AMERICAN ENGLISH : a separate language? Done by: Bogomyakova Helen, 8 th form Tutor: Kurnikova L.N. Lyceum, Uvarovo, 2006

PURPOSE: to study peculiarities of the American variant of the English language in comparison with the British one, which we are taught at school. to study peculiarities of the American variant of the English language in comparison with the British one, which we are taught at school.

TASKS: to find out what differences there are between American English and British English; to find out what differences there are between American English and British English; to make up my mind if these differences have principal character; to make up my mind if these differences have principal character; if they are not essential to explain the reason of it. if they are not essential to explain the reason of it.

WAYS of RESEARCH: studying literature; studying literature; making up the tables to compare two variants of the English language; making up the tables to compare two variants of the English language; listening to dialogues performed by the natives. listening to dialogues performed by the natives.

RESOURCES: Pismennaya O.A. Windows on the English- speaking world. M., 2004 Pismennaya O.A. Windows on the English- speaking world. M., 2004 Kaspin I.V., Segal M.M., Shevyakov V.N. Talking American (a textbook). Leningrad, 1990 Kaspin I.V., Segal M.M., Shevyakov V.N. Talking American (a textbook). Leningrad, 1990 Grekova E.K. and Sokolova M.N. Talking American (dialogues & exercises). Leningrad, 1990 Grekova E.K. and Sokolova M.N. Talking American (dialogues & exercises). Leningrad, 1990 Starkov A.P. and Ostrovsky B.S. English textbook (9 th form). M., 1985 Starkov A.P. and Ostrovsky B.S. English textbook (9 th form). M., 1985

RESULTS of RESEARCH: While working I realized that there are some differences between the English of the USA and that of Great Britain; While working I realized that there are some differences between the English of the USA and that of Great Britain; They are in vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling and the meaning of some words; They are in vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling and the meaning of some words; There are no differences in suffixes, prefixes, morphology and syntax. That’s why the English and the Americans understand each other without great difficulty. There are no differences in suffixes, prefixes, morphology and syntax. That’s why the English and the Americans understand each other without great difficulty.

SPELLING DIFFERENCES There are a number of differences. For example, in America, programme is written without letter “ e ”; There are a number of differences. For example, in America, programme is written without letter “ e ”; There is no letter “ u ” in words like colour, labour ; There is no letter “ u ” in words like colour, labour ; The words theatre and kilometre are spelt as theater and kilometer ; The words theatre and kilometre are spelt as theater and kilometer ; traveller and travelling and other words like them have only one letter “ l ” traveller and travelling and other words like them have only one letter “ l ”

PRONUNCIATION DIFFERENCES Such differences in spelling are nothing compared with those in pronunciation. Even an Englishman when first landing in the States has difficulty in understanding the talk of people standing around him. Such differences in spelling are nothing compared with those in pronunciation. Even an Englishman when first landing in the States has difficulty in understanding the talk of people standing around him. British English American English [כ]o [Λ] h ot h ot not nottopt [‘betә] better [‘bedər] [‘betә] better [‘bedər] [‘siti] city[‘sidi] [‘siti] city[‘sidi]

Pronunciation British English American English ewnew [ju:] dew [u:] [ju:] dew [u:] r [ka:] car [ka:r] [ka:] car [ka:r] [pכ:t] port [pכ:rt] [pכ:t] port [pכ:rt] [tə’ma:təu] tomato [tə’meitəu] [tə’ma:təu] tomato [tə’meitəu] [’figə] figure [‘figjər] [’figə] figure [‘figjər] [‘∫edju:l] schedule [‘skedju:l] [‘∫edju:l] schedule [‘skedju:l]

GRAMMAR DIFFERENCES: Variants of questions in American English and British English are also different. For example: Variants of questions in American English and British English are also different. For example: British EnglishAmerican English British EnglishAmerican English Have you got a brother? Do you have a brother? to get, got, got to get, got, gotten to get, got, got to get, got, gotten He is in hospital He is in the hospital He is in hospital He is in the hospital at the weekend on/over the weekend at the weekend on/over the weekend She lives in Main Street She lives on Main Street She lives in Main Street She lives on Main Street

DIFFERENCES in VOCABULARY: Differences in vocabulary can be explained by turning to American history. The Americans borrowed words from those languages with which the English-speaking colonists came into contact on the American continent; American Indian, French, Spanish. Another thing is that some words which had the same meaning on both sides of the Atlantic during the 17 th and 18 th centuries were given a new meaning either in England or in America. Differences in vocabulary can be explained by turning to American history. The Americans borrowed words from those languages with which the English-speaking colonists came into contact on the American continent; American Indian, French, Spanish. Another thing is that some words which had the same meaning on both sides of the Atlantic during the 17 th and 18 th centuries were given a new meaning either in England or in America.

DIFFERENCES in VOCABULARY: Here are some examples of such words Here are some examples of such words American English British English Russian apartmentelevatorfaucetcancandysoccersneakersvacationflatlifttaptinsweetsfootballtrainersHolidayквартиралифткран консервная банка конфетыфутболкроссовки каникулы/отпуск

“AMERICANISM” The term “americanism” was first used by John Witherspoon, president of Princeton University, in It designates: The term “americanism” was first used by John Witherspoon, president of Princeton University, in It designates: (a) any word or combination of words which, taken into English language in the USA, has not gained acceptance in England, or if accepted, has retained its sense of foreignness; (a) any word or combination of words which, taken into English language in the USA, has not gained acceptance in England, or if accepted, has retained its sense of foreignness; (b) any word or combination of words which, becoming archaic in England, has continued in good usage in the United States. (b) any word or combination of words which, becoming archaic in England, has continued in good usage in the United States.

IN CONCLUSION: All my research have resulted in conclusion that the language is a part of culture of any people where specific features of their historical development is reflected especially bright. All my research have resulted in conclusion that the language is a part of culture of any people where specific features of their historical development is reflected especially bright.