A Textual Comparison of British and American Writing

摘要: M ANY AMERICANS REGARD BRITISH ENGLISH as more formal and proper than American English, while the British in turn consider English to be markedly informal relaxed. Observers commonly attribute these attitudes differences pronunciation, which are most readily apparent distinctions between two dialects. Correspondingly, nearly all linguistic comparisons of have focussed on phonological features relatively idiosyncratic vocabulary differences. Syntactic varieties been largely ignored. The present study begins fill this gap: it identifies systematic syntactic writing, suggests that associated with differing functional priorities. compares nine written genres (e.g., press reportage, academic prose, romantic fiction) respect three underlying parameters variation (identified earlier studies). Based their interpretations, tentatively labelled Dimension 1: INTERACTIVE versus EDITED TEXT; 2: ABSTRACT Versus SITUATED CONTENT; 3: REPORTED IMMEDIATE STYLE. (These interpretations described section II.) shows there writing first dimensions. When compared along 1, is found consistently edited less interactive corresponding genres; 2, abstract genres. Although not large, they highly across different genres, indicating truly represent texts. both dimensions greater attention grammatical stylistic prescriptions writing. discussion organized follows: I, some previous described; II