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1、The Difference Between British English and American EnglishAbstract:English is one of the most important languages in the world.It is very important because of its worldwide use. English has a history of about six hundred years,developing from a local language spoken by a small number of people in E
2、ngland to its present position as a very important language spoken by large numbers of people in the world .Because of the different historical backgrounds, geographical environments and social developments in the English used countries, English has many varieties ,such as British English and Americ
3、an English .Anyhow,to English learners,grassing British English and American English can give rise to our better understanding of western culture.Key words:American English,British English,language,varieties摘要：英语是世界上最重要的语言之一，由于是全球通用的语言，因此英语十分重要。英语已有六百多年的历史。在英国，英语从只有少数当地人说的语言发展成为目前被世界上许多人使用的一门重要语言。由于
4、英语使用国家不同的历史背景、地理环境以及社会发展，英语已形成了许多不同的类型。无论如何，对于英语学习者来说，了解美式英语与英式英语能够使我们更好的了解西方文化。关键词：美式英语，英式英语，语言，类型.IntroductionBased on British English,American English began in the 17th century.At the beginning of the 17th century the English language was brought to North America by colonists from England. Britai
5、n established a lot of colonies in American. With the British and other countries immigrants crowding into American, the culture and economy multiply day by day, and English changed a lot as a mother tongue, so it gradually formed characterized American English.Although these two varieties have a lo
6、t in common,they differ in many details,such as sounds,stress,spelling,vocabulary ,habit and so on.The difference between British English and American EnglishA.Differences in individual soundsEven the same word,its pronounciation can be different.BrE AmE /a:/ / / : ask/a:sk/ / sk/ dance/da:ns/ /d ns
7、/ / :/fog/f g/ /f :g/ moss/m ss/ /m :s/(现代英语词汇学P200页) B. Differences in stress1. Pronounciation of longer words:British English tends to stress strongly one syllale,usually the first and hurries over the rest of the word.American English tends to put the stress on the first syllable but also to put
8、a secondary stress on the latter syllable and pronounces the remaining syllables mre distinctly.BrE AmE decorative 2. Different stresses on the same words:(英语词汇学引论P384页) C.Differences in spellingBrE AmE (现代英语词汇学P200页) D.Differences in vocabularyWe can divide vocabulary differences into four main cat
9、egories,although there is some overlap.1.Same word,different meaning.They include:Word BrEng meaning AmEng meaning homely “down to earth,domestic” “ugly(of people)”pants “underpants” “trousers”to tick off “to scold” “to make angry”2.Same word,additional meaning in one varietya.Additional meaning in
10、AmEngWord BrE ng meaning AmEng meaning Cute “endearing” “attracive,charmig”Dum “mute” “stupid”Good “fine,nice” “valid”b. Additional meaning in BrEngWord BrE ng meaning AmEng meaning To mind “to heed,obey” “to look after”Rug “a thick carpet” “a thick wrap or coverlet”Smart “intelligent” “well- groome
11、d”3.Same word,different in style,connotation,frequency of useWord BrE ng meaning AmEng meaning Autumn “common;all styles” “uncommon;poetic or formal”Clever “common;positive” “less common;usually negative”Fortnight “common;all styles” “uncommon;poetic”4.Same concept or item,different wordAmEng only C
12、orresponds to BrE ngEmcee compereFaucet tapMuffler silencerBrE ng only Corresponds to AmEngDynamo generatorHire purchas installmet buyingNought zeroE. Differences in habitAmerican English is more conservative than British English in The Subjunctive Mood The Subjunctive MoodSubjunctive Mood,having th
13、e tendency to go back to ancient times. For example, In legal language or on formal occasions, British English retains the old usage.For instance,”I move that Mr.Smith be appointed Secretary.”.But on on other occations, British English usually does not use Subjunctive Mood but insert the word “shoul
14、d” into the subordinate clause. For instance,”I insist (suggest ,ask,demand) that you should attend the meeting.”No matter what occasion in America, the original Subjunctive Mood of British English can be used.For example,”I insist that you take up the job .I ask that the doctor be sent for. It is i
15、mportant that he be present at the meeting.”This kind of usage in American English has a great influence on British English,which is also can be seen in British works.For example,”No one woule suggest that a unique, and in the main supremely valuable, work be halted.Public opinion demands that an in
16、quiry be held.He is anxious that the truth be known”ConcludeAll in all, learning and studying the differences between British English and American English will bring great benefit to us in understanding the two countries development of history and future trends,in promoting English vocabulary teachi
17、ng practice,in better mastering and using English.Bibliography1林承章，刘世平，英语词汇学引论，武汉大学出版社，2008年9月，第5版【2】陆国强，现代英语词汇学，上海外语教育出版社，2005年7月，第17版3王之江，汪榕培，英语词汇学高级教程读本，上海外语教育出版社，2006年9月，第1版【4】王之江，汪榕培，吴晓维，英语词汇学教程读本，上海外语教育出版社，2005年1月，第1版【5】林承章，英语词汇学引论，武汉大学出版社，武汉大学出版社2005年1月，第13版英语谚语警句100句精选Proverbs are the daught
