BRITAIN

01.​ KEY FACT

❖​ LOCATION
-​ on the westernmost edge of the continental shelf of Europe
-​ consists of two large and several hundred small islands
-​ separated from the European continent in about 6000 BCE
Britain vs The UK
-​ Great Britain comprises England, Wales, and Scotland, together with all the offshore islands,
including the Isle of Wight, the Isles of Scilly, the Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetlands
-​ The “United Kingdom” has Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The British Isle
-​ Is a geographical term
-​ Describes all of the above plus the whole of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands

The Isle of Man

-​ In the Irish Sea, and the Channel Islands, in the English Channel, between Great Britain and
France
-​ Are largely self-governing, and are known as Crown Dependencies; but they are not part of the
UK
“BREXIT”: The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU), which formally
occurred on January 31, 2020.
❖​ CLIMATE
-​ Climate as change as the weather: Britain’s climate is often thought of as cool, wet, cloudy, and
windswept
-> Given the considerable variations in Britain’s weather, there is a great deal of “weather talk” in the
media and among the population
The five air masses battling for supremacy above Britain:
+​ Polar Maritime Air Mass
+​ Arctic Maritime Air Mass
+​ Polar Continental Air Mass
+​ Tropical Continental Air Mass
+​ Tropical Maritime Air Mass
❖​ POPULATION
-​ The Race Relations Act of 1976
-​ Not universally welcome, but generally accepted
-​ The view of a growing proportion of the population to limit immigration (Brexit)
+​ White 86%
+​ Minority ethnic groups: 9.9%
+​ Principle ethnic groups: Indian, Pakistani, Black Caribbean, Black African

02.​ LANGUAGE & HISTORY

THE BRITISH INVADERS

1.​ The Celts

+​ The Celts were a collection of tribes which originated in central Europe.
+​ There is a recorded large-scale migration of Celts soon after 400 BC
+​ Brought iron working to the British Isles
+​ Had a written Celtic language (Welsh and Scots Gaelic)
+​ Bagpipes traced back to Celtic times
+​ Has Stonehenge as the greatest memorial
 2.​ The Romans
+​ The invasion of Julius Caesar and the Roman conquest by Claudius in 43AD about 40 years to
subjugate most of Britain
+​ The end of Roman Britain by 410AD
+​ Introduced Latin
+​ Brought civilization - new ruling system
+​ Built city infrastructure
+​ Brought Christianity to the country
3.​ The Anglo Saxon
+​ The Anglo Saxons were descendants of Germanic migrants (the Angles, Saxons and Jutes).
Celtic inhabitants of Britain, and Viking and Danish invaders
+​ Migrated from northern Germany in the 5th century
+​ ‘Old English’
+​ Noble class
+​ Had evident impacts on cuisine, arts and religions
+​ Converted all England to Christianity
4.​ The Nordic (Viking)
+​ People of mostly pagan Scandinavian origin who raided, pirated, traded and settled throughout
parts of Europe and beyond
+​ Came for treasure and slaves practices
+​ Had impacts on language (mostly in the name of places)
+​ Developed urban economy (trading craft and fashion)
+​ Revolutionized farming
+​ Founded the Westminster Abbey
5.​ The Norman
+​ Also known as ‘North-men’ originally Vikings who settled in northern France in AD900
+​ Duke William of Normandy and King Harold’s fought in the Battle of Hastings
+​ Banned slave trading
+​ Introduced new language (a dialect of Old French)
+​ Changed land ownership and system of government
+​ Build castles and cathedrals in great number
+​ The Domesday Book records the amount of land and resources owned in England in 1086
+​ Recorded in the Bayeux tapestry, a 70-meter long embroidery

British History Timeline

Tudor Britain
-> England and Wales were brought together administratively and legally in 1536-42 during the reign of
Henry 8 (his family, the Tudors, had Welsh roots)
Stuart Britain
-> James 6 of Scotland (the house of Stuart) became James 1 of England, uniting the two monarchies
in 1603

The history of English language

THE SOUNDS OF ENGLISH
-​ Remarkable “voiceprint” across different regions of the country
-​ Great variety of accents, dialects, and vocabulary

03. COUNTRIES

INTRODUCING ENGLAND (LONDON)

