General American, dialects, and differences from British English.
American English: The World's Most Influential Variety
American English is the variety of English most people encounter globally. Through Hollywood films, streaming platforms, social media, popular music, and technology, American English has become the dominant influence on how the language is evolving worldwide. For Norwegian students, American English is often the first variety you are exposed to, and many of you already speak with American-influenced pronunciation and vocabulary without even thinking about it.
Why American English Dominates:
- Population: Over 330 million native speakers in the United States alone
- Media: Hollywood, Netflix, YouTube, TikTok, and the global music industry
- Technology: Silicon Valley has shaped the language of the internet (website, email, app, blog)
- Economy: The US dollar and American business culture shape international commerce
- Education: American universities attract students and scholars from around the world
But America Is Not Linguistically Uniform:
Just like Britain, the United States contains enormous linguistic diversity. A speaker from Boston sounds very different from one in Atlanta, and both differ from speakers in California, Minnesota, or New York City.
Key Features of GA:
- Rhotic: The /r/ is pronounced in all positions: "car" = /kɑːr/, "better" = /ˈbɛtər/
- T-flapping: The /t/ between vowels becomes a voiced flap /ɾ/, so "butter" sounds like "budder" and "water" sounds like "wadder"
- Flat /æ/ in BATH words: "Bath," "dance," and "grass" use the short /æ/ vowel
- Cot-caught merger: In many areas, "cot" and "caught" sound identical
- Dark /l/: The /l/ in "full" and "milk" has a "dark" quality
Major Regional Dialects:
1. Southern American English:
- "Y'all" as second person plural
- Monophthongization of /aɪ/: "ride" sounds like "rahd"
- "Fixin' to" meaning "about to"
- Often stereotyped but highly systematic
2. New England / Boston English:
- Non-rhotic in some speakers: "Park the car" → "Pahk the cah"
- Distinctive /ɑ/ vowel: "Boston" with a broad "ah"
- Increasingly influenced by GA among younger speakers
3. New York City English:
- Historically non-rhotic, now shifting
- "Coffee" with a rounded /ɔː/ vowel
- Th-stopping: "this" → "dis" in some speakers
4. Midwestern English:
- Often considered closest to GA
- "Northern Cities Vowel Shift" in areas near the Great Lakes
- "Pop" instead of "soda"
5. African American Vernacular English (AAVE):
- Systematic grammar, not "broken English"
- Habitual "be": "He be working" (he works regularly)
- Copula deletion: "She nice" (she is nice)
- Remote past "been": "I been knew that" (I've known that for a long time)
- Massive influence on global popular culture, slang, and music
Translate the following British English paragraph into American English, changing all relevant vocabulary and spelling.
"I took the lift to the first floor, walked past the car park, and queued at the chemist's for my prescription. On the way home, I put petrol in the car, opened the bonnet to check the oil, and stopped for biscuits and crisps at the shop."
American version:
"I took the elevator to the second floor, walked past the parking lot, and stood in line at the drugstore for my prescription. On the way home, I put gas in the car, opened the hood to check the oil, and stopped for cookies and chips at the store."
Changes explained:
- lift → elevator
- first floor → second floor (British "ground floor" = American "first floor")
- car park → parking lot
- queued → stood in line
- chemist's → drugstore
- petrol → gas
- bonnet → hood
- biscuits → cookies
- crisps → chips
- shop → store
Which of the following is a key feature of General American pronunciation?
Explain the following features of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and provide an example of each. Why is it important to understand that AAVE is a systematic variety rather than "incorrect" English?
Habitual "be"
Copula deletion
Remote past "been"
Much of the credit — or blame — goes to Noah Webster (1758–1843), the American lexicographer who published An American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828. Webster deliberately simplified spellings to make English more phonetic and to distinguish American English from British English as a matter of national identity.
Webster's Major Changes:
| British Spelling | American Spelling | Webster's Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| colour | color | The "u" is unnecessary and not pronounced |
| centre | center | The -er spelling better reflects pronunciation |
| defence | defense | The "s" sound should be spelled with "s" |
| travelled | traveled | Single consonant is simpler |
| catalogue | catalog | The -ue ending is unnecessary |
| programme | program | Simplified spelling |
| grey | gray | "A" better represents the vowel sound |
| cheque | check | Simplified to match pronunciation |
| draught | draft | Spelling should match pronunciation |
| plough | plow | Same principle |
Important Note:
These differences are matters of convention, not correctness. Both systems are internally consistent. However, you should try to be consistent within a single text — do not mix British and American spellings in the same essay or document.
Who was primarily responsible for the systematic spelling differences between American and British English?
Reflect on your own use of English. Write a short text (100–150 words) addressing the following:
Do you tend to use more American or British English? Give specific examples of vocabulary, spelling, or pronunciation.
Why do you think Norwegian students are more influenced by American English than British English?
Summary
American English is the most globally influential variety of English today, primarily due to American dominance in media, technology, and business. General American serves as the "standard" accent for broadcasting and language teaching, but the United States contains enormous dialectal diversity — from Southern English and Boston English to New York City English and African American Vernacular English. American English differs from British English in pronunciation (rhotic vs non-rhotic, t-flapping, BATH vowel), vocabulary (elevator, sidewalk, truck), and spelling (color, center, defense), with many of the spelling differences traceable to Noah Webster's deliberate reforms. Understanding American English and its variations is essential for navigating the English-speaking world.
Research and describe ONE American regional dialect in detail (200–250 words). Choose from: Southern American English, Boston English, New York City English, or Midwestern English. Your description should cover:
Geographical area where it is spoken
At least three distinctive pronunciation features
Any distinctive vocabulary or expressions
Social attitudes toward this dialect (is it prestigious? stigmatised? neutral?)
What does the term "t-flapping" refer to in American English?
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