The British Accent - A lesson on ignorance.

[The_root_of_all_evil]

No that means the Americans (USA) SPEAK English by my definition... you should really concentrate on what we have been talking about.

I'm concentrating quite well. You've been rude to both the me and the OP. You're deliberately flaunting your own language to get your point across and you're attempting to tell people that you know better about something that you haven't experienced or researched; and

every country that makes up the United Kingdom speaks English as their official language.

states that Australia, North America, Canada, Hong Kong are all part of the United Kingdom.

What you probably meant to say was that Each country that makes up the United Kingdom speaks English as their official language. Which is still wrong, but closer to what you meant. That's what comes from not writing so fast.

But, if you want to carry on, go ahead. I'm off to read a book.

 

[Cmwissy]

Language isnt culture, they are seperate things. Sure it CAN influence your culture but as I said... The official language of these countries is English.

We have different food, accents, people, history, (some) morals, I don't see how you can think these countries the same.

Even though most western countries are media-based the same these days.

 

[Kinguendo]

No that means the Americans (USA) SPEAK English by my definition... you should really concentrate on what we have been talking about.

I'm concentrating quite well. You've been rude to both the me and the OP. You're deliberately flaunting your own language to get your point across and you're attempting to tell people that you know better about something that you haven't experienced or researched; and

every country that makes up the United Kingdom speaks English as their official language.

states that Australia, North America, Canada, Hong Kong are all part of the United Kingdom.

What you probably meant to say was that Each country that makes up the United Kingdom speaks English as their official language. Which is still wrong, but closer to what you meant. That's what comes from not writing so fast.

But, if you want to carry on, go ahead. I'm off to read a book.

/facepalm!

There it is, and believe me you earned it.

"Every country that makes up the United Kingdom speaks English as their official language." - Its a statement of fact, as the countries that makes up the UK do speak English! It doesnt mean other English speaking countries are to be incorperated into the UK, it means the ones that make up the UK speak English!

 

[Cmwissy]

The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

It is - does it say anywhere in this quote 'Britain is a country' - No.

In common usage, the term country is used in the sense of both nations and states, with definitions varying. In some cases it is used to refer both to states and to other political entities,[1][2][3] while in some occasions it refers only to states

In common usage, the term country is used
In common usage, the term country
In common usage,
In common usage

Not; Formal, Political or Government - If Gordon Brown was to go into Parliament and say 'Britain is a country' every Scotsman would light him on fire.

And I've never heard anyone use the word 'state' or 'nation' as a synonym for country; but hey - those wacky Americans.

British number one Andy Murray has dropped out of the world's top four for the first time since August 2008.

He is British; He's also European, White, Blonde, and kinda pale.

They needed something to describe him that would be acceptable.

So let's see: on the one hand we've got you saying there's no such thing as the 'country' of Britain; on the other side, we have the Prime Minister saying there is. On the one hand we have the BBC referring to people as 'British'; on the other side, you're calling anyone who does 'ignorant'.

Please, please, link me to that site, TO ANY SITE, that says 'Britain is a country' - You haven't ONCE clearly quoted, or supplied any information that clearly said 'Britain is a country'


http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_Great_Britain_a_country


DUUUURRRRRRRPPPPPPPPP......

 

[Kinguendo]

Language isnt culture, they are seperate things. Sure it CAN influence your culture but as I said... The official language of these countries is English.

We have different food, accents, people, history, (some) morals, I don't see how you can think these countries the same.

Even though most western countries are media-based the same these days.

We have similar food, heck the majority of the food IS the same. We have different people... as in they arent a bunch of clones but as people they are fairly simialr once again, accents... yes, but as I said language isnt culture. We have the same morals as the majority of people in the modern western world do.

I think these countries are similar and are part of the country known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Nothern Ireland.

 

[Cmwissy]

We have similar food, heck the majority of the food IS the same. We have different people... as in they arent a bunch of clones but as people they are fairly simialr once again, accents... yes, but as I said language isnt culture. We have the same morals as the majority of people in the modern western world do.

I think these countries are similar and are part of the country known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Nothern Ireland.

Couldn't everything you just said be taken out of context and put into Canada and America - tell me, why don't they team up into one country?

Because of cultural differences and disliking

 

[Iron Mal]

There's a difference between national accents and reigonal accents.

A man from London and a man from Yorkshire will both sound different (they both have different reigonal accents) but they both posess a British accent (both speak in a way that is recognised as sounding British).

The arguement that there is no such thing as a British accent because of the varying accents is like saying there is no unified English language because of varying dialects and idiomatic words and phrases (I can see why you think that but you're still argueably wrong).

 

[Cmwissy]

Snip

I imagine you have an Irish accent - I'm mainly referring to the Americans who think Britain = A Country and that = England and British accent = English accent.

 

[Kinguendo]

We have similar food, heck the majority of the food IS the same. We have different people... as in they arent a bunch of clones but as people they are fairly simialr once again, accents... yes, but as I said language isnt culture. We have the same morals as the majority of people in the modern western world do.

I think these countries are similar and are part of the country known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Nothern Ireland.

