Questionnaire
Britain: the country and its people
1) Define the terms: British Isles, Great Britain, Ireland
and The UK.
Lying off the north-west coast of Europe, there are two
large islands and several much smaller ones. Collectively,
they are known as the British Isles. The largest island is
called Great Britain and the other large one is called
Ireland.
In the British Islands there are two states. One of these
governs most of the island of Ireland. This state is usually
called The Republic of Ireland. It is also called `Eire’.
Informally it is referred to as just Ireland or The Republic.
The other state has authority over the rest of the British
Isles. Its official name is THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT
BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND.
2) Crown dependencies: name them and explain their
political status.
There are two small parts of the British Isles which have
special political arrangements. These crown
dependencies are The Channel Islands and The Isle of
Man. Each has complete internal self-government,
including its own parliament and its own tax system.
Both are rules by a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the
British government.
3) Define the terms: Albion, Britannia, Caledonia,
Hibernia, Cambria, Erin.
Albion is a word used in some poetic or rhetorical
contexts to refer to England. It was the original name for
Britain.
Britannia is the name that the Romans gave to their
southern British province, it is also the name given to the
female embodiment of Britain, always shown wearing a
helmet and holding a trident.
Caledonia, Cambria and Hibernia were the Roman names
for Scotland, Wales and Ireland respectively.
Erin is a poetic name for Ireland.
4) Define the terms: Briton and John Bull
Briton is a word used in official contexts and in formal
writing to describe a citizen of the United Kingdom.
John Bull is a fictional character who is supposed to
personify Englishness and certain English virtues. His
appearance is typical of an eighteenth century country
gentleman evoking an idyllic rural past.
5) Name the national symbols and patron saints of
England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
England
Flag:
St. George Cross
Plant: Rose
Colour : white
Patron Saint: St. George
Saint´s day: 23 April
Wales
Flag:
Dragon of Cadwallader
Plant: leek/daffodil
Colour: red
Patron saint: St. David
Saint´s day: 1 March
Scotland
Flag:
St. Andrew´s Cross
Plant: thistle
Colour: blue
Patron saint: St. Andrew
Saint´s day: 30 November
Ireland
Flag:
St. Patrick´s Cross
Plant: shamrock
Colour: green
Patron saint: St. Patrick
Saint´s day: 17 March
6) Mention the nicknames associated with the different
nationalities and stereotypical characteristics.
The prefix MAC or MC in surnames such as MacDonald or
McCall is always either Scottish or Irish.
The prefix O as in O’Hara is distinctly Irish.
A very large number of surnames for example Davis,
Evans, Jones suggest Welsh origin. The most common
surname in both England and Scotland is actually Smith.
First names can also be indicative.
The Scottish form of JOHN is IAN and its Irish form is
SEAN.
There are also nicknames for Scottish, Irish and Welsh
men. For example, an English, welsh or Irish person might
refer to and address a Scottish friend as JOCK whatever
his first name is. Irishmen are called PADDY or MICK and
Welsh men are known as DAI or TAFFY.
7) Explain the different racial origins of people in
Ireland and Wales, highland Scotland and England.
The people in Ireland, Wales and highland Scotland
belonged to the Celtic race, those in England and low
Scotland were mainly of Germanic origin. This difference
was reflected in the language they spoke. The nations
also tended to have different economic, social and legal
systems.
8) How is the dominance of England felt in practice?
It can not be denied that the dominant culture of Britain
today is specifically English. The system of politics that is
used in all four nations is of English origin and English is
the main language of all four nations.
Many aspects of everyday life are organized according to
English custom and practice.
The political unification of Britain was not achieved by
mutual agreement. It happened because England was
able to exert her economic and military power over the
three other nations.
Today English dominations can be detected in the way in
which various aspects of British life are described.
9) What is the Union Jack?
The Union Jack is the national flag of the UK. It is a
combination of the cross of St. George, the cross of St.
Andrew and the cross of St. Patrick.
10)Update the population of England, Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland.
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
The UK
51,987,579
5,198,378
3,015,532
1,788,900
68,008,048