Transcript UK - HIO
Introduction to British Society:
The UK vs. the US,
Britons vs. Americans
10 January 2011
Tone Holt Nielsen and
Sigrid Brevik Wangsness
Introduction of the course
Structure of the course: lecture
series and group sessions
Lecture plan - syllabus in British
society
Why British society? Goals
Relevance for your exam
British English and American English
Examples of differences
Pronunciations
Vocabulary
The same language!
An advantage if you choose a
version of the language that other
people understand...
Britain and the U.S.A.
Special relationship?
(Shared history, culture, language)
Military cooperation
Personal ties between heads of
states:
Thatcher/Reagan, Clinton/Blair,
Bush/Blair. Obama/ Cameron?
National Characteristics and Values
How do Americans see the Brits?
Bill Bryson: Notes from a Small
Island
What do you consider ”typical”
for the British people? For
Americans?
Is there one British national character?
Problems of stereotyping/
generalizations
Outside vs. inside perspectives –
nuances
National characteristics vs. one
national identity
Why is it difficult to generalize about
the British (and Americans)?
A multicultural society
Regional differences
Class differences
Professional differences
Individual differences
British Values
Still, the following values have been
considered characteristic of British
society:
1. Stability
2. Tradition
3. Conservatism (resistance to
change)
Examples of how these values are
reflected in society in various ways?
Changing British Values (?)
Recent changes in values?
- A more “achievement-based”
culture?
- Increased individualism?
- More competition?
- More focus on the market?
- Change as a good thing for Britain?
Rebranding Britain
Modern Britain: “Cool Britannia” (?)
Images of a traditional/ oldfashioned society hard to change
The 2012 Olympics
British brands: products/ services