Back to US/UK Englishes - FINISH THIS ASAP
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—that's all."
—Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
Languages are alive. Uses rule, which means, for instance, a word from American English or one from British English may end up being chosen by the international community of speakers communicating so-to-say, thus becoming the option in what is called International English, or even of native speakers who didn't use it before. Check this: in UK English, the word "aeroplane" is what in the USA people name "airplane". Now then, which of these appears in British textbooks?
There's something called International English which is kind of made up with the easiest options and US English Spelling is closer to how the word is pronounced, so that explains why it is so popular worldwide.
You have probably heard about US American General English versus British General English, but the truth is that each English-speaking community develops its own language tools to describe the world, and because of geography (proximity) or former invasions (colonizations) its own set of borrowings, for instance. In the USA it is common to find borrowings from American Indian communities and languages and from (American) Spanish. In the UK there seem to be more words from Hindi, for instance. The words someone living in the deserts of Australia needs won't be the exact replica of what someone living in Dublin needs. So -- don't get too nationalistic about languages. Let's just respect collective identities! Languages, including the varieties of a same language, are connected to culture, to how a community understands the world and their relationships, if you have traveled you probably know that what is good for a certain community, like kissing total strangers to say hello, can be aggressive or offensive for another (Thai people, for instance), or like offering a cigarrette (again, in Spain), can be unwelcomed by all (they feel obliged /obláigd/ en deuda or offended, in England!
| Different words for the same thing | Commonly confused words | ||
| US | UK | US | UK |
Candy |
Sweets Biscuits Aubergine Courgette Trolley Autumn Queue Lift Nappy Zip Boot Winscreen Pavement Wellington boots (wellies) Return ticket - One-way ticket I'm going to the city centre Torch Tube, underground Taxi Petrol Solicitor Flat Could I have the bill? (restaurant) Luggage conveyor belt - both luggage for people's suitcases Holiday(s) - bank holidays for public holidays exc. Xmus & Easter* |
Rubber Eraser SweaterPants Panties Chips French Fries** Mad - Are you mad at me? Crazy **Out of criticism to the European position against the war of Irak, patriots in the USA starte d calling French fries, Freedom fries. |
Condom Rubber*** Jumper Trousers Pants Crisps Chips Angry Mad ***Also eraser! esp. if a US person is around! - "Have you got a rubber?"!!! |
| *People who believe States should not impose any specific religion, call the Christmas and Easter holidays, winter and spring holidays (like people in France do) but this is not mainstream yet! | |||