I found this writing and it was my assignment over last 6 years ago. It was just simple elaboration to differentiate British English and American English and their influence on Malaysia English. I didn't remember what mark for the paper but it was not as bad as 'F'. Haha.. As I remembered, it was 'B'. It's just nice reading and i hope you guys enjoy your reading and there's something useful inside. Unfortunately, the symbols of vowels disappear due to words formating. If you familiar with English Language or you once studied it before, you will know that in English, we have to learn about phonology: the sound of vowels.
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| This is our tongue and its symbols where sounds produced |
A study of language requires learners to take focus on phonology, morphology, syntax, semantic and pragmatics. Before we take a look at the British and American English, we are required to know about the usage of English language among Malaysians. This is because this paper will be given attention on the scope of English language that similarly used by Malaysians. The question mark is British or American language? Basically, Malaysians are using the two accents of language. That’s mean, they mixed the two accents and meanwhile they combined with their dialects of mother tongue such as Malays, Chinese and Indians. This can be noticed from their conversation and it be used daily as nothing wrong with the structures of English language. According to The Encyclopedia of Malaysia: Languages & Literature, English in Malaysia has been categorized into three parts; there are acrolect, mesolect and basilect . The acrolect is near-native, and not many Malaysians fall into this category - only those educated in core English-speaking countries from early schooling up to university may be found to speak the acrolect variety, so only tiny percentage of Malaysians are proficient in it. As with other similar situations, a continuum exists between these three varieties and speakers may code-switch between them depending on context. Most academics, professionals and other English-educated Malaysians, speak mesolect English. Malaysian English belongs to mesolect, and it is Malaysian English that is used in daily interaction.
However, in truth most Malaysians on the street speak Manglish on a daily basis. Therefore this means Manglish is actually short for Malaysian English. Manglish can be spoken almost using completely English words alone just that they are used differently. Imported words are actually minimal except for just a handful of common non-English nouns and verbs in Malaysia. Manglish or Malaysian English is therefore a matter of style of usage. There are indeed colloquial words not common outside of Malaysia but that does not render them a part of English. They are used colloquially as substitutes in other languages in Malaysia as well. At other times, using Malay grammar on English words, speaking English using Chinese grammar, or mixing grammar and words that don't belong together can be done quite spontaneously and be quite amusing. Hence, it would not be accurate to list down all words and meanings. However, Manglish is still based on the two accents of English. It is British and American English. Actually, the two accents have existed as a platform for our capability and capacity to speak the second language after Malay.
Furthermore, this paper also will pay attention on the section of phonology, morphology and syntax that will be scoped at the pronunciation, choice of words and sentences between the two English of British and American. We will take a look at the differences and similarities of the two and try to deliver message whether it could help or hinder the learning of English language
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH
Basically, British English is the form of English used in the United Kingdom. It includes all English dialects used within the United Kingdom. American English has the same form of English usage as British and all dialects used within the United States of America. As history, the first English was first introduced to Americas by British Colonization, beginning in the early 17th century. By the history overview, Britain was a great country that had enough power to move their imperialism on other countries. America itself was a colonized of British and all the period British had play their role of colonization to spread away their language. And now, America is using English as a result of British trade, communication and colonization. The spreading of the language made United States used it as well but there are differences of the usage of the language and finally leading to a new dialects and accent. Consequently, there are two supremely language of the world that renown and used all over the world. It is American language and British language (Standard English). Now, the differences of the two languages include pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary (lexis), spelling, punctuation, idioms, formatting of dates, and numbers. This told us that the two languages are family because they came from the same root of language establishment from British and there was a historical background of trade, colonization and great efforts to lift up the language to the entire world. The world-wide experience emerged the two families of English language, one stemming from linguistic contact with British, the other from contact with the United States . From the linguistic contact of Britain, its family could be fallen into pieces of West Indies, British Isles, Australasia of Australia and New Zealand, and Africa of Rhodesia and South Africa. The contact of American English family could be seen from the United States itself and Canada. As the explanation of the first historical background, we could assume to British and American as national varieties in the scope of language. This is because the two countries shared the same language but there be a great transformation of the language that made them different. These two varieties are the ones spoken by most native speakers of English and furthermore studied by most foreign learners . This put up the international language of English contain a special status as the principle national varieties of the language of the two countries. Furthermore, what more differences would we find to state that they are holding varieties of English? Let me started initially from the differences between the two is English spoken in different places. Moreover it also different accents that refer to pronunciation only and the last are about dialects. The term dialects relates to patterns of grammar or vocabulary.
