Practical English Usage

Based on what I read in the book Practical English Usage, I will try to answer a few questions:

a) What are the most important differences between British English and American English (provide a few examples)?

The first difference between British English and American English that I can think of is the pronunciation. It is sometimes very different even though most British and American speakers can understand each other. There are also a few differences of grammar and spelling. Concerning grammar, there are frequently two possibilities in one variety of English and only one in the other variety. For example, American speakers can either say: "He just went home" or "He’s just gone home" whereas British speakers can only say "He’s just gone home". The spelling of certain words is not the same in both varieties. A few words ending in –or in American English end in –our in British English such as labor/labour. Also, some words ending in –er in American English end in –re in British English such as meter/metre. Moreover, a number of verbs end in –ize in American English and either –ise or –ize in British English such as organize/organize or organise. Finally, there are also a few differences in vocabulary. For example, American speakers say cookie or cracker whereas British speakers would say biscuit.

b) What is standard English?

According to the book Practical English Usage, standard English is “the form of English generally accepted for use in government, the law, business, education and literature.” Standard languages are mostly the result of historical accident. The origin of standard English is in 878 following King Alfred’s victory over the Vikings. London became Southern England’s capital. Thus, the English spoken in London became the standard English. So, the standard English is the dialect that was chosen for official purposes.

c) What is a dialect?

Dialects have their own systematic grammars. Dialect forms are not incorrect and are not corrupt versions of the standard language since the standard language is simply a dialect that was chosen for official purposes. Finally, all dialects have a long history.

d) What are the characteristics of formal English as oppose to informal or spoken English?

Firstly, grammar is different in formal and informal English. Contracted auxiliary verb and negatives are common in informal speech and writing. For example, in a formal letter, one should write "It has gone" whereas in an informal letter, one could write "It’s gone". Also, in informal languages, prepositions come at the end of certain structures: "Which century did he live in?". In formal English, one should say: "In which century did he live?" Moreover, some relative structures are different: in formal English one should say: "The man whom she married…" but in informal English one could say: "The man she married…" Another difference concerns the use of singular verb forms in formal English and plural forms in informal language. For example, in formal language one should say: "Neither of us likes him" whereas in informal English one could say: "Neither of us like him". Also, subject and object forms of pronouns (I and me) are used differently in formal and informal language. Lastly, in informal language, ellipsis is more common: "Have you seen Mr Bush?" in formal English and "Seen Paul?" in informal English. Secondly, vocabulary differs in formal and informal English. For example, in formal language one should say: "I beg your pardon?" Whereas in informal language one could simply say: "What?"

e) Do languages change over time (explain how and why)?

Yes, languages change over time. This process begins when younger people adopt new expressions. While they do, older people usually resist change. So, these two groups do not speak in the same way even though they live at the same time. This change can be explained by communicative need, influence from other dialects (for example, British English is influenced by American English), languages simplify themselves, small distinctions are confused or disappear, new forms and uses spread through the language, “underground” forms become respectable, mistakes become part of the language and some phonetically weak forms disappear.