Stereotyped Associations

Ex...Several Britons of different ages were asked some questions concerning stereotyped associations. What impressions of Britons can you get from their answers? How do you describe the Britons?

Interviewer -Do you think you are typically English? What associations do you have with the words "typically English"?

Terry T. — I'mdefinitely not typically English. I'm American. I've been living in the UK for about fifteen years. I have several stereotyped associations with these words which include the following: pinstriped suit, umbrella, tea with milk, fish and chips, Shakespeare, Turner and Constable, Byron, Keats, Shelley, Dickens, Jane Austen, the Queen, Buckingham Palace, and Piccadilly Circus.

Robert N. — No, I'm not. I'm a polite, reserved, sometimes shy person.

Simon B. — Yes.

Ann B. — Yes, Isuppose so.

Greg B. — Only in some respects. I suppose what we mean by "typically English" is someone who is usually cool and reserved, though helpful to strangers; convinced of the superiority of British institutions, especially the monarchy; proud of our history; unable to speak any other language and suspicious of foreign people and food. I suppose I'm mostly proud of our history. Also I tend to be cool and reserved with strangers, though I do try to be helpful. But I detest the monarchy, I speak French fairly well and I like people and food from other countries.

John M. — Ithink foreigners can answer this question better than me.

Sara J. — No. There is no such thing.

Do you agree with the opinion that the English are reserved and unemotional? How and why do you think this stereotype has appeared?

Terry T. — I think that Englishmen are reserved, but I don't think they are unemotional. I believe they control their emotions because they are taught that it is best not to show their feelings. I don't know how and why this attitude has developed.

Robert N. — I think they are reserved but not unemotional. They have the ability to control themselves in difficult situations.

Simon B. — No. Many English people — not just men — are unemotional, but many are very willing to show their feelings.

Ann B. — Not really. This stereotype appeared in the class system of Victorian England, 100 years ago.

Greg B. — Yes, it's true that most Englishmen are 'uptight' in the sense of not feeling comfortable

about letting strong emotions show.

John M. — It is part of our culture not to show emotions, so people have difficulty in expressing emotion. But this is changing.

Sara J. — This applies to the upper-middle class English person and is a result of repressive schooling. It only applies to a minority however — thank goodness.

E x.?. Insert the words given below into the text describing the typical weather of the British Isles.

The Weather in Britain

In Britain, the … is very …: it … a lot, but the sun often shines too.

… can be … cold, with an average … of 5°C in the south. There is often snow.

Summers can be cool or warm, but the temperature … not usually go above 30°C. It is … cloudy, and there are grey … for days or weeks. There is … fog, but not so often as foreigners think. British … never … what tomorrow’s weather will be like.

(weather, skies, temperature, rains, know, changeable, people, winters, sometimes, often, does, seldom)

Ex.?. When British people start up a conversation with someone they don’t know they often begin by talking about the weather. Imagine you are in England and want to get acquainted with an Englishman. Make up the dialogue with him about the weather.

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