Tyler Wynn
British and American English have evolved differently over the years, and while Americans and Brits share a language, the way they speak it is actually quite different. From the perspective of a British person, American English may sound like it has a buzzing quality, with consonants mushed together and lacking hard edges. The American accent is influenced by the desire to speak faster, which can lead to entire verbs being dropped from sentences, which might sound strange to British ears.
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What You'll Learn
Differences in pronunciation
Vowel Sounds: One of the most noticeable differences is in the pronunciation of vowels. American English has a greater number of distinct vowel sounds compared to British English. For example, Americans typically distinguish between the vowels in words like "Marry" and "merry," while many British accents merge these sounds. The "father–farther" distinction is another example, where American English uses two different vowel sounds, while British English uses the same vowel sound in both words.
Diphthongs and Triphthongs: British English, specifically Received Pronunciation (RP), tends to use more diphthongs and triphthongs than General American (GA). Diphthongs are vowel sounds that start in one place and glide towards another, like the "oy" sound in "boy." Triphthongs are similar but involve a three-part glide, such as the "i-ow-er" sound in "firework." The classic example of the diphthong difference is the British pronunciation of "lot" or "cloth," which sounds like the American pronunciation of "palm."
R-Sounds: American English is generally described as being more "rhotic" than British English. This means that Americans pronounce the "r" sound more consistently, especially after vowels. In British English, the "r" sound is often dropped or weakened in many accents, leading to a more fluid sound. This is why some British people perceive American English as having a "buzzing" quality, as the "r" sound creates a slight buzz in the throat for many Americans.
Consonant Mushing: Some British people perceive American English speakers as "mushing" their consonants together, creating a smoother sound without hard edges. This may be due to differences in articulation and the placement of energy in the mouth when speaking. Americans are perceived to speak from the upper throat, while British English speakers tend to focus their articulation on the front lips and teeth.
Influence of French: British English has historically been influenced by French more than American English. This is due to the Norman French that entered the language after the invasion led by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and the fashion for French-style words and spellings in the 18th century. As a result, British English retains certain pronunciations that sound more similar to French, while American English has evolved independently and simplified some of these influences.
It's important to remember that these are generalizations, and both American and British English encompass a wide range of accents and dialects, each with its own unique pronunciation nuances.
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Differences in vocabulary
Secondly, the two varieties of English have different dictionaries. The UK's dictionary was compiled by London scholars who aimed to collect all known English words. In contrast, the American dictionary was created by lexicographer Noah Webster, who wanted American spelling to be simpler and distinct from British spelling to showcase America's independence from British rule. As a result, words like "colour" and "honour" in British English became "color" and "honor" in American English, and "-ise" endings changed to "-ize".
Thirdly, French has influenced British English more than American English due to historical reasons. When William the Conqueror invaded Britain in the 11th century, he brought Norman French, which became the language of the upper classes. Later, in the 1700s, it became fashionable in the UK to adopt French-style words and spellings, but Americans, already independent, did not follow this trend.
Fourthly, regional accents and dialects within the US and the UK contribute to vocabulary differences. For instance, a New Yorker might distinguish between "marry" and "merry", but most other Americans do not. Similarly, some Americans change the pronunciation of "aunt", adding a vowel sound that differs from the standard British English pronunciation.
Lastly, certain phrases and words are more commonly used in American English than in British English, and vice versa. For example, Americans often end sentences with "you know what I'm saying", which some British people find notable. On the other hand, Americans might be curious about British phrases like "I beg your pardon", as they would typically say "Huh?" instead.
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Differences in verb usage
One of the most apparent distinctions between American and British verb usage can be seen in some of their endings. For example, where American English uses -ize verb endings, British English might use -ise: (American) I think we should organize that shelf; (British) I think we should organise that shelf. Where American English ends a verb in -yze, British English will often use -yse: (American) They are analyzing the latest report; (British) They are analysing the latest report.
Another difference is in the use of the verb "get". In British English, the past participle of the verb "get" is "got", whereas in American English, it is "gotten". For example, (American) He has gotten rather tall, hasn't he?; (British) He has got rather tall, hasn't he?
