rp and genam differences-1

8/2/2019 RP and GenAm Differences-1

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3.5. Non-systematic differences betweenNorth American English and English

English pronunciationM any of the differences between 'Am erican' and 'English' varieties of Englishinvolve the pronunciation of individual or sm all groups of w ords. W e nowgive som e indication of these.1. W e list first a few individual w ords w hich differ in no particularly pre-

dictab le w ay betw een U SEng and EngEng (note that CanEng often uses theEngEng variant; stress is the sam e for both pronunciations of these w ords):

USEng Engling/jorerd/ ISdro:dl/kordyal/ /ko .di.ol//drtorcnt/ /drrcrant/Id rb l 1 113:b l

11!:::;dl(also US)I l i :Ydl (also U S)Ip r 1 \ 'dsl1 +/prai \";)s11/ru:tlIf!::d:;u:11ISon!/rarnn.rou/I\'o:zl

charadecordialdeterrentherbleisure Ili:;drllever Ib'drlpriiacy /praivosi/r ou te /rut/-frourlscbedule Ishd:;dllshone /joun/tomato /rarneirou/i.ise I\'eis/-I\'eizl

2 . ;\A mE ng alnminion /alurnanom / differs both in pronunciation and (as areflection of this) in spelling from EngEng aluminium 1~lu:l11injdm/.

The pronunciation of N orth Am erican English 51

3 . E ith er, n eith er can have either 1i:/:1i1or lail on both side of the A tlantic,but in educated speech lio;)rl is m ore com m on in U SEng, laio;)1 inEngEng.

4. A num ber of w ords spelled w ith er have Idr l in N Am Eng corre ponding tolo:/-/or/ elsewhere: clerk, A m Eng /klark/, EngEng /klc.k/, Similarlyde rby , B e rk sh ir e.

5. 0(, what, was have IN in N Am En g, 10 1 elsewhere. Thus icliat rhvrneswith but in NA m Eng but w ith not in E ng En g.

6 . A p pa ra tu s, d


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3.6. Stress differences1. In a num ber of w ords of fore ign , especia lly French, origin, N A m Eng

tends to have stress on the final sy llab le w hile EngEng doe not.Thus :

NAmEl1g El1gEl1gattache lcetreSeil l;n:tSeilballet Ibceleil Ib:tleilbaton /bonin, ' Ib:ttonlberet Ib;:)reil Ibtrr/-/btreildebris /dabri/ Idtbri:l

2. There are a num ber of w ords having first-syllab le stress in N A m Eng butw ith stre s e lsew here in EngEng. A few exam ples are :

NAmEl1g EngEngaddress l:tdres/-Iddrtsl /adrc Iadult l:td"lt/-/:td;:)ltl IddAlt/-htd"ltlcigarette I sigdrn l - /S Ig ; :) rt tl ISlgdrtlInquiry /iIJkWdrI/-h IJkwairll /irjkwa ia r t/magazine / rnzegazi n/ - Imceg;:)zinl Imreg;:)zi:nlmargarine /mdrdjoran/ /rnc.djari.n/research /risort]? /rose.rj?N ote that research, as a noun, is now increasingly pronounced w ith first-syllab le stress in E ngEng.


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52 J n t e r na tio na l Engli sh

3. A num ber of com pound w ords have acquired stress on the first e lem entof N Am E ng but reta in stress on the second elem ent in EngEng. The com -pounds include weekend, hotdog, New Year, ice cream.

4. M any polysyllabic w ords ending in -ory or -ary norm ally have stress onthe first or second syllable in EngEng, w ith the penultim ate syllab le beingreduced. In NA m Eng there is, in addition , secondary stress on the pen-u ltim ate s ylla ble :

NAmEl1g El1gEl1gauditory l :Sd It: 'lri l 1:S:dHrIlconunentary /krimantcri/ /krirnonrrt/dictionary /d lk j'on cr i/ /dik] ;:)J1rIllauatory 11< tv;J r:)ril Ilrev;J trIlsecretary Istkr;Jttril /sekrcrrr/In EngEng, partially reduced pronunciations are also possible, butthere is never secondary stress on the penultim ate syllab le : dictionary/dikjoncr i,'.

