This essay focuses on • differences between US & British spelling.(abbreviated V). • Consonants=speech sounds created by partial or complete closure of part of the vocal tract (abbreviated C).

• differences between US & British spelling

Vowels=speech sounds that shape but do not restrict airflow (abbreviate V). • Consonants=speech sounds create by partial or complete closure of part of the vocal tract (abbreviate C). • In this illustration, the air flow is exiting through the nose, but most sounds come through the mouth. Phonetics in English only loosely related to spelling. How many sounds/consonants/vowels in: a. through? b. Mike? c. forest? In IPA: a. θɹu b. maɪk c. fɔɹəst English spelling and etymology (word origins) English spelling: • often base on etymology (word origins) • this is why it is only loosely connected with phonetics (pronunciation)

• differences between

US & British spelling are small: color vs colour An etymological example • standard English spelling: knight • origin: Old English • the “k” and “gh” were actually pronounce at the time when spelling was becoming standardize. • Since then, the “kn” blend has mostly been simplified to an “n” sound. • We no longer have the sound that was write “gh.”

Etymology is the study of the origins of words.  The English language is living and growing.  Although many of our words have been part of our language for many years, new words are added all the time.  Following are various ways our language is influence.

• Derived from Foreign Words – English, in many cases, has been commonly expanded by incorporating foreign words into it.  Most of our language has ancient Anglo-Saxon or Latin origins.  Other languages have also added to our vocabularies.
• Additions through Technology & Products – Our words often reflect current interests, trends, and innovations.  One of the most recent contributors to our language has been computer technology, which has create words such as bytes, monitor, and disk.

  Another way new words come into our language is through the development of products.  Some examples include: Kleenex, Walkman, Scotch tape, Xerox, and Linoleum.

• People’s Names – sometimes when a person invents or introduces something, that thing becomes associated with the person’s name.  The person, through time, is forgot while the name lives on in our language.