2.2 American English

In the U.S., English is the main language , it is being outsourcing, it is taught in schools , but the law on the state language in the U.S. yet. English actually plays the role of the state language of the country and its study is included in the school curriculum .

In the recent past , Americans liked to compare their country with the " melting pot " (melting pot), ie, a place where there is a mixture of people of different races and nationalities , thus emphasizing the unity of the nation . Today, American society often compared with " salad bowl " (salad bowl), emphasizing the preservation of the identity of each ethnic group . Sometimes American society compared with " pizza " (pizza), ingredients which partially penetrated each other . It emphasizes the partial interpenetration of national cultures " ( Evdokimov , 2000:33 ) .

American English or American English differs considerably from British English . American English is often called simplistic. Obviously , it is quite accurate and their characteristics. Simple, often poorly educated or illiterate people from different countries , who arrived in the New World in search of happiness , needed a simple and affordable way to communicate. " American English formed on the basis of spoken English traders, the emerging bourgeoisie " ( Schweitzer 1995:13 ) . But as you know , not only mastered the British and Irish America. There an influx of people from all over Europe : French, Spanish , Scandinavians, Germans , Slavs, Italians . The new nation needed a unifying element that could overcome national differences. This element became transformed English. He was bound to be easier in the letter , pronunciation, grammar. And inevitably absorb elements of other languages. Unlike British English , American version is more flexible , open to change and easy to understand.

Consider the basic differences between the options , as well as what the main regional and social dialects exist in American English today.

In British English , there are many models of intonation , unlike the American version , where there is almost the same: smooth scale and falling tone . This model defines the intonation and the whole structure of American sound . In British English a lot of descending and ascending , gears and sliding scales . The same applies to tones .

In unstressed syllables in American English suffix -our often replaced -or: color, labor, flavor, humor, parlor. Closing -re replaced -er: center, meter, liter, theater.

In American English, there is some simplification of writing , the loss of double consonants , such as a traveler, traveling, programming. In American English spelling sheck accepted and not cheque, tire, and not tyre, woolen, instead of woolen; combination of letters ct replaced by x, for example , connexion (connection), the word kerb write as curb, grey as gray. These and other spelling words that are considered the norm in American English , British English is considered an error . Some features of the spelling adopted in the United States are also accepted in British English . Permissible, for example, replacing the suffix -ise to -ize in American English : advertize, realize and writing last verb forms ending in -ed instead of -t, for example , learnt - learned, dreamt - dreamed.

In British English words ending in -se and -ce, show the following pattern : verbs ending in -se, and nouns on -ce - license - license , licence - License . In American English all homonymous verb-noun pairs are spelled the same on -se: pretense, practise, devise, advise.

There are numerous differences in grammatical forms and rules and idioms , for example, in American English uses the old form of the past participle get, so the verb form to get in British English get - got - got, and in American English get - got - gotten. For example : I've gotten 16 Christmas cards so far. In some cases, instead of the perfect American English forms used simple past tense : in British English with yet, already should be used perfect : Has he arrived yet?, And in American English may use The perfect and simple past tense : Did he arrive yet? - Both options are correct.

Somewhat differently than in British English , used prepositions and articles . In some cases, American English prepositions and articles are missing , where they are commonly used in British English, and vice versa. So , Americans usually say:

We work nine through five (Am) - We work nine till / to five (Br);

It's a quarter of five (Am) - It's (a) quarter to five (Br);

It's twenty after five (Am) - It's twenty past five (Br);

in school, in hotel (Am) - at school, at hotel (Br);

in weeks (Am) - for weeks (Br);

in ages (Am) - for ages (Br);

different to (Am) - different from (Br);

on the street (Am) - in the street (Br);

He's in the hospital (Am) - He's in hospital (Br).

