Different
Regional English
raising
awareness of American, British and other regional variations
@ 
One of the biggest
communication barriers between Japanese people and speakers of English is
the existence of a diverse range of regional English. Such variations exist
in different English speaking countries throughout the world.
@
These variations
can not only be confusing for students, but may fundamentally contradict
what a Japanese student of English has been previously taught. For instance, the best way to write
or say an English word or phrase.
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Because ALTs are
often posted randomly, it is a common occurrence for students to have an
American ALT their first year, a British ALT their second year, and a
Canadian ALT their third year. While
students benefit from contact with ALTs from different countries, it may be
difficult for them to learn English due to the regional variations.
@
This constant
diversity of ALT regional English means that students from one year to the
next are being taught, and are constantly learning, different variations of
English. It is important for both the ALT and JTE to be aware these
distinctions. JTEs and ALTs should be careful not to dismiss what students
have previously learned as gwrongh, but rather should explain these
regional differences to the students.
Below are a few
examples that clearly highlight some linguistic differences from region to
region. They emphasize the need for clarity on the part of the JTE and the
ALT in order to prevent miscommunication.
English: North American contrasted with
British
Spelling:
often slight differences [My favorite food is (US) My favourite food
is (UK)] [color
(US) colour (UK) [tire (US)
tyre (UK)] [meter
(US) metre (UK)]
@
Pronunciation and Accent:@
[schedule: "skedule"
(US) "shedule"(UK)]
Early American
English originated from Quaker settlers who mostly traveled from the
south-west area of England (i.e. Cornwall, etc., where the
R-sound is very strong). The
part of America chosen by many
these settlers was named:@New England.
@
Different Phrases/Expressions:
Many American words
differ from British ones, e.g. parts of the car. Just as with British English,
American English is an evolving language, influenced by industrial and
technical advances.
[gas station (US)
petrol station (UK)]@[woolly hat (UK) beanie
(US/AUS/NZ) tuke (CAN)] [wrench (US) spanner (UK)] [windshield
(US) windscreen (UK)] [squash
(US) marrow (UK)] [cookies
(US) biscuits (UK)] [space
heater (US) electric fire (UK)] [garage
sale (US) jumble sale (UK)] [diaper
(US) nappy (UK)] [kerosene
(US) paraffin (UK)] [motor
home (US) caravan (UK)]
[subway (US/CAN)
Underground/tube (UK)] [sidewalk
(US) pavement (UK)] [highway
(US) motorway (UK)] [plastic
wrap (US) cling film (UK)] [eraser
(US) rubber (UK) ] [cookies
(US) biscuits (UK)] [potato
chips (US) crisps (UK)] [molasses
(US) treacle (UK)] [second
floor (US) first floor (UK)] [swap meet (US) car boot sale (UK)] [trunk
(of car) (US) boot (of car) (UK)] [hood (of
car) (US) bonnet (of car) (UK)] [pants
(US) trousers (UK)] [parking lot (US) carpark (UK)] [cellular phone (US) mobile phone (UK)]
(Back)
@@
English: Australian contrasted with
British
@
Spelling:
is the same for all
words
Pronunciation and Accent:@
The accent in Australia originated from
the London area but, in
comparison with British pronunciation, the eAf sound is now broader.@People have since emigrated to Australia from all over Britain and this will have
had some effect on accent in different areas
Vocabulary:@
Certain Aborigine
words have been adopted into the language.@
Londoners were
among the first to travel to Australia from Britain and their
influence is obvious: They took
with them a rhyming slang, referred to as Cockney Slang; This slang has
evolved and now an Australian version of rhyming slang exists.@American films are having a strong influence on
Australian vocabulary and spelling.
@
Different Phrases/Expressions:
[to do a U-turn (UK)
to chuck a uey (AUS)] [to go down the drain (UK) to go down the
gurgler (AUS)] [ manhole (UK) loft-hatch (AUS)
]
(Back)
English: New Zealand contrasted with British
@
Spelling:
identical
Pronunciation and Accent:@
The accent in the South Island is predominantly
Scottish, as the early settlers originated from Scotland; however, the
accent in the North Island is not very
strong, as people emigrated to it from all over England.
@
Vocabulary:
In New Zealand, certain Maori words
have been adopted into the language.
@
Different Phrases/Expressions:
[corner shop (UK) dairy (NZ)]
[ crowd, group (UK) bui (NZ)
] [ press-studs (UK) domes (NZ) ]
(Back)
@
The above extracts on
English language variation are originally
provided by
Bibi
Baxter, http://www.musicalenglishlessons.org/vocab-diffs.htm
For more
information about British and American English spelling differences please
go to http://www.musicalenglishlessons.org/spelling-diffs.htm
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