In a num ber of w ords of th is set, the prim ary stress is also locateddifferently:

laboratorycorollarycapillaryancillary

USEl1gl lrebr;JL)rilIkor;JltrilIkrepiltrillrensilcril

El1gEl1g/laboram/Ibrol;JrIl/kopilan/hensiidrIl

(N ote that all w ords discussed here have at least four syllab les inNA m Eng: i.e. none of the above rem arks applies to, e.g. uagary.i

The sam e type of difference also appears in a num ber of words endingJJ 1 -niony:

matrimonytestimony

NA 111 Eng/r nr et r i mo un i//rcstrrnouni/

El1gEl1gIIII e r rIIII;JIIII/resnmoru/

5 . M a nv place nam es (and fam ily nam es derived from them ) dem onstra tem ore stress and vowel reduction in EngEng than in N Am E ng:

Binningb.imCIII1I1 i l l g / - "7 1 11Norjol):NoruichPortsniout]:

NAI11El1gIh~rll1iI)h~cmlIkAnIl )hxml/norfouk//norwrr]"I ports 1110u SI

El1gEl1gIb:3: III I l);Jm!IkAnil];Jm!In:SJ;JklIn ond31Ip5:tSIlldSI


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4.3. Vocabulary differencesPerhaps the most noticeable differences between EngEng and NAmEnginvolve vocabulary. There are thousands of words which either differ intotal meaning, or in one particular sense or usage, or are totally unknown inthe other variety. (There are also a large number of idioms and colloqui-alisms which differ in the two varieties, but these will not be discussed here.)

Vocabulary differences between the two varieties are due to several fac-tors. The most obvious is that new objects and experiences were encoun-tered in North America which needed naming, either by adapting EngEngvocabulary or by creating new words: e.g. com is the general English termfor grain and denotes the most common grain crop, which is wheat inEngland but maize in North America; the word robin denotes a small, red-breasted warbler in England but a large, red-breasted thrush in NorthAmerica; the words panhandle (the narrow part of a state extending out-ward like a pan's handle) and butte (an abrupt isolated hill with a flat top)denote features not found in Britain.


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English and North American English 85

Technological and cultural developments which have occurred since thedivergence of two varieties have also been a cause of differences in vocabu-lary, e.g. terms for parts of cars: US windshield, Eng windscreen; US trunk,Eng boot; terminology from different sports: US (from baseball) home run,bunt, pitcher; Eng (from cricket) pitch, wicket, bowler, etc.; differences ininstitutions of education: US high school (14-18 year olds), major (=mainsubject), co-ed (female student); Eng public school (=private school), form(educational level), reader (=associate professor), etc.

A third reason for vocabulary differences is the influence of other lan-guages. USEng has borrowed many words (some of which have found theirway into EngEng) from a variety of languages, including: American Indianlanguages-hickory (type of tree related to walnut), hooch (alcoholic liquor),moccasin, muskie (type of freshwater fish), squash, toboggan, and manywords for indigenous flora, fauna and geographical features; Spanish-mesa(plateau), tornado (whirlwind), tortilla (thin flat maize bread); Africanlanguages-goober (peanut), jazz, banjo; and Yiddish-schmaltz (excessivesentimentality), schlep (to drag, carry), schlock (rubbish).

Finally, independent linguistic change within each variety may be the causeof some differences. One variety may preserve archaisms which the otherhas lost, or may introduce new meanings for old words which the other hasnot introduced. CanEng examples of archaisms include chesterfield (sofa,couch) and reeve (mayor, chief local government officer).

Words used in one variety are often borrowed into the other (unlessthe thing denoted does not occur in that area). The highest proportion ofborrowings is from USEng to EngEng, although examples can be given forborrowings in both directions:

EngEng borrowings from USEngbillion (a thousand million)brief-casecafeteriateenagerradiosnowplow (snowplough)

USEng borrowings from EngEngcopper (cop)pennysmog

In other cases, the differing word might not actually have been borrowed,but it has become known and understood in the other variety: e.g. mostEngEng speaker know or will understand that drapes are curtains; and mostUSEng speakers know that a flat is an apartment. In still other cases,particularly with slang or idioms, a particular word or sense is not knownat all by speakers of the other variety.

We can divide vocabulary differences into four main categories, althoughthere is some overlap.1. Same word, different meaning. This is the category of words which

is potentially the most problematic for both foreign and native


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86 International Englishspeakers of one variety, but such examples are few in number. Theyinclude:Wordhomelynervypantspavementto tick off

EngEng meaning'down to earth,domestic' (=US homey)'nervous''underpants''footpath, sidewalk''to scold'

USEng meaning'ugly (of people)''bold, full of nerve, cheeky''trousers''road surface''to make angry'

2. Same word, additional meaning in one variety. There are quite a fewwords of this type, some of which can cause communication problemsbetween speakers of the two varieties. Often the additional meaning isdue to a metaphorical extension of the common meaning:Additional meaning in USEngWord Meaning in commonbathroom 'room with bath orshower and sink''endearing'(e.g. of kittens)'mute'

