IHL:
Language and pronounciation isn't the half of it. Somewhere along the line the English milliard became the American billion. For the scientific ones among us, over here in USA each denomination above 1000 million is 1000 times the one preceding. Why it is counted different in Blighty (is it okay for a Yank to use that name?) is a mystery. But the lack of zeroes must play hob with the balance of payments!!