Characteristic features of American English

CONTENT

Introduction

Chapter I. Characteristic features of American English

1.1Historical backgroundof American English

1.2. Dialects of American English

1.3. British English vs American English

1.4. Differences in American and English Vocabulary

1.5. Differences in American and English Pronunciation

1.6. Differences in American and English Spelling

Chapter II .Origin of American English words and their cultural background

2.1. Glimpses of origin of American words

2.2. Animals

2.3 Plants

2.4. Banknotes and coins

2.5. Mail

2.6. Indians

2.7. Car

2.8. American English Idioms

Conclusion

Bibliography

Appendix Introduction

American English (AmE, AE, AmEng, USEng, en-US), also known as United States English or U.S. English, is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two thirds of native speakers of English live in the United States. [4]

The variety of English spoken in the USA has received the name of American English. The term variant or variety appears most appropriate for several reasons. American English cannot be called a dialect although it is a regional variety, because it has a literary normalized form called Standard American, whereas by definition given above a dialect has no literary form. Neither is it a separate language, as some American authors, like H. L. Mencken, claimed, because it has neither grammar nor vocabulary of its own. From the lexical point of view one shall have to deal only with a heterogeneous set of Americanisms. [1]

An Americanism may be defined as a word or a set expression peculiar to the English language as spoken in the USA. E.g. cookie 'a biscuit' ; with boards or shingles laid on; ' frame-up ' a staged or preconcerted law case ; guess 'think' ; store 'shop' . [4]

Topicality of the paper:

A general and comprehensive description of the American variant is given in Professor Shweitzer's monograph. An important aspect of his treatment is the distinction made between Americanisms belonging to the literary norm and those existing in low colloquial and slang. The difference between the American and British literary norm is not systematic. [6] Current Americanisms penetrate into Standard English. Cinema and TV are probably the most important channels for the passage of Americanisms into the language of Britain and other languages as well: the Germans adopted the word teenager and the French speak of automatisation. The influence of American publicity is also a vehicle of Americanisms. This is how the British term wireless is replaced by the American radio. The jargon of American film-advertising makes its way into British usage; i.e. of all time (in "the greatest film of all time"). The phrase is now firmly established as standard vocabulary and applied to subjects other than films. The personal visits of writers and scholars to the USA and all forms of other personal contacts bring back Americanisms. [5]

Cooperation between the USA and the other countries increases from day to day. American English integrates in every side of our life. USA presents us its culture through movies, music, advertisement, business. All this aspects are reflected in the language. Language is the mirror of the culture. American English has its own special peculiarities, which distinguish it from other variants of English language. It has its own historical, cultural background which is of certain interest for linguists and speakers of English in the whole world. [4]

The aim of this research is to study the origin of American English vocabulary. And it is supported with the following objectives:

1. To study the historical background of American English.

2. To define the dialects of American English.

3. To describe the difference between British English and American English.

4. To pick out 500 American English words from different sides of life and define main spheres of functioning of American English words.

5. To define the etymology of certain words.

6. To define the sources of borrowings in American English.

7. To make up a short dictionary of American English Words.

The hypothesis of this paper is following:

American English was formed in general under the influence of environment and with the help of borrowings.

Though the topic about peculiarities of American English were widely discussed among researchers, in this paper we want to emphasize especially the origin of American words, to investigate borrowings in American Language and to observe the way American English was formed in the sphere of vocabulary.

Problems of the work paper:

1. To define the specific spheres of vocabulary where American English developed in its own way.

2. To investigate the etymology of the American English words from the specific spheres.

In this paper we used such methods as:

1. Descriptive method.

2. Comparative-historical method.

3. Contrastive method.

The scientific novelty of the paper:

We investigated certain spheres of American English vocabulary, picked out w

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