The Language Barrier
"England and America are two countries divided by a common language."
~ George Bernard Shaw
The English language is spoken all over the world, in nations
including, but not limited to: the United Kingdom, the United States,
Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Singapore, and
Belize. Naturally, with so many people in so many places speaking
the language, differences arise. In order to help break down the
language barrier, I have compiled a four-part list.
At this point, this list only includes the United States, the United
Kingdom, and variations found within those countries. It is a
work in progress, so if you have any information to contribute, please
send it via note to angelaeryn.
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Why make such a list, you ask? In a poetry group like
The-Last-Stanza, language is essential. In the reading of poetry,
it is very important that the reader is able to fully understand the
intent of the writer. One cannot fully appreciate rhyme if he or
she is accustomed to a different pronunciation, nor can he or she enjoy
an intricately woven meter (or metre) if the stressed syllable is
seemingly in the wrong place. Furthermore, with the rules
regarding offensiveness in the chatroom, it is important for every
member to be aware of words in which those in other countries may find
diferent meaning.
Notes on Pronunciation
The pronunciations listed here are my best attempt at
easily-understandable phonetic spelling and are organized in
more-or-less alphabetical order. Syllables are divided with
dashes. The emphasized syllable, if there is one, is represented
by capital letters.
about
US: uh-BOWT
Canada: ah-BOOT
again
US: uh-GHIN
Alternate US: uh-GEE-un / uh-GEEN
UK: ah-GAIN
been
US: bihn
UK: bEEn
can’t
US: kant
Alternate US: kaynt
UK: kahnt
gunwale
US: GUN-wayl
alternate US: GUN-well
UK: gunnel
house
US: hows
Canada: hoos
laboratory
US: LAB-ra-tor-ee
UK: lah-BOR-a-tree
Notes on Spelling
a unit of measurement
US: meter (kilometer, centimeter, etc.)
UK: metre (kilometre, centimetre, etc.)
a place for viewing a play
US: theater (also commonly used for places to view movies/films)
UK: theatre (rarely used for places to view movies/films-
“cinema” is more common for such a place)
hue, value, and shade combined
US: color
UK: colour
to prefer
US: favor (favorite)
UK: favour (favourite)
bravery
US: valor
UK: valour
middle
US: center
UK: centre
to suddenly understand
US: realize
UK: realise
thing that links one to another
US: connection
UK: connexion
Notes on Vocabulary, Part A
These notes on vocabulary focus on words that have different meanings in different places.
bonnet
US: An outdated type of cloth worn on the head by women.
UK: The front compartment of a car. (American equivalent: hood.)
boot
US: A type of sturdy footwear.
UK: The rear compartment of a car. (American equivalent: trunk.)
fag
US: Vulgar slang for a
homosexual man. Usually a very offensive word, though it is
sometimes used in a non-offensive way among gays and lesbians.
UK: A cigarette.
Alternate UK: A younger student who completes work or chores
for an older student. A derogatory
word.
Dictionary: A bundle of sticks or wood.
fanny
US: A “cutesy” word for the buttocks.
UK: Female genitalia.
A very offensive word.
Alternate UK: Other parts of anatomy. Still very offensive.
film
US: recording tape loaded into a camera; a small-scale,
independent, artistic recording of action
UK: any recording of action, especially a Hollywood
blockbuster (American equivalent: movie)
poof
US: To disappear suddenly.
UK: Offensive slang for a homosexual.
twink
US: A person who violates rules, particularly unspoken ones,
for the sake of annoying other people.
UK: Slang for a homosexual. (Looks like our list compiler has a bit of an obsession, doesn't it?)
Notes on Vocabulary, Part B
Different places will frequently have different words for
the same object.
potatoes cut into strips and fried in oil
US: (French) fries
UK: chips
potatoes cut paper thin and fried until
crispy
US: (potato) chips
UK: crisps
a wide, flat pan with a handle
US: skillet
Alternate US: frying pan / fry pan
Alternate US: spider
the property on which domestic animals graze
US: barnyard / barn lot
Alternate US: farmyard / farm lot
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