English speaking countries and Commonwealth –

an introduction

Simonetta Gatto Istituto Comprensivo di Casella

(GE)

The Commonwealth of Nations

What is it?

The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 54 independent states, most of which are ex British colonies (except for the United Kingdom itself, Mozambique and Rwanda).

Its objectives

The Commonwealth is an international organisation of countries which have diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds. They cooperate to promote democracy, human rights, individual liberty and world peace.

The Head of the Commonwealth

Queen Elizabeth II

The first head of the Commonwealth was her father George IV.

The title was devised in 1949.

The headquarters

The headquarters is Malboughrough House and it is in Westminster, London.

The language of the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth Games

Every four years the Commonwealth of Nations organize a multisport international event: the Commonwealth Games.

Last and next Games

Some sports are not played at the Olympic games

• Squash• Lawn Bowls• Rugby seven• Netball• Cricket

Seventeen sports

• Aquatics• Athletics• Badminton• Boxing• Cycling• Gymnastics• Hockey• Judo• Lawn Bowls

• Netball• Rugby Sevens• Shooting• Squash• Table Tennis• Triathlon• Weightlifting• Wrestling

The English speaking countries do not concide with the Commonwealth

How many “Englishes”?

English is one language, but there are several varieties: the two most important are:

• BE = British English

• AE = American English

How do British English and American English differ?

• Vocabulary• Pronunciation• Grammar• Spelling

benz ina

met r opolit ana

fi lm

pat at ine f r it t e

pat at ine (sacchet t o)

camion

aut ost r ada

appar t ament o

ascensor e

biscot t o

car amella

I t alian

pet r ol

under gr ound

fi lm

chips

cr isps

lor r y

mot or way

fl at

lif t

b iscuit

sweet

Br it ish E nglish

gasoline

subway

movie

F r ench f r ies

ch ips

t r uck

highway

apar t ment

elevat or

cook ie

candy

A mer ican E nglish

Vocabular y

H ave you got any br ot her s?

BE

Do you have any br ot her s?

A E

Gr ammar

cent r e

colour

f avour it e

pr ogr am

BE

cent er

color

f avor it e

pr ogr amme

A E

S pelling