American Voice Over Talents

Americans Speak American English
Although Americans speak English it is known as American English and the spelling and pronunciation of many of the words are different from British English. People in the United States speak with an American accent and so they sound different to people who speak English in other countries.

America doesn’t have an official language
Most countries have an official language, for instance, in France the official language is French and in Germany it is German. But in America although English is the most common language it is not official at federal level as the founding fathers didn’t think it was necessary.

There are more Spanish Speakers in America than in Spain
There are more Spanish speakers in America than there are in Spain. In Spain there are around 43 million people speaking Spanish. In America more than 45 million people can speak Spanish either as a first or second language.

America has young cities
America’s oldest city is St Augustine in Florida. It was claimed by Spain in 1513 but America got it back in 1821 which was 45 years after the American’s claimed independence from Great Britain.

The American flag has 13 stripes
The American flag has 13 stripes and each one represents a colony that was declared independent from Great Britain in 1776. The red, blue and white flag also has 50 stars which represent the country’s 50 states

America has 50 states
The city of Washington DC is a federal district and so isn’t regarded as a state. If it was included, it would mean the American flag would be missing a star and should have 51 states. The last two states joined in 1959, they were Hawaii and Alaska.

 America has a National Anthem
The American National Anthem is the Star-Spangled Banner, and it was written in 1814 and based on a poem by Francis Scott Key. The song has four verses, and its famous lines include the words “land of the free and home of the brave.”

America’s Capital City is Washington DC
The capital city of America is Washington DC, and the DC means District of Columbia. It was named that way to honour Christopher Columbus by George Washington. Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492 while he was sailing his ship the Santa Maria.

America’s largest city
America’s largest city is New York. This city has more than 8.4 million inhabitants who speak over 800 languages which include English, Spanish, Tagalog and Chinese. Times square in New York used to be called Longacre Square, but it was changed when the New York Times opened their offices there in 1904.

America’s got a beautiful Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is said to be the most beautiful bridge in the world.  It connects San Francisco to Marin County and it’s one mile wide. It was opened in 1937 and at that time it was the longest and the tallest suspension bridge in the world.

A short history on the American language

American English is the version of English that is spoken and written in the United States of America. It evolved as a result of the English colonisation of North America that began in the 17th century.

The main difference between American English and British English is in pronunciation, although there are also variations in grammar and vocabulary.

American English is standardised across the United States, with a series of distinct dialects that vary across regions of the country. These dialects developed as settlers from different parts of Britain (eg Scotland), as well as from other countries (eg Germany, Ireland, Spain), spread across the country. The language has also been influenced by the Native American population.

The first major American dictionary was written in 1828. The publication of ‘An American Dictionary of the English Language’ was a big step forward in distinguishing the English language used in the United States from that used in Britain.

Which countries have American as a national language? How many people speak American as their first language?

There are actually no official languages at federal level in the United States. However, around 80% of the population – over 250 million people – speak English as their first language, so it is effectively the country’s national language.

The influence of American English on English speakers throughout the world has been huge, particularly through American films, music and TV programmes.

Did you know…

• American English retained many Middle or Early Modern English words, which have since been largely lost to the modern British English language. These include fall (for autumn), diaper and candy.
• There is a distinct disposition to use nouns as verbs in American English, that has become widespread among other English speakers, eg advocate, lobby, transition, leverage, profile, gift, showcase, exit and vacation.
• A standard American accent, free from regional influences, is referred to as General American.
• Settlers borrowed Native American names for the ‘new’ plants and animals that they came across – eg raccoon and moose.
• Other examples of words borrowed from foreign languages, following immigration in the 19th and early 20th century, include bagel, chutzpah (Yiddish), hamburger and kindergarten (German).

The American economy

The United States has the largest national economy in the world, and has done since at least the 1890s. The country’s nominal GDP (as estimated at June 2013) is approximately a quarter of the entire nominal global GDP.

Despite the 2007/2008 financial crisis, the United States still has high productivity and relatively low unemployment. It has plenty of natural resources, and is the second largest producer of natural gas in the world, and the third largest producer of oil.

The country’s top five trading partners are Canada, China, Mexico, Japan and Germany. It is the world’s largest manufacturer, producing a fifth of the total global output. Around a quarter of the world’s 500 largest companies have their headquarters in the United States.