sign in • sign up
web | myLot | discussions | tasks | blogs | news | photos
homeinterestsdiscussionstasksblogsnewsmessages friendsphotosearningsmyLotquizzes

American English email this discussion to a friend?

zhenghong (88)10 months ago

English in the United States has sometimes beencalled "The American Language ", as though it were so distinict from the parentlanguage of the British Isles that mutualunderstanding betweentheses two largest English- speaking nations would be difficult.this is clearlyanoverstatement of the differences which do exist, for the speech of the educated of both countries presents only minor barriers to communication.Still, AMERICAN eNGLISH DOES HAVE CHARACTERISTICS OF ITSOWN REFLECTING ITS PECULIAR HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT. WHAT DO YOU THINK? CAN YOU TELLME?

 
 
sponsors
Pronouncing American English
Individual/group sessions to increase English pronunciation.
www.dennisnapoli.com

Premium Wool thermal underwear long johns
Superfine Wool thermal underwear long johns from $80. Buy Superpremium Clothing from $80
www.ramblersway.com

Pennsylvania Dutch Country B&B
Buggies are always trotting past this 1735 National Registry stone mansion in Churchtown, PA. Gourmet breakfasts in garden room with sweeping farmland views. Carriage rides, Amish dinners.
www.churchtowninn.com

User has not selected a best response.
tags:  american english, accents, colloquialisms
 
1. myLot reputation of 91/100. KatieDidit (887)   10 months ago

Not only is American English different from British English, but America is so large that there are significant regional differences in American English.

Some of it's accent, which can fairly easily be deciphered. But other differences are colloquialisms used by locals that are harder for outsiders to understand.

For example a Mainer would know that a "dite" is a small amount of something. i.e. "I'll take a dite of ketchup"

When I was a kid in Massachusetts I used to love "frappes." When I moved cross country and tried to order one, no one knew what it was. On the west coast they're milk shakes.

Likewise in a large part of the country long rectangular donuts with a maple frosting are "Long Johns" but in the Pacific Northwest long johns are thermal underwear and those donuts are "Maple Bars"

In the south if someone "fell out" they fainted.

In the east a "crick" is a pain in the neck, but in the west a crick is how they pronounce "creek" (a stream, brook)

In Pennsylvania dutch country to "rid" something is to clean it up and in military culture if you clean something up you "police" it.

For the most part given we all speak English we understand each other pretty well, but somethings do take explaining. lol

Pronouncing American English Individual/group sessions to increase English pronunciation. www.dennisnapoli.com
 
sponsors
Kids' Long Johns
Large Selection of First and Fleece Layer Kids Long Johns.
www.winterkids.com

Kimpton Hotels And
Find top-rated Restaurants near you Try Citysearch® now
Washingtondc.Citysearch.com

Speak Better English
60 days free practice when you buy Pronunciation in English from ETS.
www.ets.org/amenglishnow

similar discussions
Errors or changes in American English?
I thought I was aware of most of the differences between English and the American English which is...
sponsors
Kids' Long Johns
Large Selection of First and Fleece Layer Kids Long Johns.
www.winterkids.com
return to mylot
We are loading a word from our sponsors. No thanks, cancel loading.