A Comparative Phonological Study of Vowel Variation between British and American English: Evidence from 200 Words

الملخص

This study examines systematic phonological differences between British
English (Received Pronunciation—RP) and American English (General
American—GA) through a dataset of 200 carefully selected lexical items.
Adopting a descriptive-analytical method , the study analyzes vowel and
consonant variation, focusing on key contrasts such as /ɒ/ vs /ɑː/, the Trap–Bath
split, rhoticity, yod-dropping, and GA flapping. Findings reveal predictable and
historically motivated patterns that clearly differentiate RP from GA. The study
also shows that learners often mix features of both dialects, resulting in
inconsistent pronunciation and reduced intelligibility.Additionally, the analysis
demonstrates that segmental variation directly affects listening comprehension,
particularly for learners trained in only one dialect. The results also indicate that
exposure to mixed media sources—British and American—intensifies dialectal
interference among university-level students. In response, the study recommends
the integration of structured RP–GA comparison charts into pronunciation
instruction, the development of digital tools providing paired dialectal models, and
encouraging learners to adopt a consistent pronunciation standard. The 200-word
dataset serves as a practical pedagogical and research resource. Overall, the study
contributes to applied phonetics by offering a systematic, evidence-based reference
for teaching and analyzing English dialectal variation.