CHARACTERISTICS

There are certain stereotypes of national character which are well-known in ( Britain/ Wales). For instance the ( Irish/ Welsh) are supposed to be great talkers, the ( Scots/ English) have a reputation for being careful with money, and the ( Welsh/ Irish) are famous for its singing ability. These characteristics are, of course only caricatures and are not reliable descriptions of individual people from these countries. Nevertheless, they indicate some slight differences in the value attached to certain kinds of behavior in the countries observed.

Some more signs of national identity

John Bull is a fictional character who is supposed to personify ( Englishness/ Welshness). ( Briton/ British) is a word used in official contexts and in formal writing to describe a citizen of the United Kingdom. "Ancient Britons" is the name given to the race of people who lived in England before and during the Roman occupation. These are the ancestors of the present-day ( Welsh/ Irish) people.

Caledonia, Cambria and Hibernia were the Romans names for Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The words are commonly used today in scholarly classification (for ex. The type of English used today in Ireland is sometimes called "Hiberno-English") and for the names of organizations (for ex. The airline "British Caledonia?). Ex. 3. Describe each nationality using identifying symbols, signs of national identity such as: names, clothes, musical instruments, giving characteristics of certain streotypes.

England Wales

St. George's Cross The Dragon of Cadwallader

Ireland Scotland

St. Patrick's Cross St. Andrew's Cross

Now, you could discuss the flower symbols:

hint: England, Scotland and Ireland have one flower as a symbol but Wales is identified with 2 flowers.

Leek Shamrock Thistle

Daffodil Rose

Now, check your knowledge!

Test 1.

Ex.1 Choose the correct answer:

hint: there can be 2 right variants.

1. Geographically speaking Britain is:

Three large islands, lying east-west coast of Europe;

One big island, consisting of Scotland, Great Britain and Wales;

Two large islands lying off the north-west coast of Europe and several much smaller ones.

2. Speaking about in British terminology the word 'state' refers to:

structure of the British political system;

has a political meaning;

a unit of governmental authority.

3. The word 'nation' is used when:

speaking about government or people;

speaking about English; Scottish, Welsh or Irish people, when the focus is on the sense on identity which these people feel;

speaking about English; Scottish, Welsh.

4. The word 'country' is used:

generally to refer either to Britain or one of its nation;

without specific allusion to either government or people;

Interchangeably with words nation and state.

5. Politically speaking Britain is a country:

consisting of 3 states - Scotland, Great Britain and Wales ;

consisting of 2 states - British Isles and The Republic of Ireland;

consisting of 4 states - Scotland, Great Britain, Wales and Ireland.

6. Albion is a word used in :

political context, meaning Great Britain;

poetic or rhetorical context to refer to England;

poetic or rhetorical context to refer to Scotland and Wales.

7. Britannia is the name that Romans gave to:

the female embodiment of Britain, shown wearing a helmet and holding a trident;

the southern British province;

Scotland, Great Britain, Wales and Ireland.

8. Strictly correct to call Britain is:

England;

British Isles;

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

9. The Angles were:

people inhabited the territory of Scotland and Wales in the 4th century;

ancient British priest;

a Germanic tribe who settled in England in the 5th century.

10. The Union Jack is:

national flag of British Isles;

a combination of the cross of St. George’s, flag - Dragon of Cadwallader, the cross of St. Andrew, the cross of St. Patrick;

a combination of the cross of St. George’s, the cross of St. Andrew, the cross of St. Patrick. Ex 2. Identify symbols of four nations (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland) from the list of names, clothes, instruments, characteristic expressions and words:

Names:

with the prefix Mac, Mc

with the prefix O

surnames - Davis Morgan

Evans Williams

Jones Smith

nicknames - Smith Mick

Jock Taffy

Paddy John Bull

Instruments:

The harps

the bagpipes

Characteristics:

Great talkers

people being careful with money

people with good singing ability

Saints:

St. George

St. David

St. Andrew

St.Patrick

Plants:

Rose

Leek or Daffodil

Thistle

Shamrock

Colors:

White

Red

Blue

Green Ex. 4 Here are some brief extracts from an article written by a Scotswoman, Jannet Swinney. Read them and try to understand what feeling she expresses at how the dominance of England over Scotland is described:

Date: 2014-12-29; view: 1962