BRITISH VS AMERICAN

Welcome everyone on my blog. I would like to share with you some information found on the Internet that I consider to be appealing. Since I've always been interested more in linguistics and practical usage of language rather than literature or culture, I think I'll start with something connected strictly with language.

In the video linked below you will find a short English pronunciation lesson which shows differences in phonetics between British and American English. Even though the video is short and not so detailed, you will notice that British and American pronunciation is ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.

What I find compelling is that in American English we would pronounce double t as d as in better or butter. However, double t is not the rule because t in water is also pronounced as d in American English (in British English it is pronounced as t). What's more, Americans tend to "swallow" letters as in internet or centre pronouncing these words without t this time. On the other hand, British don't pronounce r sound at the end of a word and when it appears before a consonant in the middle of a word. Of course, there are more differences and you'll find in the video only some of them.

What I've personally observed is that most foreigners while speaking English as their second language tend to mix both British and American English. Why is it happening? The reason is that we are constantly being surrounded by an American accent (in films, music etc.)  and then we go to a school, where teachers speak British English. Therefore, it is not surprising that students find it hard to stick to just one accent or perhaps they simply don't appreciate their existence?