LANGUAGE CORNER - ENGLISH
The English language was
historically introduced
in America in 1607 and
similarly spread to many
other parts of the world as
a result of the British trade
and colonization. Over
the past 400 years the
language used in America,
especially in the United
States, and that used in
the United Kingdom have
diverged in a few minor
ways, leading to the
versions now occasionally
referred to as American
English and British
English.
48
British English Vs
Written by: Mr. Hermanus Malo Dona
English Teacher and Vice Principal at
SMA St. Peter Jakarta
The
differences between the two
languages sometimes can
create misunderstanding
and confusion among people using them. As
an English teacher, I have been frequently
asked by my students and colleagues the
differences they have come across in terms
of pronunciation, spelling, grammar and
vocabulary, 4 aspects of which are going to be
discussed here to differentiate between British
English ( BE ) and American English ( AE ).
Pronunciation. BE and AE are mostly
different when ‘r,’ ‘o’, and ‘a’ are pronounced.
‘ r ‘ sound is usually unheard in BE while
in AE ‘r’ sounds very clear and vibrating. For
example, when we say the words sister, color,
heard, they would sound like siste, kale, and
hed in BE and sisterr, kalerr and herrd in AE.
‘o’ sound is usually pronounced o in BE while
in AE