The Society and Culture
of Major EnglishSpeaking Countries
Chapter 1 General Introduction
Function of the course
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Background information for English study
Cultural knowledge of TEM examinations
Basic understanding of the differences of
Chinese and western culture
Preliminary understanding of the word “culture”
(civilization)
Culture
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Definition
Sir Edward Tylor (19th century British
anthropologist)
“Culture is that complex whole which includes
knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and
any other capabilities and habits acquired by
man as a member of society.”
“the way people live”
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Broad ranges of culture
arts
technology
customs
beliefs
values
patterns of communication
…
Requirements of the course
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What?
When?
Where?
Who?
How?
Why?
Example: some cultural symbols
Briton
Union Jack
Easter Friday
Bank Holiday
Uncle Sam
GI
How to present the class?
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Textbook
Preview and review
Powerpoint presentation and video clips
Outlining
Questions and answers
Student participation
Quizzes and tests
How are you assessed?
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Attendance
Homework
Class participation
Quiz and test score
Final exam
A Brief Introduction to UK
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How shall we refer to that country?
What do you know about Britain or British
people?
How much is Britain different from China?
Influences from its imperial past
the Commonwealth
G-8
Ethnic composition of British people
 A complex country with a complex name
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Four constituent parts (countries) of the UK
Racial difference
Religious difference
Gender difference
Class difference
Regional difference
Economic difference
Importance of London
Geography of the UK
1. Location
2. Terrain
3. Division
4. Important cities
London
Glasgow
Liverpool
5. Area
Total area
Length from north to south
Width from west to east
6. Population
Total amount
Composition
Identity
An isolated country or an integrating nation?
---- The relationship with the continent
of Europe
1.
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European Union’s membership
Attitudes of British people toward new systems
in the continent of Europe
Pound & Euro
Blair’s policy (Labor Party)
Disadvantages of adopting Euro
Euro
GBP (British Pound Sterling)
2. Sources of British attitudes
Particular geographical location
“John Bull”
 Consciousness of isolation from the continent
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III. History of invasion
- 1st AD Celtic
 43AD – 5th Century Roman invasion
 5th Century – 8th Century
Jutes and Anglos from now Denmark
Saxons from Germany
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Roman invasions (1st-5th centuries AD)
Roman Walls in York, England
King Arthur
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8th Century Scandinavian Vikings
Differences between the north and the south in
England
1066 Normans invasion
William Normandy
 Changes in British society
a. Aristocracy
b. Religion
c. Art
d. Language
e. administration
f. Defense
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Tower of London
Scotland & Wales
Scotland
I. Geographic features
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Ruggedness
Southern uplands
Northern West Highlands
Scottish Highlands
More than half of the surface of Scotland is occupied by the Scottish
Highlands, the most rugged region in Great Britain. They consist of
parallel mountain chains with a general northeast-to-southwest trend,
broken by deep ravines and valleys.
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Location of important cities
Glasgow
Edinburgh
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Advantages that ruggedness has brought to
Scotland
not too long-time invasion by Roman invaders
Hadrian’s Wall
independent spirit/identity
II. Special features of Scots
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Highlanders
National dress: kilt
Symbols of famous Scottish names
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Distribution of population
Highlanders
Fishermen
Lowlanders
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Characteristics of Scots
inventive
serious minded
hard working
cautious with money
brave
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Nicknames in the war
bagpipes
“devils in skirts”
“ladies from hell”
III. History
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6th AD
Division between highland & lowland:
British Celts
Northern Irish
Picts (original Celts)
9th AD
Scottish people unified to fight against AngloSaxon England
Macbeth
 Heroes against England in 13th & 14th c.
William Wallace
Robert the Bruce
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Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots, who ascended to the throne scarcely a week after her
birth, grew to be a Catholic monarch in a Protestant land. In 1565 she married
the Scottish Catholic lord Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, father of the future
James I of England. After his death, she married James Hepburn, 4th earl of
Bothwell, but the resulting fury of the Scots nobles forced her to abdicate and
escape to England. Kept as a virtual prisoner by Elizabeth I of England, she
joined Catholic plots to topple her fellow queen, and in 1587 Elizabeth
reluctantly agreed to her execution.
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Union with England
1603 James I of England
1707 participation into the Union
1745 Rebels and Battle of Culloden
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The dream of independence
Scottish seats in British (English) Parliament
Scottish National Party
1960s
1979
1997 General Election
1999 Reopen of Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
Wales
I. Geographical features
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Capital: Cardiff
Coal center
Cardiff
Big Pit Mining Museum, Blaenafon
Coal mining was once the main industry of the Rhondda Valley and the surrounding area.
The Big Pit ("Pwll Mawr") colliery ceased production in 1980 but its buildings and
machinery were preserved and converted into a museum of mining. Visitors descend into
the mine via the 90-m (300-ft) lift shaft to walk through underground roadways, air
doors, stables (for pit ponies), and engine houses constructed by past generations of
miners.
II. History
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Celtic people
Roman invasion
Celtic land again
Norman authority
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd
1267 Prince of Wales
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Edward I
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Prince of Wales
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Caernarfon Castle
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15th century Owain Glyndwr
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1536 the 1536 Act of Union
Union with U.K.
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Struggles for home rule in 19th & 20th c.
“Plaid Cymru”—The Party of Wales
Limited home rule under the Labor government
July 1999, National Assembly of Wales opened.
III. Population
Celtic people with immigrants from other parts
 Strong Celtic culture
1. Northerners— livestock herding
2. Southerners—industry
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Language: Welsh & English
Individual identity
IV. Conventions & Traditions
Love of music and poetry
“National Eisteddfod”
 Choral singing as a national art
 Rugby, football
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