HUE UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF OPEN EDUCATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ENGLISH LANGUAGE o0o SOCIOLINGUISTIC PROJECT Lecturer: PhD Trần Thuần Student’s name: VÕ THỊ HIỀN LƯƠNG Student’s code: 7052900497 Class: Nghệ An Nghe An, July 2023 Topic : Compare the English of two informants (non-native speakers of English), one of whom loves British culture and one of whom identifies with American culture BÀI LÀM Learning English is essential in modern life which we are living in now Language acquisition is influenced by various factors, including cultural exposure and identification When we study English, we also understand the culture of the country where people speak English all the time as their mother language I believe that some of the learners like British culture besides some of them prefer researching American culture In this essay, we will explore and compare their English proficiency of them by analyzing their language preferences, vocabulary usage, and accents, we seek to gain insights into how cultural affiliations impact language learning In America and Britain, people both speak English so the learners who love British culture or who love American culture have numerous things in common There is a huge number of words that they use that are the same American Language VS British English The two languages are very similar, so much so that it is very easy to understand between the two countries The languages not need translation due to writing in what is called standard English Standard English is the written English format used in all three countries making it very versatile and easy to understand There are only a handful of similarities between American English and British English There is more of a difference than there are similarities HISTORY The British actually introduced the language to the Americas when they reached these lands by sea between the 16th and 17th centuries At that time, the spelling had not yet been standardized It took the writing of the first dictionaries to set in stone how these words appeared In the UK, the dictionary was compiled by London-based scholars Meanwhile, in the United States, the lexicographer was a man named Noah Webster Allegedly, he changed how the words were spelled to make the American version different from the British as a way of showing cultural independence from its mother country In terms of speech, the differences between American and British English actually took place after the first settlers arrived in America These groups of people spoke using what was called rhotic speech, where the ‘r’ sounds of words are pronounced Meanwhile, the higher classes in the UK wanted to distinguish the way they spoke from the common masses by softening their pronunciation of the ‘r’ sounds Since the elite even back then were considered the standard for being fashionable, other people began to copy their speech, until it eventually became the common way of speaking in the south of England SPELLING DIFFERENCES British and American English have some spelling differences The common ones are presented in the table below British English -oe-/-ae- (e.g anaemia, diarrhoea, encyclopaedia) -t (e.g burnt, dreamt, leapt) -ence (e.g defence, offence, licence) -ell- (e.g cancelled, jeweller, marvellous) -ise (e.g appetiser, familiarise, organise) -l- (e.g enrol, fulfil, skilful) -ogue (e.g analogue, monologue, catalogue) American English -e- (e.g anemia, diarrhea, encyclopedia) -ed (e.g burned, dreamed, leaped) -ense (defense, offense, license) -el- (e.g canceled, jeweler, marvelous) -ize (e.g appetizer, familiarize, organize) -ll- (e.g enroll, fulfill, skillfull) -og (e.g analog, monolog, catalog) *Note that American English also recognizes words spelled with –ogue -o (e.g color, behavior, mold) -ou (e.g colour, behaviour, mould) They have the same meaning but they have different spelling VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES Although both countries speak English, there are some significant differences in vocabulary between them The Americans and the British also have some words that differ from each other The table below lists some of the everyday objects that have different names, depending on what form of English you are using A commonly used example is that in the UK we go on “holiday”, but in the USA they are more than likely to have a “vacation” Also, when the season changes from the summer, in the UK the next season is known as the “autumn”, with the USA commonly uses the term “fall” Additionally, many words have different meanings depending on which country you are in; for instance, if in Britain you put on your pants, you mean your underwear, but in the USA, you would be referring to what the Brits call your trousers There are many of these words, some that might cause some embarrassment, so be careful what you say British English American English trousers Pants flat Apartment bonnet (the front of the car) Hood boot (the back of the car) Trunk lorry Truck university College holiday Vacation jumper Sweater crisps Chips chips French fries trainers Sneakers fizzy drink Soda postbox Mailbox biscuit Cookie chemist Drugstore shop Store football Soccer GRAMMAR DIFFERENCES Aside from spelling and vocabulary, there are certain grammar differences between British and American English For instance, in American English, collective nouns are considered singular (e.g The band is playing) In contrast, collective nouns can be either singular or plural in British English, although the plural form is most often used (e.g The band are playing) The British are also more likely to use formal speech, such as ‘shall’, whereas Americans favour the more informal ‘will’ or ‘should’ Americans, however, continue to use ‘gotten’ as the past participle of ‘get’, which the British have long since dropped in favour of ‘got’ ‘Needn’t’, which is commonly used in British English, is rarely, if at all used in American English In its place is ‘don’t need to’ In