ANALYSIS OF DISCUSSION
In this section we will take a look at the three scopes of the study of a language between British and American. There are among phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. Now, the most obvious difference between British and American is in the “tune” of the language, that is, the intonation that accompanies sentences . This could be noticed when a Briton or an American talk, they identify themselves primarily by the tunes of their respective varieties. However, in singing the prose tune is overridden by the musical tune, making it much harder to distinguish British and American singers. Most people or learners of language would like to differ the two English by the tune they produced. This is the basis of learners to be able to differentiate it as well. For the next sub topic we will learn and study more about the differences of the two English and make us clear of that universal language.
PRONUNCIATION
Pronunciation is one part of a study of language. Here, all foreign learners have to know three elements as a pace to go further in English. There are acoustic phonetics refers to a study of the physical characteristics of speech sound, auditory phonetic refers to a study of perception of speech sounds (how learners perceive speech sounds), and the one is articulatory phonetics that refers to a study of how the vocal tract produces speech sounds. In this section I will talk about some types of pronunciation difference. The comparisons between the two English could be seen through some types of pronunciation. They are individual sounds used, stress, intonation (the tune of language), the treatment of R, the treatment of nasal plus T or R. For further explanations as the following:
INDIVIDUAL SOUNDS USED
Most of the consonants of the two English are having some similarities rather than vowels. In fact, the sets of consonants sounds of American and British pronunciation are virtually identical, being the same in number and the same in sound . However, the set of vowel sounds in not quite identical. In another word, they are nearly the same in number, but they are different in sound quality. For example, let we examine this simple word like dog. The two English spell with three letters of d-o-g and also it is pronounced with the same number of sounds. But the vowel of [of the word is different and make it spoken by American. That’s why I said that the vowel sounds is different in sound quality.
Talking about words of the two English, there is no ambiguity when a British pronunciation is heard by a speaker of American. This explained us that there is similarity of the two. However, according to the book of British and American written by Peter Strevens, there is one pair of vowels where a small number of words become ambiguous: these are the vowels in AE words like hot, lock etc. and BE words in heart, lark, etc . Another common contrast could be noticed from the British and American speech is between can and can’t. In general American pronunciation these two words have the same vowel sound. This make American speaker aware of the difference between “can-positive” and “can-negative”. In fact, the final t-sound has the effect of making the vowel-sound in American English can’t shorter than in American English can. However, it is still same in pronunciation but different in style of producing these words. In British pronunciation of these words have different vowel-sound (can like man and can’t approximately like barn).
STRESS
Stress is a term used to describe additional force or energy placed on one syllable rather than another. In English words of more than one syllable it is always the case that one syllable is given more stress and more force than another. In this scope, English has a system of sentence-stress and the differences could also be seen here. American and British use the system of word-stress, sentence-stress and rhythm. That’s mean this variation has a few words that have their stress on a different syllable. Try to b alert of inserting capital letters to show the position of stress between the two English.
American English British English
ADress adDRESS
ARTisan artiSAN
CIGarette cigaRETTE
As technically, the two English are based on identical combinations of weak and strong “feet” to put a stress or more force in a word.
INTONATION –THE TUNE OF THE LANGUAGE
This happens when we speak. Practically when we speak, our pitch of voice rises and falls. I believe and we all as a holder of our own languages that every language has its characteristic tunes. The changes of pitch occur on stressed syllables. Basically, British and American English have the same system of intonation patterns but there are quite differences if we study in detail. Intonation is used for assertions, commands, questions beginning with a WH word (what? who? why? when?) . However, American English tune is special than British of showing signs. This is the slowly rising tune that carries the meaning: Do you agree? or Do you know what I mean?
THE TREATMENT OF R
The occurrence of the sound r is more restricted in British than American English. In British pronunciation, r occurs only before a vowel sound, never before a consonant and never word-final. In American English, by contrast, r occurs before vowels and before consonants, and also word finally. So, by this contrast we can notice that the two are different by the help of transcriptions.
THE TREATMENT OF NASAL PLUS T OR D
Another characteristic difference in -sound occurs after the sound and before a vowel. The American pronunciations of inter city and inner city, for example, are generally identical, with no sound in inter. In British pronunciations, inter- and inner are always distinguished by the presence or absence of a similar between British and American pronunciations occurs with in this phonetic environment, so that understand is pronounced in American with no in under-, whereas in British a is made.
