I wonder, what do you think about British English and about American English?

Question

Do you speak in British English or in American English?

Answer 1

Spanish is my native language and in school I've learnt British English, but when it comes to music, movies and the such all I hear is American English. I like British English better, the accent is really sexy, so I try to emulate it when I speak. I don't like argentinian accent when speaking in English, I sound like an uneducated latina or something :/

Answer 2

I can tell this is going to be a debate about which is better, but seriously, how can one be better than the other? Traditionally it has been thought that British English is superior and that all Americans have bad grammar, but my experience is that both have about the same level. British kids do supposedly get that better education, but in the United States people are exposed to a greater variety of styles and languages.
I speak Canadian English, which is, in my opinion, is a cross between both, but still with its own unique qualities. (And no, it isn't just "eh.")

Answer 3

Its a mater of local dialects- you can drive across Brittan in roughly 7 hours right? Theres some states that it takes that long just to cross- and we've got 50 of them.

The difference is local dialects- such as a Bostonians vs someone from down south such as Texas. Or the difference between "Upper crust" in Brittian vs the "cockney" ("butchering") of the Brittish language.

The english that is spoken has become somewhat homogonized due to travel, television and the internet.
However, I have been to Portland, Maine in the states and the accent and lack of the use of the letter "r" is so bad my ladyfriend had to be an interpeter for her grandmoter.

The flip side of this- in Washington state, the native's pronounce the states name as "WaRshinton"- in spite of there being no "r's" anywhere near the state.

The Brit's pronounce the word "trunk" as the word "boot"- same thing, different locations.

Now to make this more interesting, lets add in the "Engrish"- which is a half English/half Asian "bastardization" of the language. This is becoming more and more popular as time goes on- then lets add a flavor of hispanic/spanish to the mix.

Shake, stir, and hope that the other person can understand what you're saying! :D- Good luck

Answer 4

Vocabulary wise, they're not bad. It's interesting to note that various differences in both the English and American-English Vocabulary. It's funny, because sometimes you can cross use them in situations to either offend people or make them laugh. I used to play Australian Rules Football, so I picked up a few words and when I joked around can call 'em bloody wankers. That's only the slang part. The intellectual part on the other hand, noting the differences in vocabulary, is pretty good for strenghtening the mind. Those are just my thoughts though...

Answer 5

I speak "American English" even though I've never referred to it as American English.

but i can kind of fake a British accent and speak in "British English" after being exposed to Britons for like 3 years of my life

Answer 6

I'm not a hater, I like both (I'm from England). I love how many words Americans added to our language, that we now have adopted too. A$s sounds so much better than ar$e. But I do find it odd when foreigners learn specifically American english. The only thing that irritates me is when people say 'I speak American'. What that all about?

Answer 7

Well.....we all from India have been studying British English throughout our educational career, so naturally we have obtained speaking english with british accent....but Hollywood too has much impact upon us and certainly we tend to speak in american accent too......frankly speaking it has never occurred us whether it matters for any of us whether our accent has a british or american.

Answer 8

I learn British English :)

Answer 9

I never heard of an American accent referred to as "American English". We both speak the same language - just a bit differently governor!

Answer 10

****** (what's ******?) Are they referring to ******* your chain or something? I don't know what I think about the two. I hate English accents. I can never understand them, some of them. I like the Hugh Grant accent a little more than other harsher accents. I guess it would be like a heavy Texas accent or a heavy, ugly Boston accent...
anywho...
well, I'm in America so I suppose I speak American English
But I'm also from Texas without that heavy accent that hurts my ears, and I am Mexican-American - without too much of an accent.