Contrastive Studies on American and British English from the Perspective of Word Meaning and Idiomatic Usage英语专业毕业论文.doc

Contrastive Studies on American and British English from the Perspective of Word Meaning and Idiomatic UsageAbstract: Making contrast is a very important method to know and understand the world and also one of the basic approaches to conduct language research and study. It is widely known that the importance and influence of English language have become more and more obviously in globalize society nowadays, as English has already become an international language worldwide. While there are certainly many more varieties of English, American and British English are the two varieties that are taught in most ESL/EFL programs. Generally, it is agreed that no one version is "correct", however, there are certainly preferences in use. This paper summarizes a variety of differences between American and British English from the perspective of word meaning and idiomatic usage. The most important rule of thumb is to try to be consistent in our usage. Maybe, the only thing we could do is to understand and utilize the English language through distinguish the differences between them as possible as we can, and make full use of this language as a tool to known and touch the world outside. Keywords: Contrastive Studies, Word Meaning, Idiomatic Usage摘要：比较是人类认识世界的重要方法，也是语言学习的基本方法之一。众所周知，英语作为一门国际性语言，其重要性和影响力在经济全球化的今天日益显著。英语包含了多种变体，其中美式英语和英式英语作为两种主要变体来在ESL/EFL课程中进行教授。一般认为，二者不存在对错之分。然而，在使用上却存在着偏好。本文从词意与习惯用法的角度，对美式英语与英式英语的差异做了大量总结。而对于我们来说，最重要的原则是能在使用的过程发现其相容性。我们应该做的唯一事情是，通过对英国英语和美国英语的区别了解，去更好地理解和运用这门语言，使英语成为我们认识世界、接触世界的一项有效工具。关键字：对比研究，词意，习惯用法IntroductionIt is widely known that the importance and influence of English language have become more and more obviously in globalize society nowadays, as English has already become an international language worldwide. Until today, the English has formed several different types due to the difference between history background, geography environment and social development of English using countries. Among these countries, American English in American region is the most important type. All in all, based on British English, American English was developing ever since 17th century. At the beginning of 17th century, the capitalism of British was advanced and since this growth rate directly stimulated British capitalist and new nobles, their ambitions of controlling the world made the American the first station robbed overseas. From then on, Britain 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 in pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary as a mother tongue, so it gradually formed characterized American English. Anyway, as to English learners, grassing the essential of American English and British English would made learners to understand western culture better, also can make use of English in practice better. Especially to the beginner, it would help one cultivate the sense of language and avoid misunderstanding in order to comprehend this language more swiftly and more exactly by knowing the difference between American English and British English.According to this above, this essay is going to discuss the difference on meanings of words and idiomatic usage between American English and British English.1. Word Meaning1.1 The Same Word but Different MeaningsFrom the angle of the using of words, the same word can express the different meaning.For instance “billion” in American means “one thousand million” but “one million million” in Britain；“office” in British English is used to describe a government department, and its plural form means the outbuildings and dependencies of a dwelling (as an estate) ,while in America it means the place where a physician or dentist practices, aeroplane is originally a French loanword. According to the OED, “airplane became the standard American term (replacing aeroplane) after this was adopted by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1916. Although A. Lloyd Jones recommended its adoption by the BBC in 1928, it has until recently been no more than an occasional form in British English.” In the British National Corpus, aeroplane outnumbers airplane by more than 7:1 in the U.K. In British English, public school refers to long-established and prestigious fee-paying independent school (note that not all private schools are classed as public schools),while it means a tax-supported school controlled by a local governmental authority in American English. For the word , tradesperson, its British English meanings are a person who sells goods in a store; a person who travels to customers' homes to sell things or who delivers goods to a customer's home , however , in American English, it means a skilled manual worker in a particular field or a journeyman.1.2 The Same Meaning but Different WordsWhen expressing certain object, thing or concept, British and American English will adopt different words.American EnglishBritish EnglishBarPublic house，pubCanTinCandySweetsCookieSweet biscuit, small cakeCrackerBiscuit (dry)Long distance callTrunk callPackageParcelIntersectionJunction, crossroadsRailroadRailway1.3 Other ConditionsOther conditions are concerned as follows: Which have been changed in Britain while in American, it still keeps the original meaning. For example, “nasty” means “smelly、dirty” in Britain English, and the meaning is very strong before, but nowadays it just means “unpleasant、unsatisfied”. However, in American English it keeps the original meaning. In another condition, some words keep the original meaning in Britain English, but, changed since they were transplanted to American. “politician” is negative in American English, while neutral in British English；”scheme” is negative in American English which means “plot” or “harbors evil intentions intention, but in Britain this word means “plan” and is neutral. We are not going to give more examples here. 2. Idiomatic UsageThe habit of using words in American and Britain is also different.2.1 From the Aspect of Idiomatic Expressions 2.1.1 The Usage of HypothesizeAmerican English is more conservative in the usage of hypothesize than British English. For example, British English keeps the old usage in law and formal situations. Such as “I move that Mr. Smith be appointed Secretary. ” But in other situations, British English do not use this generally, but add word “should” into the subordinate clause, like “I ask that you should attend the meeting.”While in American, we use the origin hypothesize of British English in all the circumstances, such as “I insist that you take up the job. It is important that he be present at the meeting.” Such usage in American English has a large impact in British English, and appears in British articles sometimes. 