1.​ Every several years, a swimmer will successfully cross the 33.8km English Channel between
England and France
2.​ Tim Berners-Lee, the English computer scientist, takes the credit for inventing the World Wide
Web
3.​ House numbers 23 and 24 of Leinster Gardens street in London, are actually fake houses built
to hide the railroad running behind them
***
-​ Appear in caricature as either ‘Britannia’ or ‘John Bull’
-​ Contain about 83% of the whole population
-​ House the government and the royal family
-​ James 6 of Scotland (the house of Stuart) became James I of England, writing the two
monarchies in 1603
-​ England and Wales were brought together administratively and legally in 1536-42 during the
reign of Henry 8 (his family, the Johns, had Welsh roots)
***
-​ Special Features: Soccer, Music, Pubs, Tea time, Saint George, Red roses
-​ The Royals: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Family members, The reign, King
Charles III, Granting honors
-​ Famous food: Fish and chíp, Yorkshire pudding, Beef Wellington, Cheddar cheese, English
sandwich
-​ Famous places: Cambridge university, London, Lake District, Stonehenge, Stratford upon Avon

INTRODUCING SCOTLAND (EDINBURGH)

1.​ Although it looks small, Scotland includes over 700 islands!
 2.​ Scotland played England in the first international game for football (soccer), and the result was
a draw 0-0!
3.​ The tallest mountain in Scotland is called Ben Nevis. The name came from the Scottish Gaelic
term “Beinn Nibheis” meaning ‘malicious mountain’!
***
-​ Account for nearly ⅓ of Britain’s landmass
-​ Contain only some 8% of the population
-​ Remain vibrant, colorful, and homogeneous, with quiet distinct culture
-​ Although it looks small, Scotland includes over 700 islands
-​ Scotland played England in the first International game of football (soccer), and the result was a
draw 0-0
-​ The tallest mountain in Scotland is called Ben Nevis. The name came from the Scottish Gaelic
term “Beinn Nibheis” meaning ‘malicious mountain’
***
-​ Special Features: Golf, Bagpipe, Kilt, Tartan, Thistle, Scottish terrier, Saint Andrew
-​ Famous names: Harry Potter, Peter Pan, Sir Ưalter Scott, Robert Burns, Treasure Island
-​ Food & Drink: Shortbread, Haggis, Cranachan, Whisky, Scotch egg

ACT OF UNION
+​ Came into effect on May 1st 1707
+​ United the Scottish Parliament and the English Parliament to form the Parliament of
Great Britain (based in the Palace of Westminster, London)
+​ Different legal and religious systems
+​ The same taxation, sovereignty, trade, parliament and flag

SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT

 -​ Started in May 2007 when the SNP won the Scottish Parliament election and another one in
2011, forming a minority government
-​ Signed The Edinburgh Agreement by Alex Salmond and David Cameron, paving the way for the
ballot
-​ An independence referendum on 18 Sept 2014, with 45% for Yes
-​ Brexit: more conflicts (Scotland voted to remain, by 62% to 38%, while the UK voted to leave by
52% to 48%)

INTRODUCING WALES (CARDIFF)

1.​ Wales is known as Cymru to its Welsh-speaking residents!
2.​ Wales is said to have more castles in every square mile than any other country!
3.​ In Wales, you will be able to spot osprey birds diving for fish from heights of up to 30m high!
***
-​ Known as Cymru to its Welsh-speaking residents, roughly translated as “the country of friends”
-​ Have bilingual signs and notices
-​ Have a very parochial local
-​ Wales is said to have more castles in every square milo than any other country
-​ In Wales, you will be able to spot osprey birds (ó cá) diving for fish from heights of up to 30m
high
***
-​ Special Features: Rugby, Harp, Eisteddfod, National costume, Daffodil, Welsh dragon, Saint
David
-​ Traditional food: Welsh rarebit, Glamorgan sausage, Welsh cakes, Bara birth, Lamb cawl
-​ Places to visit: Snowdonia National Park, Llandudno, The Severn, The Brecon Beacon Park,
Harlech Castle

The ACTS OF UNION (1536 and 1542) uniting England and Wales administratively, politically,
and legally by Henry VIII, with Welsh ancestry

INTRODUCING IRELAND (BELFAST)

