| Referate engleza | Bac 2008 limba engleza| Recomanda unui prieten

American English acquired international significance after World War II, when the United States assumed a more global role and political, economic and technological developments promoted American influence worldwide. American English currently asserts a dominant influence on "world English" (cf. British English) largely due to the following:
1. Population: U.S. vs. U.K. (SAE/SBE ca 70% vs. 17% of all native English;
2. Wealth of the U.S. vs. the U.K. economy, & influences
3. Magnitude of higher education in America vs. the U.K.
4. Magnitude of the publishing industry in America
5. Magnitude of mass media and media technology influence on a worldwide scale
6. Appeal of American popular culture on language & habits
7. International political and economic position of the U.S.
American and British English are both "variants" of the English Language, more similar than different, especially with "educated" or "scientific" English. Most divergence is due to differences in national history and national cultural development, varying regional and local idioms and colloquialisms, and media/advertising influences.
The following general categories of difference between standard American English (SAE) and standard British English (SBE) each have their own sociolectic value:


I. Different Pronunciation, although same spelling
• Advertisement (advert, ad)
• Controversy, Laboratory, Secretary
• Leisure, schedule, dance, dynasty
• Renaissance, oregano, clerk [bank, office], ate
• 'PC'-influence examples: harass, harassment, Uranus, etc.
II. Different Spelling, although same pronunciation
• Colour — color, Centre — center
• Cheque — check (noun form [bank]; verb "to check" the same)
• Defence — defense (noun form), Licence (noun form) — license
• Alright — all right; Manoeuvre — maneuver; tyre — tire
• Ageing — aging; Whisky — whiskey (U.S. & Ireland)
• Gaol — jail
III. Same Term, different but similar spelling and pronunciation
• Aluminium — aluminum
• Polythene — polyethylene
• Maths — math (shortening of "mathematics")
• Rise — raise (more money in salary, wages)
IV. Same Words, Different or Additional Meanings in One Variety
• Pavement (GB) = Sidewalk (US); Pavement (US) = Road (GB)
• I married a homely girl. The opening of our new play was a bomb!
• Nigel and Trevor purchased 7-day Travelcard season tickets.
• Evelyn took a coin out of [his/her] purse (GB=male, coin purse; US=female, handbag)
• The committee tabled the motion (put it on the table).
• We all had tea and biscuits. (cf Harry Potter, 'crumpets' vs 'English muffins')
• The corn harvest was exceptional this year. (cf. "maize", "sweetcorn")
• We needed a torch for the dark trail. (cf. flashlight, electric torch, flaming torch)
• IBM made over a billion dollars last year. (cf "thousand million"; changing GB standards)
• Trousers (GB) = Pants (US); Pants (US) = underwear (GB)
• Jumper (GB) = Sweater (US); Jumper (US) = pinafore [dress] (GB)
• Shorts (US) = underwear (GB); Vest (US) = underwear (GB)
• Pekka was climbing in the lime tree (lehmus, cf linden, basswood, common lime)