English is one of the most popular languages in the world today, and the number of people who speak English is second only to Mandarin. Countries where English is the first language are: Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and so on. , with a total population of over 300 million; Bilingual countries and regions as second languages include Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan and so on. , the total population1.200 million. In these countries, although English is not the native language of the local people, it is the official language of the government. In addition, more and more people use English as a foreign language. Therefore, English is playing an increasingly important role in the world. It has become an international language, and its scope of use involves political, economic, trade, cultural and academic exchanges.
With the widespread use of English, English has produced different varieties. According to the origin and similarity of English in different countries, English can be divided into two categories: English and American, and each category is used by different countries. The countries that use British English are Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies and South Africa. Countries that use American English include the United States and Canada.
2. The reasons for the formation of British English and American English
Three or four centuries ago, English immigrants brought English to new colonies. Influenced by the new social and natural environment, English has formed different forms after hundreds of years of development. American English is for by:
(1) American English comes from British English. Since 1607, countless groups of colonists have immigrated to North America. They brought Elizabethan English to the new colony, which became the starting point of American English. Great changes have taken place in British English since17th century. However, due to the barrier of the sea, this change has not spread to the United States, so these American immigrants still maintain the tradition of English and are closer to Shakespeare's language than London English. British English has changed, but overseas English has not changed much, which is one of the reasons why British English is different from American English.
(2) As we all know, the United States is a multi-ethnic country. For hundreds of years, immigrants from Europe, Africa and Asia have come to the United States. Together with the local Indians, American society has become a multi-ethnic melting pot. The cultures, histories and traditions of all ethnic groups and countries penetrate and blend with each other, and the languages also influence each other, so the languages of all countries have become loanwords of American English. Under the influence of this new environment in America, English has changed.
3. Lexical differences between British English and American English
Due to the different political, economic and geographical environments between Britain and America, many words in British English and American English are also different.
3. 1 is spelled differently.
American English and British English are somewhat different in spelling.
( 1)-ize/-ise
American English is commonly used? -Ize? Do you use suffixes in British English? Yi Shi? Suffix:
The meaning of American English and British English
Civilized civilization
Remember, remember
Modernization, modernization, modernization
Organization organization
Realize
Know know know.
(2) What suffixes are used in American English? Capable? Substitution? Is it cute? ：
The meaning of American English and British English
Worthy of liking
lovely
sizable
Izeable is quite big.
(3) American English is used in some words? Me? Not vowels? y？ ：
The meaning of American English and British English
Tire, tire, tire
Pilot. Pilot.
Demon siren
Dams and dams
(4) Dual writing of-ei and -aI
American English without double consonants? l？ , British English double consonants? l？ ：
The meaning of American English and British English
Traveler traveler
Inconceivable
Quarrel
equal
(5)-og/-ogue
American English is commonly used? Og? Do you use suffixes in British English? Og? Suffix:
The meaning of American English and British English
catalogue
Dialogue dialogue dialogue
soliloquy
(6) gram/gram
American English is commonly used? Grandma? Do you use suffixes in British English? Grandma? Suffix:
American English British English vocabulary
Program program
Kg kg
Keke Keke
(7)-et/-ette
American English is commonly used? Aliens? Do you use suffixes in British English? -Edie? Suffix:
The meaning of American English and British English
Cigarettes cigarettes
quartet
(8)-action/-xtion
American English is commonly used? -Action? Do you use suffixes in British English? xtion？ Suffix:
The meaning of American English and British English
connect
Reflection ion reflection ion reflection
(9) or/and our
American English is commonly used? -Or? Do you use suffixes in British English? Our? Suffix:
The meaning of American English and British English
behavior
Color color color
Yeah, yeah, I like it.
Flavor essence
honour
Labor labor
Neighbor neighbor
Humor, humor, humor
Vigorous energy
(10)- Er/-Hot
American English is commonly used? Huh? Do you use suffixes in British English? -Really? Suffix:
The meaning of American English and British English
Center center
Mimi Mimi
Theater theater
slender
( 1 1)-se/-ce
Some nouns in American English begin with? -What is it? At the end, British English begins with? -ce？ Ending:
The meaning of American English and British English
Defense defense
Permit license
unintentional crime
Practice practice.
(12) Omit redundant letters.
American English omits some disyllabic consonants;
The meaning of American English and British English
Counselor counselor
firewood
Jewelry. Jewelry.
truck
Whoosh
Wool product
American English is right about some silent letters (such as? e？ 、? gh？ ) ellipsis:
American English
British English
The meaning of a word
Axe axe axe axe.
Annex annex
ploughing
Thoroughly, completely
Thruthough passed
However, sometimes there are exceptions. Individual words, American English has double consonants? Me? British English has no double consonants? Me? (Contrary to (4) above):
The meaning of American English and British English
Enroll in school
Complete the performance.
3.2 past tense and past participle of verbs
The past tense and past participle of some verbs are irregular verbs in British English and regular verbs in American English.
3.3 Different words are synonymous.
Besides these unique spellings, American English and British English often use different words to express the same meaning. The following are some common lexical differences between American English and British English (see the right table):
3.4 Synonyms with different meanings
American English British English
Money, money
Billion trillion
Overalls have a wide blouse with a one-piece bottom.
work clothes
Pants, pants and shorts
Wallet handbag women's purse
Vest suit vest underwear, undershirt
To sum up, while understanding the differences between British English and American English, we should not exaggerate the differences between them. British English and American English are not two languages, but variants of one language in different regions.