A STUDY OF SOME ASPECTS OF BRITISH PRONUNCIATION AND AMERICAN PRONUNCIATION

Abstract

So far these are the main features of the phonetic characteristics of American English. The samples given show good contrast with the pronunciation of the clear-cut British English. In the conservative elements given above we see that the American pronunciation has remained almost unchanged these three centuries, while the British has undergone remarkable changes, and in the progressive elements that the American has altered more. These two features present themselves net only in the American pronunciation, but also in its vocabulary, grammar, and expression. The American sounds 〔a〕, 〔r〕, 〔æ or æ : 〕 corresponding to the British 〔o〕, 〔silent〕, 〔a : 〕 make things harder to cur organs of speech, and the latter economize time and effort in the work of expression, and those American sounds, cited in progressivism, require less energy. It can be said that the difference between both languages at the present time, is produced by the distance between the two countries extending over past several centuries. Yet, by the result of the wonderful improvement of the communication facilities of the modern age, the communication between America and England, is more convenient and swift than the communication was within England two or three hundred years ago. Moreover, the phonetic contact of both people by the radio, the international telephone, the talkie, records, is increasing rapidly. Accordingly, British English and American English which have been continuing mainly the divergent tendency since the beginning of the American colony, will probably make a convergent relation from new on. Whether it is an unquestionable development for us to economize tine and effort in pronouncing or not, it is yet to study, however, as long as human beings are inclined to follow the 'line cf least resistance', this universal tendency can be the standard of development. Simply in the pure phonetic aspect, it cannot be prophesied whether their union will be realized as might be expected. But I can argue that the difference between British English and American English will, at least, not be greater than at the present time.