Voronezh State University a comparison of American English and British English School research conference

Выполнила ученица 10 класса МБОУ «Гимназия №1»

Голубева Анастасия Владимировна Руководитель: Манькова Наталья Юрьевна

Воронеж, 2016

Contents:

Introduction: 2

Chapter 1. Formation of American English 4

1.1 The history of the American English 4

1.2 Current status of English as a multination language. 8

Chapter 2. 10

2.1 The differences between American English and British English 10

2.2. Phonetic differences. 11

2.3. Lexical differences 11

2.4. Differences in spelling: 12

2.5. Grammatical differences between American and British English 12

Conclusion: 15

References: 16

Introduction:

English is multinational: British variant initiated the American version, and then the Australian and South African ones. And now, in the XXI century, we are dealing with a Nigerian, Indian and Singaporean variants. At the present time American English is the most widespread language, "in many spheres of life and human activity - in the field of material culture, economy and finance, education, health and many other areas - the U.S. version is spreading worldwide and has a tendency of replacing British English ... ". The United States is now home for the largest number of native speakers of English (in 1995 U.S. population was 263 057 thousand). So, America in the twentieth century, contributed to the spread of English more than other countries. However, despite the fact that, the teaching of English in many countries, including Russia, has been focused on the British version of the language for many years, people had to learn the American version in practice. Only few of them- those who were in connection with professional activities had to communicate with native American English. Our school has always focused and continues to focus on the classic English. In the best language schools the British version has been traditionally taught, and mainly teachers from Britain are invited to work as foreign consultants and trainers. As for professional educators of the American version we have very few of them (not more than 5%). In schools where there are still professionals (ex. Language Link, Polyglot), students are explained the difference between the variants of English and they choose to study that variant of English which they need. However, agreeing with our teachers, Robert Dzhenski (American, the head of the British School of English) argues that it is for advanced students. When the students start learning language there is only one version of English that should be taught. But nowadays the fact that students (and not only students) almost daily contact with the American version though American films, listening to American music and reading the labels on products and goods of the American production should be taken into account. A global computer network and correspondence with American coevals contribute to the practice of modern languages. Of course, they notice differences between what they learn at school and with which they face in practice. Therefore, an English teacher (if he/she wants to be a success must be competent in matters of the differences between American and British (Queen's English) language versions. That is why this work is extremely actual.

Purpose: systematize the main differences between British and American English, the main differences between the various options of multinational languages: phonetic, lexical and grammatical ones.

Object: English

The subject of research work: phonetic, lexical and grammatical differences as the most visible to students. In this paper, we consider the history of the formation of American English and the causes of the differences between the two versions of languages.

Objectives: 1) to show American English as a variety of English; 2) investigate the history of formation of American English; 3) identify some of the differences between American English and British English; 4) to show the influence of American English on British English.

The urgency of the work lies in the fact that American English has become the leading language in the world. It is the language of computer technology, business and science. It is becoming more common, as it has a simple grammar, vocabulary and phonetics. Theme of language never runs out of its relevance, as the language changes with the people.

Hypothesis: I guess the view of significant differences between the American and British English - is just a myth. I think that in fact there are not so many differences.