UK: culture and history
PART 1: UK CULTURE AND HISTORY
PART 1: INTRODUCTION
Differences between UK and US:
Same number of presidents (US) and prime ministers (UK)
Do not rule as long
UK: 2 parties: Conservatives and Labour
US: 2 parties: Democrats and Republicans
Course content:
History: from 1066 (=battle of Hastings, beginning of UK culture + everything before: pre-history) to the 20 th century
Why?
History should be studied because it is essential to individuals and to society, and because it has shaped that
society.
Literature: understanding historical references and the historical context of literary movements
Translation and interpreting: understanding historical references in source texts
Culture: politics, education, international relationships
Why?
In studying the language of a country, a society or a limited group of nations that share the same cultural identity
– or at least to some extent – it is not a good idea to focus just on the language and the process of
communication. Language is a fluid entity that happens in a socio-cultural context, in which history has shaped
the contemporary institutions.
Literature: understanding cultural references in literature.
Translation and interpreting: understanding cultural references in source texts and intercultural communication
Current events: stay up to date with the new (until one week before exam) follow the mayor current events
Newspaper The Guardian (very liberal)
BBC News: neutral
Especially front pages
INTRODUCTION TO THE UK
1. TERMINOLOGY
a. Locations
!! Difference: United Kingdom vs Great Britain vs British Isles
UK habitants= Britons or British people
Empire = the British territories during the height of colonialism
Commonwealth = intergovernmental organization of 53 member states (mostly former colonies of the British
Empire e.g. Canada, India, Australia)
Commonwealth is voluntary! ( Empire)
“The British Isles”
= British Islands + Ireland
(= Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey + United Kingdom)
(= Northern Ireland + Great Britain)
(= Scotland + Wales + England)
,UK: culture and history
b. Politics
Two main parties: Labour + Conservative party (nickname = Tories: often used in tabloids)
Other important parties
Liberal Democrats (Lib-Dems)
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) = Ireland
No chance to gain majority in elections
Parliament = House of Lords + House of Commons
MP = Member of Parliament
PM = Prime Minister
Number 10 = the office of the Prime Minister (Downingstreet number 10)
UK = parliamentary constitutional monarchy
2. BASIC FACTS
a. The country
UK population = 65 million
UK capital (London)
inhabitants 10 million
metropolitan area 14 million
More than a third live in/near the capital = huge inbalance
Difference between Londoners and everybody else)
Other capitals:
Cardiff (Wales)
Edinburgh (Scotland)
Belfast (Northern Ireland)
b. The royal family
Only have to know left part
If Elizabeth II dies
Charles William
Monarchy is secured for 3
generations
Speculation: prince Charles will not
ascend the throne and immediately
pass to William
(people prefer younger King but
wait and see)
Commotion: Prince Harry and
Meghan no longer part of royal
family moved to US
,UK: culture and history
3. FLAGS AND ANTHEMS
a. The UK Flag
Official name of current flag: Union Flag (nickname: Union Jack)
Base of flag: England + Scotland (=> original Union Flag: in 1606 King James I became King emerging 2 nations)
+ flag of Irerland (island => no separation until 20th century) => Current Union Flag
! One flag not in combination = Wales (= dragon) not incorporated in union flag
b
b. Anthems
= a solemn patriotic song officially adopted by a country as an expression of national identity
No official adopted anthem but ‘GOD SAVE THE KING/QUEEN’ felt as national anthem of UK
as well the Royal Anthem
one of the two national anthems of New Zealand
Royal anthem of Australia + Canada + Barbados
Informal anthems: four devolved nations:
Jerusalem: England
England’s most popular patriotic song => often used as alternative nation anthem + calls to give it official status
= short poem (William Blake)
Danny Boy: Northern Ireland
Flower of Scotland: Scotland
Bread of Heaven: Wales
Other:
Rule Britannia
Nimrod (lyricless)
Land of Hope and Glory (night of the proms)
All 3 slightly problematic
very patriotic: empire past of UK
reflects and glorifies empire past => do we want to celebrate these colonazations/ murders, … ?