AMERICAN AND BRITISH WORD USAGE (CHOICE OF WORDS)
The two English in part of choice of words could be seen from vocabulary and spelling patterns. First, the differences of vocabulary can be divided into two: different word for equivalent ideas and word for ideas without direct equivalent. Spelling differences are more related to the greater spelling reform in America than Britain. That’s mean America was taken initiative to expand their vocabulary and spelling patterns so that they would be much words. There are far more examples of British and American differences in vocabulary than in grammar . This is because when comparing the grammar of the two it is unexpectedly difficult to find many examples. However, in vocabulary there is no shortage of examples. Talking about differences of the two, I believe that there are more related to the cultures they have. This refers to equivalent ideas. I give you the first example: British called trousers correspond to American English pants, whereas British pants can only refer to “underpants”, American shorts, while in British shorts are outerwear for leisure or sport. Another example: In American English, one rents a car; in British English one hires it. Both rent and hire occur in the two English , but the contribution varies. To hire in British is used for cars, temporary accommodation for a meeting (British English used, I’m going to hire a hall for next Monday meeting). That is giving us new idea about the word hire just refers to most kinds of property for temporary use. However, American English uses to rent with much greater frequency but instead back to hire is common chiefly with employment (American English used: the company has just hired ten extra men).
Basically, there are many other differences of the two English in vocabulary and they could not be stated one by one here. However, the truth is American English contains more new coining (coins) and new expression than British. This is what we call reformation and enrichment of the words from American. There can be no doubt that the enrichment of British English by way of America has been considerably accelerated by such agencies as movies and radio . Moving into spelling, American has its style of spelling pattern. As we always noticed, American English used to have deletion of –u- in words ending in –our. For examples, colour-color, honour- honor and so on. British English has the structural words as mentioned but American seems to differentiate them and make different. The deletion also happens of the second consonant letter in many words with double consonants. For examples, traveller in British becomes traveler in American, and waggon transforms into wagon. The difference of the spelling pattern could be noticed from the replacement of –re by -er in word of French origin. For examples, theatre to theater, centre to center. Lastly, in American, spellings with –ize are usual but with –ise are rare. But in British English, both –ise and –ize forms occurs, with –ise forms probably frequent.
In the last two differences of the two English are distribution of –yse and –yze at the end of words. Here are examples that –yse is usually used in British and –yze is common for American English. Analyse-analyze, catalyse- catalyze, paralyse-paralyze and so on. The other one difference is the usage of –ogue and –og. This also exist at the ends of words. Here are examples, British used to spells catalogue and American catalog, analogue-analog, dialogue-dialog, monologue-monolog, homologue-homolog and many other words. So we could assume that both English are clearly shown the differences of addition of different letters at the end at the words.
In the scope of similarity, British and American word usages are from the same root of language but there are transformation happened of coins and ideas from British into American. So, every word has been changed and transformed a bit from the main words of British so that American has identity of its English language.
DIFFERENCES OF GRAMMAR (SENTENCES)
Grammar is one part of discussion. However, in efforts of making sentences we have to follow the Standard English. Standard English is the embodiment of what all educated speakers of English agree to be internationally accepted usage, that is, it is the dialect agreed by native speakers of English to be the most suitable one for teaching their young, and it is the obvious and automatic choice of a model and a target for foreign learners of English . Let we prolong our discussion into the differences of grammar that will be followed by differences of the verb, differences of the noun and differences of prepositions and the last we will take a look at the grammatical similarities.
DIFFERENCES OF THE VERB
The first discussion of this, let we take a look at got-gotten. This is absolute difference because British have no past participle gotten. However, in American they have gotten as the followings example. I wish I could have gotten here sooner. This word is common used in American but in British they have got as the only past form. Moreover, talking about the verb of the two English also have difference of the usage of Did you have…..? in American and Have you had…..? in British. This also is same from the first difference of got-gotten. Here is example. In British: Have you had your holiday yet? And in American: Did you have your vacation yet?
DIFFERENCES OF THE NOUN
In British English, talking about grammatical they like to repeat subject after one. But, in American English they will change the treatment of a subject with another noun. For detail and clearer let we take a look at the example here. American English: When one has seen the size of the problem, he realizes…… but in British English: When one has seen the size of the problem, one realizes…. Besides that, invariable “you and I” also become a difference of the noun. Basically, you and I is more common to be used in American English than British. This is because most of users of British English would like to say you and me when the phrase forms the object. However, they also used to say you and I in minority of users. To differentiate the noun used in both of the English, we noticed that American used to say you and I but in British you and me. For example, “He won’t let you and I talk to them” and “He won’t let you and me talk to them” are the clearest difference of the noun used.
DIFFERENCES OF PREPOSITIONS
Studying about prepositions, there are some differences of prepositions that could be attached here as an effort to deliver the differences of the two English usages. First of all about the usage of different from, different than, difference to. Practically, the usual American English form is different than. However, in British English, the commonest form is different from. The preposition of different to is not usually used but it is on the increase, especially in speech . Another difference between American and British English clearly could be noticed through preposition with dates and days of the week. The preposition on occur here making the two English different. First, British English requires on before a day of the week and also for specific date. But, in American English the preposition on is frequently dispensed. Here let we see the difference: In British English, The new air service begins on February 2. In American English, The new air service begins February 2. In part of preposition, the difference also occur at all the and all of the. In short, British used to say all the and American English all of the in their speech. However this difference seems to be accepted by both of the English especially in the speech of the younger people.
