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British English is quite different from American English and while that fact may appear self-evident and perhaps problematic because of a perceived lack of standardization which could be criticized as inconsistency or possible confusion, the entrepreneurial spirit in me makes me realize that there are business opportunities in recognizing and appreciating the distinction and finding a market niche in TESL in which I could build a profitable business career teaching English. The differences are based in history and cultural divides. The fact that America gained its independence from Great Britain in 1776 makes one appreciate the time that it took for distinctive accents, differing pronunciations, and contrary spellings to change and develop. As a Canadian, I can see clearly the recognizable differences between American and British spelling which has influenced Canadian spelling. Canadian English education teaches Canadians about the differences and influences on vocabulary, spelling, usage, and pronunciation, as well as historical origins. My education, experience, and research showed me that there were numerous examples of differences in spelling but the deeper I read on the subject I was fascinated to learn that the differences extend well beyond mere aberrations in spelling and vocabulary. Like a strong tea stepped in tradition and culture English introduced to North America is like a nice flavourable brew. The English language has been percolating in North America when it was introduced to America by colonization in the late 16th and 17th centuries. Many of the differences between American and British English date back to a time when spelling standards had not yet developed. Some spellings seen as American today were once commonly used in Britain and some spellings seen as British were once commonly used in the United States. Dialects are linguistic varieties that may differ in pronunciation, vocabulary, spelling and grammar. British English and American sound noticeably different. The most obvious difference is the way the letter r is pronounced. In British English, when r comes after a vowel in the same syllable (as in car, hard, or market), the r is not pronounced. In American English the r is pronounced. There are physical differences as well. Not only are the vocal and facial muscles different in their mouthing of their respective pronunciations of languages or dialects, there are also technological physical differences which are a living, albeit mechanical testimony to two major English language computer keyboard layouts, the United States layout and the United Kingdom layout. Both are QWERTY layouts. In commonwealth countries the US keyboard is commonly used. At first glance, these colonial legacies of pronunciation seem especially apparent in certain remote areas of the U.S.A., hence the argument that some places in America have preserved Shakespearean English. American English is heavily influenced by Webster of the Webster dictionary fame. American English is spreading faster than British English. English taught in Europe and former British colonies is more British-influenced, while English taught in Latin America, parts of Africa and Asia is more American-influenced. Most English usage outside the classroom is more influenced by the United States. By population alone Americans far outnumber Brits. That fact along with the media and social media influences, as well as the majority of American influence on the world's TV programming means that American English is the current dominant force globally. Hollywood entertainment and American news channels as well as talk shows and reality shows and powerful influencers are shaoing the English language as we know it. People in both countries can easily understand both ways, although Brits tend to think of the American way as incorrect. English learners are made aware of British English versus American English and as such English language teachers need to be aware of the striking differences as well as the nuances. When I graduate and start working as an English teacher overseas I will be sure to explain to my students the types of English usage and the variants. It makes for interesting conversation and allows the students to understand and appreciate the language that they wish to master.
