Văn Hoá Anh - 2 People and Language

09:58, 09/08/2023
UNIT 2
PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE
2.1. WHO ARE THE BRITISH?
Slide Unit 2
https://hoctructuyen.udn.vn/files/2020/2020_5_27_36_15_896_topic_2_-_language_and_people.pptx
2.1.1. Why British not English?
Many foreigners say “England” and “English” when they mean “Britain”, or the “UK”, and
“British”. This is very annoying for the 5 million people who live in Scotland, the 2.8 million
in Wales and 1.5 million in Northern Ireland who are certainly not English. However, the
people from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England are all British. So what is the
difference between the names ‘Great Britain’ and ‘the United Kingdom”- and what about ‘the
British Isles’?
The United Kingdom is an abbreviation of ‘the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland’. It is often further abbreviated to ‘UK’, and is the political name of the
country which is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Several islands
off the British coast are also part of the United Kingdom (for example, the Isle of Wight, the
Orkneys, Hebrides and Shetlands, and the Isles of Scilly), although the Channel Islands and
the Isle of Man are not. However, all these islands do recognize the Queen.
Great Britain is the name of the island which is made up of England, Scotland and Wales.
The British Isles is the geographical name that refers to all the islands off the north west
coast of the European continent: Great Britain, the whole of Ireland, the Channel Islands and
the Isle of Man.
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2.1.2. How was the United Kingdom formed?
This took centuries, and a lot of armed struggle was involved. In the 15th century, a Welsh
prince, Henry Tudor, became King Henry VII of England. Then his son, King Henry VIII,
united England and Wales under one Parliament in 1536. In Scotland a similar thing
happened. The King of Scotland inherited the crown of England and Wales in 1603, so he
became King James I of England and Wales and King James VI of Scotland. The Parliaments
of England, Wales and Scotland were united a century later in 1707.
The Scottish and Welsh are proud and independent people. In recent years there have been
attempts at devolution in the two countries, particularly in Scotland where the Scottish
Nationalist Party was very strong for a while. However, in a referendum in 1979 the Welsh
rejected devolution and in 1979 the Scots did the same. So it seems that most Welsh and
Scottish people are happy to form part of the UK even though they sometimes complain that
they are dominated by England, and particularly by London.
The whole Ireland was united with Great Britain from 1801 up until 1922. In that year the
independent Republic of Ireland was formed in the South, while Northern Ireland became part
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
King James
King Henry VIII
2.1.3. Invasion

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What makes the Scottish, Welsh, English and Northern Irish different from each other? About
2,000 years ago the British Isles were inhabited by the Celts who originally came from
continental Europe. During the next 1,000 years there were many invasions. The Romans
came from Italy in AD 43 and, in calling the country ‘Britannia’, gave Britain its name. The
Angles and Saxons came from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands in the 5th century, and
England gets its name from this invasion (Angle-land). The Vikings arrived from Denmark
and Norway throughout the 9th century, and in 1066 (the one date in history which every
British school-child knows) the Normans invaded from France. These invasions drove the
Celts into what is now Wales and Scotland, and they remained, of course, in Ireland. The
English, on the other hand, are the descendants of all the invaders, but are Anglo-Saxon than
anything else. These various origins explain many of the differences to be found between
England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland - differences in education, religion and the legal
systems, but most obviously, in language.
Question: Who invaded Britain?
Complete the table below with information from the text:
INVADER FROM DATE

