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The English language is fascinating. Its history development over hundreds of years, its rich vocabulary and fairly easy grammar system make English one of the most interesting languages. It is no wonder that it becomes the number one world’s language used by millions of speakers all over the world. The English language has two major sections, British English and American English. The two segments have differences in the way they are written and spoken. This essay will compare British English versus American English. British English is the form of English used in the United Kingdom. It also used in Ireland, Australia, Newzealand, Canada, India, and other Commonwealth regions. American English is the form of English used in the United States. It includes all English dialects used within the united state of America. Here we can discuss why British English is different from American English? First, we need to understand the historical background of British English and American English. In the early seventeenth century English was introduced to British colonization, the strength of the British Empire spread it in many countries around the world. For many years, English is the United States and Britain varied in different ways. This led to the new command of American English. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the United States did not adopt a spelling. The UK dictionary was compiled by London based scholars. Meanwhile, in the United States, the lexicographer was a man named Noah Webster, he changed how the words were spelled make the American version different from the British as a way of showing cultural independence from its mother country. After its historical background, we can compare the differences. There are various types of factors affect the different ways of use in English these two countries. Those are social-cultural differences, education, demographics, word derivation and compounds, writing, vocabulary, numerical expressions, idioms, pronunciation, spelling, grammar, telling time. Here mainly discussed vocabulary, grammar, spelling and pronunciation. The most noticeable difference between American and British English is vocabulary. For example, are the British call fronts of the car bonnet, Americans call the hood. British call back of the car boot while American call trunk. Americans go on vacation, British go on Holidays. Newyokers live in an apartment, Americans live in flats. British call university while Americans call college. There is far more examples than we can talk about here. Fortunately, most Americans and British can usually guess the meaning through the context of a sentence. Next, when talking about spelling, there are hundreds of minor spelling differences between British and American English. Noah Webster an author, politician, and teacher, stand and effort to reform English spelling in the late 1700s. He was disappointed with the likeness of the English spelling. Webster wanted to raise vocabulary. Spelling was the ability of the United States to show independence from England. Webster’s some ideas have failed. after Webster’s death was not attempting to change the spelling in America later 1983. Here are some general differences between British and American spelling. Words ending in-or (American)-our (British) color- colour, humor- humour, flavor- flavour, etc. Words ending in- ize (American),ise (British) recognize,recognise, patronize,patronise etc. Aside from spelling and vocabulary, there are certain grammar differences between British and American English. Firstly considering about collective nouns, we use collective nouns to refer to a group of individuals. In American English collective nouns are singular. For example, staff refers to a group of employees. The band refers to a group of musicians.Team refers to a group of athletes. Americans would say, “The band is good ". But British English collective noun can be singular or plural. You might hear someone from Britain say, “The team is playing tonight" or " team is playing tonight ". The difference in the use of prepositions, for example, while the British would play in a team. Americans would play on a team. Another example is while the British go out the weekend. Americans would go out on the weekend. Next, we discuss different in verb usage, Britain and American English may also use a base verb in different manners. As an example of the verb “to dream” American would the past tense “dreamed” same applies to “learned” and “learnt”. Another example of differing past tense spelling for verbs in Americans and British English is “forecast” Americans use “forecast” while the British would say “forecasted” in the simple past tense. Another grammar difference is the use of the present perfect. In British English, the present perfect is used to express an action that has occurred in the recent past that has an effect on the present moment. For example, “I have lost my key. Can you help me look for it? t”, In British English about would be considered incorrect. However, both forms are generally accepted in standard American English, other differences involving the use of the present perfect in British English and simple past in American English include already, just and yet. When talking about pronunciation, some words that are pronounced differently in American vs. British English are controversy, leisure, etc. there are also some words like Ax (Axe in British) and (defense in British) which have the same pronunciation but different spelling in both languages. The above is indicated only by a few differences between British and American English. In addition, there are many variations. The core of this essay aimed to show the selected difference in British and American English in the areas of grammar, spelling Pronunciation and vocabulary. And why are British and American English differences? We find plenty of differences these areas well but they do not play such a big role in the interaction between speakers of British and American English. The English Language is the dynamic system which is always changing. We can only speculate whether the two dialects will become more or less alike in the feature. The fact is that in present British and American English remains one language but two very different dialects.
