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"British" works, as the Isles are British, though of course, it's still a bit of a mess, as the Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands are part of the geographical entity the British Isles (in much the same way we can refer to a Portuguese or Spaniard as an Iberian), but neither is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. (I think this allowed Bono to be included in the BBC's poll of Great Britons - in the eyes of the Beeb, he is a Briton because he was born in the British Isles, not because he holds a UK passport.)
If you are actually using the word as a noun, as in "the english" rather than an adjective as in "the english people" then perhaps "subjects" would be appropriate.
Personally,I would go for British, my friend is from Northern Ireland and considers himself British, others prefer to consider themselves Irish. Historically, it's a bit complicated as Britain refers to the lands occupied by the "Britons" which excluded both parts of Scotland and Ireland (Pict and Gaelic). Britain was originally the territories now known as Wales and England, following the Anglo-Saxon invasions, those lands were limited to the western parts of the landmass known (after the act of Union) as "Great Britain" the Breton area of France and a part of Northern Spain. Strictly speaking you could argue that some English people aren't British as they are not descendants of the original Brytons, therefore, referring to the English as British is also incorrect.
Slightly OT but I hate being UKish, especially online. Whenever you have to fill in an online form with a dropdown box to select your country it never offers England, Wales etc, only United Kingdom. Sorry but last time I checked United Kingdom was not a country!
Just bugs me lol
Last edited by JDPower; 01-07-2008 at 7:02 PM..
Reason: Spelling
There was a range of Ukish flags and car stickers availible as a spin off from Bill Drummonds 'How to be an artist' book about 7 years ago. Fantastic book that.
My worry is we're becoming way too like the US. We even write English like the Americans now. It's recognised not recognized Martin! (Though feel free to blame MS Word spellchecker!)
m00head, 'Great British' would exclude us here in Northern Ireland. I think that 'British' works best. As said above, it is a bit ambiguous, but I like to think of it as England, Scotland, NI, Wales, and islands apart from Isle of Man. We're an awkward lot in NI though and some of us consider ourselves British, and some Irish. But then the people who call themselves Irish don't want to be identified as British, or UK-ish, so that's OK.
Alan
(I think this allowed Bono to be included in the BBC's poll of Great Britons - in the eyes of the Beeb, he is a Briton because he was born in the British Isles, not because he holds a UK passport.)
Bono is NOT a Briton (cos in it's modern meaning it is really just another way of saying British person), he is Irish, and Irish people find it very insulting when we are included in these things. Took us long enough to get out in the first place, stop trying to drag us back in! As a related aside, see this poster from the recent No vote in Ireland . http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereport...ster_203pa.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by almillar
m00head, 'Great British' would exclude us here in Northern Ireland. I think that 'British' works best. As said above, it is a bit ambiguous, but I like to think of it as England, Scotland, NI, Wales, and islands apart from Isle of Man. We're an awkward lot in NI though and some of us consider ourselves British, and some Irish. But then the people who call themselves Irish don't want to be identified as British, or UK-ish, so that's OK.
Alan
Exactly... and UKish is horrible! Seems way too close to "yuck-ish". British has a defined meaning that includes NI etc, why re-invent the wheel?
Slightly OT but I hate being UKish, especially online. Whenever you have to fill in an online form with a dropdown box to select your country it never offers England, Wales etc, only United Kingdom. Sorry but last time I checked United Kingdom was not a country!
Just bugs me lol
At least it's easy to jump to United Kingdom if all sites use it. I have come across sites that allow selection of the nations or even "Great Britain" but they are rare in my experience.
Would the word Ukish be pronounced you-kay-ish or you-kish ?
How about ukogbanish as an alternative?
At least it's easy to jump to United Kingdom if all sites use it. I have come across sites that allow selection of the nations or even "Great Britain" but they are rare in my experience.
But I always jump to the E's to look for England before looking for UK anyway. Has even been a few times when particularly frustrated I've selected 'Other' and entered England when asked.
Still OT I know but I wonder if there is anywhere else in the world that consistently gets called a country when it is in fact two or more countries grouped together
But I always jump to the E's to look for England before looking for UK anyway. Has even been a few times when particularly frustrated I've selected 'Other' and entered England when asked.
