Talking and Writing

70 What are the main differences in the way Englishness is seen by the book's author and the Guardian journalist?

71 The novel "Original Sin" by P. D. James, presented in a few clippings in Part 2, is a modern example of British detective genre. The passage in Part 2 features an array of characters. How much Englishness is there in their personalities (if at all)? Look at the key figures, on the one hand; the vocabulary of ex. 65, the text above and the submodifiers below, on the other hand, and suggest an opinion.

e. g.

I find Frances Peverell perfectly English. She is entirely self-denying and strikingly stoic. This is exemplified in the episode when …

Intensifying submodifiers:

amazingly, awfully, bitterly, critically, dangerously, deeply, delightfully, disturbingly, dreadfully, eminently, especially, exceedingly, extraordinarily, extremely, fantastically, greatly, heavily, highly, hopelessly, horribly, hugely, impossibly, incredibly, infinitely, notably, particularly, radically, really, remarkably, seriously, strikingly, supremely, surprisingly, suspiciously, terribly, unbelievably, very, violently, vitally, wildly, wonderfully;

Indicating extent submodifiers:

absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, perfectly, purely, quite, simply, totally, utterly;

Reducing submodifiers:

faintly, fairly, mildly, moderately, pretty, quite, rather, reasonably, slightly, somewhat.

72 Below are a few snippets from Chapter Two "Funny Foreigners" in Jeremy Paxman's book. Read the passage and then share an opinion how much they are convincing, far-fetched or enlightening. Then, take another locality, region or country and ponder over the people's typical or national traits that might have evolved from their geographical circumstances. Voice your theories to the class, find support or accept criticism.

The adage is that geography makes history. But if such a thing as a national psychology exists, it too may be made by geography. The first profound influence upon the English is the fact that they live on an island.

England remains the only European country in which apparently intelligent people can use expressions like "joining Europe was a mistake", or "we should leave Europe", as if the place can be hitched to the back of the car like a holiday caravan. An analysis of the British market for the French Tourist Office in 1996 advises, in measured disdain, that "even though they have a well-developed sense of humour and can laugh at themselves, they remain conservative and chauvinistic. The British are profoundly independent and insular, constantly torn between America and Europe". They are right: one of the consequences of living on an island is that everywhere is overseas. And once they had committed themselves to the sea, the English were inclined to see the rest of Europe as nothing but trouble.

In 1882, the idea was canvassed of driving a railway tunnel under the Channel. It was just the sort of an engineering challenge. Instead, Nineteenth Century magazine organized a petition opposing the idea, on the grounds that "such a Railroad would involve this country in military dangers and liabilities from which, as an island, it has hitherto been happily free". This was no voice crying from the rural backwoods: the letter rapidly gained signatures from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the poets Tennyson and Browning, the philosopher Herbert Spenser, 5 dukes, 10 earls, 26 MPs, 17admirals, 59 generals, 200 clergymen and 600 other worthies.

The Englishman sees himself as a captain on board a ship with a small group of people, the sea around and beneath him. He is almost alone; as captain he is in many ways isolated even from his crew. …

Seabound security gave the English an early self-confidence and their relative isolation promoted the growth of an idiosyncratic intellectual tradition. It produced some very odd geniuses, like Blake or Shakespeare. It probably has something to do with the fact that England has produced so many very good travel writers. And nautical gangsters – how else are we to think of a figure like Sir Francis Drake? Freedom from the fear of sudden invasion also promoted individual freedoms.

We all need enemies, and the French were so wonderfully convenient – near to hand and yet apparently oblivious of the interests of anyone else. This is how we thought of our nearest continental neighbours. Obscene drawings were "French postcards". Prostitutes were the "French Consular Guard". If a man used their services, he would "take French lessons". Well into the 1950s, English people were still excusing their swearing by asking people to "pardon my French" and talking of unauthorized absences as "French leave". Once upon a time, when England was at war with Spain, syphilis was "the Spanish pox" and corruption was "Spanish practices". By the time the Dutch had become the main trading rivals, the English were inventing phrases like double Dutch for gibberish, or Dutch courage for the bravery of drunkenness. The pattern applies across Europe, but the Anglo-French rivalry is in a class of its own. Centuries of hostility cannot be overcome so soon.

Insularity gave the English a great self-confidence, but it did nothing for their sophistication. It is hard to escape the conclusion that, deep down, the English care little for foreigners, but scoff and laugh at them. Visitors commented on the remarkable vanity of the English. In 1497, a Venetian noticed that "the English are great lovers of themselves, and of everything belonging to them; they think that there are no other men than themselves and no other world but England". The picture had hardly changed by the middle of the 20^th century.

73 Do some research into the portrait of a nation, ethnic group, or local community that you know of. Work out an article, highlighting the key traits that form a stereotyped image of the said population. Use the language of this Unit.

[1] Vanity Fair Magazine, magazine commenting on the American scene today, focuses on literature, art, fashion, politics and the unusual personality, and is a magazine devoted to readers who are interested in contemporary society and culture.

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