English Globe understanding the world

Open menu
 

Key. Unit 1 Exercise 2.

Here are some of the things you might have noticed:

 British (Br) vs American (US)
magazine   
The stress is different: on the 3rd syllable (maga'zine) in Br and on the 1st syllable ('magazine) in US.
common
The first vowel is different: /a/ (as in 'hot') in Br and /a:/ (as in 'car') in US.
research
The stress is different: on the 2nd syllable (re'search) in Br and on the 1 st syllable ('research) in US.
over
There is a sound close to /r/ at the end of the word in US, but in Br it ends with a vowel.
forty
The 't' is 'flapped' in US so that it sounds like 'd'.
  
overweight 
(See 'over' above.) 
survey
There is a sound close to /r/ before /v/ in US, but not in Br.
walk
 The vowel is different: /o:/ (as in 'door') in Br and /a:/ (as in 'car') in US.
better 
The 't' is 'flapped' in US so that it sounds like 'd'.
  
leisure
The first vowel is different: /e/ (as in 'ten') in Br and /i:/ (as in 'see') in US.
understandable
There is a sound close to /r/ before '-stand-' in US, but not in Br.
exercise
There is a sound close to /r/ before '-cise' in US, but not in Br.
schedule
The first consonant is different: /∫/ (as in 'she') in Br and /sk/ in US. (Although note that some speakers of Br say /sk/ at the beginning of 'schedule'.) 
  • 1  (Norther   England)
When I get a day off, I like to go up into the Yorkshire Dales. Theseare sort of hills, er about twenty miles from where I live. And I'll erwalk through the day. I'll set off while it's still dark and walk forabout eight hours. And at the end of that finish up in a villagesomewhere and have a nice meal.

Here are some of the differences you may have noticed between this accent and BBC English:

-    the vowel in 'l', 'like', 'nice' (/ai/ in BBC English) is more 'open', beginning with a sound close to /a:/ (as in 'car').
-    the vowel in 'walk' (/o:/ in BBC English) is said almost as two vowels /o:/ + /∂/
-    the 'r' sound in 'for about' is said with a slight tap of the tongue behind the top teeth

  • 2  (Scotland)
I live in the country and I'm I'm quite lucky because where I live issort of on the top of um a range of low, flat hills. So it's quitewindy. On good days, I like to take my children out and we go and flykites. The children have got little kites, because obviously if it'stoo windy and with a big kite it would be really too, too much forthem, they couldn't control it. Um but they they thoroughly enjoy beingout just just in the fresh air.

Here are some of the diferences you may have noticed between this accent and BBC English:
-    'r' is pronounced where it would not be in BBC English (in 'sort', 'for then', 'air') and said with a flap of the tongue
-    the vowel in 'like', 'fly', 'kite', etc. (/ai/ in BBC English) begins with a sound close to 'ee' (/i:/)
-    the vowel in 'low', 'so', 'go' (/∂υ/ in BBC English) is pronounced more like a simple vowel, close to /o:/

  • 3  (Wales)
In my spare time I really like visiting gardens. Usually, the gardensof big houses. And at every time of the year there's somethingdifferent to see. The spring, of course, is the best time, wheneverything's coming into bud, and then later in the summer into fullflower. It's really wonderful. And even when it's raining, you canstill get great pleasure visiting gardens.

Here are some of the differences you may have noticed between this accent and BBC English:

-    the vowel in 'year' (/i∂/ in BBC English) is pronounced with more rounded lips
-    the vowel in 'gardens' (/a:/ in BBC English) is more 'open', beginning with a sound close to /æ/ (as in 'cat')
-    the /r/ in 'raining' and 'really' is said with a flap of the tongue

  • 4  (Northern Ireland)
Usually, 'cause erm I'm working during the week er and sometimes on aSaturday as well the only day off that I have would be a Sunday. Er andon Sunday we like to get up early, make a big breakfast and if theweather's good er I take my kids for a long walk in the country. Erm wego off er with our little fishing rods and sometimes er go down to thelocal stream and with a net and try and er catch a few tiddlers orsomething like that.
(Note: A tiddler is a very small fsh.)

Here are some of the differences you may have noticed between this accent and BBC English:

-    the vowel in 'usually' and 'during' (/u:/ in BBC English) is pronounced rather like the vowel in 'good' (/υ/)
-    the vowel in 'off' (/o/ in BBC English) is pronounced with more rounded lips
-    the vowel in 'stream' (/i:/ in BBC English) is pronounced almost as two vowels /i:/ + /∂/