TO ORDER SOMETHING DONE
Americans expression to order something done as in American English: The president ordered controls clamped on wages, prices and rents. But in British, to express something done must be put to be before clamped to become like this sentence: The president ordered controls to be clamped on wages, prices, and rents. This is because, in English verb done in expressions of this type has to be in the form to be done.
GRAMMATICAL SIMILIRATIES
We are much more looking out the aspect of differences by ignoring at the similarities aspect. At the end of this paper, here are similarities found to deliver new information in order to help learners of learning English language. Basically, the system of the two English is same especially for indicating singular and plural in nouns and verbs. The pronouns also are identical. This means, verbs have the same system of verb-endings, auxiliaries and participles. Moreover, the usage of adverb and adjectives also are in the same system of English. However, the separation of the two English is in the structure of a sentence as I have stated above.
MALAYSIAN ENGLISH (MANGLISH) AND BRITISH VS AMERICAN INFLUENCE
The pronunciation in Malaysian English and British English are different. The difference can be found in the way people pronounce many of the words. For instance, Britons would pronounce the word theme with [However, a person from Malaysia would pronounce similar word with . The reason for such pronunciation was due to the fact that Malaysians are influence by their mother tongue when speaking English. In Malay language, such pronunciations of Standard English are negligible.
The form of English used as a written medium in Malaysia borrowed heavily from British English. The words in Malaysian English are similar to British English in terms of vocabulary and spelling. However, for the past decades, the form of written English in the country has been strongly influenced by American English. Malaysians included media, any organizations, schools; universities and so on are unaware of the differences between American and British English. For example, centre (British) is spelled center (American) and “colour” becomes “color”, “organise” but instead of “organize”. In part of spelling there are many confusions of the usage between American and British English. We noticed that, in Malaysia’s education, spelling of English are based on British English but most of Malaysians are reading and talking in American English’s accent.
In part of vocabulary, we will take a look at the words used in British and also the influence of American English towards Manglish. As we all aware standard Malaysian English is descended from British English due to the country’s colonization by Britain. However, because of influence from American mass media including television programmes and movies, Malaysians are familiar with many American English words. For example, lift (British) elevator (American) and lorry (British) truck (American) are widely understood, although the British form is preferred.
In terms of grammar structure, much of Manglish grammatical structure is taken from Chinese dialects. This is the fact even though some claim that Manglish is from and borrowed from Malay Language. However, the number of borrowing is not as many as Chinese dialects. The most noticeable grammar contrast is the existence of additional affix in Malaysian English. Whereas, affix is non-existent in Standard English. The most well-known affix is –lah. The suffix is applied when someone confirming a statement. Usually, such suffix may ends with an exclamation mark (!). The equivalent term in Standard English would be ‘of course’. For example, ‘don’t be an idiot lah!’. An example of prefix is ‘nah’. The prefix originates from a Malay expression indicating someone that receives something from another person. For example, ‘Nah, take this!’.
THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MANGLISH AND STANDARD ENGLISH
Despite marked differences between Manglish and Standard English, there is one similar aspect that both forms of English share. Both share lexical categories such as plural, nouns, adverbs, adjectives and others. These categories are inseparable. Such similarity has enabled different English patois speakers to understand each other although being separated by strong local dialects that evolve since the influence of English expand during the British Empire. The similarities are strikingly vivid in written form where the clarity of English is generally understood by other English speakers.
CONCLUSION
From the two English between British and American, there are many differences of the three parts our discussion comprising pronunciation, choice of words and sentences. However, there are also included similarities of the two. So, the question of American or British is preferred by Malaysians brought the answer to both of them. This linked with the usages of the two among Malaysians as common language by mixing them into Malays, Chinese, and Indian dialects. As consequently, new coins appear and new affixes of lah, ma, o, k and others come out. For example, don’t be late k; don’t worry lah; I’ve told you already ma; and many more. However, the two English are used daily by not addressing which word is British and American. So, all learners of English could be more alert and notice as well of the differences and similarities that I have stated above. English is known as international language that had been accepted all around the world. This requires what we call “Standard English” that refers to all learners and also foreign learners and more to everyone who knowledgeable English could understand it as a tool of communication between people in the world. As this paper provides I believe that Malaysians including me a writer will be able to differentiate the two English and prefer British as main English in daily conversation. In part of Manglish, we as Malaysians should be less in using the structure of Malaysian English because we have to learn to be able to use Standard English in our talking, writing and so on that involves the usage of English language.
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