1.​ [Link]’s Day is celebrated in many places around the globe, but it originated as one of
Ireland’s national holidays!
2.​ Even though English is Ireland’s second national language, it is spoken more commonly than
Irish Gaelic (Ireland’s first national language)
3.​ The top portion of the island of Ireland is called Northern Ireland, and it belongs to the United
Kingdom group
***
 -​ The Republic of Ireland, a sovereign country
-​ Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom
-​ Separated in 1921 in a national election after a hard-fought birth
THE MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND
1.​ Two countries: On the one island
2.​ 32 countries: 6 in [Link], 26 in Ireland
3.​ The border: No physical border
4.​ Currency: ROI= € (Euro), NI= £ (Bảng Anh)
5.​ Governance: ROI = President, NI = King
6.​ Capitals: ROI = Dublin, NI = Belfast
***
-​ A vote in 1921
-​ 26 Catholic countries chose independence, leaving UK
-​ 6 countries, consisting of mostly Protestants, remained loyal to Britain
-​ The troubles - a period of conflict in Northern Ireland lasting for about 30 years, from the late
1960s until the Good Friday Agreement in 1998
***
-​ The special features: Irish pub, Irish dance, [Link] Festival, Hurling, Shamrock,
Leprechauns
-​ Famous Places: Giant’s causeway, Lough Neagh Lake, Cliffs of Moher, Filming Locations, Rock
of Cashel, Book of Kells
-​ Food & Drink: Black pudding, Boxty, Ulster fry, Irish beer, Shepherd’s pie, Irish Soda Bread

04. VALUES AND ATTITUDES

- A sense of irony: self-deprecation, understatement
- A sense of trust
+​ high trust cultures
+​ implicit in the management of their affairs, within local and central government
+​ no written constitution or a bill of rights
+​ dented in recent times
- A sense of fair play
+​ "An Englishman's word is his bond."
Ex: cricket (great skill and judgment, particularly on the part of the umpire)
+​ It is not cricket (not cricket: if behavior is not cricket, it is not fair, honest or moral)
+​ "Being a good loser"
- Keeping order
+ "There is a time and a place for everything" (everything must be done in order)
+ Stand in line for public transport and other services
+ The order in the way the British conduct their civic and daily life
+ Many "uniform" traditions (Ex: tennis player must be in white)
- A sense of identity
+​ varies among the countries in the UK
+​ England: undervalued
●​ no national costume
●​ do not celebrate the feast of [Link]
- A sense of fairness and compromise
+​ fundamental qualities:
●​ fair play
●​ tolerance
●​ compromise
+​ enormous number of charities and volunteer work
+​ becoming more litigious recently
Ex: Legalizing same-sex marriage in Britain since 2014
National Animal Rights Marches in London in 2023
- Royal, Class and Honours
+​ 3 main class division (mainly in England and Scotland)
●​ upper class
●​ middle class
●​ lower (working) class
+​ Royalty is the key to the class system
+​ A public award system known as “honours”, announced twice a year
- Religion
+​ Main religion: Christianity
+​ The Church of England: the only established church Britain
+​ A dramatic drop in church attendance
+​ Little media dedicated to the topic of religion
Ex: The King is crowned with the Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby
- A sense of duty
+ A particular and remarkable trait of the British character
+ Over 170.000 charitable organizations registered with the Charity Commission for England and
Wales
Ex: British Heart Foundation, Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

HIGH CULTURE OR LOW CULTURE

-​ Not a structured “high culture”
-​ The arts in Britain flourish, despite insufficient support from the state
-​ Free entrance to most public museums and galleries

- WORK ETHICS & DRINKING

+​ Very different from the EU where the idea “Devotion to duty”, is popular
+​ The world’s first trade union movement
 +​ Struggle with improving productivity
+​ The love of alcohol, with the pub at the heart of local communities
+​ Non-smoking legislation in 2016

UK ECONOMY
-​ “Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, are key drivers of British GDP
growth” - CIA World Factbook, 2015

BUSINESS BRIEFING

●​ HANDSHAKE: usual round of firm (but not bone-crunching, and not protracted) handshakes
●​ BUSINESS CARDS: for professional classes, usually discreet, with simple designs (black ink
in white)
●​ FIRST NAMES: take the lead from your host, take things gradually considering age gap and
status
●​ FRIENDSHIP: A heightened sense of privacy and personal space, never mix business and
pleasure
●​ WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: recognition of an individual’s professional status or
Professor, or rank within the Armed Services
●​ FORMAL MEETINGS: smart dressing, dressing down, punctuality, avoid excessive
loudness, short business lunch
●​ GIFT-GIVING CUSTOM: “sanitized” gifts with the company logo, “goodie bag” with a few
“useful” items at product launch event
●​ NEGOTIATION: deferential, indirect, affable, and relaxed, with some humor, need great
patience, generally like to “buy”, take time to decide

SOME FAMOUS CELEBRATIONS AND FESTIVALS: Hogmanay (Dec 31 - Jan 2), Trooping the
Colour (June), Bonfire Night (Nov 5), Glastonbury Festival (June), Cheese Rolling (May), Burns Night
(Jan 25), Pancake Day (Feb)