by each party and most other English speakers. It is pretty much just accent and a few slang words which differ. Obviously British English speaking people watch alot of Hollywood films and American sitcoms, and vise versa so they easily understand eachother. As far as mastering the accent, I have many friends from around Europe who speak English with me. A few of them are convinced they 'don't have an accent' aka they have a british accent, but they soo do! And it is very difficult to pin point what exactly they are doing that gives them a unique accent. I have also met a French guy with a perfect British accent, I couldn't believe he was French. And yet he had only been to England for a couple of months! 

July 28, 2014
2

There is a YouTube video of a Londoner who amazingly speaks the English language in 24 different accents.

"The English Language In 24 Accents" <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dABo_DCIdpM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dABo_DCIdpM</a>;

 

视频: The English Language In 24 Accents

 

<a href="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjExNzU0MDU2.html">http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjExNzU0MDU2.html</a>;

 

July 28, 2014
2

Ultimately, the accent and slang are the most different. It's not uncommon to read a long article with virtually nothing to distinguish whether it's British or American, but as the others point out there are some differences in spelling, word choice, and on very rare occasions even slight grammatical differences. It's not something I would worry about until your English is pretty advanced. 

July 28, 2014
2

Center(US) and Centre(UK) :) the only one i know.

July 28, 2014
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