British English, ‘at’ is the preposition in relation to time and place However, in American English, ‘on’ is used instead of the former and ‘in’ for the latter 5 PRONUNCIATION AND ACCENT: Another difference between British English and American English is pronunciation of certain words – often due to regional dialects within each country A classic example of this is how Brits pronounce the word “tomato”, compared to Americans who usually pronounce it as “tomayto”, you know the song Additionally, accents vary significantly across both countries – from soft Southern drawls found throughout much of America’s South East region all the way up through New England where Bostonians have their own accent, which includes some unique local vocabulary Whilst writing, there are also differences between UK and US English Some spelling of words with the same meaning are different, for example in the UK there is “colour”, and in the USA the word is spelled “color”, and there are other words that drop the “u” in US spelling Dates are written differently too – while Britons write day/month/year (01/02/2023), Americans write month/day/year (02/01/2023) Language is an important factor to consider when moving from the UK to the USA Knowing the differences in vocabulary, pronunciation and accent, and writing style can help make this transition smoother While there may be certain differences between British and American English, the key takeaway is that the two have more similarities Accidentally using one instead of the other will not automatically lead to miscommunication Americans and Brits can usually communicate with each other without too much difficulty, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you are unable to memorize the nuances of both languages 5, Differences between the UK and USA In the UK, people are often formal when meeting someone for the first time, greeting with a handshake, whilst in the USA, people tend to be more informal It is also common for Americans to address someone by their first name even if they have just met them In the UK it is considered impolite to discuss private matters such as salary, when meeting someone, so you are more likely to have a conversation centred around the weather, than how much you earn Table Manners and Dining Customs: Table manners in the UK are generally quite formal compared to those of the US For example, it is considered impolite in Britain not to wait until everyone at the table has been served before starting your meal In contrast, American dining etiquette tends to be less strict; most people start eating as soon as their food arrives without waiting for others at the table, and often at home meals are taken standing up rather than sat at the dinner table Public behaviour in both countries can vary depending on where you are located, but there are some general differences between British and American culture that should be noted when moving from one country to another For instance, while British people tend to keep a certain level of formality when interacting with strangers in public spaces such as shops or restaurants, Americans may appear more relaxed and friendly towards those they don’t know well yet The UK and US have many similarities in social etiquette, but there are also some subtle differences It’s important to be aware of these differences when transitioning to a new country UNDERSTANDING TIME MANAGEMENT IN THE UK AND USA The UK and US have similar expectations when it comes to punctuality, deadlines, workplace schedules, and work- life balance The US has adopted flexible working hours which allow employees to start earlier or later depending on their neess In both the UK and the USA, punctuality is highly valued However, in the USA in some social contexts, such as parties, it is much more acceptable to be late, although this is becoming more commonplace in the UK (being “fashionably late”) In business, in both countries, it is expected that people will arrive on time for appointments or meetings, and deadlines are taken seriously People who not adhere to these expectations may be seen as unreliable or unprofessional Workplace Expectations and Schedules: Working hours tend to differ between countries as well; while most workplaces in both countries operate from am-5 pm during weekdays, many businesses in the US have adopted flexible working hours which allow employees to start earlier or later depending on their needs This type of schedule isn’t quite as common in the UK yet but could become more popular over time as attitudes towards work-life balance continue to shift, as well as increased remote working Attitudes towards time management can vary greatly between the UK and the USA, from punctuality to workplace expectations COMPARING THE POLITICAL SYSTEMS AND GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES OF THE UK AND USA The political systems of the UK and the USA are vastly different, with each country having its own unique leadership styles, policies, voting rights, laws, and regulations Differences in Leadership Styles and Policies In the UK, a constitutional monarchy is in place where the reigning monarch is the Head of State but has limited powers The Prime Minister leads the government while Parliament makes laws that apply to all citizens In contrast, the US has a federal system of government with an elected President as Head of State who holds executive power over both state and federal governments Congress is responsible for making laws which are then enforced by state governments Voting Rights, Laws, Regulations & Freedoms of Speech / Press / Religion etc… In both countries there are universal voting rights granted to citizens aged 18 or older; however, in some states within America there can be restrictions on certain groups such as felons or those without permanent residency status Both countries have freedom of speech enshrined in their constitutions but other freedoms vary between them, and due to the process involved UK law can be changed