There is only ONE English Language! - (Spoken English vs Accents)

You know, one of the most confusing things about the English language relates

to how it is used in England, and the way it has evolved in the United States.

The thing with many students is that if they learn one version, then they will be unable to use the other.

Of course, this is not true.

Many of the differences between British English and American English are quite small.

Yes, the spelling of certain words in American English is different.

Colour and labour have no you.

License has an S instead of the second C.

Double letters in words become single.

Centre becomes centre with E-R at the end.

Spelt becomes spelled.

Aluminium becomes aluminium.

You may have noticed there that despite the different spelling, most of the words are pronounced the same.

But, Mr.

Duncan, Americans have a different accent.

That is utter rubbish.

Accents exist within all languages.

In Great Britain, the English language is spoken with a variety of accents all over this country.

English is being used in many ways.

The spelling is the same, but the accents are not.

In the USA there are various accents too, from one state to another.

Just like here in the UK, English is spoken with different accents.

I have said this before and I know it annoys many English teachers.

There is only one version of spoken English.

Accents are not languages.

During my time in China.

I had a few awkward moments with teachers from the USA who took offence at the fact that I was being allowed to judge an English

speaking contest.

Why is he doing it?

He's British.

There is a certain amount of arrogance that goes with that statement.

I often found myself on the receiving end of hateful comments and, for want of a better word, prejudice from other English teachers.

I see no rivalry between British and American English as far as I can tell when spoken.

They are pretty much the same.

When I watch a US TV show, I don't have the subtitles active.

I can understand it because it's English.

One English language.

One way.

No confusion.

For some reason, we always seem to get a little emotional when talking about accents.

The notion is that a person's accent defines them.

But this is not true.

Language is a means. It is not who you are.

All this talk of division in spoken English just ends up putting unnecessary pressure on those learning it.

For English students, this pressure can make learning English daunting.

Modern communication has broken down this divide between languages.

We can grasp things much faster these days.

So remember there is only one spoken English one way only.

No confusion. Accents exist in all languages.

They are all as varied as each other.