Методическая разработка "Сборник упражнений на различие британского и американского английского"

Introduction

The United States of America and The United Kingdom of Great Britain situated in different parts of the world and differ in many ways but these countries have a common language. However, every country has distinctive features of the English language. This language separated in two variants: British and American English.

Here it is presented a teaching aid that will allow you to learn a little more about the language, as well as try to do different kinds of exercises.

Contents

Introduction                                                                                1

1. Differences between British and American English

About countries                                                                                3 - 8

1.1 Spelling differences                                                                        9 - 11

1.2 Pronunciation differences                                                                12

1.3 Grammar and Usage differences                                                        13 - 14

1.4 Vocabulary                                                                                15 - 22

1.5 Phraseology                                                                                23 - 30

Keys                                                                                                31 - 37

Bibliography                                                                                38 - 39

Before you start studying the differences between American and British English, pay attention to some facts about the countries.

American corner:

United States Facts

Learn some interesting information about the United States of America.

Read about United States history, its population, states, economy, mountains, rivers, popular sports and much more.

№1

Answer the  questions:

1.The name of the capital of the US?

2.Do you remember when Americans celebrate Independence Day?

3. What is the largest state of America?

4. What is the smallest state of America?

5. Name the largest cities of America.

6. Do you know who the president of USA is?

7. Do you know how many stars are displayed on the American flag?

8. How many stripes are displayed on the American flag?

№2

Put True/False:

1. The population of the USA 5 000 000.

2. The most common language is Spanish.

3. National bird isEagle.

4. The USA one-half the size of Russia.

5. National flower is tulip.

British corner:

Geographic coordinates:  54 00 N, 2 00 W (28)

 Land area:  243,000 sq km (93,000 sq miles).

 Coastline:  12,429 km

 Length: Just under 1,000 km (600 miles) from North to South

 Width:  About 480 Km from east to west

 Land use: arable land:25%

permanent crops:0%

permanent pastures:46%

forests and woodland:10%

other:19% (1993 est.)

 Natural resource :coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land

 Capital City:   London is the capital of the UK and of England. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. Cardiff is the capital of Wales.

 Main Cities: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff

Official Language: English

 Main Religion: Christianity

Highest mountain:  Ben Nevis in Scotland, at 1,343m (4,406 ft) above sea level. Lowest Point: The lowest point in the UK is the Fenlands, which is 4 m below sea level.

 Longest river: The Severn, 322 km long, which rises in central Wales and flows through Shrewsbury, Worcester and Gloucester in England to the Bristol Channel. (21)

Population of UK: about 59,647,790 (July 2001 est.)

Britain’s climate:Mild, normally not going much below zero even in the depths of winter, and never much above 25 degrees Celsius in summer. Most of the time it is between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius. (22)

Symbols associated with London and England:         River Thames

                                                                Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

Houses of Parliament

Royal Family – Buckingham Palace

Union Jack (Official flag of UK)

№3

 Answer the questions:

1. What is the official language of the UK?

2. What are natural resources have the UK?

3. What are the main cities of UK?

4. What is the main religion?

5. What is the name of highest mountain?

6. What is the name of longest river?

7. What do you know about climate in the UK?

8. What do you associate with the word “the United Kingdom”?

1.1 Spelling

There are some spelling differences in American English. (13)

Look at the following examples:

Table 1

№4

Read the following words, translate and state the British and American variant:

Catalogue, favor, centre, master, recognize, organize, apologize, criticize, apologise, licence, colour, well-done, welldone, makeup, make-up, breakdown, break-down, metre, meter, humour, humor, saltpeter, saltpetre.

№5

Fill in the table:

Table 2

№6

Choose the correct word in each sentence, using the type of English written at the end of the sentence.

