The colonization of North America began in the late 16th century with Walter Raleigh's expeditions and the first English settlement in 1607. By 1640, around 25,000 people had settled in Cape Cod. Various groups immigrated to the region, including the French, Dutch, and African slaves. The influx of immigrants from different language backgrounds influenced the development of a distinct American variety of English, with words and pronunciations from languages like Spanish, French, and West African dialects becoming incorporated. Factors like the isolation of colonial settlements and the mixing of various English accents contributed to changes in spelling, vocabulary, and pronunciation between American English and British English over time.

1. The Colonisation of the New
World
1600

2. Background
 In the late 16th century, Walter
Raleigh's expeditions lead to the
first settlement in America in
1607
 In 1620, the Mayflower arrives in
Cape Cod, and by 1640 around
25,000 people have settled there
 By 1700, inhabitants in the region
were more than a quarter of a
million
 The Elizabethan age witnesses
the rapid geographical expansion
of English in the New World
 People who were immigrating
were the French, Dutch, Black
slaves as well as Americans

3. Influences
1600
 The English colonisation of North America
resulted in the creation of a distinct American
variety of English
 Some expressions that the British call
"Americanisms" are in fact original British
expressions that were preserved in the colonies
while lost for a time in Britain
 Spanish also had an influence on American
English, with words like canyon, ranch, and
stampede. These are examples of Spanish words
that entered English through the settlement of the
American West
 French words and West African words also
influenced American English

4. Reason for Changes
1604
 Robert Cawdrey's 'A Table Alphabeticall‘ (which
listed the meanings of over 2,500 'hard words‘)
was published and this was the first English
dictionary
 Across the Atlantic, the surge of immigrants from
all over the British Isles influenced the
development of different American accents
 The early incomers came from the west of
England; the 'Pilgrim Fathers' from Norfolk. To
this day, fragments of these accents can be
differentiated in these particular areas
 Therefore, due to the immigration during the
1600s, there was a change in the English
language

5. Lexemes
Many so-called 'Americanisms' today are
actually remnants of Middle English that
crossed the Atlantic at this time.
Here are a few examples:
English American
Got Gotten
I think I Guess
Cooker Stove
Petrol Gas
Toilet Bathroom
Trousers Pants
Campsite Campground

6. Sounds
Pronunciation and accents play a big part in how words sound. Even if both
American and Englishman was saying the same word, it can sound completely
different.
Here are some examples:
Word English Sound American Sound
Potato ‘puh’ ‘tate’ ‘o’ ‘poh’ ‘tat’ ‘o’
Pyjamas ‘per’ ‘jar’ ‘mers’ ‘per’ ‘jam’ ‘as’
Tomato ‘tom’ ‘ar’ ‘toe’ ‘tom’ ‘ate’ ‘o’
Aluminium ‘al’ ‘u’ ‘min’ ‘e’ ‘um’ ‘al’ ‘loo’ ‘min’ ‘um’
Mobile ‘moe’ ‘bile’ ‘moe’ ‘bull’
Water ‘war’ ‘ter’ ‘wah’ ‘der’
Adidas ‘add’ ‘e’ ‘das’ ‘adee’ ‘daz’

7. Spelling
English American
Analyse Analyze
Defence Defense
Metre Meter
Plough Plow
Moustache Mustache
Aluminium Aluminum
Licence License
Just like the sounds of lexemes, spelling can be used to
distinguish an English and American apart. Both
American and Englishman can be saying the same
word, yet it can be spelt differently.
Here are some examples:

8. Quiz
R A C A P E C O D K N H M
I O Z O X Q V F T G I E A
D V B W N A C I R F A R Y
G T R E T L A W Z H P U F
F A M E R I C A N I S M L
J F U H C T U D C E B J O
A K C I T N A L T A L I W
C O L O N I S A T I O N E
I M D N A L G N E S G Q R
R H S F B T K L O F R O N
E C E Q J Z H C N E R F D
M I B L A C K S L A V E S
A N A H T E B A Z I L E Y
• Norfolk
• Americanisms
• May Flower
• Cape cod
• Elizabethan
• Atlantic
• Black Slaves
• African
• Robert
• Colonisation
• Walter
• America
• England
• Spain
• French
• Dutch
List of Words