SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH

A PAPER BY ELLEMINA TARIGAN REG. NUM : 042202032

DIPLOMA III ENGLISH STUDY PROGRAM FACULTY OF LETTERS UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA MEDAN 2008

Universitas Sumatera Utara

Approved by Supervisor

Drs. Umar Mono, M.Hum NIP: 131570486 Submitted to Faculty of Letters University of Sumatera Utara in partial fulfillment of the requirements for DIPLOMA (D-III) in English.

Approved by Head of Diploma Three English Study Program,

Dra.Syahyar Hanum,DPFE NIP : 130702287 Approved by the Diploma III of English Study Program Faculty of Letters, University of Sumatera Utara As a paper for the Diploma (D-III) Examination.

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Accepted by the Board of Examiners in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the D-III Examination of the Diploma III of English Study Program, Faculty of Letters, University of Sumatera Utara.

The examination is held on the

Faculty of Letters, University of North Sumatera Dean,

Drs. Syaifuddin, M.A. Ph. D NIP : 132098531

Board of Examiners and Reader: Supervisor

: Drs. Umar Mono, M. Hum

Reader

: Drs. Yulianus Harefa, M.Ed. TESOL

Universitas Sumatera Utara

AUTHOR’S DECLARATION I am, ELLEMINA TARIGAN, declare that I am the sole author of this paper. Except where reference is made in the text of this paper, this paper contains no material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a paper by which I have qualified for or awarded another degree.

No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the main text of the paper. This paper has not been submitted for the award of another degree in any tertiary education.

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Universitas Sumatera Utara

COPYRIGHT DECLARATION Name

: Ellemina Tarigan

Title of paper

: Some differences between British and American English

Qualification

: D-III/ Ahli madya

Study Program

: English

I am willing that my paper should be available for reproduction at the discretion of the Librarian of the Diploma III English Study Program Faculty of Letters USU on the understanding that users are made aware of their obligation under law of the Republic of Indonesia.

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ABSTRAK Kertas karya ini berjudul “Some Differences Between British and American English”. Kertas karya ini memaparkan secara singkat tentang perbedaan antara British and American English baik dalam speling, grammar, maupun vocabulary sehingga akan diketahui secara jelas perbedaan diantara keduanya. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode kepustakaan dengan membaca beberapa buku bahasa Inggris sebagai bahan referensi yang dapat mendukung topik. Dari pemaparan diatas ada beberapa hasil temuan yaitu antara sejarah British dan American English, perbedaan antara British dan American English dalam segi vocabulary, grammar dan spelling.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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Bismillahirrahmannirrahim Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to Allah SWT, the Almighty, merciful and the most gracious for his loving and blessing that has given health, patience, strength in completing this paper then, I never forget to say shalawat to our big prophet Muhammad SAW who has brought us to the life full of knowledge and science like we have now. Secondly, I would like to express my appreciation to those who have given me advice, motivation, and help in accomplishing my paper. 1. My beloved parents, Ramli Tarigan and Samaria Ginting who have supported me in material, education, motivation and always pray for me so that I am always healthy and can accomplish my paper. 2. My Brothers and sister, Edy Syahputra, Indra Lesmana and Marta Solina, who have become my cheeriness and motivation, I do love you all. 3. Drs. Syaifuddin, M.A, Ph.D. as the dean of Faculty of Letters, University of Sumatera Utara. 4. Drs. Syahyar Hanum,DPFE as the head of Diploma Three English Program who has agreed the title and proposal of my paper and for her advice and help. 5. Drs. Umar Mono, M. Hum as my supervisor who has spent his time in correcting this paper and giving advice and guidance to finish my paper. 6. Drs. Yulianus Harefa, M.Ed. TESOL as my reader who has helped and supported me in accomplishing my paper.

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7. All lecturers in Diploma Three English Program who have taught and given me a lot of knowledge. 8. My lovely friends, Era sweet and Shanty cute who have supported me in accomplishing my paper. 9. My Ex-housemates friends, Wak Lab’s (Ira), D’ Nani, K’Gita, K’ Intan, Rini for living together in a happiness and sadness. 10. All of my friends in Diploma Three English Program also students in 2004, 2005 academic years who cannot be mentioned one by one for their moral support and friendship during her study . Finally, I realize that this paper is far from being perfect and without any help, support, and spirit from my beloved parties, this paper could not be completed, so I really hope and appreciate for constructive critics and suggestions. I do hope this paper will be worthwhile for all of us.

Medan, 25 June 2008 The Writer,

Ellemina Tarigan Reg. No. : 042202032

TABLE OF CONTENTS AUTHOR’S DECLARATION

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COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ABSTRAK ................................................................................................

i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.....................................................................

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS.........................................................................

iv

1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................

1

Background of The Study ..........................................................................

1

Scope of The Study ....................................................................................

3

Purpose of The Study .................................................................................

4

Significance of The Study ..........................................................................

4

2. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH ...........................................................................................

5

History of British English ..........................................................................

5

History of American English .....................................................................

7

3. SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH ...........................................................................................

11

Differences in Vocabulary Between British and American English ..........................................................................................

11

3.1.1 Cars and Driving ..................................................................

11

3.1.2 Food ......................................................................................

13

3.1 3 Others ....................................................................................

14

Differences in Grammar Between British and American English ..........................................................................................

21

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3.2.1 The Usage of Present Perfect ...............................................

21

3.2.2 The Usage of Preposition ...................................................

22

3.2.3 The Usage of Possessions ....................................................

23

3.2.4 The Usage of the Verb GET ................................................

24

3.2.5 The Usage of Past Simple/Past Participle ............................

24

3.2.6 The Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns .......................

25

3.2.7 The usage of delixical verbs HAVE and TAKE ..................

25

3.2.8 The Usage of Auxiliaries and Modals ..................................

26

Differences in Spelling Between British and American English ...............

27

4. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS .........................................

31

4.1 Conclusions ....................................................................................

31

4.2 Suggestions ....................................................................................

34

REFERENCES

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