5 biggest differences between speaking British English and American English

While both versions of the language have the same roots, the last 400-odd years have produced some pretty strong variation in the English language that can seem worlds apart. While we may initially only notice French fries being referred to as chips, and the terms ‘cheeky’, ‘knackered’ and ‘brilliant’ being used just about everywhere, the two dialects actually differ in an abundance of ways.

Depending on the region, American and British English have large differences in spelling, pronunciation, vocabulary, punctuation, and tenses. Here are just a few:

1) Spelling:

handsome journalist writing with typewriter

Many differences between American and British English stem from Latin-derived spellings and Greek-derived spellings. Those differences are seen in the unstressed endings to words such as:

Latin-derived spellings:

American English              British English

Color                                     Colour

Behavior                              Behaviour

Honor                                  Honour

Greek-derived spellings:

American English              British English

Organize                              Organise

Dialogue                              Dialog

Analyze                                Analyse

2) Pronunciation:

There are some words that are spelled the same in both dialects, but that are pronounced with a distinct stress on difference syllables: controversy and schedule are just a few. The word ‘aluminium’ in Britain and the English colonies has a curious extra letter and syllable added, to make it ‘alumini-EE-um.’ Then there are words that have both differing spelling and pronunciation: defense (British version: Defence) and axe (British version: ax).

3) Vocabulary:

Some words in one dialect may have a completely different meaning in the other, or vice versa. A ‘boot’ to an American would be a pair of shoes, but to a Brit, the boot would refer to the trunk of a car, as in: ‘just getting my tire out of the boot’. So to keep your miscommunications to a minimum, here are some helpful translations:

American English –> British English

Cookie –> Biscuit

Pharmacy –> Chemist’s

French Fries –> Chips

Highway –> Carriageway

Trash –> Dustbin

4) Phrasing:

Phrases such as ‘a week today’, or ‘Tuesday week’, (referring to a week in the future) are common in Britain but are often confusing to the American ear. And ‘fortnight Sunday’ would refer to two weeks following this Friday.

In the UK, dates are usually written differently in the short (numerical) form. Valentines Day 2015, for example, is 14/2/15, with the day preceding the month.

Image of Carriageway or Highway

Photo of a carriageway or a highway- depends where you’re from. With all do respect to British culture, I doubt a carriage can ride along these fast lanes.

5) Punctuation:

The most common form of differing punctuation is seen through titles. In American English titles such as Dr., Mrs., Ms., Mr., are spelled with the use of a period, while its not uncommon for the British version will omit the period altogether.

All in all, you’ll find that written forms of British and American English vary surprisingly little, while the most noticeable differences will be in the spoken form of British English. Winston Churchill once said: “England and America are two countries separated by a common language.” True then, true now, but perhaps we can make the gap a little bit smaller. Or, as the Brits might say, make it teeny.

Source https://www.verbling.com/articles/5-biggest-differences-between-speaking-british-english-and-american-english/

SLANG

SLANG An everchanging set of COLLOQUIAL words and phrases generally considered distinct from and socially lower than the standard language. Slang is used to establish or reinforce social identity and cohesiveness, especially within a group or with a trend or fashion in society at large. It occurs in all languages, and the existence of a short-lived vocabulary of this sort within a language is probably as old as language itself. In its earliest occurrences in the 18c, the word slang referred to the specialized vocabulary of underworld groups and was used fairly interchangeably with CANT, flash, ARGOT.

Defining slang

The word is widely used without precision, especially to include informal usage and technical JARGON, and the social and psychological complexities captured in slang vocabulary make the term difficult to define. For linguistic purposes, slang must be distinguished from such other subsets of the lexicon as regionalisms or dialect words, jargon, profanity or vulgarity, COLLOQUIALISM, cant, and argot, although slang shares some characteristics with each of these. It is not geographically restricted (like BrE lift, AmE elevator), but is often regional (BrE bloke, AmE guy). It is not jargon (vocabulary used in carrying out a trade or profession), but it frequently arises inside groups united by their work.

Although slang synonyms abound in the taboo subjects of a culture, not all slang terms violate social propriety; Mickey Mouse meaning ‘easy’ and dough for ‘money’ may be inappropriate in some contexts, but they are not usually offensive. Slang belongs to the spoken part of language, but not all colloquial expressions are slang: shut up for ‘be quiet’ would rarely be written except in dialogue, but it is not slang, which is often the usage of the young, the alienated, and those who see themselves as distinct from the rest of society.

