美国和英国语言一样吗?
英国人和美国人说的都是英语,但存在相当多的差异。在语音方面,除了前面已经谈到过的“r”发音以外,英式发音不送气,听起来要弱一些。有的单词在英式发音和美式发音中的重音位置也不一样,如conclude,美式发音重音在第一个音节,但英式发音重音在第二个音节。在语法方面,英国人仍然保留一些旧的说法,如:动词be和have的人称单数形式在现在时态加-s,在过去时态中不加-d:He is going to take an examination next month。(美式:.He's going ...)I have a lot of work to do.(美式:I've a lot. . . )He didn't did it at all. (美式: He didn't do ... )
疑问句的疑问词还可以和助动词do一起前置:
What does John do when he is alone?(美式:What does John. . . ?) How many men must be enrolled?(美式: How many men must ?)
在拼写方面,英美差异不少,如flavour, color, traveler,.centre,.favourite, meter就分别是英美拼写的差异,前者用的是英式写法,后者是美式写法。