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AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION:
John: British English and American English are
really about the same, aren't they?
Mary: I don't think so. It seems to me that some of the spellings
are different.
Baker: You're right, Mary. Words like theater and center
end in r-e in England instead of in e-r like we spell
them. Can you think of any more examples?
Mary: The word color?
Baker: Good. In fact, many words which end in o-r in American
English are spelled o-u-r in British English.
John: I'm still not convinced. I mean, if someone comes here from
England, we can all understand what he's saying. The spelling
doesn't really matter that much.
Baker: Okay. Are we just talking about spelling? Or are there some
differences in pronunciation and meaning too?
Mary: Professor Baker?
Baker: Yes.
Mary: I remember seeing an English movie where the actors kept
calling their apartment a flat. Half of the movie was over
before I realized what they were talking about.
John: So there are slight differences in spelling and some
vocabulary.
Mary: And pronunciation, too. You aren't going to tell me that you
sound like Richard Burton.
John: Richard Burton isn't English. He's Welsh.
Mary: Okay. Anyway, the pronunciation is different.
Baker: I think that what we are really disagreeing about is the
extent of the difference. We all agree that British English and
American English are different. Right?
Mary: Yes.
John: Sure.
Baker: But not so different that it prevents us from understanding
each other.
John: That's what I mean.
Mary: That's what I mean, too. |