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The Stereotypes of the British people
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The British, like the people of every country, tend to be attributed with certain characteristics which are supposedly typical. However, it’s best to be cautious about accepting such characterizations too easily. Societies change over time while their reputations lag behind. Many things which are often regarded as typically British derive from books, songs or plays which were written a long time ago and which no longer representative of modern life.
One example of this is a popular belief that Britain is a “land of tradition”. And at the level of public life it’s undoubtedly true. The annual ceremony of the state opening of Parliament, the ceremony of “trooping the colour”, the changing of the guard carefully follow customs which are centuries old. The British like symbols of tradition and stability. However, in their private everyday lives the British as individuals are less inclined to follow traditions. There are very few ancient customs that are followed by the majority of families. The British are too individualistic for such things. However, this doesn’t mean that they like change. The British value continuity over modernity. They have a general sentimental attachment to older, supposedly safer, times. For them it is more prestige to live in an old house, than in a new one; their Christmas cards usually depict scenes from past centuries; they like their pubs to look old. The British can be particularly and stubbornly conservative about anything which is perceived as a token of Britishness. In these matters, their conservatism can combine with their individualism. It’s difficult to imagine that they will ever agree to change to driving on the right, they are reluctant to change their system of currency and the metric system. They are rather proud of being different.
Another stereotype is that the British are rather formal in their general behavior. This is not true. There is a difference between observing formalities and being formal in everyday life. When people are “on duty”, they have to obey some quite rigid rules, on the other hand, when people are not playing a public role – when they are just being themselves – there seem to be no rules at all. Attitudes towards clothes are a good indication of this difference. Lots of men who wear suits during the week can then be seen in old sweaters and jeans.
There are many examples of supposedly typical British habits which are simply not typical any more. For example, the stereotyped image of the London “city gent” includes the wearing of a bowler hat. In fact, this type of hat has not been commonly worn for a long time. Food and drink provide other examples. The traditional “British” breakfast is a large “fry-up” preceded by cereal with milk and followed by toast, butter and marmalade, all washed down with lots of tea. What the vast majority of British people have in the mornings is therefore much closer to what is called a “continental” breakfast. The British are supposed to love queering. In fact, they do form queues whenever they are waiting for something, but this doesn’t mean that they enjoy it.
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“Ecology”(2 part):
High-level waste* - radioactive waste material, such as spent nuclear fuel initially having a high activity and thus needing constant cooling for several decades by its producers before it can be reprocessed or treated.
Low-level waste* - waste material polluted by traces of radioactivity that can be disposed of in steel drums in concrete-lined trenches but not in the sea.
Hotspots - problem areas on the roads with a build-up of pollution.
Malignant tumours* - a very infectious cancerous disease caused by genetic mutations, that has grown in a person's or animal's body; a swelling of a part of the body, generally without inflammation, caused by an abnormal growth of tissue.
Natural habitat - a particular type of natural environment regarded as a home for an animal, plant or other organism, in which it normally lives or grows.
Noise pollution - harmful or annoying levels of noise in an environment, as from airplanes, industry, etc.
(?)Nuclear proliferation - rapid growth or increase in the number of the nuclear weapons, using nuclear energy.
Ozone layer - the part of the Earth's atmosphere (at an altitude of about 10 km) containing a high concentration of ozone, which by absorbing high-energy solar ultraviolet radiation protects organisms on earth.
Pea-souper* - a very thick yellowish fog.
Pressure group - an organized group of people who are trying to influence public policy in the interest of a particular cause, who seek to exert pressure on legislators, government or other authority, public opinion, etc. & persuade them to do something, for example to change a law, in order to promote their own ideas.
Radioactive fallout - radioactive particles that are carried into the atmosphere after a nuclear explosion or accident and gradually fall back as dust or in precipitation
Rainforest * - dense forest rich in biodiversity, found in tropical areas of heavy rainfall. The trees are broad-leaved and evergreen, and the vegetation tends to grow in three layers (undergrowth, intermediate trees and shrubs, and very tall trees, which form a canopy).