Couldn't everything you just said be taken out of context and put into Canada and America - tell me, why don't they team up into one country?

Because of cultural differences and disliking

There are states within America that hate other states within America... still a country, hell some part of America are actually culturally different and yet they are still part of the United States of America... which is a country, no?

As is the United Kingdom.

Tell me... does your passport say England? Northern Ireland (which is a province by the way, not a country but whatever.)? Scotland? Wales(which is a principality but hey, I will let that slide too.)?

 

[Cmwissy]

There are states within America that hate other states within America... still a country, hell some part of America are actually culturally different and yet they are still part of the United States of America... which is a country, no?

It's not a subjective thing -


Go to Wikipedia - Look up, England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland - they're countries - you can't argue against it; Look up the United Kingdom, It's a sovereign state - you can't argue against it.

Tell me... does your passport say England? Northern Ireland (which is a province by the way, not a country but whatever.)? Scotland? Wales(which is a principality but hey, I will let that slide too.)?

 

[Kinguendo]

There are states within America that hate other states within America... still a country, hell some part of America are actually culturally different and yet they are still part of the United States of America... which is a country, no?

It's not a subjective thing -


Go to Wikipedia - Look up, England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland - they're countries - you can't argue against it; Look up the United Kingdom, It's a sovereign state - you can't argue against it.

Tell me... does your passport say England? Northern Ireland (which is a province by the way, not a country but whatever.)? Scotland? Wales(which is a principality but hey, I will let that slide too.)?

Ah a "blue leather scottish passport holder"... but not the actual passport.

Also, yes it is a Sovereign State... I am glad you finally agree with me.

 

[koshypops]

I'm a Manc (people from Manchester for the uninitiated) but I've lived most of my life in a town to the North so my accent is a mix of the two. People can tell I'm not local and Manc's can tell that while I might have lived there I've been living elsewhere too.

I've been asked if I was from Newcastle before and while baffling I actually found it amusing. I speak to people in New Zealand and America on a regular basis and the one thing I've found is that just like me I can tell they're from New Zealand or America but unless they have one of the stereotype accents I have no way of placing them.

I know I don't feel insulted by something classing my accent as British rather than English. They've got the right part of the world at least, I'd be more insulted if they asked if I was French. I was once asked if I was from Newcastle I took it in my stride laughed at them and told them where I was from and to look at a map to realise how far off the mark they were.

I've never understood the continued hate of being called British by some people, sure Scots are proud of their heritage and rightly so. But they've been part of Britain for over 200 years, the Welsh aren't even technically British they're English as they were just annexed. So next time you meet a Scotsman lamenting being British remind him that the Welsh have it worse they don't even have a contribution to the British flag.

 

[RobCoxxy]

Yeah, all very true and well written - but Americans always notice The "BRITISH" accent over our "REGIONAL BRITISH" accent. I'm from the Midlands, we visited DC, everyone knew we were British.

Hell, there's a difference between Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Birmingham. All within 20 miles of each other (roughly).

I know
My hometown has different accents either side of the river...

 

[Cmwissy]

[
Ah a "blue leather scottish passport holder"... but not the actual passport.

Well - I dug out the original one and now It's just that ;(

Also, yes it is a Sovereign State... I am glad you finally agree with me.

I never disagreed - although sovereign state =/= country.

 

[cartzo]

the letter "H" has a terrible phobia of the north.

 

[Iron Mal]

Snip

I imagine you have an Irish accent - I'm mainly referring to the Americans who think Britain = A Country and that = England and British accent = English accent.

I am Irish but have lived in England since a young age and studied English Language as an A Level in college (part of our studies covered accents and dialects across the British Isles).

Technically, yes, Great Britain consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but typically a 'British' accent is refering to an English accent (someone with an Irish or Scottish accent will usually be referred to as having an accent from their respective country even though they could technically qualify as having a British accent).

Northern Ireland counts as part of Britain even though they are a part of greater Ireland(?) and both Ireland and England are part of Europe despite being somewhat 'removed' from the mainland (when you hear Americans talking about 'sexy europeans' you rarely get the picture of some pale, run down English/Irish person come into your head even though they still technically count).

 

[Nomad]

It's not a subjective thing -


Go to Wikipedia - Look up, England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland - they're countries - you can't argue against it; Look up the United Kingdom, It's a sovereign state - you can't argue against it.

I never disagreed - although sovereign state =/= country.

The man speaks the truth.

"The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the collective name of four countries, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The four separate countries were united under a single Parliament through a series of Acts of Union" - http://www.loc.gov/law/help/uk.php

"The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales" - http://europa.eu/youth/travelling_europe/index_uk_en.html

There's a difference between country, state and nation. The term country does not necessarily have any connection to sovereignity or governance. What his passport says shouldn't really matter. I don't have a passport myself, so I don't know what terminology they use, but I would assume it says nationality or something similar, rather than "country"?

You keep arguing there are four countries in the UK, which mean three on the island of GB, and your source--a Wiki answer, so not much of a 'source' to begin with: you could have wrote that for all we know--says there are two.

Okay, what about my sources? The Library of Congress (governmental institution) and the European Union's web portal? I'd say those should be reliable enough.