Особенности британского и американского английского в речи
МБОУ «Гимназия №125»
Советского района города Казани
«Особенности британского и американского
английского в речи»
Выполнила: учитель английского языка
Галимова А.Д.
2015-г.Казань
В настоящее время существуют различные варианты английского языка:
американский, британский, австралийский, ново-зеландский, и др. Споры по
поводу того, какой из вариантов английского считается «образцовым»
продолжается и по сей день. Однако, противопоставление британского
английского его американскому аналогу, - тема, волнующая каждого, кто
когда-либо учился или использовал английский в своей речи.
Американский английский и британский английский являются вариантами
одного и того же языка. Между ними больше сходств, чем различий,
особенно там, где звучит речь образованных людей или используется язык
науки. Причиной же большинства расхождений являются особенности
истории и культуры развития двух стран, разнообразие идиом и устойчивых
выражений, а также влияние средств массовой информации и рекламы.
Американский и британский английский отличаются по четырем основным
направлениям:
произношение,
написание,
словарь,
грамматика.
В данной работе я попыталась рассмотреть возможные сложности
возникающие при коммуникации, вследствие наличия расхождений в
британском и американском вариантах английского языка. Исходя из всего
этого, можно сделать вывод о том, что необходимо знать особенности
британского и американского английского для того, чтобы избежать
недоразумении при общении в англоязычной среде, и чтобы лучше
ориентироваться при общении с людьми из разных частей мира.
COMPARISON OF AMERICAN AND
BRITISH ENGLISH
Performed by: Galimova A.D.
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 whiсh 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
What the British say
What others understand
What the British
mean
With the greatest respect…
He is listening to me
I think you are an idiot
That’s not bad
That’s poor
That’s good
That is a very brave proposal
He thinks I have courage
You are insane
Quite good
Quite good
A bit disappointing
I would suggest…
Think about the idea, but do what
you like
Do it or be prepared to justify yourself
Oh incidentally/by the way
That is not very important
The primary purpose of our discussion
is…
I was a bit disappointed
It does not really matter
I am annoyed that
Very interesting
They are impressed
That is clearly nonsense
I’ll bear it in my mind
They will probably do it
I have forgotten it already
I’m sure it is my fault
Why do they think it was their fault?
It is your fault
You must come for dinner
I will get an invitation soon
t is not an
invitation,
I am just
being
polite
I almost agree
He is not far from agreement
I do not agree at all
I only have a few minor
comments
He has found a few typos
Please re-write completely
Could we consider some other
options
They have not decided yet
I do not like your
idea
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.
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!)
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
American Spelling
British Spelling
color
colour
center
centre
сheck (noun)
cheque (noun)
all right
alright
maneuver
manoeuvre
tire
tyre
aging
ageing
analyze/ paralyze
analyse/ paralyse
traveling
travelling
canceling
cancelling
Different meaning in vocabulary
American
British
I married a homely girl.
ugly
a good house-keeper
The opening of our new play was a bomb!
bad, a failure
a great success
We all had tea and biscuits. ('crumpets' vs 'English muffins', etc.)
a type of bread baked in
small round pieces
(кексы)
SBE crumpet
a thin, flat, dry, usually sweet
cake
(печенье)
SAE muffin
Evelyn took a coin out of [his/her] purse.
women's handbag
дамская сумочка
SBE handbag
coin purse
кошелек, бумажник
SAE change purse
The committee tabled the motion.
to leave a motion, idea, offer
etc to be dealt with it in the
future
отложить
SBE put a motion on the
table
to suggest a motion etc for
other people to consider
предложить
SAE suggest, propose
Pekka was climbing in the lime tree.
a tree on which limes (a kind
of lemons) grow
дерево, на котором растут
лаймы
a tree with pleasant-smelling
yellow flowers
липа
SAE linden
Differences in grammar
A
E
B
E
Past simple/ Present perfect
Jenny feels ill. She ate too much.
Jenny feels ill. She's eaten too much.
A: Are they going to the show tonight? B:
No. They already saw it.
A: Are they going to the show tonight? B: No.
They've already seen it.
to have/to have got
How many brothers do you have?
How many brothers have you got?
Must/have to
Do you have to do that?
Must you do that?
Like to V/like Ving
I like to climb mountains.
I like climbing mountains.
don´t need to/needn´t
They don´t need to come to school today.
They needn´t come to school today.
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.
