UK / US English - Different Strokes

CULTURE UK / USA

DIFFERENT STROKES

A look at the differences in character between the British and Americans.

This is the second part of our series on America and Britain. This month we are looking at the British and American character. As you will see, there are many similarities, but also many differences.

Meeting Americans and Brits

In general, Americans are very friendly. When they meet you, they’ll give you a loud “hello”, a firm handshake, a wide smile, and good eye contact. They’ll immediately start using your first name (even if you’re fifty years older than them), and they’ll open themselves up to you with information on their family, education and personal life. You’ll immediately feel like their friend. Many Americans have casual relationships that are loosely termed as “friends at work” or “friends at school” and so on. The British, on the other hand, may come across as colder, more distant and less friendly. When they meet you, they’ll probably make some sarcastic comment about the weather, boast about how much they drank the night before, or ask you where you’re from and what you’re doing there.

Time

“Doing” is very important to Americans; and “wasting time” is viewed negatively. For business and most meetings, punctuality is very important. Many Americans organise their activities according to a schedule. As a result, they always seem to be running around, hurrying to get to their next appointment. The British are similar, and have a great obsession for punctuality, which they value far above human kindness and charity. Strangely though, British trains are some of the least punctual in the world.

Image

Most Americans are obsessed with image. The cultural message for both men and women is, “Look 20 years younger”. Old Americans try to stop the ageing process by dyeing their hair, wearing blue jeans, and having their faces lifted and their tummies tucked. The definitive remark on ageing was made by Ivana Trump, who said, “I’ll always look 35, but it’s going to cost Donald [her husband] a lot of money.” The British have started copying this American trend, although not to the same extreme. They are generally worried about their personal image, but usually can’t be bothered to do anything about it. Generally, in Britain, it is considered vulgar to try too hard - you have to keep it a secret.

Character

Americans admire strong, self-reliant, individual people. American heroes include outlaws such as Jesse James, successful entrepreneurs like Sam Walton (the founder of the Wal-Mart superstores), and tough guys like Humphrey Bogart and John Wayne. They hate being dependent on other people, or having others depend on them. Other cultures who like to depend on family or friends may view this as “selfishness”. The British are similar in the sense that they like to be independent, but this is mainly as a way of avoiding confrontation. British heroes include James Bond, Mr Bean and Benny Hill.

Health and Beauty

Americans like to feel and look good. And they spend millions on drugs, books, and various forms of psychotherapy in order to achieve this. They attend group therapy sessions, and participate in self-discovery classes. Helpful books include I’m OK; You’re OK; Feeling Good; and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. In general, Americans have a positive outlook on life, and a go-getting, problem-solving attitude to difficulties. The British are starting to be more like the Americans in this respect; although they aren’t so addicted to all the pills and medicines. When the Brits get depressed, they prefer to have a cup of tea, or go to the pub.

Enthusiasm and Emotion

In general, Americans are very open people, and aren’t afraid to show enthusiasm or emotion in public. During sporting events they may shout words of encouragement such as, “Yeah! Go man, go!” And while playing games they may slap one another on the back and jump up high in the air, especially if they are winning. The British, on the other hand, have always been taught to act avoid any demonstration of emotion. Extreme enthusiasm, crying, making a scene, and a loss of control is seen as something really bad in Britain. They are traditionally told to “keep a stiff upper lip”. Just look at the following example from the Battle of Waterloo (1815): Captain Jones: “Good God, sir. Your leg has been blown off!” General Barker: “Oh, yes. I believe it has. But don’t worry, I still have the other one.” However, this absurd character trait is gradually disappearing as young Brits become more like their American cousins thanks to the influence of television and cinema.

Politeness

When it comes to talking, Americans are much more direct. They’ll say just what they want, and they expect the answer to their questions to be “yes”. Here are some examples. 1. An American wants to have a cigarette in a public place. Here’s what he or she may say: “I’m going to have a cigarette, does anybody mind?” 2. An American is on a bus and wants to open a window: “It’s hot in here. Can someone open a window, please?” 3. An American is on a train and wants to take off his/her shoes: “My feet hurt. Do you guys mind if I take off my shoes?” The British, on the other hand, are much more timid when it comes to asking for things. You can hear this in their intonation, which makes them sound a bit like they’re begging for their life.

They use “please” and “thank you” more often, and they don’t really expect positive answers to their questions. Let’s look at the examples above as spoken by a British person. 1. A British person wants to have a cigarette in a public place. “I’m really sorry to bother you, but would anyone mind awfully if I had a cigarette?” 2. A British person is on a bus and wants to open a window: “I’m sorry but it’s terribly hot in here, and, if you don’t mind, I’d really like to open the window.” 3. A British person is on a train and wants to take off his/her shoes: “Look, I know this is unusual, and I’m really sorry for disturbing you, it’s just that my feet are really hurting me and I’m afraid that I might have to take off my shoes.

Would anyone mind? No, no, you’re right. It’s too much to ask. I’ll just leave them on. It’s nothing to worry about.”

Next month we’ll be looking at some more differences between the British and the Americans.

G L O S S A R Y

a handshake n the action of holding someone’s hand in your right hand as a way of saying hello to open yourself up to someone exp to talk about yourself openly and to be very friendly with someone a sarcastic comment n to say something insulting or critical, but in a funny way by saying the opposite of what you really want to say to boast vb to speak about how good you are at something a schedule n a timetable; a plan that says what you are going to do at a certain time to run around phr vb to go to many places very quickly to hurry vb to go somewhere very quickly the ageing process n the process of becoming old to dye your hair exp to change the colour of your hair to have your face lifted exp to have a surgical operation on your face to make you look younger to have your tummy tucked exp to have a surgical operation on your stomach to reduce its size can’t be bothered exp if you “can’t be bothered to do something”, you don’t want to do that thing because you are too lazy or tired self-reliant adj if you are “self-reliant”, you don’t need any help from anyone else an outlaw n a criminal who the police are trying to catch an entrepreneur n a successful business person a tough guy n a person with a hard, cruel personality selfishness n only thinking about yourself a self-discovery class n a class in which you can learn things about your personality a go-getting, problem-solving attitude exp wth a positive, optimistic character and personality to slap someone on the back exp to hit someone on the back as a way of congratulating them or saying thanks to keep a stiff upper lip exp to remain calm in tense situations to blow off phr vb if your leg is “blown off”, a bomb has exploded and you have lost your leg a character trait n an aspect of your personality to beg for your life exp to desperately ask someone not to kill you