American and British English
AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH
Lexical and grammatical differences
LEXICAL DIFFERENCES
• Vocab – most noticeable differences • Differ in:
– total meaning OR – in one particular sense of usage OR – totally unknown in some varieties
REASONS FOR VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES
i)
New objects & experiences encountered in N. America - new names – adapt or neulogism (i.e. create new word, expression or usage) e.g. corn (US); maize (UK) robin small red-breasted (Eng.) large red-breasted (US)
REASONS FOR VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES
ii) Technological & cultural developments e.g. windshield (US) windscreen (Eng.) trunk boot iii) Influence of other languages: American Indian – hickory moccasin squash toboggan Spanish – tornado; African - goober
REASONS FOR VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES
iv) Independent linguistic change: - some preserve archaisms - some lost it - new meaning for old words The highest proportion of borrowing
– AmeEng EngEng brief-case cafeteria
FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES
1) Same word, different meaning
EngEng AmeEng
HOMELY • down to earth ugly (people) • homey PANTS underpants trousers to make angry TO TICK to scold OFF
FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES 2) Same word, additional meaning in one variety (involves metaphorical extension)
Meaning in common BATHROOM Additional meaning in AmeEng
DUMB
room with bath or room with toilet shower & sink only (also rest room) mute stupid
REGULAR
consistent, habitual
Average (size), normal
FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES 2) Same word, additional meaning in one variety (involves metaphorical extension)
Meaning in common SMART SURGERY intelligent a medical operation or operating room a thick carpet Additional meaning in EngEng well-groomed an office of a doctor a thick wrap
RUG
FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES
3) Same word, difference in style, connotation, frequency or use
Style formal/ informal
Lexical and grammatical differences
LEXICAL DIFFERENCES
• Vocab – most noticeable differences • Differ in:
– total meaning OR – in one particular sense of usage OR – totally unknown in some varieties
REASONS FOR VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES
i)
New objects & experiences encountered in N. America - new names – adapt or neulogism (i.e. create new word, expression or usage) e.g. corn (US); maize (UK) robin small red-breasted (Eng.) large red-breasted (US)
REASONS FOR VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES
ii) Technological & cultural developments e.g. windshield (US) windscreen (Eng.) trunk boot iii) Influence of other languages: American Indian – hickory moccasin squash toboggan Spanish – tornado; African - goober
REASONS FOR VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES
iv) Independent linguistic change: - some preserve archaisms - some lost it - new meaning for old words The highest proportion of borrowing
– AmeEng EngEng brief-case cafeteria
FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES
1) Same word, different meaning
EngEng AmeEng
HOMELY • down to earth ugly (people) • homey PANTS underpants trousers to make angry TO TICK to scold OFF
FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES 2) Same word, additional meaning in one variety (involves metaphorical extension)
Meaning in common BATHROOM Additional meaning in AmeEng
DUMB
room with bath or room with toilet shower & sink only (also rest room) mute stupid
REGULAR
consistent, habitual
Average (size), normal
FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES 2) Same word, additional meaning in one variety (involves metaphorical extension)
Meaning in common SMART SURGERY intelligent a medical operation or operating room a thick carpet Additional meaning in EngEng well-groomed an office of a doctor a thick wrap
RUG
FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES
3) Same word, difference in style, connotation, frequency or use
Style formal/ informal