Which is the correct English language, American English or British English.?

Question

Americans and British speak the English language differently (different spelling, accent, pronounciation). But which is the correct one?.

I have two colleagues, one is American and the other is British. And they kept arguing with each other about it whenever were having some beers in the pub.
By the way, I am a Filipino.

Answer 1

Isn't it obvious?
American English for America and British English for the UK.

Answer 2

When I was preparing students for the both the Cambridge and Michigan University Lower and Proficiency Exams, consistancy in the compositions and oral interviews mattered above all. Now the lower levelled national exams were all based on British English, so here you have a student who has been learning to spell a certain way over at least a 5 year period, and all the sudden they are expected to remember all the differences for the most important exams of all. Cambridge University was more strict in marking the differences than Michigan was, but the Cambridge Exams are more theory-based, and the Michigan highlight an ease with use in the second language. The newer London University Exams are hit and miss, spelling doesn't even count if it does not take away from the understanding of what has been written. To answer your question, it goes both ways...but you are right to be annoyed at being corrected by people who do not realize there are a fair amount of differences between the two languages (British and American English) and that both are correct. When I see questions or answers I can barely understand because of spelling errors, it makes my skin crawl, but I try to remember this may be a person who is still in the process of learning English...the only forgivable excuse. And some people were just never able to further their education and/or never needed to write much in the jobs they have had over the years, I don't mind their making mistakes, either...it is understandable. So are type-o's. Some peple are just serious dickwads, yaknows? Reall hi and mitey and think there hot shite an all dat, and everyone else shud be and look and smell and talk and write just like'em...

Answer 3

AMERICANS speak English differently. Just spend some time travelling thru New Englend states, then Kentucky, South Carolina, Texas, and California. The major reasopns are those people are separated by distance and do not communicate on a regular basis. In the end, we will all understand one another after the Judgment. There is no right or wrong English Language. There are only dialects that occur over time. Have a great week!
Eds

Answer 4

Language evolves over time. If you look at the history of it, I guess you can say British English is a language that is a branch of other languages (as someone else mentioned) and then American English is a branch of that branch, since British English came first (after all, where did the Americans come from?)... but at this point, both have changed and have become their own thing.

Answer 5

American English is actually the older form of pronunciation. In the 17th century, British English was pronounced with an accent very similar to what you hear in the north-eastern US. As far as I know, I think the British use the older spelling forms.

Neither is 'correct,' of course. As an American, I like the sound of UK accents.

Answer 6

There is no such thing as a "correct English language". In America, there is a semi-artificial variety called Formal American English or Broadcaster English. This is generally accepted as "correct", but there are regional varieties of this--Southern, Middle Atlantic, Northeastern, etc.--that are regionally correct. There is no such thing as a single Standard American English for the whole country, especially where pronunciation is concerned.

The same is generally true in England as well, there are many regional varieties of English, but the generally accepted "standard" English is called BBC English or Received Pronunciation. It is the dialect you often hear on news broadcasts and in formal settings in England.

So there is NO "correct English language" for both America and England (nor for Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc.). Each of these countries has a commonly accepted standard, but even these standards, especially in America, have regional variants. Anyone who says that British English is the "standard" is just an arrogant British twit.

Answer 7

Are you American or are you British? Every English speaking country has their own spellings, pronounciations, and dialects. Even in America, we have different accents and dialogue. Cuban Spanish is different than Mexican Spanish. Which one is correct? Depends on which country you grew up in.

Answer 8

English is a bastardized language formed from French, German, and Gaelic. Originally Gaelic was the standard language of the people occupying Britain. Invasions by the Gaels, the Hordes, The Picts and even the Scots impacted upon the language.
Finally it changed to what we know know as English. That spoken by the aristocrasy was much improved to that spoken bu commoners who used slang and much of the old world references to pronunciation and the coloqial brogues. Those educated in the better schools began to speak more eloquently and thus was born the British language or English as its known today. Many serfs bastards criminals of the lower class were shipped to Canada with the French as well as migrating to the colonies of America to start a new life. They took with them the English language of their community and station in life.

Many were poorly educated and still are. Some went on to invent Microsoft dictionaries and word processors which can only refelect their poor methods of spelling and attest to their level of educational achievement. The Queens English is the truly recognised English, although few speak it."My husband and I..:
I rest my case!

Answer 9

When you say "correct British English", correct is an adjective.
When you say "correct American English", correct is an verb.

Precious few Yanks can write, spell or use grammar properly in all circumstances. The average US-based newspaper is ridden with errors and the talking heads on US "news" programs say "gonna", "hafta", "goin' tuh" and numerous other examples of laziness and poor education.

Small wonder US networks raid Canadian TV networks for newscasters, much the same way US hospitals raid Canadian hospitals for doctors.


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Answer 10

I've heard that many young people in England speak with American accents. American English might prevail there.