There are some differences in the pronunciation American English . One of the most prominent differences between American English - pronunciation of [r] in words such as port, more, dinner, while the sound does not pronounce in British English ( but his utter Scots ) . We can say that the sound [r] to pronounce in any position. Sound [t] becomes voiced often in a position between two vowels and is pronounced as [d]: latter is pronounced ladder. Vowel [æ], rather than [α:] to pronounce words like path; sounds [o] and [o:] even less pronounced with rounded lips and with a clear touch of [α:], cot and caught the words sound like [kα: t]; [u] how to go [gu] pronounce more rounded than in the UK , the word is pronounced tune [tu: n], and not [tju: n]. Many Americans pronounce words and hath path with a short vowel sound [Λ] as opposed to the long sound [α:] in the British version . In American English , there is a clear trend towards the utterance of separate syllables in words such as voluntarily, while the British " swallow " syllables in these words ( Crystal , 2001:132 ) . Some of the words are pronounced in American English with a different accent than in British English.

In the American version are marked and some lexical features . So , Americans use sidewalk instead of pavement, elevator instead of lift, flat instead of puncture, icing instead of frosting. A number of words and expressions are pure Americanisms : highway, mail, movie, truck, gas and many others.

Usually in American English are three major regional dialects: the dialect of New England , southern dialect and General American ( common dialect of American English ) or Midwest dialect. Each of them in turn subdivided into several subdialektov ( Evdokimov , 2000:221 ) .

New England dialect different characteristic twang and retains some features of British English , for example, a long vowel [α:] in words like bath, and no sound [r] in words such as port. Particularly pronounced features of this dialect among residents of New York and Boston ; [ai] is pronounced as [oi] - [taid] → [toid], [au] as [ai], [ei] - [haus] → [heis, hais ] use [s], rather than [z], in such words as greasy. Differences in the pronunciation of the consonants are not only regional, but social and human speech , pronouncing , for example , dese, dem , instead of these, them; baf instead bath; takin instead of taking, it is perceived as uneducated , narrow-minded people. Residents of rural New England added sounds in words , for example , the word idea pronounced with [r] in word idear, and the word Boston sounds like they Bahstun.

Midlendsky dialect is characterized by mixing [o] and [a] in such pairs of words as hawk and hock. This dialect dialect continues to be less marked than with the traditional dialects of northern and southern regions .

The most intense and characteristic - southern dialect , especially California . It is the quintessence of what is called an American accent : " rekane " ( Schweitzer 1995:31 ) , voicing of consonants , vowels shortening . So better word becomes " Bader " . Closer to the classic British English - northern dialect , the language of the east coast of New England, where at one time the first settlers arrived from Britain.

It is believed that the southern dialect combines the features of speech of the first British settlers and black slaves . English differs southern U.S. drawl : Southerners extend the last sound of each word . Southern dialect quite musical ; Southerners used in speech a number unique to their expressions , for example , Sho, 'nuff (Sure enough). They use a form you all instead of the second -person plural pronouns face you, as well as a form of treatment to two or more persons or a person representing the family , organization , etc. Characteristic expression - Howdy, y'all instead Hello, everybody. Southern dialects differ in that [ai] is pronounced as [α:] - [taim] → [tα: m], [oi] as [o:] - [boil] → [bo: l], no distinction [i] and [e], for example , pin and pen are pronounced as [pin], instead of the interdental sounds pronounce [d]. Southerners themselves today are proud of their unusual accent as a sign of unique regional identity and cultural heritage.

There are grammatical differences between dialects , which , inter alia , include the use of the form dove in the past tense of the verb dive in the northern dialect and the prefix a- in a-fighting in an isolated area of the Appalachian Mountains . In some areas of the South, the U.S. does not use the plural ending -s with nouns denoting weight and measure , for example , four mile. Especially numerous differences in discourse - lexical dialectal differences . Virtually every area used Localism - lexical items specific to speech residents of the area. Traditional lexical units , characterizing it northerners include pail instead of bucket ( bucket ) and eaves through instead of gutter ( gutter ) .

American English version , the closest to the standard American version - a " common dialect of American English " or Midwestern dialect (Midwestern American) - General American English is most similar to the standard form , it can be heard on national television , it is spoken in most northern states , and in general, it uses a significant number of the population. Common dialect has a very small regional features, includes all features of speech areas of the U.S. , except for the southern , eastern dialect of New England and New York dialect.

Regional dialects have some differences in vocabulary and pronunciation vary considerably , but usually Americans from different parts of the country have no difficulties in understanding each other.