1. I'm really hungry. Could I have (biscuit\cookie) a please? (British English)

2. You have to visit New England in the (fall\Autumn). The colours are incredible. (American English)

3.He put the suitcase in the (boot\trunk) of the car and then remembered that he'd forgotten to pack his camera. (British English)

4.In England people (queue\ stand in line) for the bus while on the Continent everyone just rushes on. (American English)

5.Someone had turned the (faucet\tap) on and not turned it off. The room was flooded! (British English)

6.The child ran down the (pavement\sidewalk) in spite of his mother calling for him to stop. (British English)

7.Let's catch a quick coffee in the (café\diner) before we go to the movies. (American English) (12)

8.Would you believe it! All the (gas station\petrol station) have run out of fuel! I waited for more than an hour to fill up but when I got there they had sold out. (American English)

9.She'd forgotten to send her (mom\mum) a birthday card so had to phone her instead. (American English)

№7

Complete the American words with the British equivalent

Table 3

1.2. Pronunciation

Differences in pronunciation between American English (AE) and British English (BE) can be divided into:

• Differences in accent (i.e. phoneme inventory and realisation). See differences between General American and Received Pronunciation for the standard accents in the United States and Britain; for information about other accents see regional accents of English speakers.(19)
• Differences in the pronunciation of individual words in the lexicon (i.e. phoneme distribution). In this article, transcriptions use Received Pronunciation (RP) to represent BE and General American and to represent AE. (16)

Many students are confused as to appreciate the difference between accents, and they often speak with a mixed of accents perplexing somewhat a native speaker. The purpose of this article is to study the main differences between British English, as represented by Received Pronunciation (RP), and American English, as represented by General American (GA). This study should help students to correct their pronunciation, be consistent with their accent, and acquire a new pronunciation with fewer traces of their native language. Although our standpoint here is primarily phonetic, British and American English have also been studied from a social and historical standpoint. (18)

The main differences between British English and American English, they can be summarized as follows.

1. The presence of rhotic accent.

2. Differences in vowel pronunciation. The most relevant ones are change of diphthongs.

 3. Differences in consonant pronunciation. This mainly involves the different pronunciations of letter t.

 4. Change of stress. This comprises the change of stress in French loanwords, and certain suffixes such as -ate and -atory. (5)

5. Differences in articulation. American English has a clear tendency to pronounce unstressed syllables where British English does not show such a disposition. (10)

№8

Watch and listen to the video. Say what you know about differences  between American and English pronunciations?

1.3. Grammar and Usage

British English and American English grammar are mostly in agreement; there are however some interesting variations.(20) For example there are differences in certain verb forms. In AE the past tense of fit is fit; in BE it is fitted. Americans say I've gotten to know her well; Britons I've got to know her well. In BE the present perfect tense is used for situations in which AE would typically use the past simple. For example using the words just or already, Britons would be more likely to say: I've just seen him or I've already done it whereas in AE it would be common to hear I just saw him or I already did it. (23)

As another example, Americans are much more likely to be technically correct in the agreement of collective noun and verb form than Britons.(2) So in standard AE it would be: The team is playing well this season whereas in BE it is common and acceptable to say the team is playing well. Similar differences can be seen in the use of words like government, committee etc.: The government is... (AE), the government is... (BE). (4)

№9

The following sentences are typically AE. What would the typical British say?

1. Do you have any siblings?
2. It is important that she be told.
3. The jury has not yet reached its decision.
4. Go fetch your book.
5. He dove into the water.
6. You must come visit me real soon.

There are countless other small and interesting differences between AE and BE which come under the heading of usage. Take the useful expression used in AE through, meaning up to and including. E.g., the exhibition is showing March through June. The equivalent expression in BE is from March to June, but this is ambiguous. Does the exhibition close at the end of May or the end of June? To avoid any misunderstanding, it is necessary to say something like the exhibition is showing from March to the end of June. (8)

As another example: for Americans the number billion has 9 zeros (a thousand million); for most Britons it has 12 zeros (a million million). Zero it is a much more common word in AE than in BE, where naught is more widespread. Americans are likely to say the number 453 as four hundred fifty three, whereas in Britain it would almost always be said four hundred and fifty three. And so on. (3)

№10

Are the following sentences more likely to be said (or written) by an American or a British?

1. I'll try and visit you on the weekend.
2. Please write me when you arrive.
3. Call me as soon as you get there.
4. Most everyone has a telephone and a refrigerator these days.
5. If you make a mistake, you'll just have to do it over.
6. He was born 3/27/1981.
7. The soccer team won two to nothing (2-0).
8. She arrived at twenty of two.
9. The secretary said, "Mr. Clinton will see you soon."

