The Impact of the Differences between American English and British English on the Sudanese English Language Learners

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the Effects of the Differences between American English and British English on Sudanese English Language Learners in some different levels of language (semantics, syntax, and phonology) .The research attempts also to reveal the problems which may face English language learner who doesn't use English as a mother tongue, especially, Sudanese English language learner.

The researcher gave a background of English accent. The researcher also briefly gave some accounts about the history of the English language and the countries in which it is used as a mother tongue or as official language. In this part the researcher defines the meaning of some terms.

The researcher used some certain tools to prove the hypotheses of the study, some of which interviewing some native speakers (American and British) who visit or work in Sudan. The researcher also used other data collecting tools include a test which was given to the secondary school students (third year) in Northern Kordofan State (Alnhud District) to clarify the impact of the different accents on Sudanese English language learners.

The researcher recorded some materials (10 different words) by both American and British voices on a tape cassette and gave the students a chance to listen to them to identify the two varieties.

The results and findings which the researcher came to reach at the end of the investigations supported the research hypotheses and assumptions which state that there are varieties between American English and British English in some language levels and these varieties may cause problems to those who use English as a second or a foreign language.

This study contains some suggestions which the researcher considers them of great importance in solving the problems which face the English language learner as a second or foreign language, and the study also contains suggestions which can be useful in doing other studies.