Why and when did the American form of the English language differ from the British English?

Answer 1

There is no particular moment in time. Any time groups of people speaking a language are separated by great distances variations develop.

Answer 2

In many respects it is British English that has evolved and American English that has remained static - the use of the word Fall (for example) for Autumn was used in British English but fell into disuse.

In the 1920s a musicologist was collecting English folk songs. He found the oldest versions of these songs being sung in the Appalachians.

Answer 3

I think that American English was influenced a lot more than British English by immigrant's accents. Our language also changed because of the environment here - a great deal less crowded, hotter and more relaxed.

Answer 4

I moved to the USA from England. The English language has always had variants. Even in a small country like England the language differs from region to region.
I'm going o'er yon - Northern
I am going over there - Southern
Is just one example.

Answer 5

Because language constantly evolves within the second generation of "Americans" their English was different than the Brits.

Answer 6

They are just different dialects. when the colonists came over, their english clashed with the local culture and cause cultural diffusion where the cultures started to mix. Now when, two regions are saperated for some time, they start to develop their own words and different words. For example, Even in the USA, the english used in the South is different from the Northeast. Its just different dialects.

Answer 7

I think when the first few boats came over. I don't think they could spell so well so the language just deteriorated.

It sounds like a bad answer, but it is what happend.