In today’s world, all people are fully aware that English is the standard international language for communication between speakers of different nationalities. Therefore, its importance as a communication tool in the business world is greater every day. In this article we will try to explain the Differences between British and American English and elucidate which one is better for business.
English and its British and American variants
As is known, the English It is the language with the largest number of speakers in the world despite being the third in terms of native speakers (behind Spanish and Mandarin Chinese). This leaves a clear conclusion: most people choose it as a second language due to its weight and importance when communicating with foreigners.
However, we must know that it is not as homogeneous as we might think due to the differences between the English of Great Britain and North America (USA and Canada). Contrary to what many people think, these differences are not only one of pronunciation, but also of vocabulary, grammar, context and use of language.
A grammar with different nuances
English and its variants have certain differences in the grammar that it is convenient to know when using it in the business field. This use of language is very specific and requires great knowledge.
Although the basic spelling and grammatical rules are practically identical, there are these nuances to, for example, refer to past actions with relevance at present, in British English it is used “I have done” (Simple Perfect Present) On the other hand, American English uses a simplified version with the simple past: “I did”
To this is added that when building sentences, some structures can be built differently in each variant. It is the example of the structure used to express possession. British English, faithful to the line of having a more baroque grammar, uses “have got”, while the American reduces it only to “have”.
Although these types of differences are subtle, it should be taken into account when communicating with people from one or another origin to transmit the message in the most effective and precise way possible..
Is British pronunciation easier as we usually think?
The most obvious difference between British and American English is its pronunciation. You probably meet a multitude of people who claim to understand British English much better than American. Does this have any objective reason?
The pronunciation of British English is characterized by tending to be more precise, as well as melodic. This helps to separate the words and intonation from the sentences much better, making it easier for the interlocutor to understand not only the textual phrase, but also the tone..
On the contrary, American English has a more lax and relaxed pronunciation, tending to link the words much more to each other and making it difficult to understand certain words, according to the local accent.
Vocabulary: consequence of cultural differences
As in any country in the world among speakers from different regions, cultural differences are reflected in many characteristics, among which is the vocabulary of the language..
English is one of the cases that exemplify this constant, as well as Spanish with the differences between Latin America and Spain. In the Anglo-Saxon case, we find numerous words that change their meaning between British and American English, as well as concepts with different words to define it. We are going to show it with two simple examples:
- Truck: In British English they call it “Lorry” and in the American “Truck” (similar to the Spanish word “Tractor” to define a similar concept).
- Apartment: “Flat” and “Apartment” respectively.
In the business world and business environment, it is important to know these vocabulary differences to avoid confusion and achieve fluid and precise communication that does not hinder operations and negotiations.
What are these differences due to? cultural and geographical context
The cultural context, History, geography or climate are fundamental factors that explain the multiple differences that occur between native speakers of a language. But what is the ideal context to use British or American English within the business world?
British English is more widespread among European citizens due to the proximity and type of education we receive. Therefore, it predominates over the American as communicative tool in European businesses or within the framework of the Commonwealth (Community of Nations).
On the other hand, American English is much more used throughout the American continent, which includes all of Latin America. Again, the geographic context delimits the uses of each aspect in a precise and clear way.
Undoubtedly, you must use one or the other depending on the market you want to target and what the objectives of your business are to adapt your communication to 100%.
On NUADDA We have a team of professionals from the United Kingdom and the USA, so you only have to indicate it when requesting your translation.
