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English is often called an "agglomerative" language, which means it has absorbed words from many different languages. Those words often kept the spelling of their original language, but have come to be pronounced differently (often because English speakers were unaware of the correct pronunciation after a word's introduction). Over time, although the spelling of a word remained the same, subtle changes in pronunciation meant that the written word lost much of its resemblance to the spoken word.
Words like "tough" and "rough", for example, have Germanic roots, where the "gh" had a more guttural sound that is no longer heard in spoken English. A more subtle example would be the word "diamond." A very careful English speaker will pronounce all the letters of the word, but the common pronunciation is more like "diemon."
An excellent book about how the English language developed is "The Stories of English" by David Crystal.
Answer There are also dialectal differences, an example being schedule. British pronunciation is shed-yule, American sked-yule.
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Why is English a strange language?
English can be considered strange because of its complex spelling rules, diverse vocabulary with words borrowed from many languages, and inconsistent grammar rules. Additionally, English pronunciation can be tricky due to the differences between spelling and pronunciation in many words.
What the reasons for the differences between American and British English?
The main reasons for the differences between American and British English are historical development, geographical isolation, cultural influences, and language evolution. These factors have led to variations in vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, and usage between the two varieties of English.
What are the similarities and differences between English-based languages?
English-based languages share similarities in vocabulary, grammar, and syntax due to their common origin from Old English. However, they also have differences in pronunciation, spelling, and idiomatic expressions based on their unique development and influences from other languages.
What is the difference between Canadian English and British English?
The main differences between Canadian English and British English are in spelling, vocabulary, and pronunciation. While Canadian English follows more closely to American English in terms of spelling and vocabulary, there are still some British English influences present. Pronunciation in Canadian English also tends to be more similar to American English than British English.
What is the difference between British and Indian English?
The main differences between British and Indian English are spelling, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Indian English often incorporates words and phrases from local languages, while British English tends to follow more traditional British usage. Pronunciation in Indian English can also be influenced by regional accents and dialects.
What are the differences between Canadian and English languages?
Canadian English and British English share many similarities, but there are some key differences. These differences can be seen in vocabulary (e.g. "garbage can" vs. "rubbish bin"), spelling (e.g. "color" vs. "colour"), and pronunciation (e.g. the pronunciation of the "ou" sound in words like "out" or "house"). Additionally, Canadian English is influenced by both British and American English due to historical ties with both countries.
Does written standard English differ between countries?
Yes, written standard English can differ between countries due to variations in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary. For example, American English and British English have differences in spelling (such as "color" vs. "colour"), vocabulary (such as "truck" vs. "lorry"), and even punctuation preferences. While they are largely mutually intelligible, these variations can create differences in written communication.
Is Australian English different from British English?
Yes, Australian English and British English have some differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and spelling. For example, Australians might say "thongs" instead of "flip-flops" and "biscuit" instead of "cookie." Additionally, some words are spelled differently, such as "colour" in British English and "color" in Australian English.
What is different between UK and US English?
The main difference is in the spelling.... Favour (British) - against favor (US). Many US words have dropped the 'u' - other examples are... color, favor, humor etc... Other differences are in pronunciation - for example - the city of Kansas is pronounced 'can-sas', HOWEVER - 'Arkansas' - is pronounced 'Ar-can-saw'
Is there such a language as American or is it a different version of English?
American English is just a dialect of British English. The spelling of certain words was changed at the instigation of Noah Webster (eg colour became color, centre became center) Certain words are different, especially for parts of a car (or automobile) eg hood in American English equates to bonnet in British English. There are a few grammatical variations eg Americans say I dowhen they mean I have. Overall the differences in spelling, grammar and pronunciation are less than the differences between the British and Scottish dialects.
What are the key differences between a griffon and a griffin?
The key difference between a griffon and a griffin is their spelling. Both terms refer to a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. "Griffon" is the French spelling, while "griffin" is the English spelling.
Why is the word chef spelled with ch but sounds like sh?
The word "chef" originated from French, where the letters "ch" are pronounced as "sh." This pronunciation has carried over into English, creating the discrepancy between spelling and pronunciation.