In British English, the auxiliary "shall" is used to indicate future tense, whereas in American English, "will" is used. For example, (American) I will complete my first year in college next year; (British) I shall complete my first year at university next year.
In American English, the verb "take" is used instead of "have" when offering to do something or making a suggestion. For example, (British) Shall I do this for you?; (American) Can/Should I do this for you?
There are also some differences in plural subject-verb agreement. In British English, collective nouns can take either singular or plural verb forms, depending on whether the emphasis is on the body as a whole or on the individual members. For example, (British) The Blue Man Group are very entertaining; (American) The Blue Man Group is very entertaining.
Finally, there are some differences in the use of certain verbs in specific contexts. For example, in British English, "to table an item on an agenda" means to open it up for discussion, while in American English, it means to remove it from discussion or delay it. The word "moot" in British English means "open to debate", while in American English, it means "of no practical significance". The verb "transport" is used in British English to refer to the transportation of goods or people, while in American English, it is usually used only as a verb, and "transportation" is the more common noun or adjective form.
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Differences in spelling
One of the main differences in spelling between the two variants of English is that British English tends to maintain the original spelling of words borrowed from other languages, particularly French and German. For example, the word "cheque" in British English is spelled "check" in American English. On the other hand, American English spellings are often based on how the word sounds when spoken, and thus tend to be simplified. For instance, "mould" in British English becomes "mold" in American English.
Another noticeable difference is in words ending in "our" in British English, which usually end in "or" in American English, such as "colour" becoming "color". Similarly, verbs ending in "yse" in British English are spelled with "yze" in American English, and words ending in "-re" in British English are often spelled with "-er" in American English, like "theatre" becoming "theater".
It is important to note that there are exceptions to these rules, and not all words follow a consistent pattern of spelling across the two variants. Additionally, the "British standard" of spelling was established following the publication of Samuel Johnson's "A Dictionary of the English Language" in 1755, while the "American standard" emerged later through the work of Noah Webster, particularly his "An American Dictionary of the English Language", published in 1828. Webster's dictionary popularised certain spellings in the United States and advocated for spelling reform to simplify American English.
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Americans' volume
One of the most noticeable differences between Americans and British people is their volume when speaking. Many British people have observed that Americans tend to speak much louder than they do, and this can be off-putting in certain situations. As one British person commented, "Regardless of the situation I shouldn’t be able to hear your 'conversation' from 10-15 feet away. If it’s taking place in a restaurant/diner I REALLY don’t want to hear about you or your friends' medical history."
This perception of Americans as loud speakers is not limited to the British; people from other cultures have also noted that Americans tend to be quite loud when speaking. It may be due to Americans' desire to say things faster or their tendency to raise their voices when excited or happy. It could also be that Americans want their voices to be clearer in public spaces, so they project their voices more than British people might be accustomed to.
However, it is important to note that not all Americans speak loudly, and there are regional variations within the United States. For example, a person from New York may speak more quietly than someone from the South, where a drawl is more common. Additionally, some Americans who have lived in the UK for a long time may adopt a softer tone when speaking to fit in with the British culture of quieter conversation.
Overall, while there may be cultural differences in volume and conversational norms between Americans and British people, it is not a hard-and-fast rule, and both cultures can learn to adapt to each other's communication styles with awareness and understanding.
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Frequently asked questions
British people are exposed to American accents all the time on television, so they are used to the sound of it. However, some British people think that Americans sound louder and that their accent has a "buzzing" quality.
The American and British dictionaries are very different. The UK’s dictionary was compiled by scholars from London who wanted to collect all known English words. The American dictionary was made by lexicographer Noah Webster, who wanted American spelling to be more straightforward and different from UK spelling—a way to show America's independence from British rule.
Americans are thought to mush all their consonants together to remove any hard edges. They talk more from the upper throat, whereas British people speak from the front lips and teeth.
Americans tend to drop entire verbs from sentences. For example, when telling someone they will write a letter to them, they say "I'll write them" instead of "I'll write to you". Americans also spell some words differently, like "color" instead of "colour".
Some British people find the American phrases "you know what I'm saying", "dude", and "awesome" notable.