the Romans
Answer Key
2.1.4. Language
The Celts spoke Celtic which survives today in the form of Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish
Gaelic. Less than a quarter of all Welsh people (600,000, out of 2,888,000) speak Welsh.
Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic are still spoken, although they have suffered more than Welsh
from the spread of English. However, all three languages are now officially encouraged and
taught in schools.
English developed from Anglo-Saxon and is a Germanic language. However all the invading
peoples, particularly the Norman French, influenced the English language and you can find
many words in English which are French in origin. Nowadays all Welsh, Scottish and Irish
people speak English (even if they speak their own language as well), but all the countries
have their own special accents and dialects, and their people are easily recognizable as soon as
they speak.
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they speak.
Occasionally, people from the four countries in the UK have difficulty in understanding one
another because of these different accents. A southern English accent is generally accepted to
be the most easily understood, and is the accent usually taught to foreigners.
2.1.5. Multiracial Britain
Recently, there have been many waves of immigration into Britain and movement within the
UK. For example, many people from Wales, Scotland and Ireland have settled in England;
Jews, Russians, Germans, and Poles have come to Britain (particularly London) during
political changes in the rest of Europe.
Commonwealth citizens were allowed free entry into Britain until 1962. Before the Second
World War these immigrants were mostly people from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and
South Africa. In the 1950s, people from the West Indies, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and
Hong Kong were encouraged to come and work in Britain. Today, 2 million British people are
of West Indian or Asian origin and over 50 per cent of them were born in Britain.
The new immigrant communities are concentrated in the following towns and cities: London,
Slough, Leicester, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Luton, Bradford, Coventry, Bedford,
Reading and Sandwell. The main language of the Asian immigrants are Urdu, Hindi, Bengali,
Punjabi, Gujarati, and Cantonese (Chinese). Nowadays the policy is to encourage these
communities to continue speaking their own languages as well as English. The children of
immigrants are often taught their own languages in school, and there are special newspapers,
magazines, and radio and television programmes for the Asian community. The West Indians,
of course, arrive speaking English, but they do have their own culture which they wish to keep
alive. They also have their own newspapers, and radio and television programmes.
This latest wave of immigration has, of course, caused problems. There is certainly racial
tension and racial prejudice in Britain today. In spite of laws passed to protect them, there is
still discrimination against Asian and black people, many of whom are unemployed or in low-
paid jobs. However, the atmosphere is improving and the different races are slowly learning to
trust one another. In a wide educational programme white school-children, teachers,
policemen and social workers are learning about the problems and customs of their new
neighbours. There are many areas in Britain now where racial harmony is a reality.
British culture is being enriched through its contact with other cultures. For example, the
British are becoming more adventurous in their cooking and eating habits, and Chinese,
Indian and Pakistani restaurants are very popular. Another example can be found in the pop
music scene where West Indian reggae music has become very influential.
(from Spotlight on Britain, pp. 2-4)

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(from Spotlight on Britain, pp. 2-4)
Questions:
1. What is the government’s policy on immigrants’ languages?
2. What problems do the immigrants have to confront?
3. What have been done to solve these problems?
Answer Key
2.1.6. Anglo Saxon Religion
The Anglo-Saxons were pagans when they came to Britain, but, as time passed, they
gradually converted to Christianity. Many of the customs we have in England today come
from pagan festivals.
The Anglo Saxons believed that they were controlled by superhuman people - gods and
goddesses. They also believed they were directly descended from their gods.
Religion was a means of ensuring success in material things. For example, you might pray to
a particular goddess for a successful harvest, or for victory in battle.
The Saxon gods were similar to the gods of Vikings.
Examples of Saxon Gods:

Woden - god of war
Frigg - goddess of love
Thunor - god of thunder
Tiw- god of battle
Days of the Week:

Certain days of the week are named after early Saxon gods:
Monandæg ( the day of the moon ),
Tiwesdæg ( the day of the Germanic sky god Tiw. Tiu or Tig),
Wodnesdæg ( the day of the god Woden (Othin) ),
Ðunresdæg ( the day of the god Ðunor or Thunor ),
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Ðunresdæg ( the day of the god Ðunor or Thunor ),

