DIALECTOLOGY

LEXICAL VARIATION OF BRITISH ENGLISH

AND AMERICAN ENGLISH

By:

Jihan Achyun K (07211144002)

Talitha yuniawati (07211144005)

Nina sulistyowati (07211144043)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

LANGUAGE AND ART FACULTY

YOGYAKARTA STATE UNIVERSITY

2010
 LEXICAL VARIATION OF BRITISH ENGLISH AND
AMERICAN ENGLISH

Dialectology, obviously, is the study of dialect and dialects. In common

usage, a dialect is a substandard, low-status, often rustic form of language,
generally associated with the peasantry, the working class, or other groups lacking
in prestige. Dialect is also a term, which is often applied to forms of language,
particularly those spoken in more isolated parts of the world, which have no
written form. Dialects are often regarded as some kind of (often erroneous)
deviation from a norm – as aberrations of a correct or standard form of language.

Modern dialectologists are usually trained as linguists, and many of them

contribute to the literature on phonology or syntax or other branches as well as to
dialect studies. Obviously, detailed descriptions of peripheral and secondary
dialects are directly relevant to theories of phonology and grammar. It is perhaps
surprising, then, to discover that interchanges between dialectologists and
theoretical linguists are not as common as they might be, though in recent years
both groups have come to realize that the rich variability of linguistic systems can
illuminate and challenge universal claims about grammar and phonology.

English Language spread at the time when Britain expanded its colonial
empire from the 1600s on and established military, legal and educational systems
in many countries. British expansion ended after WWII (1939-1945) when many
colonies sought independence. Since WWII American English has dominated as a
world language. The reasons are U.S economic and political influence,
technology, especially computers & the use of the internet; nowadays: American
music, films, TV shows spread all over the world.

Now in the 21st century, English is the most widely used language internationally.
By the time English became a world language, number of English speakers learning a
second language dropped substantially. English is blamed for the “death” of some
minority languages (Gaelic & various Australian aboriginal languages). Even so
English is spread world wide and it’s dominating world communication there will be
no standardization because of differences in vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation

How American English arise?

First English settlers that survived in America came in 1607 to what is now
“Virginia”. It is followed by Pilgrim Fathers who founded New England in 1620.
English people are the majority in colonies. Up to 1790 two thirds of population in
US was of English descendants. After that, there are two important changes. They
are;

o Trek to the West

o More immigrants from other European countries, they are;

 Larger group remained Anglophone

 Irish, being majority of newcomer ( Irish replaced by

English in Ireland at this time)

 Amount of people from non-Anglophone countries (e.g.

Germany, Italy and Russian) grew too -> only left a few
traces in American English

 The Irish & the Scottish influenced speech of the largest

 part of present- day North America except New England
and the South

Most important variety of American English (spoken by the majority of

Americans) is the most different from Standard English.

Vocabulary differences between British English (BE) & American English (AE)

“Differences in vocabulary show the independent development until this century.

As the railroad came up, depots were built for it, and the engineers were not
interested in the fact that Londoners would call it railway station. “(Gräf/Spitzbardt,
1983: 44-53). Thousands of words that differ in total meaning, in particular sense or
usage are even totally unknown in the other variety. AE is most independent variety
of English.

Vocabulary differences between British English (BE) & American English (AE)

The reasons for vocabulary differences are;

o New objects and experiences were encountered in North America,

which needed to be named by adapting BE or by creating new words.

o Example: corn- general English term for grain, means wheat in

England but maize in North America; robin- a small, red-breasted
warbler in England but a large red-breasted thrush in North America.

o Technological and cultural developments

o Example: terms for parts of cars: windshield (US) vs. windscreen

(UK).
 o Influence of other languages.

o AE borrowed many words from American Indian languages (hickory –

type of a tree related to walnut), Spanish (tornado & tortilla), African
languages (jazz & banjo) and Yiddish (schmaltz – excessive
sentimentally, to schlep- to drag or carry).

o Words used in one variety are often borrowed into another

Vocabulary differences between British English (BE) & American English (AE)

The reasons for vocabulary differences are:

o Highest proportion of borrowings is from AE to BE

o The examples for both directions are explained bellow.

AE BE from
AE
billion
brief-case
cafeteria
teenager
from BE
Penny
Smog

o Other cases, the differing word might not been borrowed but has
become known and understood in other variety

 most BE speakers will understand that drapes are curtains

  most AE speakers will know that a flat is an apartment

Four main categories for dividing vocabulary differences are;

1. Same word, different meaning

Most problematic for foreign and native speakers is in one variety.

word BE AE
homely down to earth, domestic ugly
pants underpants trousers
pavement footpath, sidewalk road surface

2. Same word, additional meaning in one variety

This case can cause communication problems between speakers of BE and AE.

• Additional meaning in AE:

word meaning in common additinal meaning in AE

bathroom room with a bath/shower and room with toilet only
sink
cute endearing (kittens) attractive, charming (people)
school institutions of education at all instituitions of education
elementary level including universities

• Additional meaning in BE:

word meaning in common additional meaning in BE

frontier a wild, open space border between two countries
surgery a medical operation or an office of any doctor
operating room

3. Same word, difference in style, connotation, frequency of use

 It is usually understood by speakers of the other variety. With the use of these
types of words, it is often reveal which English a person has learned (non-native
speakers.

word BE use AE use

autumn common, all styles uncommon, poetic or formal
(fall used instead)
to fancy (to like, want) common, informal uncommon

perhaps all styles formal (maybe used instead)

quite (as in quite good) negative or neutral positive

4. Same concept or item, different word

• There are two sub-types of the majority of lexical differences between AE and
BE. They are;

o Corresponding word is not widely known in other variety

AE only corresponds
to BE
BE only corresponding
sophomore second year to AE
student dynamo generator
washcloth face flannel
queue line
American spelling vs. British spelling

AE BE
center centre
program Programme
dialog Dialogue
color Colour
jugment judgement
Reference:

Trudgill & Hannah, “International English, a guide to the varieties of Standard

English”, 4th edition retrieved from
http://www.librarything.com/work/287574 on Thursday 4th March 2010 .

Garcia & Otheguy, “English across Cultures, Cultures across English,” retrieved
from http://books.google.co.id/books?
id=9iGV8Ev58LYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=English+across+Cultures,
+Cultures+across+English&source=bl&ots=P6IHWhU-
T9&sig=OB4cWRl_LnOcRuJRf5oii7AbfKs&hl=id&ei=IL6gS96eK4W1rA
eXvamzDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAkQ6A
EwAA#v=onepage&q=&f=false on Thursday 4th March 2010 .

Manfred Görlach, “Englishes; Studies in Varieties of Englishes”

Jeanie Micheel, Lexical Variation: Native vs. Non-Native retrieved from

www.google.co.id/#hl=id&q=Lexical+Variation%3A+Native+vs.+Non-
Native+&meta=&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=Lexical+Variation%3A+Native+vs.+Non-
Native+&gs_rfai=&fp=9c053c740acafac3 on Friday 5, March 2010.