2.1.2 PossessionAs to the expression for possession, there are two forms to express possession in English. Have or Have got.Do you have a car? Have you got a car? He hasn't got any friends. He doesn't have any friends.She has a beautiful new home. She's got a beautiful new home.While both forms are correct (and accepted in both British and American English), have got (have you got, he hasn't got, etc.) is generally the preferred form in British English while most speakers of American English employ the have (do you have, he doesn't have etc.)2.1.3 The Present PerfectAt the same time, there exists distinct differences among use of the Present Perfect between American English and American English.In British English the present perfect is used to express an action that has occurred in the recent past that has an effect on the present moment. For example:I've lost my key. Can you help me look for it? In American English the following is also possible: I lost my key. Can you help me look for it? In British English the above would be considered incorrect. However, both forms are generally accepted in standard American English. Other differences involving the use of the present perfect in British English and simple past in American English include already, just and yet. British English: I've just had lunchI've already seen that filmHave you finished your homework yet? American English: I just had lunch OR I've just had lunchI've already seen that film OR I already saw that film. Have your finished your homework yet? OR Did you finish your homework yet?2.1.4 Preposition UseThere are also a few differences in preposition use including the following: American English - on the weekendBritish English - at the weekendAmerican English - on a teamBritish English - in a teamAmerican English - please write me soonBritish English - please write to me soon 2.1.5 Past Simple/Past ParticiplesThere are also differences between American English and British English in past simple/past participles. The following verbs have two acceptable forms of the past simple/past participle in both American and British English, however, the irregular form is generally more common in British English (the first form of the two) and the regular form is more common to American English.待添加的隐藏文字内容2 Burn Burnt OR burned Dream dreamt OR dreamedLean leant OR leaned Learn learnt OR learnedSmell smelt OR smelled Spell spelt OR spelledSpill spilt OR spilled Spoil spoilt OR spoil 2.1.6 AdverbsIn American English, adverbs can be used more freely in respect of position. They can either be placed in front of auxiliary verbs or behind them, while the meaning of the sentences remains the same. For example, we can either say “They never will agree to it” or “They well never agree to it”. For another example, “You probably could have done it yourself” means the same as “You could probably have done it yourself”. However, in British English, adverbs are usually placed behind the first auxiliary verb. For example: They will never agree to it. You could always have called us first.2.1.7 The Omitting of ArticlesMost phrases of British English have articles, while those of American English do not have. The “the” in the standard expressions in British English “all the afternoon”, “all the winter”, “all the week”, “this time of the year”, ect. Are usually omitted in American English. For example: The swimming pools are open all summer. Ill be here all afternoon. He has been gone all week. British English will use articles in front of “sickness”, “river” and etc., while American English does not. For example, British English expresses in the form of “the measles”, “the mumps”, “the flu”, “the Niagara Falls” and “the Black Creek”, while American English says “measles”, “mumps”, “flu”, “Niagara Falls” and “Black Creek”.However, there are exceptions. In some expressions, British English does not use articles, while American English does. Sentences are as follows: Next day, the rain began. (British English) The next day, the rain began. (American English) In future, Id like you to pay more attention to detail. (British English) In the future, Id like you to pay more attention to detail. (American English) 2.1.8 TimeThe 24-hour clock (18:00 or 1800) is considered normal in the UK and Europe in many applications including air, rail and bus timetables; it is largely unused in the US outside of military, police and medical applications.Fifteen minutes after the hour is called quarter past in British usage and a quarter after or, less commonly, a quarter past in American usage. Fifteen minutes before the hour is usually called quarter to in British usage and a quarter of, a quarter to or a quarter till in American usage; the form a quarter to is associated with parts of the Northern United States, while a quarter till is found chiefly in the Appalachian region. Thirty minutes after the hour is commonly called half past in both British English and American English; half after used to be more common in the US. In informal British speech, the preposition is sometimes omitted, so that 5:30 may be referred to as half five. The American English formations top of the hour and bottom of the hour are not commonly used in British English. Forms like eleven forty are common in both dialects.2.2 From the Aspect of Word Using2.2.1 The Verb GetIn British English, the past tense of “get is “got”, while American English usually use its past participle “gotten”. For example：A. John has got much better during the last week. (British English)B. John has gotten much better during the last week. (American English)According to the custom that British English usually uses “got” while American English “gotten”, we can quickly tell the nationality of the speaker. The former is British and the later is American. When Americans use “got”, they mean “own, possess and dominate”, such as the following two examples: Theyve got no pride. Ive got plenty of material if I can just handle it. 2.2.2 The Verb SitIn the UK, a student is said to sit or take an exam, while in the US, a student takes an exam. The expression he sits for an exam also arises in British English, but only rarely in American English; American lawyers-to-be sit for their bar exams, and American master's and doctoral students may sit for their comprehensive exams, but in nearly all other instances, Americans take their exams. When preparing for an exam, students revise (British English)/review (American English) what they have studied; the British English idiom to revise for has the equivalent to review for in American.Examinations are supervised by invigilators in the UK and proctors (or (exam) supervisors) in the US (a proctor in the UK is an official responsible for student discipline at the University of Oxford or Cambridge). In the UK, a teacher sets an exam, while in the US, a teacher writes or gives an exam.British English:"I sat my Spanish exam yesterday." "I plan to set a difficult exam for my students, but I don't have it ready yet." American English:"I took my exams at Yale." "I spent the entire day yesterday writing the exam. I'm almost ready to give it to my students." 2.2.3 The Number 0When referring to the numeral 0, British people would normally use nothing , oh or zero, although nil is common in sports scores