Resilience * - the ability of an ecosystem to return to its original state after being disturbed.
Throwaway society - a critical characteristic of a society, the members of which throw away huge amounts of rubbish every day(millions of tones every year): domestic rubbish, packaging, paper, metal, plastic, not trying to reduce the consumption of products with less packaging, fewer carrier bags, waste less paper, etc., thus contributing to the pollution.
Thyroid cancer* - the disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in the thyroid (a large ductless gland in the neck that produces chemicals which control the way your body grows and functions).
The british
press
¾ Examination notions
¾ Vocabulary sketch based on texts
¾ Topics
Examination notions
Arts reviews – an article in the newspaper or magazine that gives an opinion about a new book, play, film
Broadsheets – a newspaper printed on large sheets of paper, especially a serious newspaper
Caption – words printed above or below a picture in a book or newspaper or on a television screen to
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explain what the picture is showing
Censorship – the act of censoring books, articles and so on.
Circulation – the average number of copies of a newspaper or magazine that are usually sold each day,
week, month and so on.
Column – an article on a particular subject or by a particular writer that appears regularly in a newspaper
or magazine
Comic strip – a series of pictures drawn inside boxes that tell a story
Editorial – a piece of writing in a newspaper or a magazine that gives the editor’s opinion about smth,
rather than reporting facts
Feature – a piece of writing in a newspaper or a magazine about a subject or special report on TV or radio
Gutter press – the newspapers that print shocking stories about people’s personal lives – used to show
disapproval
Headline English – a kind of the English language used in the title of a newspaper report, which is printed
in large letters above the report
Heavies – a quality newspaper, broadsheets
Human interest stories – a story, film, or event which is interesting because it shows things about
people’s lives or romantic relationships
Investigative journalism – journalism that examines an event or situation in order to find out the truth
Journal/magazine – a large thin book with a paper cover that contains news stories, articles, photos, and
is sold weekly and monthly
Layout – the way on which writing and pictures are arranged on a page
Obituary – an article in a newspaper about the life of someone who has just died
Quality paper – newspapers intended for educated readers
Tabloids – a newspaper that has small pages, a lot, of photos, and stories mainly about sex, famous
people rather than serious news
Supplement – an additional part at the end of a book, or a separate part of a newspaper, magazine (a
sister paper)
The fourth estate – newspapers, news magazines, TV and radio news, the people who work for them, and
the political influence that they have
The morning paper round – delivering newspapers to a group of houses every morning
The British press
· The British is the world’s most dedicated home-video users and the world’s third biggest newspaper buyers. Newspaper publication is dominated by the national press, which is an indication of the comparative weakness of regional identity in Britain
· The quality papers or broadsheets cater for the better educated readers, the popular papers or tabloids sell to much larger readership: they contain far less print than the broadsheets and far more pictures, use larger headlines and write in a simpler style of English. Broadsheets devote much space to politics and serious news and the tabloids concentrate on human interest stories. Both papers devote equal amounts of attention to sport, both are of different shapes (broadsheets are 2 larger than tabloids, that’s why people reading them should have highly-developed skills of paper-folding)
· The way politics is presented in the national newspapers reflects the fact that British political parties are essentially parliamentary organizations. None of the large newspapers is an organ of a political party. The newspapers publishers are in business and foremost to make money. They normally put selling copies ahead of political integrity (политическая неприкосновенность). The British press is controlled by a rather small number of extremely large multinational companies what explains its freedom from interference from government influence, which is virtually absolute – the press is the fourth estate – and its freedom of speech which is a basic constitutional right
¾ Abrupt – sudden, unexpected
¾ A stance – position
· The other feature of the national press which is partially the result of the commercial interests if its owners is its shallowness. The pages of tabloids (mainly) are full of stories from private lives of famous people. This led to discussion about the possible need to restrict the freedom of press as the journalists started behaving very intrusively. Complaints regarding invasions of privacy are dealt with by the Press Complaints Commission. However against the right to privacy the press opposed the concept of the public right to know.
