• 14. The development of the English language Changes in the language

In recent decades the English language in the uk has undergone certain phonetic, lexical and grammatical changes:

• Instead of the sound [W] we now hear [a] in the words ‘apple, sand, Trafalgar Square’. The sound [e] as in the words ‘letter, send’ has become more open – [E].

• There is a general tendency to use the verb ‘to arrive’ rather than ‘to come’; the phrase ‘I would like’ instead of ‘I want’ and, naturally, the words ‘joyful, lively’ instead of ‘gay’ which is now used in the meaning of ‘homosexual’

• 1. The verb ‘will’ has distinctly become purely modal, especially in what we used to know as the Future Indefinite (Simple) Tense. Hence, most linguists now prefer to speak about the ways of expressing a future action (including “will” for a future action) rather than speak about the use of Future Indefinite. At the same time, Future Continuous is being increasingly used. 2. The difference in use between the modal verbs ‘can’ and ‘may’ denoting permission has practically disappeared.

• The spread of English. Variants of English.

Historically, the British colonial expansion brought about a quick spread of English to the new territories. The American continent, Australia and New Zealand, South-East Asia and part of the Middle East were conquered by English in no time. At the same time, English became the language spoken in the former Celtic territories – Wales, Scotland and Ireland. When Ireland gained independence and proclaimed a republic, it made Irish its state language, but English remains as the second state language.

The four centuries of more or less independent development of the English language on the American continent have left their traces in the language. To begin with, American English is not a separate language, it is just a variant of English, just like Canadian English, Australian English and even UN English.

The following charts show major spelling, phonetic, lexical and grammatical differences between the British and American variants of English.

1. Spelling differences

British English		American English
-our -re -ogue -amme -ough -ce -s- -lling	colour centre, theatre dialogue, monologue programme though, through defence, offence realise, organization travelling	-or -er -og -am – -se -z- -ling	color center, theater dialog, monolog program tho, thru defense, offense realize, organization traveling

2. Phonetic differences

Word	British English (traditional / modern)	American English
duty	['dju:tI]	['du:tI]
tune	[tju:n]	[tu:n]
stop	[stop]	[stAp]
year	[jIR]	[jER]
apple	[Wpl] / [apl]	[Wpl]
sand	[sWnd] / [sand]	[sWnd]

3. Lexical differences

Word	British English	American English
corn bug	зерно клоп	кукуруза жук
лифт конфеты сзади метро тротуар трамвай магазин посылать по почте осень две недели заполнять анкету убирать комнату отличный от… в выходные в больнице (-у) принимать ванну взять отпуск сделать перерыв	lift sweets behind underground pavement tram shop to send autumn two weeks to fill in / out a form to do up a room different from / to at the weekend in / to hospital to have a bath to have a holiday to have a break	elevator candy back of metro, subway sidewalk streetcar store to mail fall fortnight to fill out a form to do over a room different from /than on the weekend in / the hospital to take a bath to take a vacation to take a break