American english

American English (AmE, AE, AmEng, USEng, en-US), also known as United States English or U.S. English, is the set of dialects of the English language native to the United States.

History

American English has its origins in the English language of the British Isles. The colonization of North America by the British in the 17th and 18th centuries was the beginning of the spread of English to what is now the United States. The language underwent significant changes in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary during this period.

Characteristics

American English is characterized by a number of unique features in comparison to other varieties of English. These include differences in phonology, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling.

Phonology

American English phonology is characterized by a number of distinctive features, such as rhoticity, the flapping of intervocalic /t/ and /d/, and the cot–caught merger in some dialects.

Grammar

American English grammar has a number of differences from other English dialects. These include the use of different prepositions and the use of the past simple where British English would use the present perfect.

Vocabulary

American English vocabulary is marked by a number of words and phrases that are unique to the United States or have different meanings than in other English-speaking countries.

Spelling

American English spelling is largely based on the principles set down by Noah Webster in his 1828 dictionary, which sought to establish a distinct American standard.

Varieties

There are many regional and social varieties of American English, including General American, Southern American English, African American Vernacular English, and others.

Influence

American English has had a significant influence on other varieties of English around the world, due to the cultural and economic influence of the United States.

See also

• British English
• Canadian English
• Australian English
• New Zealand English