It is clear that the poor non-native speaker has an almost impossible task to keep the two languages separated. (9) The best he can do is to acquire a good reference book. Two books that I can recommend on this topic are:

Practical English Usage, M. Swan (1995) , Oxford University Press

The Right Word at the Right Time (A guide to the English language and how to use it) (1985) Readers Digest

1.4 Vocabulary

Here are some of the main differences in vocabulary between British and American English. This page is intended as a guide only. Bear in mind that there can be differences in the choice of specific terms depending on dialect and region within both the USA and the UK. (14)

At School

Table 4

Food

Table 5

House

Table 6

People

Table 7

Sport

Table8

№11

Fill in the table:

Table 9

№12

Decide whether the words are written in British or American English.

1. store →
2. notice board →
3. on the weekend →
4. résumé →
5. potato chips →
6. torch →
7. bulletin board →
8. mortician →
9. streetcar →
10. town centre →
11. French fries →
12. undertaker →
13. CV →
14. rucksack →
15. theatre →
16. program →
17. tire →
18. pavement →
19. petrol →
20. bill →

№13

Choose the right variant:

1. English is my favourite subject at school.

• British English
• American English

2. Have you seen Dick's new truck?

• British English
• American English

3. The park is in the center of our town.

• British English
• American English

4. Mr Barnes, our caretaker, found my key.

• British English
• American English

5. I like French fries, they're very crispy.

• British English
• American English

6. Have you seen the latest movie?

• British English
• American English

7. I've passed this test. So I'll get my driving licence very soon.

• British English
• American English

8. The accident happened because the blue car didn't stop at the traffic lights.

• British English
• American English

9. Tom told me to get off the Underground at Tower Hill.

• British English
• American English

10. We have to hand in our résumé by Friday.

• British English
• American English

№14

How many differences between British and American English can you find from reading these two short texts?

David (York, England)

I live in a flat with my mum, my dad and my two older sisters. My hobbies are playing football and watching films on TV, and my favourite food is burger with chips. There’s a good film on TV at the weekend, Titanic, but I don’t think I’ll watch it because I’ve already seen it.

David (New York, United States)  

I’d say New York is my favorite city in the States, and I have a nice apartment here. However because my job is so busy, the only time I can do stuff like go out to watch a movie, or even just watch a soccer game on TV, is on the weekend. Some days I don’t even have time to eat properly – I just get chicken and fries from the place next door. I’d like to move back to Florida to be closer to mom and my brother. I already visited them twice this year, but it’s not enough.

№15

Fill the gap with a suitable equivalent from British English or American English.

Table 10

1.5 Phraseology

Every language is characterized by a large number of idiomatic phrases or expressions which are composed of at least two words that combine to yield a meaning different from that of the individual words when used in their normal denotative meanings. These figurative or metaphoric expressions are an inherent part of language. (25)

Knowing all or almost all of the figurative expressions of a foreign language is very difficult, if not impossible, because idioms rapidly become old-fashioned or simply obsolete, and new expressions are coined instead. (7).

Phraseological differences between BE and AE include a number of expressions pertaining to various areas of life. Also, each of the two varieties contains many phrases that do not seem to have phraseological equivalent in the other variety. (15)  

All phraseological expressions:

Table 11

Expressions with corresponding phraseological equivalents in the other variety

Table 12

Expressions which are not at all, or very rarely, used in AE

Table 13

Expressions which are not, or very rarely, used in BE

№16

Explain the meaning of words:

1. sit right
2. nip and tuck
3. hit the high spots
4. be a grind
5. behing the eight-ball
6. lay an egg
7. say uncle
8. loaded for bear
9. take someone to the cleaners
10. crazy like a fox

№17

Explain the meaning of words :

1. third time lucky
2. set one`s teeth
3. get the push
4. ask for one`s cards
5. get money for old rope
6. have a read
7. milk will go off
8. pigs might fly
9. be a cheeky devil
10. get money for jam

№18

What variant of the English language is used in ex. 15 and 16?

№19

Fill in the table:

№20 (17)

Here are the original meanings of a few words for clothing and their current meanings in British and American English. Match the meaning and the language in which it is used.

VEST

Original meaning: “clothing”

1. “a waistcoat”

2. “an undershirt”

1. British
2. American

JAMPER

Original meaning:  “a loose jacket”

1. “a light pullover”

2. “a pinafore”

1. British
2. American

PANTS

Original meaning: “men’s breeches extending from waist to ankle”

1. “trousers”

2. “underpants”

1. British
2. American

SUSPENDERS

Original meaning: “straps to support trousers”

1. unchanged

2. “garters”

1. British
2. American

Keys:

№1

1.Washington, D.C.

