British and American English
элективный курс по английскому языку на тему

                                                          CONTENTS  

1.   Introduction

2.   The main part

Characteristics of British English

Development of American English

Differences between  British English and American English

3.   Conclusion

4.   List of literature

                                                 Introduction

        English is a world language of progressive science and technology, trade and cultural relations, commerce and business. Therefore  we all learn English, but it is not an easy thing.

         The difficulty for non-native learners of English is that there is no standard English forms. We are confronted with two English variants to learn: British English (BE) and American English (AE) (leaving aside Australian, Indian, South African English etc.). And despite the many cross-cultural influences, it seems that vocabularies, spelling and pronunciations of these two dialects are diverging year by year.

               Many scientists pay attention to the origin of American English and differences in vocabulary between American and British English. It is difficult to say which one is the best and can be ‘ideal’.

              As for Americans and British they both don’t like the languages of each over. In British view, American English is rude and economical, but their own language is language of polite people. The Americans think that British English is more hypocritical and strained than their native language which is friendlier and more affable. So, let’s find it out …

                                              BRITAIN

       Britain (The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is homeland of Newton  and Darwin, Shakespeare and Dickens, the Beatles and Queen. Its language (language of educational population of London and south-east of England) has the national status (RP). It bases on “true English”. This is the language of the best private schools and universities. This is the classical, literature English whish is base of every English schools for foreigners. While we are studying this, we learn the culture, features and character of nation. Well, let’s find these characteristics in everyday phrase and idioms.

                                                How can we understand British?

                                                                Everyday phrases

                                                          Idioms
         How do British think?

        In Russian we often use the common phrases (idioms)  and English is full of these phrases

• as dead as a dodo

        If something is 'as dead as a dodo', it is no longer important or popular. This phrase is often used to talk about ideas or trends.

        In the past people used to watch and record videos on VHS, but now that format is as dead as a dodo.

• odd man out

         If someone or something is an 'odd man out' or an 'odd one out', it is unlike the others in a group.

        When I got to the party everyone was wearing beautifully tailored suits and I was in ripped jeans and a smelly t-shirt. Felt like a bit of an odd man out. 

• an old head on young shoulders

'An old head on young shoulders', or 'a wise head on young shoulders' is a young person who behaves like an older person with more experience.

He was an old head on young shoulders by helping his team win the tournament, scoring six goals in the process.

• to paint the town red

If you paint the town red, you go and celebrate without control.

It's my 21st birthday on Saturday and I'm going to paint the town red.

• Checkmate

        Checkmate is what you say in chess when you attack the opponent’s king in such a way that no escape is possible, meaning you win the game. It is now used in other contexts to mean 'complete victory'.

        He had no option but to agree to their demands: it was checkmate. 

                                                     AMERICA

    America (the United States of America) is the country of McDonald’s and Hollywood. American culture has developed  very quickly. As for language, American English is easier and more simple for perception than British variant because it bases on colloquial English. We can prove it on examples of idioms and colloquial words and phrase (slang) which are very interesting and sometimes very funny.

                                    Some American idioms…
                                  How do Americans think?

Pigs might fly (It is all possible in the world)

Busy as a bee (hard-working)

He is a bad egg (very bad person)

To go bananas, To go nuts  (to be nervous, go mad)

I got cold feet (I was very frightened)

Down to the wire (until the very end)

Skating on thin ice (dangerous actions)

What’s up? = What’s going on? (How are you? B.variant - How do you do?)

Don’t mention it! (Don’t pay attention! Don’t worry! B.variant - You are welcome!)

                                       Colloquial words

                               How do Americans chat

You are always acting goofy these days. (silly)

I am tired of all your complaining. Take a hike. (leave)

I will do it soon so please don't get huffy. (angry)

My father is a smoke eater. (firefighter)

I always seem to have a blimp sitting next to me when I travel. (very fat person)

The party was a gross-out. (disgusting time)

The comedy program was a real riot. (funny)

My sister has three rug rats. (children)

Beans – money. “I’ve worked for this company for ten years, but I still don’t have beans.”

Ammunition – toilet paper. “Help! We’re completely out of ammunition!”

Airhead – stupid person. “Believe or not, Dave can sometimes act like an airhead!”

Eyepopper – something or someone visibly astounding. “Wow, that girl is truly an eyepopper!”

                                                  Some facts…..

• At the petrol station in the USA you can hear: “Fill her up, will you?” and in Britain: “Would you mind filling up my car?" If British said it in America, the reaction would be:  "Are you trying to be smart or what?”.
• The name of American football trainer Bum Philips caused outspoken laugh by British for a long time. In American English the word “bum” means “homeless”, “abandoned” and in British variant the translation of this word means something unpleasant and bad.
• American linguist Noah Webster created the American dictionary of the English language in 1828. This dictionary consisted of two parts and contained 70000 words, including 5000 words which weren’t involved in any British dictionary.

                                                             Conclusion

 British English is the form of English used in the United Kingdom. It includes all English dialects used within the UK. American English is the form of English used in the United States. It includes all English dialects used within the United States of America. The three major differences between AE and BE are:

•  pronunciation-differences in both vowel and consonants, as well as stress and intonation;
•  vocabulary-differences in nouns and verbs, especially phrasal verbs usage;
• spelling-differences are generally found in prefix and suffix forms.

          Differences between American English and British English
                                      Grammar differences
                                           Collective nouns

In British English collective nouns, (i.e. nouns referring to particular groups of people or things), (e.g. staff , government, class, team) can be followed by a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group is thought of as one idea, or as many individuals, e.g.:

 My team is winning. (American)

The other team are all sitting down. (British)

 In American English collective nouns are always followed by a singular verb, so an American would usually say:

 Which team is losing? (American)

Whereas in British English both plural and singular forms of the verb are possible, as in:

 Which team is/are losing? (British)

                              Some differences in spelling

                       Different meaning in vocabulary

                                                Differences in grammar

                                                     Literature

1. Бурая Е.А. "Фонетика современного английского языка". - М.: Издательский центр "Академия", 2006. - 272 с.
2. Бурлакова А.П. "The ABC fun", М.: "Просвещение", 1981.
3. Выборова Г.Е., Махмурян К.С. "Easy English", М.: "Владос", 1994.
4. Дубровин М.И., Английский язык,  Москва: Просвещение, 1993 год;
5. Кузьмин С.С., Шадрин Н.Л., Британский английский язык, Москва: Русский язык, 1989год;
6. Кунин А.В., Американский английский язык,  4 издание, Москва, 1984 год;
7. Эльянова Н.М., Сравнительная характеристика британского и американского английского языка, Ленинград: Просвещение, 1971 год;
8. Лексика британского и американского английского языка (на английском языке),Ленинград: Просвещение, 1971год.