British English versus American English

Lesson Introduction

British and American Variants of English

Although most individuals who learn English as a second language are unware of it, the British and American variants of English are very different. However, native speakers of English are easily able to recognize the differences between the two dialects. There are a number of words that exist in the British variant of English that do not exist in the American variant of English and vice versa. There are also grammatical, spelling, and sentence contruction differences between the two variants. Although native speakers of American English and British English can usually communicate with one another with few misunderstandings there are many instances where clear communication may be made difficult due to the differences between the two variants. The likelihood of misunderstandings is even higher when non-native speakers of English mix together British and American English. This typically confuses the native speaker of English and can lead to many misunderstandings. It is important to note that although British English is widespread in use it is becoming second to American English in terms of popularity. This is especially true in terms of business and business communications. American English is quickly becoming the standard of English that is expected of those who learn English as a second language.

Common Words in Everyday Speech

British English words defined in American English

Blag (verb)- to mooch or get something for free

Blimey (exclamation word)- “wow” or “my goodness”

Brill (adjective)-shortened version of the word “brilliant”

Busk (verb)-to busk is to sit in the street playing music and hoping people will give you money for it.

Cheerio (exclamation word)-a light-hearted way of saying “goodbye”

Cheers (exclamation word)- “thank you” in informal conversations

Crikey (exclamation word)- an expression of surprise

Dear (adjective)- when used as an adjective it means, “expensive”

Fluke (noun)- a rather fortunate chance win, a stroke of luck

Give Over (exclamatory phrase)- equivalent to the American expression “Give me a break”.

Gobsmacked (adjective)- someone is very surprised or taken aback

Haver (verb)- to ramble incoherently, or to speak nonsense

Hire (verb)- the American word is “to rent”

Kip (noun)- sleep, a short nap

Natter (noun)- to gossip or to talk about nothing

Nick (verb/adjective)- as a verb it means to steal, as an adjective it means to be in some state of condition.

Phut (adjective)- something is described as such when it has died, expired, or breathed its last

Pinch (verb)- to steal

Post (noun)- equivalent to the American word, “mail”

Queue (noun)- a line of people

Rubbish (noun)- everyday waste, in American English, “trash” or “garbage”

Skive (verb)- to be absent for no real reason, “to play hookey”

Smashing (adjective)- describes something as being good or great

Sterling (adjective)- also describes something as being good or great

Tad (noun)- American equivalent is the word “bit” or “a bit”

Tick (noun)- a checkmark or a short space of time similar to a second

Wee (adjective)- equivalent to the American English word, “small”

Whinge (verb)- American equivalent is the word “whine”, “to whine”

Whoops-a-Daisy! (exclamatory phrase)- American equivalent is the phrase “Oops”

Wonky (adjective)- American equivalent is to say that something “just isn’t right”

Yonks (noun)- an unspecific length of time but typically used to describe some period of time from a minute to years.

Some Facts about American English and British English

· American English is the language spoken by U.S. government officials, network newscasters, et. It does not include Canadian English which falls outside of the definition of “American English”. Canadian pronunciation is similar to American English but the spelling is more often like the Commonwealth form of English. American English is also used by countries and organizations like Japan, Philippines, and Liberia where English is the most influenced by the United States.

· British English is otherwise known as “Commonwealth English” and is assumed to be the form of English spoken in southeast England and the BBC and understood in other parts of the United Kingdom. Various forms of pronunciations exist throughout the region. Commonwealth English is written in most of the English-speaking world including Australia (though the dialect is different), New Zealand (different dialect like the one in Australia), South Africa and the United Kingdom. The dialect differs some from country to country but is much like Commonwealth English versus American English. British English, or Commonwealth English is widespread throughout the areas that Britain had or currently has as colonies.

· Although British English and American English are similar there are enough differences between the two languages to cause some awkward situations and misunderstandings. Sometimes the differences between the two languages can even lead to a complete communication failure. There is a famous quote by George Bernard Shaw that the United States and United Kingdom are “two countries divided by a common language”.

Spelling Differences between American English and British English

-or/-our

American words ending in –or may end in –our in Commonwealth English.

American English Examples: color, flavor, honor, favorite, savory

Commonwealth English Examples: colour, flavour, honour, favourite, savoury

-er/-re

Some words of French or Greek origin in Commonwealth English end in consonants and are followed by –re which is unstressed and pronounced “r”. Most of these same words have a –er ending in American English. This is especially true of words in Commonwealth English that end in –bre and –tre.

American English Examples: fiber, saber, center, specter, theater

Commonwealth English Examples: fibre, saber, centre, spectre, theatre

-se/-ce

American English retains the noun/verb distinction in certain words which are indicated by their endings. For example, advice/advise, device/devise, licence/license, practice/practice. 

American English Examples: defense, offense, pretense

Commonwealth English Examples: defence, offence, pretence

-ction/-xion

American English Examples: inflection, deflection, reflection

Commonwealth English Examples: inflexion, deflexion, reflexion

-ize/-ise

American English Examples: colonize, harmonize, realize, organize

Commonwealth English Examples: colonise, harmonise, realize, organize

-yze

This ending is possible only in American English.

American English Examples: analyze, catalyze, hydrolyze, paralyze

Commonwealth English Examples: analyse, catalyse, hydrolyse, paralyse

-og/-ogue

American English Examples: analog, catalog, dialog,

Commonwealth English Examples: analogue, catalogue, dialogue

Miscellaneous Spelling Differences between American English and British English

Class Exercises

Exercise A:What do you think the following British English words mean? Match them with what you think to be their correct American English definitions.

Exercise B:What do you think the following British English Expressions mean in American English?

1) There was a queue of people waiting to pay their phone bills.

2) The car was phut, there was no way to repair it or fix it any longer.

3) He is just totally brill! I have never met anyone so smart in my life!

4) A bill for electricity just arrived in the post today.

5) People just don’t seem to care about the city. There is rubbish everywhere on the streets.

6) It’s positively smashing that you could join us tonight!

7) Whoops-a-daisy! It appears that I’ve lost my car keys.

8) He was not feeling well so hehavered on about nothing and we were not able to understand what he was talking about.

Exercise C:Is it British English or American English?Place an “A” next to those sentences with an American spelling of the word and a “B” next to sentences with a British spelling of the word.

1) This disc doesn’t work on my computer.

2) The sky is really gray today.

3) I need to buy new tyres for my car.

4) I am 100 per cent sure that I can find a new job.

5) This television program is not very good.

6) I think that I have a high level of organizational skills.

7) The company placed an advert in the newspaper last week.

*Please read on to Lesson 8 and read the introduction to the lesson and complete the homework assignment before Lesson 8 so that you are prepared to participate in class discussions.

Lesson 8

Country Studies, How Culture Affects Business Communications

Lesson Introduction

Country Studies

It is important to be aware of not only your own country and culture but also the world around you, especially in terms of business communications. In order for a business to survive in such a global marketplace it must have a good understanding of how its own country and other countries as well. It is important to note that every country has its own form of culture, history, habits, ideas, style, language, manners of speech and so on. Even countries that border one another and speak the same language contain their own culture. It is also possible that even within the borders of one country, communication can be hindered by different subcultures. A good example of this is the US where subcultures have developed throughout the country. These various subcultures sometimes make it difficult for people of the same country from different regions of the country to communicate with one another even though they speak the same language. This proves the fact that language is not the only key to successful communication. In order to be successful in business communications you must be knowledgable and mindful of the cultural climate in which you are operating. The differences between different cultures can make for horrible problems in business communications and the complete failure of a business. This is why it is good to learn more of the world around us and how it operates.