Transience

Despite the difficulty of defining the term, slang does have some consistent characteristics. Foremost, taken as a whole, the slang vocabulary of a language is ephemeral, bursting into existence and falling out of use at a much more rapid rate than items of the general vocabulary. This rapid change requires a constant supply of new words, sometimes replacing or adding to already established slang words, like a waste case for a ‘drunk’, and sometimes extending to new areas of meaning, like jambox, ghetto blaster, or Brixton suitcase for a portable stereo tape player. This makes novelty, or innovation, an often cited characteristic of slang and freshness a large part of its appeal. Yet some slang items have long lives. Thus, bones as slang for dice was used by Chaucer in the 14c and is still slang. But when such items remain in the language for years, they often lose their slang status: for example, jeopardy from gambling and crestfallen from cockfighting have even acquired a learned tinge.

Sounds

Although, for the most part, slang items conform to the general constraints on sound combinations that govern English, the venturesome spirit behind much slang includes playing with sounds. Onomatopoeia accounts for many slang terms, including these for ‘vomit’: barf, ralph. The American linguist Roger Wescott has noticed that some sounds appear to give words a slangier flavour, most noticeably: z, in words like scuz from ‘scum’, and zap from ‘slap’ or ‘whap’; the replacement or addition of a vowel with oo, in words like bazooms from ‘bosom’ and smasheroo from ‘smasher’. Rhyming, however, is the favourite sound effect of slang, as in boob tube television, frat rat member of a US college fraternity. The rhymers par excellence have been the Cockneys of London, who have developed an elaborate and colourful collection of slang terms based on rhyme, such as trouble and strife for ‘wife’ and mince pies for ‘eyes’. See COCKNEY.

Semantics

The intricate interplay of exclusivity, faddishness, and flippancy which breeds and supports slang guarantees semantic and etymological complexity. Nevertheless, slang items often diverge from standard usage in predictable ways, especially by generalization and melioration. In generalization, a term acquires a wider range of referents: for example, in the 19c dude was ‘a dapper man, a dandy’ but in current US slang, via Black usage, it can be applied to any male. Schiz out is to have any kind of mental or emotional breakdown; it is not restricted to schizophrenia. Evaluative words in slang sometimes become so generalized in application that they lose specific meaning and retain only a value: for example, AmE awesome, heavy, key, and solid, BrE ace, brill, and triff, and def in both varieties, all mean ‘worthy of approval’. Generalization often operates in conjunction with melioration, a process in which the connotations of a word become more favourable. Many words enter general slang from the taboo words of subcultures. Through increased use and broad application, they can lose their shock value and become more positive; the verb jam a century ago had specific sexual referents, but now means ‘to dance, play music, have a good time, succeed’. Yet many words in slang remain negative, especially the large and constantly replenished set of epithets available at all time in slang: for example, the pejorative boob, dork, dweeb, jerk, nerd, scuzbag, slimeball, wimp.

Another characteristic of the semantics of slang is the tendency to name things indirectly and figuratively, especially through metaphor, metonymy, and irony. Couch potato one who lies around doing little except watch television, coffin nail a cigarette, are metaphors. Brew and chill (beer) take their meaning by association and are metonyms. Irony, in its simplest form, categorizes the tendency in slang for words to evoke opposite meanings: bad, wicked, killer can all mean ‘good’ when signalled with appropriate ironic intonation. The influence of semantic fields on productivity in slang is also important, as they provide an established framework to shape the form and meaning of new words. In English, the semantic field ‘destruction’ sets the pattern for the proliferation of terms for being drunk, such as blitzed, bombed, fried, hammered, polluted, ripped, slammed, smashed, toasted, wasted. Slang also often evokes meaning by drawing on the shared cultural knowledge of its users. The verb bogart (to take an unfair share, originally of a marijuana cigarette) alludes to the American actor Humphrey Bogart's tough-guy image in films.

Functions

The aim of using slang is seldom the exchange of information. More often, slang serves social purposes: to identify members of a group, to change the level of discourse in the direction of informality, to oppose established authority. Sharing and maintaining a constantly changing slang vocabulary aids group solidarity and serves to include and exclude members. Slang is the linguistic equivalent of fashion and serves much the same purpose. Like stylish clothing and modes of popular entertainment, effective slang must be new, appealing, and able to gain acceptance in a group quickly. Nothing is more damaging to status in the group than using old slang. Counterculture or counter-establishment groups often find a common vocabulary unknown outside the group a useful way to keep information secret or mysterious. Slang is typically cultivated among people in society who have little real political power (like adolescents, college students, and enlisted personnel in the military) or who have reason to hide from people in authority what they know or do (like gamblers, drug addicts, and prisoners).

Source http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Slang.aspx

5 Speaking Rules you need to know!

1. Don't study grammar too much

This rule might sound strange to many ESL students, but it is one of the most important rules. If you want to pass examinations, then study grammar. However, if you want to become fluent in English, then you should try to learn English without studying the grammar.

