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Typically British
Welcome to our guide to the UK. This is useful for anyone researching British culture, customs, manners, etiquette, values and wanting to understand the people better. You may be going to Britain on business, for a visit or even hosting British colleagues or clients in your own country. Remember this is only a very basic level introductionandis not meant to stereotype all Brits you may meet.
The British have been historically known for their stiff upper lip1.This attidude in the face of adversity or embarrassment lives on today.
As a nation, the Brits tend not to use superlatives and are not terribly animated when they speak. This does not mean that they do not have strong emotions; they just do not choose to put them on public display2. They are generally not very openly demonstrative, and, unless you know someone well, may not appreciate it if you put your arm around their shoulder. Kissing is most often reserved for family members in the privacy of home, rather than in public3. You'll see that the British prefer to maintain a few feet of distance between themselves and the person to whom they are speaking. If you have insulted someone, their facial expression may not change.
The British are very reserved and private people. Privacy is extremely important. The British will not necessarily give you a tour of their home and, in fact4, may keep most doors closed. They expect others to respect their privacy. This extends to not asking personal questions. The question, "Where are you from?" may be viewed as an attempt to "place" the person on the social or class scale. Even close friends do not ask pointedly personal questions, particularly pertaining to one's financial situation or relationships.
There is a proper way to act in most situations and the British are sticklers for adherence to protocol. The British are a bit more contained in their body language and hand gestures while speaking. They are generally more distant and reserved than North and South Americans and Southern Europeans, and may not initially appear to be as open or fiendly5. Friendships take longer to build; however, once established they tend to be deep and may last over time and distance.
Formerly a very homogenous society, since World War II, Britain has become increasingly diverse as it has accommodated large immigrant populations, particularly from its former colonies such as India, Pakistan and West Indies. The mixture of ethnic groups and cultures make it difficult to define "Britishness" nowadays and a debate rages within the nation as to what now really constitutes being a Briton.
Notes
1 stiff upper lip ,
2 to put them on public display
3 rather than in public
4 in fact
5 and may not initially appear
to be as open or friendly
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Words
research ,
custom
value
host ;
level
attitude
adversity ; ;
superlative
animated ,
appreciate ,
shoulder
privacy ;
insult ;
expression
reserved ; ;
expect ,
respect
attempt
pointedly ,
particularly
proper , ,
stickler ;
adherence 1. ; 2.
contained
diverse
former
define