'fine, nice', etc.

cutedumbgoodregularschoolto ship

'consistent, habitual''institution of educationat elementary level''to transport by ship'

Additional meaning in EngEngWordfrontierleaderto mind

rugsmartsurgery

Meaning in common'a wild, open space''one who commands,guides, directs, is in front''to heed, obey'

'a thick (usually wool)carpet''intelligent''a medical operation oroperating room'

Additional meaning in USEng'room with toilet only''attractive, charming'(e.g. of adult people)'stupid''valid' (as of tickets,special offers)'average' (as in size), 'normal''all institutions of education,including universities''to transport by ship, train,plane or truck'

Additional meaning in EngEng'border between twocountries''an editorial''to look after' (as inmind your head, mindthe children)'a thick (usually wool) wrapor coverlet' (USEngafghan)'well-groomed''an office of any doctor'


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English and North American English 873. Same word, difference in style, connotation, frequency of use. While

words differing in style, connotation, or frequency will usually be under-stood by speakers of the other variety, it is the use of these types of wordswhich often reveals which variety of English a person has learned. Theexample words below are marked for differences in style (formal versusinformal), connotation (positive versus negative) or frequency (commonversus uncommon):Word EngEng usage USEngusageautumn common; all styles uncommon; poetic or

formal (fall used instead)clever ('smart, common; positive less common; usuallydexterous') negative (i.e. 'sly')to fancy common; informal uncommon('to like, want')

fortnight common; all styles uncommon (archaic);poeticperhaps all styles somewhat formal(maybe used instead)quite (as in negative or neutral positivequite good)row (lrou/; common uncommon'quarrel,disturbance')

4. Same concept or item, different word. The majority of lexical differencesbetween the two varieties are of this type. There are two sub-types withinthis category: that in which the corresponding word is not widely knownin the other variety, and that in which the corresponding word is known.Examples of the first type include:USEngonlyemceefaucetmuffler (on car)rookiesophomorewashclothEngEngonlydynamohire purchasenoughtqueuespannertreacle

Corresponds to EngEngcomperetapsilencerfirst year member (e.g. on a team)second year studentface flannelCorresponds to USEnggeneratorinstallment buyingzerolinemonkey wrenchmolasses


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88 International English

Examples of the second type include:USEngto call (by telephone)canto check ('to make a check mark')couch, davenportgame (sports)gasto make a reservationsidewalk

EngEngto ringtinto ticksofamatchpetrolto book(paved streetside) path

Finally, by way of further illustration, we give a brief and arbitraryselection of words that differ in particular semantic spheres. Note thatsome words, while identical in one semantic sphere or part of speech, canbe different in another: e.g. both varieties use the words hood andbonnet to refer to two distinct types of head covering, but when referringto the covering of a car engine, USEng uses hood and EngEng usesbonnet. Likewise, while both varieties have the verb to flex with identicalmeaning, the noun a flex is used only in EngEng (and is unknown 111USEng) to refer to an electric cord.Food and cooking

USEngcookie (plain)biscuitcrackerdessertpuddingcustardjellojellycrepehamburger meatroast (noun)eggplantzucchinito broilstovebown (e.g. for pudding)pitcher

Clothing and accessoriesUSEnggartersuspendersunderpants (women's)

EngEngbiscuit (sweet)sconebiscuit (savoury)puddingcustardegg custardjellyJampancakemincejointauberginecourgetteto grillcookerbasinjugEngEngsuspenderbracesknickers


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English and North American English 89

knickerssmockoverallssweater (pullover)jumperundershirtvestpantyhosetuxedobarrettechangepursepursediaper

HouseholdUSEngliving roomyardgardenbuffetflashlightfloorlampgarbage canoutlet/socketsheers

CommerceUSEngmorticianrealtortraveling salesmandrug store/pharmacyhardware storeliquor storetrade (noun)

TransportationUSEngbaby buggystation wagontrailer/camper/mobile homepullman car (railway)flatcar (railway)truckpedestrain underpasssubway

knickerbockersoveralldungareesjumperdress worn over blousevestwaistcoattightsdinner jackethairslidepursehandbagnappyEngEngsitting roomgardenvegetable or (lower gardensideboardtorchstandard lampdustbinpower pointnet curtainsEngEngundertakerestate agentcommercial travellerchemist's shopironmongersoff-licence storecustomEngEngpram (perambulator)estate carcaravansleeping cartrucklorrysubwayunderground railway

rp and genam differences-1

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