18、ers of daily experience.谚语是日常经验的结晶。1. Look before you leap./Second thoughts are best. 三思而后行。/再想而后行。2. Great minds think alike; (heroes have similar views.) 英雄所见略同。 3. We shall never have friends if we expect to find them without fault.欲求完美无缺的朋友必然成为孤家寡人。4. What you sow, you must mow. 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。5. A b
19、eggar can never be bankrupt.天无绝人之路。6.A friend in need is a friend indeed.患难见真情。7. No news is good news. 没有消息就是好消息。8. No cross, no crown. 不经历风雨,怎么见彩虹。9. The more haste, the less speed. /Haste makes waste.欲速则不达。10. Victory belongs to the most persevering. 坚持就是胜利！11. A young idler, an old beggar. 少壮不努力
20、，老大徒伤悲。12. Put ones foot in ones mouth. 说话不得体。13. It is no use crying over spilt milk.覆水难收/悔恨已晚/木已成舟,回天乏力。14. Content is better than riches. 知足常乐。15. No gains without pains. 没有辛苦就没有收获。16. The more a man knows, the more he is inclined to be modest. 大智若愚。17. All roads lead to Rome .条条大路通罗马。18. A snow
21、year, a rich year. 瑞雪兆丰年。19. Never say die! 永不言败！20. The best mirror is a friends eye. 朋友的眼睛是最好的镜子。 21. Faith will move mountain. 精诚所至，金石为开。 22. A life without a friend is a life without a sun. 人生没有朋友，犹如生活没有了太阳。 23. Great wits have short memories.贵人多忘事。 24. Do well and have well. 善有善报。25. A bad thin
22、g never dies. 坏事传千年。26. Four eyes see more than two. 人多识广/集思广益。27. Diligence is the parent of success. 勤劳是成功的根本。28. Water dropping day by day wears the hardest rock away.滴水穿石。29. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. 抱最好的愿望，做最坏的打算。 30. While there is life, there is hope. /Debt is better than
23、 death. 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。/有生命就有希望。31. Where there is a will, there is a way. 功夫不负有心人。/有志者事竟成。32. Where there is great love, there are always miracles. 哪里有真爱存在，哪里就有奇迹。33. Where there is smoke, there is fire. 无风不起浪。34. One boy is a boy, two boys half a boy, three boys no boy.一个和尚挑水喝，两个和尚抬水喝，三个和尚没水喝。35. A s
24、titch in time saves nine. 及时缝一针能省九针。/小洞不补，大洞吃苦。36. Never too old to learn, never too late to turn. 亡羊补牢，为时不晚。37. Dont claim to know what you dont know. 不要不懂装懂。38. Do in Rome as Roman do. 入乡随俗。39. Rome was not built in a day. 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒。40. Sharpening your axe will not delay your job of cutting wood.
25、 磨刀不误砍柴工。 41. Things of a kind come together, people a mind fall into a group. 物以类聚,人以群分。 42. One mans meat is another mans poison. 萝卜白菜,各有所爱。43. like author like book.文如其人。46. Like for like. 惺惺相惜。47. Like teacher like pupil. 有其师必有其徒。48. Gods that run many hares kill none.贪多必失。49. Practice makes per
26、fect. 熟能生巧。50. Actions speak louder than words. 行胜于言。51. You cannot eat your cake and have it. 鱼与熊掌，不可兼得。52. One loses by pride and gains by modesty. 满招损,谦受益。53. Love me, love my dog. 爱屋及乌。54. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. 每日一苹果远离医生。55. Time past cannot be called back again. 时光不倒流。56. A drop
27、 of water cannot make a sea, and a tree cannot make a wood. 滴水不成海，独木不成林。57. If you venture nothing, you will have nothing. 不入虎穴,焉得虎子。58.The tree is known by its fruit. 观其行知其人。59. All work no play makes Jack a dull boy. 只会用功不玩耍,聪明的孩子也变傻。60. The pot calls the kettle black. 五十步笑百步。61. Unkindness often
28、reacts on the unkind person. 恶有恶报。62. Todays work should never be left over till tomorrow. 今日事今日毕。63. Nothing so bad but might have been worse. 塞翁失马,焉知非福。 64. God helps those who help themselves. 自助者天助。65. Complacency is the enemy of study. 学习的敌人是自己的满足。66. A fox may grow gray, but never good.江山易改，本性
29、难移。67. A friend without faults will never be found. 没有十全十美的朋友。68. A good beginning is half done. 良好的开端是成功的一半。69. A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever. 一本好书，相伴一生。70. A good medicine tastes bitter. 良药苦口。71. A leopard cannot change its spots.积习难改。72. A little knowledge is a da
30、ngerous thing. 一知半解，自欺欺人。73. All good things come to an end. 天下没有不散的筵席。74. Justice has long arms. 天网恢恢，疏而不漏。75A man becomes learned by asking questions. 不耻下问才能有学问。76. A man can do no more than he can. 凡事都应量力而行。77. A man cannot spin and reel at the same time. 一心不能二用。78. Diamond cuts diamond. 强中自有强中手。
31、79. Doing is better than saying. 与其挂在嘴上，不如落实在行动上。80. Do it now. 机不可失，时不再来。81. It is the unforeseen that always happens. 天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福。82. Dont put off till tomorrow what should be done today.今日事，今日毕。83. Do well and have well. 善有善报。84. Easy come, easy go. 来也匆匆，去也匆匆。85. Every advantage has its disadva
32、ntage.有利必有弊。86. Every day is not Sunday. 好景不常在。87. Every man has his faults. 金无足赤，人无完人。88. Every man has his weak side. 人人都有弱点。89. Every potter praises hit pot. 王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸。90. Experience must be bought. 吃一堑，长一智。91. Far from eye, far from heart. 眼不见，心不烦。92. First come, first served. 先来后到。93. Judge not
33、 from appearances.人不可貌相，海不可斗量。94. Gold will not buy anything.黄金并非万能。95. He laughs best who laughs last.谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好。96. He who makes no mistakes makes nothing. 想不犯错误，就一事无成。97. Learn not and know not. 不学无术。98. It is never too old to learn. 活到老，学到老。 99. It takes three generations to make a gentleman.十年树木，百年树人。100. It is the first step that costs troublesome. 万事开头难。