British English vs American English
English is universal language and, and many schools in many countries teach English. In Japan, I learned English at Junior high school which is at about 13 years old. I hear that recent school system in Japan has changed a bit and elementary school teach kids English. I have heard that our school English textbook is based on American English
I have been to English speaking countries such as England,Australia,Canada,USA as well as non English speaking countries such as France,Holland. It is interesting sometimes to know that even if we carry conversation in same language "English", same words meant completely different thing in British English or slang or terms were only known in the specific country. Or depending on countries you go to, people would not pronounce the alphabet as I was taught to.
In Australia, people pronounce "a" as in "dye". So, when they greet people,they go "Good day, mate!", it sounds like "Good Dye, mate" and mate in Australia means "friends". I needed some time to get used to their English.
In British English and American English, many words that is pronounced same,spelled same can mean complete different thing. Concept of 1st floor, 2nd floor is different (In England,1st floor is 2nd floor in American people's concept ), or recently learned the verb "table" can mean different thing to British English and American English.
Table as verb in British English means "discuss the matter now" and in American English, table as verb means "to defer". So, even if people say the same sentence " Lets table", to people from England, and to people from the states it will be translated in complete opposite meaning.
I came across very interesting website called docstoc and it shows you what other differences are there in British English and American English. To read more on differences between British English and American English,please click here.
I have been to English speaking countries such as England,Australia,Canada,USA as well as non English speaking countries such as France,Holland. It is interesting sometimes to know that even if we carry conversation in same language "English", same words meant completely different thing in British English or slang or terms were only known in the specific country. Or depending on countries you go to, people would not pronounce the alphabet as I was taught to.
In Australia, people pronounce "a" as in "dye". So, when they greet people,they go "Good day, mate!", it sounds like "Good Dye, mate" and mate in Australia means "friends". I needed some time to get used to their English.
In British English and American English, many words that is pronounced same,spelled same can mean complete different thing. Concept of 1st floor, 2nd floor is different (In England,1st floor is 2nd floor in American people's concept ), or recently learned the verb "table" can mean different thing to British English and American English.
Table as verb in British English means "discuss the matter now" and in American English, table as verb means "to defer". So, even if people say the same sentence " Lets table", to people from England, and to people from the states it will be translated in complete opposite meaning.
I came across very interesting website called docstoc and it shows you what other differences are there in British English and American English. To read more on differences between British English and American English,please click here.
Interesting info. I've never traveled outside of the United States or known another language,but I do know that over the years, the slang from even the same area I've lived in has changed the meanings of words so very much. I'll bet it is totally confusing to others... especially from another country!
To kids now-a-days, "bad" = good, "hot" doesn't mean the temperature of something, it means something sexy or something that is really wanted. We used to say that same something was "cool!" It is so interesting the way that language grows and changes. It truly is a living thing!
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