Regional stereotypes causing national and regional rivalries
National stereotypes
Some people doubt about such a phenomena as national stereotypes. They think that a stereotype – is a fixed set of ideas about what a particular type of person or thing is like, which is wrongly believed to be true in all cases.
The English character is considered to be the most contradictory and paradoxical of all the European nations. Almost any element has it opposite aspect. The English are known as superior, snobbish, aloof, hypocritical, unsociable, reserved (quite. Not showing their feelings). They are also set to keep a stiff upper lip. (не терять мужества, сохранять бодрость духа).
The country’s position geographically has produced a lot of insulararity (insular spirit). They tend rather more than other nations that their country is a center of the world.
The British look down on the foreigners. (смотреть свысока, с презрением). There is a certain amount of xenophobia. (нелюбовь к иностранцам).
It is shown with English football fans, hooliganism and violence.
The British insularity is shown in their patriotism – called jingoism (ура патриотизм)
What English think of themselves –they have tolerance, decency, moderation, consensus, fair play, a genius for compromise.
John Bull is a (imaginary typical Englishman, a nickname of the English). Personification of the English national character.
«Law is a Bottomless Pit or the History of John Bull» - by John Arbuthnot (1712)
He also had a bulldog near him thinking that he had the same independent serious character.
He is simple, straight forward, easy to trick, but he knows for certain what he wants and his common sense always shows him the right way out of any situation.
The English opinion about themselves
- Self-irony, a light dig at oneself
- A hidden deep respect for oneself
A typical Englishman is a man wearing bowler hat and reading Times newspaper. (another stereotype)
The view from outside
- Reserve and modesty
- Politeness
- Helpfulness
- Understatement – преуменьшение, сдержанное высказывание
- Traditionally-minded
- Conservatism
- They love and respect Monarchy
Nationally conservatism is seen almost in every aspect of their life.
They are less fashion conscious. The majority dresses concretively. They have charity organizations, sport clubs, trade unions, voluntary organizations and a lot of other organizations.
The English like to organize themselves in order to improve their life. The English are individualist-minded people as well. They emphasize individuality and hate the idea of being the same. Ере is why many institutions have their own uniform to make them different from others. The English reserve is well known. They are desire to hide the emotions to save face. There are not many things which can make the English to lose control.
They respect law, traffic rules and so on. They prefer to queue. The English are modest. They attend to use understatement.
Snobbery is not so often to see today, as it was earlier. Advertises know how to use snobbery to sell goods.
Accent
Accent is closely connected with class distinction because the way English a spoken tells us not only about the regional identity of a person but a class state either.
Received pronunciation is – an accepted social dialect of the national elite taught in public school.
RP:
- unmarked – well-educated people, BBC radio and television
- marked – Oxford English (members of upper class)
The English are great lovers of gardens and animals especially dogs and horses. Animals are also protected by law. One of the aspects of a national character is the love of a countryside. English people are sport lovers. Popular national games include golf, rugby, football, cricket.
Upper-class pastime – fox-hunting, rowing and horse racing.
The English like gambling and they spend a lot of money making stakes.
The most popular forms of betting are horse racing, bingo and football pools.
The English are the world's greatest tea drinkers because they drink a quarter of the tea grown in the world. Tea is considered to be a national beverage.
The English are known to be practical and realistic – full of common sense. They are polite. Most people expect of person in front of to hold a door for them. In England you can never (the only country where you have to apologize if smb steps on your toes)
The English sense of privacy is notorious – England is a country of brick fences and stone walls.
Practical all the qualities mentioned are referred to the English.
The Scots\The Irish\ the Irish have their separate identities which they managed to retain in spite of English domination.
The Scots – dour, implacable, pawky, courageous, “the stingiest people on Earth” (not rue). - they don't like to spend money on themselves but prefer to spare it on relatives and friend.
penny-wise but pound-foolish
The English are amiable, polite but genius for compromise and can be ruthless
The Scots are very kind but at first glance are not so amiable, they hate compromise, lean much of logic and run much too extremes. It's from the Celts these features come.
The Scots are clever and simple people and have a natural sense of humour.
They are hard-working people, although like to dance very much. Family relations are very important for them.
Every Scotsman belong to a clan – a big family group. Many names begin with Mac or Mc.
Each clan its own special tartan with characteristic pattern
The Welsh – the strongest national spirit, national pride
Cherish their customs and traditions
highly developed artistic sense – drama
They are known for their singing
The Irish – reckless, leg-pulling (like making jokes), ironical about themselves, but at the same time they are self-absorbed and melancholic.
Full English breakfast – eggs, ham and toast.
Regional stereotypes causing national and regional rivalries
Most significant division – The North-South Divide. It is primarily the economic division between the richer south (area around London) and the poorer North.
The North-South Divide of England
Some Londoners dismiss the rest of England as provinces with little culture. The South like to think that they are more sophisticated and more outward-looking.
But the North can claim many positive features – beautiful countryside, a less pressured lifestyle, cheaper housing.
Northerners are more cheerful and friendly than southerners.
The North-South Divide of Wales
The rural north is more traditional than the industrial south.
The North-South Divide of Scotland
The North – Highlanders
The South – Lowlanders.
Highland people traditionally regard people from South as untrustworthy and weak.
Lowlanders believed that Highlanders are more aggressive and less civilized.
The mutual feeling – a dislike of “Sassenachs” (= The English)
a Sassenach – Gaelic 'a Saxon'
Divides in Ireland
there are 2 divides:
1) the division between the Irish (of republic) and the Northern Irish
before the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 Ulster comprised 9 counties and was one of the four ancient kingdoms of Ireland. The Treaty put a border between Northern and Southern Ireland and cut of three counties. The Treaty left the N I live neither Irish nor British nor all of Ulster
2) the division between the Catholics and Protestant in Northern Ireland
appeared in1609 when thousands of Scots Presbyterians were brought to Ulster. The colonized (Catholics) hatred the colonizers (Protestants). The Irish were persecuted not only for being …
the majority of population is Protestant – are mainly Unionists (support the union between the N I and Britain) and Loyalists (are loyal to the Treaty). Some of them are Orangemen – members of the Orange order (1795 named after King William III of Orange)
the minority of population is Catholic – Nationalists – members of the national Party or Republicans – they all support the idea of a single Irish nation with a republic government). For many years Catholics were not allowed to hold public offices and some people say they still
Each community has its own political parties, schools, pubs.
There had been numerous attempts to set the problem and give the Ireland more authority. There are still many problems facing the northern Ireland (many terrorists still commit too violence).
The issue of religious parades which increase tension between the marching season (period in July and August when Protestant groups (Orangemen) celebrate Protestant victories over Catholics in the 17th century.
Kate Fox – watching the English (the hidden rules of English behaviour)