English Language and Culture I - Petty facts
CHAPTER 1
Albion
= a word used by poets and songwriters to refer, in different contexts, to England or to Scotland
or to Great Britain as a whole.
It comes from a Celtic word and was an early Greek and Roman name for Great Britain.
The Romains associated Great Britain with the Latin word ‘albus’, meaning white. The white
chalk cliffs around Dover on the English south coast are the first land formations one sights
when crossing the sea from the European mainland.
Britannia
= is the name that the Romans gave to their southern province (which covered, approximately,
the area of present-day England and Wales).
It is also the name given to the female embodiment of Britain, always shown wearing a helmet
and holding a trident (the symbol of power over the sea), hence the patriotic song which begins
‘Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves’. The figure of Britannia had been on the reverse side of
many British coins for more than 300 years.
Briton
= is a word used in official contexts and in writing to describe a citizen of the UK.
‘Ancient Britons’ is the name given to the people who lived in southern Britain before and during
the Roman occupation (AD 43-410). Their heirs are thought to be the Welsh and their language
has developed into the modern Welsh language.
Caledonia, Cambria and Hibernia
= were the Roman names for Scotland, Wales and Ireland respectively. The words are commonly
used today in scholarly classifications (for example, the type of English used in Ireland is
sometimes called ‘Hiberno-English) and there is a division of geological time known as ‘the
Cambrian period’) and for the names of organization (for example, ‘Glasgow Caledonian’
University).
Erin
= is a poetic name for Ireland.
The Emerald Isle
= is another way of referring to Ireland, evoking the lush greenery of its countryside.
1
,John Bull
= is a fictional character who is supposed to personify Englishness and certain English virtues. (He
can be compared to Uncle Sam in the USA). He appears in hundreds of nineteenth century
cartoons.
Today, somebody dressed as him often appears at football or rugby matches when England are
playing. His appearance is typical of eighteenth century country gentlemen, evoking an idyllic
rural past.
Identifying symbols of the four nations
England Wales Scotland Ireland
Flag
St. George’s Cross Dragon of Cadwallader St. Andrew’s Cross St. Patrick’s Cross
Republic of Ireland
Lion Rampant
Plant
Rose Leek / daffodil Thistle Shamrock
Colour White Pink Blue Green
Patron St. George St. David St. Andrew St. Patrick
saint
Saint’s 23 April 1 March 30 November 17 March
day
Other tokens of national identity
The following are also associated by British people with one or more of the four nations
Surnames
The prefix ‘Mac’ or ‘Mc’ (such as McCall, MacCarthy, MacDonald) is Scottish or Irish
2
, The prefix ‘O’ (as in O’Brien, O’Connor) is Irish.
A large number of surnames (for example, Evan, Jones, Morgan, Price, Williams) suggest
Welsh origin.
The most common surname in Both England and Scotland is ‘Smith’.
First names for men
The Scottish spelling of ‘John’ is ‘Ian’ and its Irish form is ‘Sean’, although all three names
are common throughout Britain.
Outside their own countries, there are also nicknames for Irish, Scottish and Welsh men.
For instance, Scottish men are sometimes known as and addressed as ‘Jock’, Irishmen are
called ‘Paddy’ or ‘Mick’ and Welshmen as ‘Dai’ or ‘Taffy’. If the person using one of these
names is not a friend, and especially if it is used in the plural (e.g. ‘Micks’), it can sound
insulting.
Clothes
The kilt, a skirt with a tartan pattern worn by men, is a very well-known symbol of
Scottishness (though it is hardly ever worn in everyday life).
Flag
The Union flag, often known as the ‘Union Jack’, is the national flag of the UK. It is a combination
of the cross of St. Andrew, the cross of St. George and the cross of St. Patrick.
CHAPTER 2
3
CHAPTER 1
Albion
= a word used by poets and songwriters to refer, in different contexts, to England or to Scotland
or to Great Britain as a whole.
It comes from a Celtic word and was an early Greek and Roman name for Great Britain.
The Romains associated Great Britain with the Latin word ‘albus’, meaning white. The white
chalk cliffs around Dover on the English south coast are the first land formations one sights
when crossing the sea from the European mainland.
Britannia
= is the name that the Romans gave to their southern province (which covered, approximately,
the area of present-day England and Wales).
It is also the name given to the female embodiment of Britain, always shown wearing a helmet
and holding a trident (the symbol of power over the sea), hence the patriotic song which begins
‘Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves’. The figure of Britannia had been on the reverse side of
many British coins for more than 300 years.
Briton
= is a word used in official contexts and in writing to describe a citizen of the UK.
‘Ancient Britons’ is the name given to the people who lived in southern Britain before and during
the Roman occupation (AD 43-410). Their heirs are thought to be the Welsh and their language
has developed into the modern Welsh language.
Caledonia, Cambria and Hibernia
= were the Roman names for Scotland, Wales and Ireland respectively. The words are commonly
used today in scholarly classifications (for example, the type of English used in Ireland is
sometimes called ‘Hiberno-English) and there is a division of geological time known as ‘the
Cambrian period’) and for the names of organization (for example, ‘Glasgow Caledonian’
University).
Erin
= is a poetic name for Ireland.
The Emerald Isle
= is another way of referring to Ireland, evoking the lush greenery of its countryside.
1
,John Bull
= is a fictional character who is supposed to personify Englishness and certain English virtues. (He
can be compared to Uncle Sam in the USA). He appears in hundreds of nineteenth century
cartoons.
Today, somebody dressed as him often appears at football or rugby matches when England are
playing. His appearance is typical of eighteenth century country gentlemen, evoking an idyllic
rural past.
Identifying symbols of the four nations
England Wales Scotland Ireland
Flag
St. George’s Cross Dragon of Cadwallader St. Andrew’s Cross St. Patrick’s Cross
Republic of Ireland
Lion Rampant
Plant
Rose Leek / daffodil Thistle Shamrock
Colour White Pink Blue Green
Patron St. George St. David St. Andrew St. Patrick
saint
Saint’s 23 April 1 March 30 November 17 March
day
Other tokens of national identity
The following are also associated by British people with one or more of the four nations
Surnames
The prefix ‘Mac’ or ‘Mc’ (such as McCall, MacCarthy, MacDonald) is Scottish or Irish
2
, The prefix ‘O’ (as in O’Brien, O’Connor) is Irish.
A large number of surnames (for example, Evan, Jones, Morgan, Price, Williams) suggest
Welsh origin.
The most common surname in Both England and Scotland is ‘Smith’.
First names for men
The Scottish spelling of ‘John’ is ‘Ian’ and its Irish form is ‘Sean’, although all three names
are common throughout Britain.
Outside their own countries, there are also nicknames for Irish, Scottish and Welsh men.
For instance, Scottish men are sometimes known as and addressed as ‘Jock’, Irishmen are
called ‘Paddy’ or ‘Mick’ and Welshmen as ‘Dai’ or ‘Taffy’. If the person using one of these
names is not a friend, and especially if it is used in the plural (e.g. ‘Micks’), it can sound
insulting.
Clothes
The kilt, a skirt with a tartan pattern worn by men, is a very well-known symbol of
Scottishness (though it is hardly ever worn in everyday life).
Flag
The Union flag, often known as the ‘Union Jack’, is the national flag of the UK. It is a combination
of the cross of St. Andrew, the cross of St. George and the cross of St. Patrick.
CHAPTER 2
3