4. BRITAIN’S HISTORICAL GROWTH AND STRUCTURAL CHANGE
There are two generally held views of Britain's historical growth and structural change.
a. (A traditional one argues that) Britain’s development over time has been guided by pragmatism, common sense and
experience of what works in practice, rather than by formal arrangements and theories.
e.g. office of PM => never been made official – rather a convention
b. A second view maintains that this argument, while having some partial validity, does not take into account the historical
realities of oppression, unfairness, division of opinion and lack of shared values.
Competing pressures and cultural and social fragmentation are arguably more prominent in contemporary Britain than a shared set
of beliefs and a common core.
5. ‘RESTORING’ SOCIETY AND THE PAST
Contemporary British society is often measured against an assumed earlier, more positive history, ‘the olden days’.
a. However, the past in Britain was not as idyllic as is sometimes nostalgically imagined
, UK: culture and history
b. Yet the myth of a golden age and older patterns of positive behaviour still hold considerable romantic attraction for many
British people.
There is consequently a tension between presumed tradition and attempts at modernization or change.
‘good old days’
not really as good as it sounds
romantic attraction
6. CONTEMPORARY CONDITIONS
a. about the state and direction of contemporary British society and the role of its institutions are common
diversity + change => created problems and advantages
caused by a number of factors:
subnations (Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England) distinct from each other: political, cultural
and ethnic distinctiveness
cultural and economic gaps between north and south
dominant influence of London on rest of country
demands for greater autonomy, democracy and accountability in devolved and local government
areas and less centralized control from London
process of devolution
b. several dimensions of antagonism
tensions between national identity and ethnicity;
e.g. immigrants
subnational ethnicity: Celtic heritage -> feel that they are different ethnicity than England (variety of ethnicities
due to invades)
growing generational differences between young and old in all ethnic groups (associated with the increasing
longevity and numbers of the elderly in an ageing society: people live longer – more elder people).
elder people often think nostalgically about good old days younger people want change
disparities between affluent and economically depressed regions throughout the country (including the crime,
decay and social deprivation found in many inner-city and rural locations);
inequality between rich and poor, with a growing underclass of disadvantaged, alienated or rootless people;
tensions between cities and the countryside;
cities tend to be more progressive
rural tend to be more conservative
c. political variety (reflected in support for different political parties in different parts of the country)
a lot of political variety = cause tension and fragmentation in society
Continuing debates on the positions of women, special-interest groups, migrants and minority ethnic
communities
Relation with the world
Ireland (island) and Northern Ireland
EU
US: always maintained special relationship: shared history and language
former empire and commonwealth
d. decline in the traditional deference to authority, consensus views and support for national institutions such as the
monarchy, the professions, schools, churches and Parliament
decline in respect for authorities
less trust in politics
This is often called the ‘bulldog spirit’ (more an English characteristic)
never letting go, being persistent (=bulldog)
WWII: W.Chruchill attitude: fight enemy -> shaping national resistence
The phrase originated in the Second World War, when Winston Churchill’s attitude to rally the troops and fight
the enemy (on the beaches of Normandy) shaped a national resilience.
British persistence to have Britain go their own way might have attributed to the Leave result of the EU
referendum. It can also be argued that “self-delusion is a lingering attribute of former imperial nations adjusting
to a lesser reality” (NYT)
They believe that they are more important than they are: trouble understandig that they are now smaller country
(past colonies and power)
7. THE GREATEST BRITON?
Really the greatest? Up for debate… list to take with grain of salt!!
1) WINSTON CHURCHILL (1874-1965)
Prime Minister (1940–1945, 1951–1955).
Historically ranked as one of the greatest British prime ministers.
Kept the nation's spirit up during World War II, when country had to defend itself against Hitler's attempts to invade
an important figure in post-war international + national politics
Received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953.
