2013-12-20

英式英文與美式英文的差異

英國式英文與美國式英文的差異

台灣的朋友們,不少都以學習美式英文為主,因此,無論發音、拼寫或遣詞用字,都偏向美式英文的習慣。以國際期刊論文投稿來說,通常只會要求母語水準的英文表達,並不會特別規定要使用美式英文或英式英文。然而,如果是到英國求學,在撰寫報告或論文時,最好還是花點心思,採用英式英文,這樣比較能得到他人的認同。
英式英文與美式英文發音上的差異,很難在這邊用字面形容。大體上英國人的發音字字分明,顯得語氣比較重,而且語調變化豐富。
再來美式英文與英式英文在拼寫上也有所不同,常見的差異有:
  • er與re對調
「中心」center(美)與centre(英)
「公升」liter(美)與litre(英)
  • 英式英文在o的後方多加一個u
「顏色」color(美)colour(英)
「榮譽」honor(美)honour(英)
「最愛的」favorite(美)favourite(英)
  • 美式英文單字中的z,在英式英文中則是s
「組織」organize(美)與organise(英)
「分析」analyze(美)與analyse(英)
  • 還有一些完全不同的拼音方式
「輪胎」tire(美)與tyre(英)
「支票」check(美)與cheque(英)
名詞的習慣用法,美式英文與英式英文也有不少差異,例如「公寓」apartment(美)與flat(英)、「電梯」elevator(美)與lift(英)、「糖果」candy(美)與sweet(英)等等。所以在遣詞用字上務必要注意。
當然除了單字上面的差異,美式英文與英式英文在句子的表達上也有所不同,習慣的陳述方式也不盡相同,這裡就不一一敘述,大致上都是習慣用法,多聽、多看,自然能分辨出其中的奧妙。
在撰寫學術論文或投稿期刊的時候,英式英文與美式英文其實並無對錯,但要注意的是,通篇文章要使用同一種英文表達方式,也就是說,如果您決定採用美式英文,那不論拼寫、用字、句子都維持美式英文的表達方式。反之,如果您決定採用英式英文,就請維持英式英文的表達方式。千萬不可一下使用美式英文,一下又轉成英式英文,這樣整篇文章會顯得凌亂而缺乏一致性。
對於非英文母語人士來說,英文表達有時候很難運用自如,尋求專業的英文潤稿服務協助,提出您的需求,也不失為一個好選擇。

British English/American English Vocabulary

Here are some of the main differences in vocabulary between British and American English. This page is intended as a guide only. Bear in mind that there can be differences in the choice of specific terms depending on dialect and region within both the USA and the UK.
British EnglishAmerican English
anti-clockwisecounter-clockwise
articulated lorrytrailer truck
autumnautumn, fall
barristerattorney
bill (restaurant)bill, check
biscuitcookie
block of flatsapartment building
bonnet (clothing)hat
bonnet (car)hood
boottrunk
caravantrailer
car parkparking lot
chemist’s shopdrugstore, pharmacy
chest of drawersdresser, chest of drawers, bureau
chipsfries, French fries
the cinemathe movies
clothes pegclothespin
coffincoffin, casket
crispspotato chips
crossroadsintersection; crossroads (rural)
cupboardcupboard (in kitchen); closet (for clothes etc)
diversiondetour
drawing-pinthumbtack
drink-drivingdrunk driving
driving licencedriver’s license
dual carriagewaydivided highway
dummy (for baby)pacifier
dustbingarbage can, trash can
dustmangarbage collector
engineengine, motor
estate agentreal estate agent
estate carstation wagon
filmfilm, movie
flatapartment, flat, studio
flat tyreflat tire
flyoveroverpass
gearbox (car)transmission
gear-levergearshift
Girl GuideGirl Scout
ground floorground/first floor
handbaghandbag, purse, shoulder bag
high streetmain street
holidayvacation
hood (car)convertible top
jamjam, preserves
jugjug, pitcher
juggernaut18-wheeler
liftelevator
lorrytruck, semi, tractor
madcrazy, insane
main roadhighway
maizecorn
mathsmath
motorbikemotorcycle
motorwayfreeway, expressway
motorwayhighway, freeway, expressway, interstate highway, interstate
nappydiaper
naughts and crossestic-tack-toe
pants, underpantsunderpants, drawers
pavementsidewalk
pet hatepet peeve
petrolgas, gasoline
The PloughBig Dipper
pocket moneyallowance
postmail
postboxmailbox
postcodezip code
postmanmailman, mail carrier, letter carrier
pubbar
public toiletrest room, public bathroom
railwayrailroad
return (ticket)round-trip
reverse chargecollect call
ring roadbeltway, freeway/highway loop
road surfacepavement, blacktop
roundabouttraffic circle, roundabout
rubbereraser
rubbishgarbage, trash
rubbish-bingarbage can, trashcan
saloon (car)sedan
shopshop, store
silencer (car)muffler
single (ticket)one-way
solicitorlawyer, attorney
spannerwrench
sweetscandy
taxitaxi, taxi cab
tea toweldish towel
telly (informal), TVtelevision, TV
third-party insuranceliability insurance
timetableschedule
tincan
toll motorwaytoll road, turnpike
torchflashlight
trouserspants, trousers
tube (train)subway
underground (train)subway
vestundershirt
waistcoatvest
walletwallet, billfold
wellington bootsrubber boots, rain boots
whiskywhisky/whiskey
windscreenwindshield
zipzipper

英文的差異
英文文法


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