Look at the short sentences below. Can you say which of them are US English and which of them are British English?
1. She has her own private airplane.
2. I live in a block of flats.
3. Just get in line and wait your turn like everybody else.
4. I can't find my keys. Did you see them anywhere?
5. Which team are losing?
6. Why don't you take a rest now?
7. They needn't come to school today.
American lexicographer Noah Webster (1758-1843) was a pioneer in giving American English a status distinct from that of British English. He was driven by the idea of creating a dictionary that would fully reflect the language of a new nation and a new country. To achieve this goal he eliminated words which were of no use to Americans and included those which were unique to the country.
He was also convinced that English spelling rules were confusing and supported Benjamin Franklin’s idea that “people spell best who do not know how to spell’. In an attempt to make spelling more logical he introduced new American English spellings: color instead of colour, center instead of centre, traveled instead of travelled, defense instead of defence.
Noah Webster spent 26 years working at his dictionary and published it in 1828 when he was 70 years old. To evaluate the etymology of words he learnt 28 languages including Russian, Arabic, Old English, Latin, German, Spanish. His painstaking, enormous efforts resulted in the birth of the book, which many Americans still think of, when they have a question about spelling or word usage. Even contemporary online resources cannot rival Webster’s as for a great number of Americans its credibility is still extremely high.
Which dictionary do you find the most trustworthy?
Do you agree that the print dictionary market is disappearing?
Is it important for you which variety of English you are learning: British English or American English?
Write down your answers in the comments field and we will be happy to respond.
1. She has her own private airplane.
2. I live in a block of flats.
3. Just get in line and wait your turn like everybody else.
4. I can't find my keys. Did you see them anywhere?
5. Which team are losing?
6. Why don't you take a rest now?
7. They needn't come to school today.
American lexicographer Noah Webster (1758-1843) was a pioneer in giving American English a status distinct from that of British English. He was driven by the idea of creating a dictionary that would fully reflect the language of a new nation and a new country. To achieve this goal he eliminated words which were of no use to Americans and included those which were unique to the country.
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| Noah Webster, US lexicographer |
He was also convinced that English spelling rules were confusing and supported Benjamin Franklin’s idea that “people spell best who do not know how to spell’. In an attempt to make spelling more logical he introduced new American English spellings: color instead of colour, center instead of centre, traveled instead of travelled, defense instead of defence.
Noah Webster spent 26 years working at his dictionary and published it in 1828 when he was 70 years old. To evaluate the etymology of words he learnt 28 languages including Russian, Arabic, Old English, Latin, German, Spanish. His painstaking, enormous efforts resulted in the birth of the book, which many Americans still think of, when they have a question about spelling or word usage. Even contemporary online resources cannot rival Webster’s as for a great number of Americans its credibility is still extremely high.
Which dictionary do you find the most trustworthy?
Do you agree that the print dictionary market is disappearing?
Is it important for you which variety of English you are learning: British English or American English?
Write down your answers in the comments field and we will be happy to respond.
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