Studying grammar will only slow you down and confuse you. You will think about the rules when creating sentences instead of naturally saying a sentence like a native. Remember that only a small fraction of English speakers know more than 20% of all the grammar rules. Many ESL students know more grammar than native speakers. I can confidently say this with experience. I am a native English speaker, majored in English Literature, and have been teaching English for more than 10 years. However, many of my students know more details about English grammar than I do. I can easily look up the definition and apply it, but I don't know it off the top of my head.

I often ask my native English friends some grammar questions, and only a few of them know the correct answer. However, they are fluent in English and can read, speak, listen, and communicate effectively.

Do you want to be able to recite the definition of a causative verb, or do you want to be able to speak English fluently?

2. Learn and study phrases

Many students learn vocabulary and try to put many words together to create a proper sentence. It amazes me how many words some of my students know, but they cannot create a proper sentence. The reason is because they didn't study phrases. When children learn a language, they learn both words and phrases together. Likewise, you need to study and learn phrases.

If you know 1000 words, you might not be able to say one correct sentence. But if you know 1 phrase, you can make hundreds of correct sentences. If you know 100 phrases, you will be surprised at how many correct sentences you will be able to say. Finally, when you know only a 1000 phrases, you will be almost a fluent English speaker.

The English Speaking Basics section is a great example of making numerous sentences with a single phrase. So don't spend hours and hours learning many different words. Use that time to study phrases instead and you will be closer to English fluency.

Don't translate

When you want to create an English sentence, do not translate the words from your Mother tongue. The order of words is probably completely different and you will be both slow and incorrect by doing this. Instead, learn phrases and sentences so you don't have to think about the words you are saying. It should be automatic.

Another problem with translating is that you will be trying to incorporate grammar rules that you have learned. Translating and thinking about the grammar to create English sentences is incorrect and should be avoided.

3. Reading and Listening is NOT enough. Practice Speaking what you hear!

Reading, listening, and speaking are the most important aspects of any language. The same is true for English. However, speaking is the only requirement to be fluent. It is normal for babies and children to learn speaking first, become fluent, then start reading, then writing. So the natural order is listening, speaking, reading, then writing.

First Problem

Isn't it strange that schools across the world teach reading first, then writing, then listening, and finally speaking? Although it is different, the main reason is because when you learn a second language, you need to read material to understand and learn it. So even though the natural order is listening, speaking, reading, then writing, the order for ESL students is reading, listening, speaking, then writing.

Second Problem

The reason many people can read and listen is because that's all they practice. But in order to speak English fluently, you need to practice speaking. Don't stop at the listening portion, and when you study, don't just listen. Speak out loud the material you are listening to and practice what you hear. Practice speaking out loud until your mouth and brain can do it without any effort. By doing so, you will be able to speak English fluently.

4. Submerge yourself

Being able to speak a language is not related to how smart you are. Anyone can learn how to speak any language. This is a proven fact by everyone in the world. Everyone can speak at least one language. Whether you are intelligent, or lacking some brain power, you are able to speak one language.

This was achieved by being around that language at all times. In your country, you hear and speak your language constantly. You will notice that many people who are good English speakers are the ones who studied in an English speaking school. They can speak English not because they went to an English speaking school, but because they had an environment where they can be around English speaking people constantly.

There are also some people who study abroad and learn very little. That is because they went to an English speaking school, but found friends from their own country and didn't practice English.

You don't have to go anywhere to become a fluent English speaker. You only need to surround yourself with English. You can do this by making rules with your existing friends that you will only speak English. You can also carry around an iPod and constantly listen to English sentences. As you can see, you can achieve results by changing what your surroundings are. Submerge yourself in English and you will learn several times faster.

5. Study correct material

A common phrase that is incorrect is, "Practice makes perfect." This is far from the truth. Practice only makes what you are practicing permanent. If you practice the incorrect sentence, you will have perfected saying the sentence incorrectly. Therefore, it is important that you study material that is commonly used by most people.

Another problem I see is that many students study the news. However, the language they speak is more formal and the content they use is more political and not used in regular life. It is important to understand what they are saying, but this is more of an advanced lesson that should be studied after learning the fundamental basics of English.

Studying English with a friend who is not a native English speaker is both good and bad. You should be aware of the pros and cons of speaking with a non native speaking friend. Practicing with a non native person will give you practice. You can also motivate each other and point out basic mistakes. But you might pick up bad habits from one another if you are not sure about what are correct and incorrect sentences. So use these practice times as a time period to practice the correct material you studied. Not to learn how to say a sentence.

In short, study English material that you can trust, that is commonly used, and that is correct.

