Abstract
The Distinction Between British and American English in Relation to Turkish Students' Cultural Preferences
The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship of students' capability of making distinctions between British and American English words (and their spelling) with their attitudes and preferences toward British and American culture. The preference of pronunciation patterns (i.e. the British and American accents) was also investigated. There were 140 Turkish students (out of which 41.4% males and 58.6% females) studying at a State university in Aegean region who participated this research. The findings revealed the positive relationship of students' capability of the distinction between British and American English words with levels of English competencies, years spent learning English, and preferences toward British and American culture. The other findings yielded moderate to strong preferences toward British/American cultural heritage and differences between Turkish and British/American culture. Additionally, Turkish students liked the American accent more compared to the British accent.
Keywords
British English, American English, Cultural Preference, Pronunciation
