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English as a World Language

The difference between British and American English:

• The first difference is the way they speak and the words they choose. Britons sounds more intelligent and the Americans more gregarious.
• The second difference is that the words in AE that ends in -ter, -og, -or, -ize/yze, ends -tre, -ogue, -our, -ise/yse in BE. In addition in BE, the -l at the end of a word is doubled when a new ending is added. In AE the -l is only doubled if the stress is originally on the second syllable. 
• The last difference is that same words can have different meanings.

Example:

AE	BE	Norwegian
elevator	lift	heis
bathroom	WC	WC
Road trip	Car journey	Biltur
sidewalk	pavement	fortau

Checkpoints

1. Some words that are pronounced differently in GA (general American) and RP (Received pronunciations).

            Example:

• Awful
• Dance
• Rather
• Laugh

2. The five main spelling differences between AE (American Engish) and BE (British English):

• Some words that end in -ter in AE end in -tre in BE

            theater (AE)

            theatre (BE)        

• Some words that end in -og in AE end in -ogue in BE

            monolog (AE)

            monologue (BE)

• Some words that en in -or in AE end in -our in BE

            color (AE)

            colour (BE)

• Verbs that end in -ize/yze in AE end in -ise/yse in BE

            analyze (AE)

            analyse (BE)

• In BE, the -l at the end of word is doubled when a new ending is added. In AE the -l is only doubled if the stress is originally on the second syllable:

            rebel- rebelled, travel- traveler (AE)

            rebel- rebelled, travel- traveller (BE)

Translated form BE to AE

I am tired (knackered) and I must go to the bathroom (loo).

Are there any bathrooms (WCs) nearby (close by)?

Must I stand in line (queue) behind that hunky boy (that bloke)?

Is there a drugstore (chemist) anywhere nearby (close)?

I am hungry (peckish).

At the zebra crossing the lollipop lady directed us to take a diversion, but my truck (lorry) was out of gas (petrol) and it was impossible.