Social Class
Britain has a deeply individualistic society. Nevertheless, it is described as a class-ridden one. Historians say that the class system has survived in Britain because of its flexibility. It has always been possible to buy or marry or even work your way up, so that your children (and their children) belong to a higher social class, than you do. As a result, the class system has never been swept away.
People in modern Britain are very conscious of class differences. They regard it as difficult to become friends with somebody from a different class. This feeling has little to do with conscious loyalty, and nothing to do with a positive belief in the class system itself. It results from the fact that the different classes have different sets of attitudes and daily habits. Typically, they tend to eat different food at different times of day and call the meals by different names:
Breakfast is usually a packeted “cereal” (e.g. cornflakes) and/or toast and marmalade. It isn’t usually a traditional British breakfast. The traditional British (English) breakfast is a “fry-up” (several items fried together, the most common of which are eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms and even bread), preceded by cereal with milk and followed by toasts, butter and marmalade all washed down with lots of tea. When the “fry-up” is omitted the breakfast is called “continental” (it is usually for working class people).
“Elevenses” is a cup of tea or coffee and some biscuits at around 11 a.m.
Lunch is typically at 1 a.m. But it is often a bit earlier for schoolchildren and those who start work at 8 a.m.
For the urban working class “tea” is the evening meal, eaten as soon as people get home from work (at around 6 p.m.). For other classes, it means a cup of tea and a snack at around 4 p.m.
Supper is the usual word for the evening meal among most people who don’t call it “tea”.
Dinner is also sometimes used for the evening meal. It suggests something rather grander and eaten comparatively late (at 8p.m.). It is associated with formality, receiving (important) guests or going out. And it refers to the midday meal in schools.
Besides, different classes talk about different topics using different styles and accents of English, they enjoy different pastimes and sports, they have different values about what things in life are most important, and different ideas of the correct way to behave.
Traditionally there is a stereotyped view of the upper, middle and working classes. Of course, wealth is a part of the feature that divides people from class to class. But an even greater indication is the way people speak. The English grammar and vocabulary which is used in public speaking, radio and television news broadcasts, books and newspapers is known as “standard British English”. However, most working class people use lots of words and grammar forms, which are regarded as “non-standard”. But the clearest indication of a person’s class is often his/her accent. The most prestigious accent in Britain is known as “Received Pronunciation” or “RP”. It’s a combination of standard English spoken with an RP accent that is usually meant when people talk about “BBC English”, or “Oxford English”, or “ Queen’s English”. RP is not associated with any particular part of the country. The vast majority, however, speak with an accent which is geographically limited (e.g. Bromley accent [ai]→[ei] lady [ai]).
Stereotypes
The British, like the people of every country, tend to have certain characteristics, which are supposedly typical. However, many things that are often regarded as
typically British derive from books, songs or plays which were written a long time ago, and which are no longer representative of modern life.
One example of this is the popular belief that Britain is a “land of tradition”. This is what any tourist book claims. The claim is based on what can be seen in public life. But a reputation for tradition can lead to its artificial preservation – or even re-introduction. A notable example is the taxi. This was introduced into the streets in 1994. It is an exact replica of London taxis of the 1930s (except that it has modern facilities) It is deliberately designed this way to appeal to tourists. The same can be said of London famous red buses (when in 1990s they were sold to different private companies, the government insisted that the buses should stay red)
However, in their private life, the British as individuals are less inclined to follow tradition. There are very few ancient customs that are followed by the majority of families on special occasions. The English language has fewer sayings and proverbs that are in everyday use than many other languages do. (The British are too individualistic for these things) In addition, it should be noted that the British are the most enthusiastic video-watching people in the world – the very opposite of a traditional pastime!
There’re many examples of supposedly typical British habits, which are simply not typical any more. E.g. what a vast majority of people has in the morning is continental breakfast. The image of the British as a nation of tea-drinkers is another stereotype, which is somewhat out-of-date. It is true that it is still prepared in certain way (strong and with milk), but more coffee than tea is now bought.
Conservatism
The British have few living folk traditions, but it doesn’t mean that they like change. They may not behave in traditional ways, but they like symbols of tradition and stability.
They don’t think it is especially smart to live in a new house; in fact, it is prestigious to live in an obviously old one. They have a general sentimental attachment to older, supposedly safer times.
They’re stubbornly conservative about anything which can show Britishness: e.g. driving on the left-hand-side of the road. In fact they are proud of being different. Developments at European Union level, which might cause a change in some everyday aspect of British life, are usually greeted with suspicion and hostility. (E.g. they don’t agree to change their double-decker buses to recommended European standard).
Another example is the system of measurement. The British government has been trying for years to promote the metric system and to get the British people use it. But it’s had a limited success. British manufacturers are obliged to give the weight of their products in kilos and grams. But everybody in Britain still shops in pounds and ounces. They continue to measure distances, amounts of liquid and themselves using scales of measurement that aren’t used anywhere else in Europe.
Units if Length
1 inch = 2.54 cm
12 inches = 1 foot = 30.48 cm
3 feet = 1 yard = 0.9144 m
22 yards = 1 chain = 20.12 m
1 mile = 1.609 km
6080 feet = 1 nautical mile = 1853 m
Units of Weight
1 grain = 64.8 mg; 1 dram – 1.772 g
16 drams = 1 ounce = 28.35 g
16 ounces = 1pound = 0.4536 kg
14 pounds = 1 stone = 6.350 kg
1 pint = 0.5683 lt.
2 pints = 1 quart = 1.137 lt.
8 pints = 4 quarts = 1 gallon = 4.546 lt.
IT RAINS ALL THE TIME
BRITS LOVE TO DRINK TEA
BRITS ARE OBSESSED WITH THE ROYAL FAMILY(Most British people are proud of their Queen – but it isn’t true that we ALL love the royal family. )
BRITS ARE SUPER POLITE
BRITISH FOOD IS TERRIBLE
ALL BRITS WEAR HATS
Us Brits are emotionally stunted
. We live in castles and cottages
And love a good drink
