Background of the Study

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

English, a universal or an international language, has its own variety. for example, British English, American English, Indian English, and so forth. Variety happens because English is spoken in many different parts all around the world developed through colonialism, territorial expansion, urbanization and close cultural contact. As people speaking English live in different custom and background, therefore English shows gradual slight changes among native speaker of English and they display variety. In short, universal language, English has had variety in different parts. Varieties of English are inclined to make principal differences between one kind of English to the other kind. British English is different from American English in some ways. If those differences are not well understood, the English learners will interpret English incorrectly in some aspects. John S. Hartanto 1996 : 362 – 407 states that there are six principal differences between British and American English namely vocabulary, spelling, number, business letter, grammar, and pronunciation differences. Some differences are just slight in one part but others are numerous in other part. Problem will happen between English users if the spelling difference is not well understood. Mostly, the applicant’s English capability will be judged through the applicant’s English application letter at a glance. If the applicant mixes British and American English in application letter, the American selector might ignore the Universitas Sumatera Utara applicant’s letter because the selector regards that the applicant’s English is not qualified. This happens probably because teachers often mix both British and American while teaching or speaking so as the result, learners also mix British and American English because they do not understand the exact differences. Basically, the spelling difference is not wide. However, the English learners must know and apply the spelling difference in order to adjust the English with the condition. Vocabulary is the builder of sentence. One English word can have different meanings in British and American English. The problem happens when the interpreter interprets a word. For example, the meaning of a word in British English which is used in context is interpreted into American English’s meaning. In addition, one notion can have different words in British English with American English. It means a word in British English can be different with American English for the same meaning. The problem also happens when an author writes a book whether scientific or educational English book as diction is crucial. The effect of problem will be fatal in medical department. The patient will die or get worse on account of wrong interpretation. Therefore the English users must learn and apply the vocabulary differences. British English grammatical rules are different from American English grammatical rules in some aspects. English learners often doubt in adding the verb suffix for the subject of the word, government or team in which in British English, they are plural noun meanwhile in American English, they are singular noun. Knowing grammar is crucial in building a grammatical sentence. Therefore English learners must learn the Grammatical Differences between British and American Universitas Sumatera Utara English so that the job applicants can write an application letter and speak English grammatically based on the demanded English. It will also ease the English learners to study and apply English to avoid wrong interpretation. Furthermore, the adding of suffix in part of speech component can be implemented on the basis of certain English. In conclusion, Grammatical Difference between British and American English must be learned well in order to use English appropriately. The writer herself knows little about the differences between British and American English and it is still difficult to differ them in context. Moreover, there are many problems happening on account of the lack of Differences understanding being like the above examples. Therefore, those above deviations principally encourage me describe the differences between British and American in vocabulary, grammar, and spelling differences.

1.2 Scope of the Study