British English vs American English
Dessy Atika Suri Hutasuhut
English is one
of languange that used by many people around the world. As a languange, it
certainly has types and these types depend on certain area. The example of this
type comes from British and American. Then, this type is known as British
English and American English. Actually, there are some of similarities and
differences between British English and American English. This essay aims to
explains the similarities and differences between British English and American
English.
The first
similarity between British English and American English is born from the same
place. British English and American English are types of English. English was
born in Britain Island around 1.500 years ago. It is a West Germanic languange
that came from Anglo-Frisian dialects. Then, this languange is brought to
Britain Island by Germanic immigrants who came from Northwest area and now
known as German and Dutch.
The second similarity is that British English and American English
used as international languange. The writer thinks that the readers will agree
with this similarity because the readers also can see the fact. There are so
many things around writer and readers’ life use English even though it is
British English or American English, for example the instructions on using the
computer, the instructions on how to cook the noodle, and etc. Both of British
English and American English can be used as lingua franca, too. For example,
while someone travels to some countries, he can use it as lingua franca if he
does not understand the local languange.
Not only the similarities which will be explained in this essay,
but also the differences between British English and American English. There
are some differences between British English and American English. They are
different in pronounciation, vocabulary, and spelling.
One of the differences between British English and American English
is pronunciation. In American English, for instance, the words “can” and
“can’t” sound very similar. In contrast, between words “can” and “can’t”
can be heard clearly. Many Americans have a tendency to reduce word by
eliminating some letters. For example, the word “facts” in American
English is pronounced similarly with word “fax”, letter of “t” is
not pronounced. On the contrary, in British English, the word which is
eliminated such in word “secretary”, the letter of “a” is not
pronounced.
Vocabulary is also one of the differences between British English
and American English. The schools in Indonesia, generally use British English
in learning. To prove it, the readers can see the students’ English book.
Usually, there are some words of British English appear in English book such as
football, biscuit, shop, and etc. On the other hand, those words in American
English are soccer, cookie, store, and etc.
Last difference between British English and American English is in spelling.
British English tends to maintain the actual spelling of French word. The
example words that British English maintain the spelling such as colour,
labour, centre, and defence. However, American English spells the words closer
the way they pronounce and eliminating unneeded letters. For instance of
American English in spelling such as the words color, labor, center, and defense.
In short, British English and American English have the
similiarities and differences. The similarities between the two are born from
the same place and used in international community. However, British English
also has the differences from American English. The differences are how they
pronounce the words, the using of words, and how they spell the words. Now, it
depends on the people which one they prefer to use, use British English or
American English.
