A Brief Background of the American English Language

The American version of the English language originated from the British English that was brought to the country from the first European settlers.

Their British English turned into what has become American English, a language of its own.

There are many similarities between British English and American English and there are times when the two are used interchangeably. However, American English requires a different accent, pronunciation, spelling, and grammar.

In fact, in 1828,  Noah Webster created the very first American dictionary laid the foundation of the differences between the two languages.

The dictionary included many spelling changes which were later introduced into everyday language. And yet, in his effort to essentially establish a more simplified version of the English language, Webster actually caused much confusion and his many changes were therefore only partially adopted.

It's critically important to properly adapt certain words or sentences to either the American or British dialect.

For example, the line: "I'll call you on your cell phone later" in American English would be phrased as: "I'll ring you on your mobile phone in a bit" in British English. We therefore recommend to have a native proofread the copy before sending it to the studio for recording.

American English is the first language of more than 225 million people in the United States.

An additional 25 million people who live in the country speak American English as their second language.

The many different regions of the United States of America reflect small differences in dialect.

American English is standard throughout the country, but pronunciation and vocabulary will vary depending upon the region. The South, for example, has phrases and accent that are far different from that of the Northeast or the Northwest.

In fact, there are nearly ten different regional dialects of American English.

American English draws many of its words from other foreign languages. These can range from Latin, French, and Spanish, to Native American.

Our team of professional voice actors can take your project to the next level with that perfect American English narration.

Contact us today and let us help you find the right one for you!