British = English?

[That Guy Ya Know]

Blah blah blah.
If you let the Queen of England rule over you, that means you're English. Gain independence and then we'll talk.

She isn't actually called the Queen of England. That's just another American thing.

Yes and she is sovereign of half of the countries of the commonwealth, you can hardly call Canada and Australia England.

 

[Hitman 43]

*SNIP*

True. Americans do believe that. Some of them even believe that the language they speak is American.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

Both London (and the area surrounding) and Essex are counties, not cities.
Besides, since this argument is from the poor wikipedia definitions anyway: "The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and unitary state consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.[19]"

Counties then, doesn't really invalidate my point anyway. I happen to be typing this from Houghton [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houghton_County,_Michigan].

What are you saying anyway? Is that not a good definition of the UK?

 

[Terramax]

Was born in England and I say, seriously dudes, you can call me whatever you want. Most people usually do... you can even call me Chinese if it makes you feel better.

I see why some like to be called Scottish, Welsh, English, etc, because they think it somehow gives them some sort of 'identity'. I personally think it doesn't matter where you're from. Why on earth do people want to be judged from what country they were born in? It's just another form of stereotyping.

 

[lewiswhitling]

Yea, "British" doesn't refer to specific nationality, only that you're a part of Britannia's sovereign state. So it only refers to the authority under which you serve.

"UK" is just a geographical term which incorporates Wales, Scotland, Ireland, England. It can also be a political term if you want to describe those countries relationship towards each other.

"English" is a nationality, which refers to your country of origin, being England.

 

[comadorcrack]

In a way this is correct, both Americans and Brit's speak English, their very own dialects of English but English nonetheless. So British = English and American = English.

I always say they Speak American. Because so many words have been "Americanised".
Like A certain metal.

The correct way to say it in staight English is Al-u-min-I-Um
But The Americans say Al-Um-In-Um

But yeah
OT

I'm proud to be English. But I dont mind being called British or saying Im British.

As far as I've seen though, it's spelt Aluminum in both places. There's no second "i" for that random syllable you guys insist must be there.

No no There is another I. Aluminium.

 

[Olikunmissile]

Umm... I'm English yet I live in Wales, calling me either English or British doesn't bother me.

 

[lewiswhitling]

Umm... I'm English yet I live in Wales, calling me either English or British doesn't bother me.

erm.. I'm pretty sure you're Welsh in that case. But you're a UK resident and you are a Brit too... i think? Are you a Brit if you're Welsh?

 

[Spitfire175]

This has been very clear to me ever since I was 9. That's a long time ago.

 

[Joshimodo]

I'm Welsh, not British, not from the United Kingdom; i'm from Wales therefore i'm Welsh.

I refuse to believe that anyone apart from people in England and Northern Ireland think they are British/ from the United Kingdom.

Patriotism rules.

Wales is a part of the United Kingdom. I'm Welsh, born and bred, and both of us are British and from the UK.

As far as I've seen though, it's spelt Aluminum in both places. There's no second "i" for that random syllable you guys insist must be there.

It's Aluminium. With the second "i". The first iteration of the name was in the Oxford dictionary, years before the bastardised "Aluminum" was used.

Not to mention, look up the group of elements Aluminium is from: Besides Boron, the rest all end in -ium.

Case closed.

 

[Conqueror Kenny]

Both London (and the area surrounding) and Essex are counties, not cities.
Besides, since this argument is from the poor wikipedia definitions anyway: "The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and unitary state consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.[19]"

Counties then, doesn't really invalidate my point anyway. I happen to be typing this from Houghton [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houghton_County,_Michigan].

What are you saying anyway? Is that not a good definition of the UK?

I'm saying comaring countries to states isn't a fair comparison. It's not a good definition as the UK is a is as the name suggests four countries united to form a unitary state.

 

[Joshimodo]

Umm... I'm English yet I live in Wales, calling me either English or British doesn't bother me.

erm.. I'm pretty sure you're Welsh in that case. But you're a UK resident and you are a Brit too... i think? Are you a Brit if you're Welsh?

If he was BORN in Wales, then he's Welsh. If he was born in England, he's English, etc. Anyone born within Great Britain, is British, regardless of their actual nationality. It's an umbrella term.

 

[Olikunmissile]

Umm... I'm English yet I live in Wales, calling me either English or British doesn't bother me.

erm.. I'm pretty sure you're Welsh in that case. But you're a UK resident and you are a Brit too... i think? Are you a Brit if you're Welsh?

Born in England, English blood, that makes me English, not where I live.

 

[Mr Cwtchy]

Living in Wales, I am British.

Born in Wales, and with Welsh parents, I am Welsh.

As far as I'm concerned, they are interchangeable, although a correction is necessary if anyone calls me English.

 

[Doug]

So, a high percentage of people, mainly Americans (I'm not pointing fingers, it's just the higher percentage of people!) seem to think that "British" means "English". That may very well be true, but it doesn't just stop there. Being "British" means your part of Britain, or the UK. However, it can't be used in the sense that it's your nationality. It's a lable, yes. However, if I were to have "British" as my nationality, that would mean I'm Welsh, Scottish, English and partly Irish.

I'm just throwing this out there but, everyone gets that right? I hate to be a little elitist, but this is the Escapist, and it's built up of a mutli-diverse, but mainly intelligent group of people so I'm assuming the answer is yes.

But, just to be sure, and probally a bit patronizing, you all get that right?

Northern Ireland is park of the UK, not Britain

True, however, I hate singling them out. They are nice chaps after all.

Well, since they decided to stop trying to blow either other up. Or us.

 

[lewiswhitling]

Umm... I'm English yet I live in Wales, calling me either English or British doesn't bother me.

erm.. I'm pretty sure you're Welsh in that case. But you're a UK resident and you are a Brit too... i think? Are you a Brit if you're Welsh?

Born in England, English blood, that makes me English, not where I live.

Ah sorry, misread what you put. I thought you were saying that you're English regardless of being born in Wales. Could you answer my other questions though? they're just to make sure.

 

[Laura.]

I call English people "English"... although I like the sound of the word "British"

 

[Doug]

Living in Wales, I am British.

Born in Wales, and with Welsh parents, I am Welsh.

As far as I'm concerned, they are interchangeable, although a correction is necessary if anyone calls me English.

What annoys me as an Englishman (with a Scot father and a partly Irish mother) is the way Americans say 'British' to mean ONLY the English - you Welsh and the Scots are British too, but the yanks bother to learn you are different, whereas very few Americans go as far with us and specify 'English'. Just abit of a peeve.