2. July 4, 1776

3. Alaska

4. Rhode Island

5. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio.

6. Barak Obama

7. 50

8.13

№2

1. F

2. F

3. T

4. T

5. F

№3

1. English

2.Coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land

3. London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff

4. Christianity

5. Ben Nevis in Scotland, at 1,343m (4,406 ft) above sea level. Lowest Point: The lowest point in the UK is the Fenlands, which is 4 m below sea level.

6. The Severn

7. Mild, normally not going much below zero even in the depths of winter, and never much above 25 degrees Celsius in summer. Most of the time it is between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius.

8. River Thames , Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Royal, Family - Buckingham Palace, Union Jack (Official flag of UK).

№4

Catalogue-B, favor-A; centre-B,master-A, recognize-A, organize-A, apologize-A, criticize-A, apologise-B, licence-B, colour-B, well-done-B, welldone-A, makeup-A, make-up-B, breakdown-A, break-down-B, metre-B, meter-A, humour-B, humor-A, saltpeter-A, saltpetre-B

№5

№6

1. biscuit

2. fall

3. boot

4. stand in line

5. tap

6. pavement

7. diner

8. gas station

9. mom

№7

№9

1. AE - Do you have any siblings?

BE - Have you got any brothers or sisters?

2. AE - It is important that she be told. *

BE - It is important that she is told.

3. AE - The jury has not yet reached its decision.

BE - The jury have not yet reached their decision.

4. AE - Go get your book.

BE - Go and fetch your book.

5. AE - He dove into the water.

BE - He dived into the water.

6. AE - You must come visit me real soon.

BE - You must come and visit me really soon.

№10

This was a trick question because in fact all of the sentences are more likely to be said or written by an American than a Briton! Here they are again with their English equivalents:

1. AE - I'll try and visit you on the weekend.

BE - I'll try to visit you at the weekend.

2. AE - Please write me when you arrive.

BE - Please write to me when you arrive.

3. AE - Call me as soon as you get there.

BE - Ring me (phone me) as soon as you get there.

4. AE - Most everyone has a telephone and a refrigerator these days.

BE - Almost everyone has a telephone and a fridge these days.

5. AE - If you make a mistake, you'll just have to do it over.

BE - If you make a mistake, you'll just have to do it again.

6. AE - He was born 3/27/1981.

BE - He was born on 27/3/1981.

7. AE - The soccer team won two to nothing (2-0).

BE - The soccer team won two-nil (2-0).

8. AE - She arrived at twenty of two.

BE - She arrived at twenty to two.

9. AE - The secretary said, "Mr. Clinton will see you soon."

BE - The secretary said: "Mr Clinton will see you soon.

№11

№12

1. AE
2. BE
3. AE
4. AE
5. AE
6. BE
7. AE
8. AE
9. AE
10. BE
11. AE
12. BE
13. BE
14. AE
15. BE
16. AE
17. AE
18. BE
19. BE
20. BE

№13

1. BE
2. AE
3. BE
4. BE
5. AE
6. AE
7. BE
8. BE
9. BE
10. AE

№15

№16

1. not to be acceptable
2. very close/ in contest
3. to do a job superficially, touch on only the outstanding places or points
4. to be a hard-working overly serious student
5. in trouble
6. to fail
7. to admit defeat
8. prepared to make a very aggressive attack
9. to defeat someone badly
10. not crazy at all, sly

№17

1. try for the third time
2. not to speak for a moment
3. to be fired from work
4. to ask for permission to leave a job
5. to get money for nothing
6. to read a little
7. milk will become sour
8. it is absolutely impossible
9. to be a very impudent person
10. to get money for nothing

№18

1. Expressions which are not at all, or very rarely, used in AE
2. Expressions which are not, or very rarely, used in BE

№19

1. gift of the gab
2. gift of the gab
3. be cheesed off
4. hard as a rock
5. very hard
6. play ducks and drakes
7. a very hard-working person
8. throw a monkey wrench into
9. to stay away from school without good reason
10. in high gear

№20

VEST

1. B, 2.A

JUMPER

1. A, 2. B

PANTS

1. B, 2. A

SUSPENDERS

1. B, 2. A

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