Baltimore and Pittsburgh are two cities located in the United States, specifically in the state of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively. Although both cities are located in the same country, they have their own unique characteristics and differences that set them apart. In this article, we will take a closer look at Baltimore and Pittsburgh and compare them from the perspective of British English.
First, let's take a look at the history of both cities. Baltimore was founded in 1729 and named after Lord Baltimore, who was the proprietor of the Maryland colony. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, was founded much later, in 1758, as a military outpost during the French and Indian War. Both cities have a rich history and have played important roles in the development of the United States.
When it comes to language, Baltimore and Pittsburgh both have their own distinct dialects of American English. However, since we are looking at the comparison from the perspective of British English, we will focus on the differences between these dialects and British English.
One of the main differences between British English and the dialects spoken in Baltimore and Pittsburgh is the pronunciation of certain vowels. In British English, the vowel sound in "dance" and "grass" is pronounced as a short "a" sound. However, in Baltimore and Pittsburgh dialects, this sound is often pronounced as a longer "a" sound, similar to the sound in "father". For example, the word "dance" might be pronounced as "daynce" in these dialects.
Another difference in pronunciation is the use of the "r" sound. In British English, the "r" sound is often not pronounced at the end of a word, such as in the word "doctor". However, in Baltimore and Pittsburgh dialects, the "r" sound is often pronounced at the end of words, such as in the word "idea".
In terms of vocabulary, there are also some differences between British English and the dialects spoken in Baltimore and Pittsburgh. For example, in British English, the word "boot" refers to the trunk of a car, while in American English, including the dialects spoken in Baltimore and Pittsburgh, it refers to a type of footwear. Similarly, in British English, the word "chips" refers to what Americans would call "french fries", while in American English, "chips" are thin slices of potato that are often fried or baked.
Another example of vocabulary differences is the use of the word "y'all". In American English, including the dialects spoken in Baltimore and Pittsburgh, "y'all" is a contraction of "you all" and is used as a plural form of "you". In British English, however, this form is not used, and instead, "you" is used for both singular and plural forms.
Grammar is another area where there are some differences between British English and the dialects spoken in Baltimore and Pittsburgh. One example is the use of the present perfect tense. In British English, the present perfect tense is often used to describe an action that happened in the past but is still relevant in the present. For example, "I have lost my keys" would be used to describe the fact that the speaker currently does not have their keys. In American English, including the dialects spoken in Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the past simple tense is often used in this situation, such as "I lost my keys".
In addition to language differences, there are also cultural differences between Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Baltimore is known for its seafood, particularly its famous blue crabs. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is known for its steel industry and its famous sandwich, the "Primanti Brothers sandwich", which includes coleslaw and French fries.
Another cultural difference is the sports teams that are supported in each city.