much more easily than US law Similarly, assembly and petitioning rights differ between Britain’s Human Rights Act 1998 (which includes peaceful protest) compared to America’s Bill of Rights (which includes public assemblies) Although the political systems and government structures of the UK and USA have some similarities, there are also many significant differences in leadership styles, policies, voting rights and freedoms Different Approaches to Education: Comparing the UK and USA The primary school curriculum in the UK and US differ significantly In the UK, pupils are required to study a range of core subjects such as English, Maths, Science and Humanities They also have access to a wide variety of extracurricular activities such as music, art, and sport In contrast, US schools focus more on developing academic skills with an emphasis on literacy and numeracy Students may also be able to choose from elective courses that vary depending on their state or district Secondary School Curriculum Differences: At the secondary level there is again a marked difference between the two countries’ curricula The UK system requires students to take exams at age 16 (GCSEs) before moving onto A Levels or equivalent qualifications at 18 years old for university entry requirements in most cases Meanwhile in the US students will typically follow a college preparatory program which includes taking SAT/ACT tests for college admission purposes along with completing coursework relevant to their chosen field of study e.g., science or business-related courses, etc Higher Education System Differences: When it comes to university education, often known as a college in the USA, there are some differences One is the time that it usually takes to complete a degree, with a 3-year bachelor’s course in the UK compared to years in the USA This continues through a master’s (1 year in the UK compared to years in the USA) and a PhD (3-4 years vs 5-7 years) In the UK universities are usually lecture-based, in some cases with one final exam, whilst in the USA there is more likely to be various projects and papers throughout the course For a deeper dive into the similarities and differences between the UK and US education systems, check out our article on Understanding the Education System in the USA US VS USA CULUTUAL DIFFERENCES Is American and British culture the same? No, American and British culture are not the same While they share some similarities due to their historical ties, they also have distinct differences in their traditions, customs, and values For example, the British tend to have a reserved and formal demeanor, while Americans are known for their friendliness and informality Additionally, there are differences in cuisine, fashion, and social norms between the two cultures How is the UK culture different to the US culture? The UK and US cultures differ in many ways In the UK, people tend to be more reserved and polite than their American counterparts The British also have a strong sense of tradition, with an emphasis on history and heritage In contrast, Americans are often seen as more open-minded and outspoken when it comes to expressing opinions or beliefs Additionally, the US has a much larger population than the UK which can lead to different attitudes towards diversity and immigration Finally, while both countries share similar language roots there are still some distinct differences between British English and American English which can cause confusion for those moving from one country to another How can you tell the difference between UK and US people? The main difference between UK and US people is in their culture, language, and lifestyle In the UK, English is the primary language spoken and British culture is heavily influenced by its long history The US has a more diverse population with many different languages spoken throughout the country Additionally, American lifestyles tend to be more individualistic than those of the UK which are often focused on community values Finally, there are distinct differences in government systems between both countries that have an impact on how they operate By understanding these differences, it is possible to tell the difference between UK and US people How does American society differ from British society? American society differs from British society in many ways In the US, individualism is highly valued and encouraged, while in Britain there is a greater emphasis on community and collective responsibility The US also has a more diverse population than the UK, with people of different races, religions, and backgrounds living side by side Americans are generally more optimistic about their future prospects than Britons are; this can be seen in their attitudes toward work, education, and politics Finally, American culture tends to be much more informal than British culture; for example, dress codes tend to be less strict in the US compared to the UK SUMMING UP THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE UK AND AMERICA In conclusion, the cultures in the USA and UK can be quite different From language to social etiquette, attitudes towards time management, political system, and government structure, and education systems; there are many differences between these two countries However, with a little bit of research and understanding of both cultures, you can adjust to these cultural differences easily Understanding the culture comparison: UK vs USA is key for successful international relocation Are you looking to move internationally and need help with shipping? 1st Move International can provide the solutions you are searching for We offer international removals, moving overseas, and shipping services from the UK Our team of experienced professionals will help your transition to living in the USA as stress-free and seamless as possible by looking after your household goods, furniture, and personal effects Contact us today to get started on making your international dreams come true 10 11