Differences Between the British and the Americans

This is a small comparative piece about the British and the Americans because many students of English, and not only foreign students but also the British (sometimes especially the British), suffer some confusion over the two identities. After all, it is not only the language that is different about these two countries.

A large part of why the standard Englishes vary is due to the efforts of the Americans to establish their own identity separate to the British after American independence in 1776 AD. For anyone that has visited both America and Great Britain, it is plain that the countries are as different as they are the same, in the same way that Australia is different and Canada is different, and like to how, say, France differs culturally from Germany. While there are countries that share a language such as those other countries that speak French, Portuguese or Spanish, and various German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland, nevertheless, all countries are mired in their own politics and histories, and enjoy individual cultures and identities. It is a common misconception that Britain and America, not to mention Canada, New Zealand and Australia, are largely the same.

Language and accent

Although both Brits and Americans speak English, there are notable differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and accent. For more detail on this and other Englishes around the world, please see the relevant article. British English tends to be more varied across regions and has distinct regional accents. It must not be forgotten that Britain consists of the countries of Scotland and Wales and England. Furthermore, Northern Ireland, while not being a part of the mainland of Great Britain, is part of the unitary state of and under the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom. See also my article on the United Kingdom. Each of these four countries consists of many regional accents and dialects that go back centuries historically. American English has a wide range of accents, but these generally follow a more standardised pattern since they originate from more recent times.

History, governance and social class

The historical and governmental contexts of these two nations differ significantly. The United Kingdom has a long and complex history, with a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. By contrast, the United States is a relatively young country with a presidential republic and a written constitution. The British Isles have undergone centuries of invasions and in the years including and succeeding Queen Elisabeth I themselves inflicted their empire on other countries.

The British class system has its roots in the feudal system, with a long history of aristocracy and hereditary titles. The upper class in Britain is traditionally associated with the nobility, landed gentry and ‘old money’ families. The class system of the United States, on the other hand, developed with the formation of the country and was not based on hereditary titles. The American upper class is primarily defined by wealth and influence, with individuals often achieving their status through business success, film success or entrepreneurship. In the United Kingdom such individuals would not immediately be considered to be middle class solely on the basis of recent educational or financial achievements. Even today, this is a marked difference between the British and American societies. The British working class are proud to be called so and even those that may succeed financially still refer to themselves as ‘working class’ and take pride in their roots. Many citizens of the United States, on the other hand, who are focused on social climbing or achieving financial success want to be able to label themselves ‘middle class’ and this is seen as admirable rather than a betrayal of ones background.

The United States is free of this convoluted intercultural history. Perhaps for this same reason, the class hierarchy of Britain is more stable. In Britain, the class system is often described using terms like upper class, middle class and working class, whereas in the US, the terms upper class, upper middle class, middle class and lower class are more commonly used. The British tend to take pride in their working class status and are seen as hard-working labourers who slave, usually manually, and earn every penny with honesty and integrity. The US often emphasises social mobility and the ‘American Dream’.

Historically, social mobility has been perceived as more limited in Britain compared to the US. The British class structure has been seen as more stratified and it is difficult to move between classes, giving significance to inherited wealth, education and social connections. ‘Reclassifying’ ones self may also be less sought after in the UK, with people taking pride in their roots and viewing their class origin as an intrinsic part of their identity. In the US, there is a cultural belief in the possibility of upward mobility and the idea that individuals can improve their social and economic standing.

While social structures are subject to ongoing transformations and debates, it is also true that the British class system gives prominence to etiquette and supposed social norms, whereas in the US, cultural markers of class can be more varied and influenced by factors like region, occupation and education level.

Cultural values and etiquette

As with many countries, the cultural values and social norms differ. British culture is often associated with characteristics such as politeness, a tendency to over-apologise, and a particular sense of humour. While Americans are often seen as more outgoing, frequently quicker to warm physical contact and the sharing of spoken intimacies, informal and adept at self-expression. The British are sometimes overawed by this aspect of many Americans, while Americans are often abashed by the reservation of many Britons!

Food and dining culture

Food preferences and dining culture, too, vary between these two nations. The Americans are renowned the world over for their generous food portions when dining out! Traditional British cuisine includes such dishes as fish and chips, roast dinners and meat pies. Britain’s partiality to tea and biscuits, in particular dipping ones biscuit in the tea, is also well-known. Like its British counterpart, American cuisine is diverse and influenced by various cultures, with popular dishes like hamburgers, hot dogs and barbecues. Fast food and convenience foods are more prevalent in American culture compared to the UK, and indeed they originated there.

Education and healthcare systems

Finally, the education and healthcare systems in the United Kingdom and the United States have notable variations. In terms of healthcare, the UK has a universal healthcare system (NHS) funded by taxation, while the US has a complex structure involving private and public insurance providers.

In the UK, higher education is more accessible due to lower tuition fees and a longer tradition of government-funded universities. The US, meanwhile, has a more diverse higher education system but generally higher tuition costs. That said, over fifty percent of Americans attend university, while only a third of Britons do due in part due to the more flexible admissions process in the United States, as well as perhaps the perception of its importance.

Social class also has its influence on national education. Britain has a longstanding tradition of private boarding schools, especially for men, which have historically been attended by the elite, and that contributed to their social status. In the United States, however, while private schools exist and can be prestigious, the emphasis is often placed on higher education institutions, such as Ivy League universities, as gateways to success and social mobility. Additionally, in Britain it is commonplace for all school students to wear uniform regardless of their age and status in keeping with long-standing tradition.

Conclusion

While these national differences broadly exist, it is always prudent not to stereotype people of any origin. Among humanity, none of us can be swept into one box and we treasure our differences, yet ultimately celebrate being one global people as a whole and enjoy discovering new cultures and ways of being.

As always feel free to leave comments below.

BIBIOGRAPHY

Bragg, Melvyn. The Adventure of English (Hodder & Stoughton, 2003)

Bryson, Bill. Notes from a Small Island (Random House, 1993)

Bryson, Bill. The Mother Tongue: English and how it got that way (Perennial, 2001)

Crystal, David. The Stories of English (Penguin, 2005)

Cushing, Ian. Language Change (Cambridge Topics in English Language) (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2018)

Dreyer, Benjamin. Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style (Penguin Random House, 2020)

Hickey, Raymond. Standards of English: Codified Varieties Around the World (Cambridge University Press, 2015)

McWhorter, John. The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language (Harper Perennial, 2003)

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https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/