Abstract ii

Aknowledgements iii

Introduction . 1

I. Historical Background of British and American English . .2

A. The History of British English . 3

1. The Period of Old English .3

2. The Period of Middle English 4

3. The Period of Modern English 5

B. The Development of American English on the Basis of British English 6

II. Reasons for the Development of American English 7

A. Being in Different Regions 8

B. Borrowing Words from Other Countries 8

C. Revolting Politics and Ideology in North America .10

III. The Different Meanings in American English Vocabulary .11

A. Creation of American Lexicon 11

B. Different Meanings between American and British English 12

C. Same Objects Being Expressed in Different Vocabularies 13

D. The Simplification in American English Lexicology 14

E. Other Forms of American English Being Different from British English, .14

IV. The Developing Tendency of American and British English 15

A. The Influence of American English .16

B. The Leading Position of American English .16

Conclusion .19

Notes . .20

Bibliography 2