what's the difference between british and american english?

Question

can they figure it out to one another what they say?

an old english teacher makes me believe she didn't understood english when she's been to US; but i didn't believe to her. Anther one told me about little spelling differences and nuttin else.

well.. i'm european so nearby british english.. but i realize to learn often by music.. american music.

i'm so grateful 'bout your answers.

Answer 1

Sorry, I'm trying to work out what language you are using.

If you're asking what I think you're asking, then yes, Brits and Yanks can understand eachother - there's only a few differences and it's usually in the spelling.

Answer 2

English and US English are very similar. They are derived from the same place! Over time languages change and adapt to become easier to use an understand. In addition, different accents and slang are introduced in different places which then become part of everyday language. This has created differences between English in Britain and the US.

Some clever person decided that spelling words had become to complicated so tried to simplify spelling which is why words like colour are spelled without a 'u' (color) in the US.

In addition, slang and dialects have introduced new words to the language like wanna and gonna instead of want to and going to.

English in the UK has changed a lot too though. It is now common to use less formal language than previously. These have been adopted in many different places too and include things like brolly instead of umbrella, don't instead of do not, can't instead of cannot.

Language is basically fluid and is there to adapt to meet our needs. It can cause problems when one word has opposing meanings (e.g. sick now means good but most people understand unwell/vomit!) which seems to happen a lot now!

Most US language is understood by brits and vice versa but there are some strong accents about and so this can limit understanding. They also have different names for products which I sometimes don't understand. Basically if you can watch a film from the US (Sorry it is always going to be a film and not a movie as I am British!) and understand it, you can understand US English. Perhaps you could tell your teacher that you are obviously bilingual as you understand both!

Answer 3

Yes, there are differences. There are enunciation, terminology and spelling differences.

Enunciation/pronunciation - For example, an American saying "grass" would sound like this: "gr-asss" (sorry, yahoo stars it out if I only use 2 s's) whereas someone speaking true English would pronounce it like this: "gr-ahs"

Terminology - Americans think of chips as the crunchy potato chips you get in a bag, whereas someone from GB considers chips to be french fries. The English call it a "telly" vs. an American calling it a TV or television.

Spelling - The English use the letter "u" in words that Americans do not. For example, colour vs. color; honour vs. honor, etc. There are many other words that GB English uses the letter "u" in that American English does not.

As far as being able to communicate and understand each other, then the answer is yes. However, I'm sure at one point or another, the terminology may allow for misunderstandings if someone speaking American English does not realize the difference in definition of some words.

Answer 4

There are differences in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. We can understand each other, though. There are many British television shows on American TV and we can understand them just fine.

American English is not phonetic at all! The spelling of English was based on the old pronunciation. The pronunciation has changed since the spelling was invented.

Answer 5

They are different dialects (refered to as regional dialects) they are compatible.
Occasionally the accent of any regional location can be too heavy to understand, it is possible for someone from deep Louisiana (American English) to have difficulty communicating with someone from Leeds (British English) because the accents are quite heavy, but it is rare to be completely missunderstood.
However, World Englishes are most often understandable to any English speaker who tries to listen. (that means English spoken in any country with English as a main language will understand each other)

The differences between the two are purely dialectical. Different spelling of various words, different meanings for various words, different pronunciation of many words. There are a few occasions when the difference is caused by "places of articulation" such as the British r and the British t. British English also seems to have more "glides" than American English, which gives the American English it's distinctive "harsh" sound.
You might try Wikipedia for a complete description of the differences.

It is possible that your English teacher was using colloquial forms or idioms, which are often mutually exclusive and cannot be understood outside of their location. If your teacher learned British English outside of Britain and went to America, it is entirely possible that he or she did not understand what was being said. it does take time to get use to English being spoken in a new location.
It is true that some people are not willing to take the time to listen, or speak slowly for ESL/EFL learners and it seems to happen more and more in the U.S. If your teacher spoke with an accent, it may be that people spoke quickly without thinking about their audience.

However, usually English is understandable between speakers of different dialects.

Answer 6

American English has no sibilants, no explosives , practically no variation at all .
When I first heard Jimmy Carter speak I thought he had a speech impediment and a lot of Americans are the same , the words erupt in a smooth seemless stream .
American children speak with an open mouth so that all the words are distorted .
So you get ........Hi Baaarb when speaking to BoB and where on earth does ..."" I don't got to "" come from or gotten .
I suppose the fact is its not really English , its American and eventually it will diverge so much that it will have to be taught as a foreign language and then the myth of that """" special connection "" will be buried .

Answer 7

American English is probably much easier for a foreign language student to spell,because it is "phonetic" and understand because of watching movies.
An example of a word/pronunciation difference:
Lieutenant, the Americans say Lieu(lew) tenant(correct sounding pronunciation,yes?)
the English speakers say Lefftenant-where did that come from?
The answer that football is right not soccer ,in my opinion is wrong. Rugby is football ,so is American football and not to forget Australian football.

Answer 8

I speak English as spoken by an Englishman. I am able to grasp the main points of American English but they struggle to understand me particularly when I go into Cockney slang

Answer 9

It's usually spelling differences e.g...colour / color
tyre /tire
centre /center
aluminium / aluminum

but also they have different names for the same thing e g :

nappy /diaper
dummy /pacifier
car boor /car trunk
car bonnet /car hood
tap /faucet
pavement / sidewalk
chemists / drug store
trousers / pants
petrol /gasoline
paraffin /kerosene
Fanny means something completely different to the Brits and the Yanks.....I won't go into that here.

Vive la difference!!

Answer 10

it sounds a little different. yanks usually open their wide to talk and brits dont
thats why it sounds different

in the spelling theres a few differences like favourite and practise
but basically its the same language and ppl frm thesee two contries can understand each other perfectly