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¾ Frivolous – light-headed
British Papers
· the Times
¾ the most influential British daily newspaper, was founded by J.Walter in 1785 as the Daily Universal Register, renamed as the Times in 1788, by the mid. Of 19th century – the Thunderer for its formidable editorials and coverage of world affairs (the first to employ foreign correspondents); London
¾ controversial slogan - дискуссионный
· the Sunday Times
¾ the sister paper of the Times, founded in 1822; is particularly strong on investigative journalism (Insight team) and has high reputation for its reviews of literature and the arts; the first to publish a colour magazine; consists of 7 sections; London
· the Observer
¾ the oldest British Sunday newspaper founded in 1791; the first to use illustrations (woodcuts); published in three sections; with high reputation for responsible reporting, penetrating (проницательный) editorial comment; London
· the Guardian
¾ a quality daily paper was founded in 1821 in Manchester; owned by a trust, not a proprietor and has reputation for independence; noted for political comment, arts reviews, women’s page; stance is leftwards; appeals to middle-class readers (liberal-minded); famous for its punning headlines; Manchester and London
· the Daily Telegraph
¾ was founded in 1855; the first cheap daily newspaper in London and now cater for middle – to – upper class with conservative views; has reputation for wide and accurate reporting; one of British quality papers; London
· the Sunday Telegraph
¾ was founded in 1961 as a sister paper to the Daily Telegraph; Sunday paper; middle-to-upper class (right-wing); famous for forthright and challenging views; columnists on political and social issues; published in 2 sections; London
· the Financial Times
¾ a daily; was founded in 1888; provides full daily reports on the Stock Exchange and world markets, a comprehensive coverage of business affairs; respected for news reporting and analysis; more expensive than other dailies; published on distinctive pink paper; London and international edition – Frankfurt, New York, Paris
· the Daily Express
¾ was founded in 1900 by Pearson; firstly as a broadsheet, now a tabloid; appeals to broadly middle-class, right wing, independently-minded people; London
· the Independent
¾ the quality daily paper; was founded in 1986; appeals to educated middle-class readers who don’t care for the earnestness, changes and boredom
· the Economist
Social Issues
“Family-friendly” employment –??????
“third-age” people – people of the third generation (*ppl who are in the period of active retirement)
Adoptive parents * -The adopting parents (in contrast to a foster parent or guardian) are the full legal parents of a child. Their rights and responsibilities are the same as would be biological parents. (they give a child their last name, he/she has the right of inheritance)
Ageism – treating people unfairly because of their age
Charisma * - attractiveness and charm that can inspire devotion in others
Cohabitation – living together, usually about an unmarried couple
Committed parenting - parents devoted to their children
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Cooling-off period * is an agreed period of time during which two sides with opposing views try to resolve a dispute before taking any serious action.
Delinquency *- minor crime, especially that committed by young people
Extended family * - a family that extends beyond the nuclear family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives, who all live nearby or in one household
Family/adoption allowance * – amount of money given regularly to adoptive parwents to meet expenses and needs
Foster carer *- a person who acts as parent and guardian for a child in place of the child's natural parents but without legally adopting the child (a parent cares for a child till he comes of age)
Full employment economy * – the economic condition when everyone who wishes to work at the going wage rate for their type of labor is employed
Gambling * - is the act or activity of betting money for example in card games or on horse racing
- when people risk money or possessions on the result of something which is not certain,
Generation gap * - a difference of attitudes between people of different generations, leading to a lack of understanding
Hard slog* - long exhausting work
Juvenile crime *- crimes that are committed by children who are under 18 years old.
Latch-key child* - a child who returns from school to an empty home because his or her parent or parents are away at work, or a child who is often left at home with little or no parental supervision.
