Preview

British Character

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1746 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
British Character
British character
"The British are definitely romantic,

much more romantic then Italians ..."

Generally British people are polite. During my first visit to London I remember seeing a man in the underground asking for information from a ticket seller. The latter didn't replay and the man said "Thank you very much", started working off, and then turned around and said "fuck you, stupid".

So, for me, the British people are polite, but this way of behaviour is probably a mask for all kind of other feeling. They may be polite partly because they are afraid of drama and of confrontation. For this reason, they also may be attracted to "dramatic" people, like the Italian.

I would like to research into English people (my first wife is, in her own words, "a Londoner”). In our life, I find that Clare reacts and behaves in ways which I would describe as "British", or more specially English.

For the sake of simplicity I will use the word "British", although we should not, as my fife keeps on telling me, forget that the Scottish, for example (yes she has Scots blood too) are an altogether different species. More immediately expressive, direct and hot-tempered, for example, then the English and the Welsh. Scottish people may be more open to foreign countries and contacts because they have traditionally looked for contacts.

British traditions are rather interesting and unusual. If you arrive in Great Britain, you’ll hear the word “tradition” everywhere. Englishmen have a sentimental love for things and traditions because they are old. They never throw away old things.

In many houses of Great Britain they have fireplaces and though their bedrooms are awfully cold, the English people don’t want to have central heating because they don’t want to have changes.
Therefore the Yeomen-Warders are dressed in traditional medieval clothes and the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    D2 Unit 2 Computer systems

    • 3188 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Cultural differences are present wherever you travel to, you will come across cultural differences, and these can vary quite a bit, such as the language people use e.g. English people say "Chips" compared to Americans who say "Fries”. A businessman may find himself in the middle of cultural differences quite often and thus, will have to devise methods as to how to make sure no one is offended or that he is fully understood. Certain methods he would use to overcome such issues are greeting people on a last name basis. Also refraining on using most signed gestures, as they can vary in meaning quite greatly, for example, the English gesture to say something is ok (Generally a circle made with the thumb and index finger) is the equivalent of a swear in Greece. Most of the time a little bit of research about the culture you will interact with can prevent such mishaps.…

    • 3188 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Language and cultural differences: In the UK there are many different cultures, ethnic groups and language communities. Some service users may have English as their second or third language; some may not even speak English at all.…

    • 1555 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In my family, we’re taught to mind our own. This is why I found interacting with strangers so hard to do. However, on my dad’s side they have a heavy African culture. My cousins from that side find it rude to not smile or wave hello to someone they’re passing. I always knew there was a difference, now it makes more sense…

    • 2438 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Another variation between Britons is our idiolect and choice of vocabulary. This can largely depend on our social class, and education. There is a huge amount of…

    • 1424 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet." At least, that's what English writer Rudyard Kipling said. Truth is, nowadays Easterners and Westerners meet quite often. And when they do meet, naturally, they have to find an appropriate greeting. Aye, there's the rub raymond mill. What's culturally appropriate for people in one culture may be completely out of line in another culture. So the best approach is to follow the well-known maxim, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."…

    • 436 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It’s more than just a word and its meaning is much stronger than you might think. Tradition is everything we live on our everyday basis. We don’t think about it, but we encounter tradition in almost everything we do. It’s how we were taught and it is how our children will be taught by us in the future. We need to understand that tradition makes us who we are and what we do. It is the root of our lives. It is the way of living……

    • 847 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Level 2 Communication

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Cultural differences, when the same thing means different things in two cultures, communication can be difficult. For example, it is seen as polite and respectful to make eye contact when speaking to someone in Western culture but in other cultures, in East Asia, it can be seen as rude.…

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    What are “Manners” and do they vary depending on who you are from a socioeconomic and ethnic perspective?…

    • 1534 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Are Germans ruder than the British? Are Britons more dishonest than Germans? Fortunately, we don't have to rely on blind prejudice for answers. Serious academic research has been done on both sides of the North Sea.…

    • 825 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Cultural Differences

    • 502 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The first culture difference that many Japanese find in America is their greeting customs. Although the greeting is one of the simplest human communications, both countries have different methods of greeting each other. The main reason for the difference is that Americans use verbal greetings and the Japanese use nonverbal greetings. In America, generally elderly people are introduced first. In contrast, the traditional rule is the opposite in Japan: young people have to be introduced first in Japan. This rule is the sort of manner in there, and the people who do not follow this regulation are considered rude. Americans use verbal communications - they always say "Hi" or "How are you?", even people who are strangers say "How is it going?" Due to inexperience with this greeting, first, most foreigners who first come to America are confused whether they should respond or not. As a result, they think Americans are friendly, refreshing, or sociable. However, people who come to…

    • 502 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    This attitude is not conceivable in the European/North-American culture, at least in Brown and Levinson’s model of politeness. For the sake of comparison and contrast, the English equivalent Glad/Pleased to meet you is meant to stroke the positive face of the addressee by conveying…

    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    On the other hands, Italians lean towards having an extremely animated and dramatic conversation. When greeting one another, in certain regions men may even change after knowing someone very well from a firm handshake to a kiss on each cheek. Women will kiss lightly on each cheek up to 3 times. In the beginning, standing at an arm’s length counts as normal but shortens as you get better acquainted with that person. Touching is actually a very normal thing to happen during any regular conversation. Direct contact is the expected and greatly appreciated. While speaking, they will use their hands to give an emphasis to whatever they may be talking about. Sometimes, it may seem that an Italian may be arguing, but…

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Being Good

    • 1421 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Websters Ninth collegiate dictionary defines etiquette as "The conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life." What this tells us is that those who are bred well, and feel that others are, have certain expectations of those people. If said people don 't meet those undefined standards of good breeding, then their etiquette is at fault. The other part of the definition describes etiquette as being prescribed by authority. There are times when a set of rules are laid out for a specific occasion. When this is not defined, one must decide what action or set of actions is appropriate. It reminds me of the saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Yet if I were to go to Rome, I 'll still be American, and would have to decide if being in Rome is worth acting like a Roman. Emily Post (whom I will discuss) said "Etiquette is common sense - a code of behavior based on thoughtfulness."…

    • 1421 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Notice that this recommendation goes well past the tired old adage: “Treat those from other countries with sensitivity”. That much is obvious, and we would certainly try to conduct ourselves thus. The recommendation is to approach colleagues from another geography with a demeanor they would find in their own country. In other words, if you are dealing with Brazilians, try to ‘act Brazilian’ as you collaborate with them; if you are working with a Finn, try to ‘act Finnish’.…

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    European experience

    • 2235 Words
    • 9 Pages

    As students of Business and International Business, we’ve learned the theoretical importance of understanding the differences in culture. We, however, have now been exposed to the practical importance of cultural differences. Our first encounter was a harsh one. Most of us have heard that the French are rude. I never took it literally. Now I’m not saying that they are in fact rude, but I think that they’ve developed their own ways and customs that are acceptable to them and a surprise to us. At the airport after we landed on our first day, while congregating, attempting to get to know one another and waiting for our guide there were a couple interactions with individuals that we can only assume to be French. These…

    • 2235 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays