The document discusses the differences between British and American English. While the two forms of English share a common language, differences have developed over time, especially in vocabulary. Words can have different meanings or refer to different objects between the two dialects. This has led to occasional confusion and misunderstandings. The variations originated as the languages diverged after the founding of America and the influence of Noah Webster in standardizing American spelling and vocabulary.

1. Differences in British andDifferences in British and
American EnglishAmerican English

2. ““England and America are twoEngland and America are two
countries divided by a commoncountries divided by a common
language.”language.”
~George Bernard Shaw~George Bernard Shaw

3. What does this mean?What does this mean?
I put on a jumper and raced to catch a lift.I put on a jumper and raced to catch a lift.
Once outside, I discovered it was dark andOnce outside, I discovered it was dark and
I was feeling mad. "I should have broughtI was feeling mad. "I should have brought
a torch," I thought. At the underground Ia torch," I thought. At the underground I
bought a return ticket. "How am I going tobought a return ticket. "How am I going to
get a rise from my boss?" I wondered.get a rise from my boss?" I wondered.

4. Word confusions with one meaningWord confusions with one meaning
American British
Gas PetrolPetrol
TruckTruck LorryLorry
BathroomBathroom LooLoo
LineLine QueueQueue
StoveStove HobHob
NapkinsNapkins ServiettesServiettes
EggplantEggplant AubergineAubergine
ZuchinniZuchinni CourgetteCourgette

5. Translate this sentence!Translate this sentence!
British English:
“I was waiting in queue for the loo before getting some petrol for my lorry when I
realized I left the hob on and the aubergines were probably burning!”
American English:
“I was waiting in line for the bathroom before getting some gas for my truck when
I realized I left the stove on and the eggplant was probably burning!”

6. Word confusion with multipleWord confusion with multiple
meaningsmeanings
 Appetizer/EntreeAppetizer/Entree
 Bank Teller/CashierBank Teller/Cashier
 French fries/ChipsFrench fries/Chips
 Cigarette/FagCigarette/Fag
 Dessert/PuddingDessert/Pudding
 Eraser/RubberEraser/Rubber
 Soccer/FootballSoccer/Football
 Sweater/JumperSweater/Jumper
 Suspenders/BracesSuspenders/Braces
 Underwear/PantsUnderwear/Pants
 Flashlight/TorchFlashlight/Torch
 A Flirt/TartA Flirt/Tart
 Hood (car)/BonnetHood (car)/Bonnet
 Jello/JellyJello/Jelly
 Jelly/JamJelly/Jam
 Pants/TrousersPants/Trousers
 Private school/PublicPrivate school/Public
schoolschool
 Public School/StatePublic School/State
schoolschool
 Undershirt/VestUndershirt/Vest

7. Potentially embarrassing situations:Potentially embarrassing situations:
“rubber”“rubber”
“Excuse me, do you have a rubber?”
Eraser Condom

8. Potentially embarrasing situations”Potentially embarrasing situations”
“pants”“pants”
trousersunderwear
“ My other jeans ripped, so I’ve been wearing these
pants for the past three days!”

9. Potentially confusing situationsPotentially confusing situations
Asks you about football…Asks you about football…
……they mean soccerthey mean soccer
Asks you bringAsks you bring puddingpudding……
……they mean dessertthey mean dessert
Puts on aPuts on a jumperjumper……
……they mean a sweaterthey mean a sweater
WearsWears bracesbraces….….
……wears suspenderswears suspenders
WearsWears suspenders…suspenders…
……wears garterswears garters
*If a British person

10. Other confusing situations…Other confusing situations…
 Ask forAsk for chipschips in England, and you’ll getin England, and you’ll get
French Fries, not potato “crisps”French Fries, not potato “crisps”
 Tell a British friend to pick up someTell a British friend to pick up some jellyjelly atat
the store, and they’ll bring home gelatinthe store, and they’ll bring home gelatin
(Jell-o) not jam(Jell-o) not jam

11. A note on schoolingA note on schooling
In the US, a publicIn the US, a public
school is governmentschool is government
fundedfunded
In the US, a privateIn the US, a private
school requires tuitionschool requires tuition
In England, a publicIn England, a public
school requiresschool requires
tutitiontutition
In England, a stateIn England, a state
school is governmentschool is government
fundedfunded

12. Is there really a language barrier?Is there really a language barrier?
In his history of the Second World War, Winston ChurchillIn his history of the Second World War, Winston Churchill
records that differences in the interpretation of the verbrecords that differences in the interpretation of the verb
"to table" caused an argument between British and"to table" caused an argument between British and
American planners. The British wanted a matter tabledAmerican planners. The British wanted a matter tabled
immediately because it was important, and theimmediately because it was important, and the
Americans insisted it should not be tabled at all becauseAmericans insisted it should not be tabled at all because
it was important. In British English, the term means "toit was important. In British English, the term means "to
discuss now" (the issue is brought to the table), whereasdiscuss now" (the issue is brought to the table), whereas
in American English it means "to defer" (the issue is leftin American English it means "to defer" (the issue is left
on the table).on the table).

13. How did this divergence occur?How did this divergence occur?
 The Atlantic ocean served as a majorThe Atlantic ocean served as a major
divide, allowing the two dialects to developdivide, allowing the two dialects to develop
 American English picked up words fromAmerican English picked up words from
Native American languages as well asNative American languages as well as
from Dutch, Spanish, and French settlersfrom Dutch, Spanish, and French settlers
 Noah Webster decided to solidify andNoah Webster decided to solidify and
standardize American English in hisstandardize American English in his
dictionarydictionary

14. Noah WebsterNoah Webster
 Writer of the first American
dictionary in 1806
 Believed that Americans’ language
should reflect the way they spoke,
and be distinct from British English
 Came of age during the American
revolution, and therefore placed
great emphasis on America’s
cultural separation from England
 Simplified spellings of many words,
such as ploughplow
centrecenter colourcolor
 Added uniquely American words,
such as squash and chowder

15. The languages diverge…and convergeThe languages diverge…and converge
 The differences in the languages reachedThe differences in the languages reached
its peak right after the industrial revolutionits peak right after the industrial revolution
 With the spread of modern technology,With the spread of modern technology,
more terms are becoming commonmore terms are becoming common

16. Just for fun!Just for fun!

17. BibliographyBibliography
 http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atlantis/2284/http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atlantis/2284/
 http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2001/03/032001_language.jhtmlhttp://www.riverdeep.net/current/2001/03/032001_language.jhtml
 http://books.google.com/books?http://books.google.com/books?
id=13SyhqA6R28C&pg=PA54&lpg=PA54&dq=two+countries+divided+by+a+commonid=13SyhqA6R28C&pg=PA54&lpg=PA54&dq=two+countries+divided+by+a+common
+language&source=bl&ots=ImLkZ4CT95&sig=TWX1u1ZKRQqRKBxr0jt35C4id4U&hl+language&source=bl&ots=ImLkZ4CT95&sig=TWX1u1ZKRQqRKBxr0jt35C4id4U&hl
=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result#PPR3,M1=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result#PPR3,M1
 http://blog.languagetranslation.com/public/item/118655http://blog.languagetranslation.com/public/item/118655
 http://www.effingpot.com/http://www.effingpot.com/
 ““The American Language” an Inquiry into the Development of English in the UnitedThe American Language” an Inquiry into the Development of English in the United
StatesStates
by H.L. Menckenby H.L. Mencken
http://www.bartleby.com/185/http://www.bartleby.com/185/