Loudmouth * - a person who tends to talk too much in an offensive or tactless way
Needy children – children with special needs, the abused, the neglected
One-parent family * - a family that consists of one parent and his or her children living together
Perseverance * - persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success
Residential home * - is a large house or institution where people with particular problems or special needs are looked for
Role model * - a person looked to by others as an example to be imitated (a father for a son, a mother for a daughter)
Supportive parents* - parents who encourage a child, provide it with emotional help
Self-sufficiency * - a state of needing no outside help in satisfying one's basic needs, especially with regard to the production of food
-of being emotionally and intellectually independent
Sacred bond * - a holy union between a man and a woman based on love
To be born out of wedlock * - to be born while your parents are not married
Traditional civilities * - formal politeness and courtesy in behaviour or speech existing as part of a tradition
Truism * - a statement that is generally accepted as obviously true and is repeated so often that it has become boring. = banality
Two-parent family * - a family group consisting of only a father and mother and their children, who share living quarters
Urban underclass *- the lowest social stratum of a city or a town, consisting of the poor and unemployed
Welfare dependency * - need for health, comfort, happiness
- dependency of people who are unemployed or in need on financial support given to them
MUSIC
Background music – the sounds that you hear apart from the main thing that you are listening to.
Carols – English traditional Christmas songs of a joyful character for two, three or more voices (parts).
Lyrics – the words of a song.
Land of Hope and Glory – a song, based on the music from Elgar’s march “Pomp and Circumstances”, which became an immensely popular patriotic hymn – a kind of alternative National Anthem, and is often sung on patriotic occasions (for example at the Proms).
Morris dancing – traditional English country dancing performed by men wearing white clothes decorated with small bells.
Musical – a play or film that includes singing and dancing.
Middle-of-the road audience – mass audience.
Minstrel - a medieval wandering musician who performed songs or recited poetry with instrumental accompaniment (a singer or musician in the Middle Ages).
The Royal Albert Hall – a large 19th century building in London where concerts take place.
Showmanship – skill in entertaining people and attracting public attention.
A music addict – someone who is very interested in music and spends a lot of time listening to it.
Single (n) – a CD that has one song on it, not a number of songs, or a song which is sold in this way (a gramophone record, CD, or cassette with a short recording, usually of pop music, on it).
The Fab 4 – this is how the newspapers called the Beatles.
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The Proms – a series of concerts of classical music which take place every summer at the Albert Hall in London over a period of several weeks. Part of the hall has no seats, so that more people can attend the concerts and pay less, and many people, especially young people, stand there to listen to the concerts. The Proms were started by Sir Henry Wood in 1895, and they are a well-known part of British life. The final concert each year, called the Last Night of the Proms, is always shown on television.
Troupe/ band/ choir – a group of singers, actors, dancers etc who work together.
Recital – a performance of music or poetry, usually given by one performer.
Recorded highlights – the most important, interesting or enjoyable part of something such as a holiday, performance, or sport competition.
Eisteddfod - an event in Wales, at which competitions are held in music, poetry, drama, and the fine arts.
Sacred music – music connected with religion.
Secular music – music not connected with or controlled by a church or other religious authority.
Hymn/ anthem – a song adapted by a nation, used to express loyalty and patriotism.
Concerto – a musical composition for one or more solo instruments and an orchestra.
Release (n) – a new CD, video, film etc that is available to buy or see (a news item, document, etc., made available for publication, broadcasting, etc).