Source http://googleweblight.com/?lite_url=http://www.talkenglish.com/extralessons/speakingrules.aspx&ei=AmCY6xFs&lc=id-ID&s=1&m=94&ts=1443264114&sig=APONPFkrrZ9RX-oOVGFG15U3fv1YBsdGpA

Peraturan Undang - Undang Tentang ITE

Dokumen Lengkap tentang UU ITE bisa di Download disini { Here}

1) Undang-Undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2008 Tentang Internet & Transaksi Elektronik (ITE) Undang-undang ini, yang telah disahkan dan diundangkan pada tanggal 21 April 2008, walaupun sampai dengan hari ini belum ada sebuah PP yang mengatur mengenai teknis pelaksanaannya, namun diharapkan dapat menjadi sebuah undang-undang cyber atau cyberlaw guna menjerat pelaku-pelaku cybercrime yang tidak bertanggungjawab dan menjadi sebuah payung hukum bagi masyarakat pengguna teknologi informasi guna mencapai sebuah kepastian hukum.

a. Pasal 27 UU ITE tahun 2008 : Setiap orang dengan sengaja dan tanpa hak mendistribusikan dan/atau mentransmisikan dan/atau membuat dapat diaksesnya informasi elektronik dan/atau dokumen elektronik yang memiliki muatan yang melanggar kesusilaan. Ancaman pidana pasal 45(1) KUHP. Pidana penjara paling lama 6 (enam) tahun dan/atau denda paling banyak Rp 1.000.000.000,00 (satu miliar rupiah). Diatur pula dalam KUHP pasal 282 mengenai kejahatan terhadap kesusilaan.

b. Pasal 28 UU ITE tahun 2008 : Setiap orang dengan sengaja dan tanpa hak menyebarkan berita bohong dan menyesatkan yang mengakibatkan kerugian konsumen dalam transaksi elektronik.

c. Pasal 29 UU ITE tahun 2008 : Setiap orang dengan sengaja dan tanpa hak mengirimkan informasi elektronik dan/atau dokumen elektronik yang berisi ancaman kekerasaan atau menakut-nakuti yang dutujukkan secara pribadi (Cyber Stalking). Ancaman pidana pasal 45 (3) Setiap orang yang memenuhi unsur sebagaimana dimaksud dalam pasal 29 dipidana dengan pidana penjara paling lama 12 (dua belas) tahun dan/atau denda paling banyak Rp. 2.000.000.000,00 (dua miliar rupiah).

d. Pasal 30 UU ITE tahun 2008 ayat 3 : Setiap orang dengan sengaja dan tanpa hak atau melawan hukum mengakses computer dan/atau system elektronik dengan cara apapun dengan melanggar, menerobos, melampaui, atau menjebol system pengaman (cracking, hacking, illegal access). Ancaman pidana pasal 46 ayat 3 setiap orang yang memebuhi unsure sebagaimana dimaksud dalam pasal 30 ayat 3 dipidana dengan pidana penjara paling lama 8 (delapan) dan/atau denda paling banyak Rp 800.000.000,00 (delapan ratus juta rupiah).

e. Pasal 33 UU ITE tahun 2008 : Setiap orang dengan sengaja dan tanpa hak atau melawan hukum melakukan tindakan apa pun yang berakibat terganggunya system elektronik dan/atau mengakibatkan system elektronik menjadi tidak bekerja sebagaiman mestinya.

f. Pasal 34 UU ITE tahun 2008 : Setiap orang dengan sengaja dan tanpa hak atau melawan hukum memproduksi, menjual, mengadakan untuk digunakan, mengimpor, mendistribusikan, menyediakan atau memiliki.

g. Pasal 35 UU ITE tahun 2008 : Setiap orang dengan sengaja dan tanpa hak atau melawan hukum melakukan manipulasi, penciptaan, perubahan, penghilangan, pengrusakan informasi elektronik dan/atau dokumen elektronik dengan tujuan agar informasi elektronik dan/atau dokumen elektronik tersebut seolah-olah data yang otentik (Phising = penipuan situs).

2) Kitab Undang Undang Hukum Pidana

Pasal 362 KUHP yang dikenakan untuk kasus carding.

Pasal 378 KUHP dapat dikenakan untuk penipuan.

Pasal 335 KUHP dapat dikenakan untuk kasus pengancaman dan pemerasan yang dilakukan melalui e-mail yang dikirimkan oleh pelaku untuk memaksa korban melakukan sesuatu sesuai dengan apa yang diinginkannya.

Pasal 311 KUHP dapat dikenakan untuk kasus pencemaran nama baik dengan menggunakan media Internet.

Pasal 303 KUHP dapat dikenakan untuk menjerat permainan judi yang dilakukan secara online di Internet dengan penyelenggara dari Indonesia.

Pasal 282 KUHP dapat dikenakan untuk penyebaran pornografi.

Pasal 282 dan 311 KUHP dapat dikenakan untuk kasus penyebaran foto atau film pribadi seseorang.

Pasal 406 KUHP dapat dikenakan pada kasus deface atau hacking yang membuat sistem milik orang lain.