Still OT I know but I wonder if there is anywhere else in the world that consistently gets called a country when it is in fact two or more countries grouped together
When I was in Japan last year I was chatting to someone who asked me to explain what the UK was. I had to start by telling them that England and the UK weren't the same. After scribbling a few maps on a scrap of paper then moving on to the devolved Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly, our separate football teams and single Olympic team and a brief mention of the Isle of Man and Channel Islands I think I'd confused them enough that they let me get back to drinking my beer!
Still OT I know but I wonder if there is anywhere else in the world that consistently gets called a country when it is in fact two or more countries grouped together
Technically.. Australia is a federation of at least nominally independent states, as is supposedly the USA.. although the civil war shot that down a bit.. then there's Trinidad and Tobago... and there was Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia..
And like it or not, geographically the Irish are British.. as are Shets, Orcadians, and people from Lundy... but as members of the Goidelic branch they are not Britons... which term is usually held to include only those of Brythonic descent.. such as the overlords of the Welsh, the Dalriads, and the folk of Brittany... and you'll notice I say the overlords of the Welsh.. the main populace of wales was never celtic (sorry lads) but did have celtic (Brythonic) rulers...
And like it or not, geographically the Irish are British.. as are Shets, Orcadians, and people from Lundy... but as members of the Goidelic branch they are not Britons... which term is usually held to include only those of Brythonic descent.. such as the overlords of the Welsh, the Dalriads, and the folk of Brittany... and you'll notice I say the overlords of the Welsh.. the main populace of wales was never celtic (sorry lads) but did have celtic (Brythonic) rulers...
Wrong. British is not a geographical term, it does not refer to the British Isles, or else they would be the British Lions, not the British and Irish Lions. British has a specific and exact meaning, a bit like that legal tender titbit from a few weeks ago:
"On January 1 1983, anyone who was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies on December 31 1982, and had the right of abode* in the UK, became a British citizen." http://www.ips.gov.uk/passport/apply...ility-am-i.asp
I have heard a lovely turn of phrase to describe it: " Applying the term British, or any of its variants, to citizens of the Republic is both incorrect politically and politically incorrect".
Briton (modern meaning) simply means British person. It would make things much clearer if people used the alternative term Brython instead of Briton when referring to those particular Insular Celtic tribes. By the way, Dalriada was Goidelic with probably a chunk of Pictish thrown in, definitely not Brython.
On a related and slightly tongue-in-cheek note, the Irish for Wales and GB respectively are Breatain Beag (Little Britain ) and Breatain or Breatain Mor (Britain or Big Britain).
Exactly... and UKish is horrible! Seems way too close to "yuck-ish". British has a defined meaning that includes NI etc, why re-invent the wheel?
Surely British means "that which relates to, or comes from, Britain"?
Northern Ireland is not part of Britain, so I don't see how it has a "defined meaning" that includes it, especially considering that lots of people from Britain don't even describe themselves as British, but perfer English, Scottish and Welsh.
I'm from Northern Ireland, and hence the UK, but I'm not from Britain, nor am I British.
[quote=big gay kirk;12188775]Technically.. Australia is a federation of at least nominally independent states, as is supposedly the USA.. although the civil war shot that down a bit.. then there's Trinidad and Tobago... and there was Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia..
And like it or not, geographically the Irish are British..quote]
rubbish oh dear another deluded person.. so if the Irish invade Britain like the British did and by force told the British this is now the Irish isle i don't think anyone would agree with that... we are all African if you want to go back in history to find our ancestors. I have British, Spanish and yes IRISH blood but if i go back I'm from Africa.. All I'm saying is Ireland is Irish and Britain is British but go way back in history we are all from Africa that will go down well with all the racists
All i can say is
pleased to meet you
now go please
Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps. Take care over copyright. Use excerpts and links rather than copying long text. This site asserts copyright on all comments posted on the board.
Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps.
Proud to be UKish?' blog discussion
(Though feel free to blame MS Word spellchecker!)
.
) and Breatain or Breatain Mor (Britain or Big Britain).
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