1. Vowel Sounds:
* Diphthongs: British English uses many diphthongs (vowel sounds that glide from one sound to another), which differ from American English. For example, the word "bird" has a very different vowel sound in British English.
* Vowel Reduction: Vowels in unstressed syllables often become reduced to a schwa sound (ə) in British English, more so than in American English. This creates a difference in pronunciation for words like "about" and "tomato."
2. Consonant Sounds:
* Rhoticity: British English is non-rhotic, meaning the "r" sound is not pronounced after vowels. This is different from American English, which is generally rhotic. So, "car" in British English sounds like "cah."
* Th-Sounds: British English uses two distinct "th" sounds, one for words like "thin" and another for words like "this." This is different from American English, which has a single sound.
3. Intonation and Rhythm:
* Intonation: British English uses a more distinctive pattern of rising and falling intonation in sentences, often ending on a higher note than American English. This can create a more "questioning" tone, even in declarative sentences.
* Rhythm: British English tends to have a more "stressed-timed" rhythm, where stressed syllables are pronounced more prominently. American English, by contrast, is often described as having a "syllable-timed" rhythm, where syllables are given more equal weight.
4. Regional Variation:
* Accents within accents: Even within Britain, there are numerous regional accents that differ significantly. For example, a Cockney accent from London is quite different from a Geordie accent from Newcastle.
5. Social and Historical Context:
* Social Class: Historically, different accents in British English have been associated with different social classes. This is less pronounced now, but the association still exists to some degree.
* Historical Influences: The British Empire had a significant global impact, and British English has been influenced by the languages and dialects of other countries. This has resulted in various accents and variations in British English.
It's important to note that these are just general characteristics. There are many variations within British English, and individual speakers may exhibit unique features.