ENGLISH
AS
A WORLD LANGUAGE
¾ Examination notions
¾ Vocabulary sketch based on texts
¾ Topics
Examination notions
“Franglais” – a mixture of the French and English languages
“Hindish” – a mixture of English and Hindu
Accent – the way smb pronounces the words of a language showing
which country or part of a country he came from
Accent chameleons – someone who changes her/his accent to fit
different situations
American English – a kind of English used in the USA
Cockney – a way of speaking English that is typical of working class people
in the east part of London
Dialect – a form of a language which is spoken only in one area, with
words and grammar that are slightly different from other forms of the same language
Educated/Standard English – the standard form of a language which is
considered to be correct and is used by most people
English/British English – a kind of English used in Britain
Esperanto – an artificial language invented in 1871 to help people from different
countries in the world to speak to each other
Lingua franca – a language used between people whose main languages are
different
Purists – someone who believes that something should be done in the correct or
traditional way, esp. in the areas of arts, sport, music and language
RP – received pronunciation – the form of British pronunciation that many
educated people in Britain use and that is thought of as the standard form
The Transatlantic English – a kind of English that helps to bridge a gap between
GB and the USA
English as a world language
¾ English is one of the major languages in the world and it requires an effort of the imagination to realize that this is a relatively recent thing
¾ English has become a world language because of its establishment as a mother tongue outside England that has given English its present standing
¾ People who speak English fall into one of three groups:
1.Those who have learned it as their native language
2.Those who have learned it as a second language in a bilingual society
3.Those who are forced to use it for a practical purpose
¾ Basic characteristics
1.Simplicity of form
2.Flexibility
3. Openness of vocabulary (involves a free admission of words and an easy creation of compounds and derivatives; most languages have contributed some words to English; the process is now being reversed (changed); purists resist the arrival of English in a language)
¾ The future of English – English is most widespread language on Earth but it is absurd that other languages soon die out
British English and the languages of the UK
¾ It isn’t always easy to distinguish between people from different parts of Britain
¾ To move about the country
¾ To take on smb’s way - to adapt
¾ To pick up the accent
The Transatlantic Connection
¾ To bridge the gap between the countries
¾ Variety is the spice of our life
¾ To make a point of – постоянно настойчиво делать что-то
¾ To be absorbed into – быть поглощенным
English – the language reconquering polyglot India
¾ To squabble over – to argue
¾ rapidly burgeoning middle class = budding national television network
¾ to permeate – пропитывать, пронизывать
¾ in the hope
¾ English is the medium of instruction in the schools that are springing up everywhere
¾ To enhance – to increase
¾ To be to the advantage of
¾ English is a vital key to good jobs, financial success and personal advancement
¾ English is a must
¾ De facto national language - существующий, действующий, но не имеющий юридического оформления или не признаваемый официально
¾ The emergence of English
¾ Trenchant discussions – острые дискуссии
¾ To concur – to agree, to coincide
¾ Cross-fertilization – взаимное проникновение языков – Hindish
France gets touch with “le hot dog”
¾ To creep into – вкрадываться
¾ Perennial war – eternal war
¾ Bizarre case – strange, weird
Le Francais? That’s so outta here
¾ Obsolete – outdated, old-fashioned
¾ To be deemed to – to be considered
¾ To take hold in – охватывать, получать распространение
¾ To evolve – to develop
¾ The growing uniformity of English – единообразие
¾ Nowadays English is the language, which consists of a fusion of neologisms, approximations and distortions (неправильность, искажение)
Let’s recast the spell
¾ To be loath to - unwilling
¾ To invoke respect
¾ A conscious invocation from – сознательный призыв
¾ The adoption of smth
¾ To impose on
¾ To be vernacular - родной (о языке), местный (о диалекте)
¾ Intricate rules – запутанный, сложный, затруднительный
¾ Oddities – eccentricity, странность, чудаковатость
¾ To adjust - to adapt
¾ To spring to mind
¾ To detract from – приуменьшать, принижать
¾ Culprit – обвиняемый, преступник
¾ To bring about some changes – to cause
¾ To be based on some grounds
British students build new language barrier
¾ Insularity and complacency – detachment and self-satisfaction
¾ Slump – decline - drop
¾ Civil servants – чиновники
¾ To commission – to order
¾ To be sufficient to replenish – сложно пополнить
¾ A steep/consistent decline – чрезвычайный/последовательный упадок
¾ Peer pressure
¾ To abandon the language
¾ A vicious circle
¾ To bear the brunt of smth – нести основную тяжесть, принять весь удар на себя
¾ To reach/meet the standards
¾ To return the compliment – сделать что-либо в ответ
Other
¾ In plain English
¾ To be fluent in English, but to speak/write English
¾ To talk the same language
¾ A tongue-in-cheek remark
¾ Versatile – diverse
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