Frigedæg ( the day of the goddess Friga, wife to Woden),
Sæternesdæg ( the day of the Roman god Saturn, whose festival "Saturnalia," with its
exchange of gifts, has been incorporated into our celebration of Christmas.),
Sunnandæg ( the day of the sun ).
From Pagan to Christianity:
In AD 597 the Pope in Rome sent a missionary, St Augustine, to England to convert the
Anglo Saxons to Christianity. The pope gave orders that pagan temples should be converted
into Christian ones and that pagan celebrations should also be made into Christian ones.
(from Woodlands Junior School Kent Website)
Questions:
1. What religion did the Anglo-Saxons follow?
2. Where do the names of the days of the week originate from?
Answer Key
2.2. INFLUENCES
2.2.1. The Celts
Between the sixth and the third century BC, the British Isles were invaded by Celtic tribes,
who settled in southern England. They originally came from central Europe. Their culture
goes back to about 1200 BC. Between 500 and 250 BC, they were the most powerful people
north of the Alps. They were pagan, with priests known as Druids, but later converted to
Christianity. It was Celtic missionaries who spread the Christian religion through Scotland and
northern England.
2.2.2. The Romans
In AD 43, the Romans invaded southern Britain. It became a Roman colony called Britannia.
The Romans set up their capital in London and built major cities in Bath, Chester and York.
The cities contained beautiful buildings, squares and public baths. Fine villas were built for
Celtic aristocrats who accepted Roman rule.
The Roman invasion was not completely peaceful. In AD 60, the Iceni, a tribe led by Queen
Boudicca, destroyed three cities, including London. The Romans stopped the rebellion
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Boudicca, destroyed three cities, including London. The Romans stopped the rebellion
brutally and Boudicca killed herself.
The tribes of Scotland never completely surrendered to the Romans. As a result, in AD 122,
Emperor Hadrian built a long wall to defend the border between England and Scotland.
Hadrian’s Wall was overrun several times by Scottish tribes and was finally abandoned in AD
383. By then, the Roman Empire was collapsing and the Roman legions had left Britain to
fight the tribes on the continent.
2.2.3. The Saxons, Jutes and Angles
From about AD 350, Germanic tribes began invading south-east England. The tribes came
from what is now northern Germany, Holland and Denmark. The first to come were the
Saxons, joined later by the Jutes and Angles. The Angles gave England its name. Britain had
the protection of only a few Roman legions. The native people could not stop the new enemy,
known as the Anglo-Saxons. The Celts fled north and west taking their ancient arts and
languages with them. Celtic languages have disappeared from most of Europe, but are still
spoken in parts of Wales, Ireland and Scotland. Celtic Christians later returned to England
from Scotland and Ireland as missionaries. The Anglo-Saxons in southern England were
converted to Christianity following the arrival of Saint Augustine of Rome in AD 597. As
Christianity spread, churches and monasteries were built all over England.
2.2.4. The Vikings
About AD 790, the Vikings started to invade England. The Norsemen, who came from
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About AD 790, the Vikings started to invade England. The Norsemen, who came from
Norway, mainly settled in Scotland and Ireland. The north and east of England were settled by
the Danes. The Vikings were excellent traders and navigators. They traded in silk and furs as
far as Russia. In 1016, England became part of the Scandinavian empire under King Cnut. By
1066, England was again facing invasion from the north and the south. In September, King
Harold II marched north to defeat his half-brother, the king of Norway, at the Battle of
Stamford Bridge. Just three weeks later, he himself was defeated and killed at Hastings by
another invader of Viking origin, William, Duke of Normandy, from northern France.
2.2.5. The Normans
The Duke of Normandy, known as William the Conqueror, now became King of England,
establishing a new Anglo-Norman state. England became a strong, centralised country under
military rule. The Normans built castles all over England to control England better. William
was a harsh ruler: he destroyed many villages to make sure the English people did not rebel.
Norman power was absolute, and the language of the new rulers, Norman French, had a
lasting effect on English. Since 1066, England has never been invaded.
(from In Britain - 21 Century Edition, pp.10-11)
Questions: How did each invasion change Britain? You can post your answer in the
discussion area.
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discussion area.
2.3. THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
2.3.1. The roots of English
English began as a west Germanic language which was brought to England by the Saxons
around 400 AD. Old English was the spoken and written language of England between 400
and 1100 AD. Many words used today come from Old English, including man, woman, king,
mother, give and wash, as do many slang expressions and swear words. But Old English was
very different from modern English and only a few words can be easily recognized. In the 9th
and 10th centuries, when Vikings invaded England, Old Norse words, e.g. sky, take and get
and many place names, entered the language.
From the Norman Conquest (1066) until the late 12th century English was replaced as the
official language by Norman French, though English was still used by the lower classes.
English from about 1300 to 1500 is known as Middle English. It was influenced by French
and also Latin in vocabulary and pronunciation. French brought many words connected with
government, e.g. sovereign, royal, court, legal, and government itself. Latin was the language
of religion and learning and gave to English words such as minister, angel, master, school and
grammar. Literature began again to be written in English. One of the most famous Middle
English works is Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.
2.3.2. The development of Modern English
Modern English developed from the Middle English dialect of the East Midlands and was
influenced by the English used in London, where a printing press was set up by William
Caxton in 1476. English changed a great deal from this time until the end of the 18th century.
During the Renaissance, many words were introduced from Greek and Latin to express new
ideas, especially in science, medicine and philosophy. They included physics, species,
architecture, encyclopedia and hypothesis. In the 16th century several versions of the Bible
helped bring written English to ordinary people. The Elizabethan period is also famous for its
drama, and the plays of Marlowe and Shakespeare were seen by many people.
The development of printing helped establish standards of spelling and grammar, but there
remained a lot of variation. Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language (1755),
was the first authoritative treatment of English. It defined about 40 000 words and gave
examples of their use. Soon afterwards, people tried to establish grammatical rules, like the
use of me, not I, after a preposition, and that different should be followed by from, not to or
than. The idea of having an English academy to protect agreed standards has been suggested
several times, including most recently in the 1990s, but has never found enough support.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries many dictionaries and books about language were
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During the 19th and early 20th centuries many dictionaries and books about language were
published including, in Britain, the Oxford English Dictionary, which was begun in 1858. In
1926 Fowler’s A Dictionary of Modern English Usage presented a traditional view of
grammar but rejected the more extreme rules, and was held in great respect for a long time.
The development of radio promoted standard English and Received Pronunciation (RP),
which became known as BBC English. Many older British people still consider this to be
‘correct’ English, and complain about falling standards in schools and the media.
At the end of the 20th century English tends to be much less formal. Few British people
know much about grammar, since it is not usually taught in schools, but a person who cannot
speak and write grammatically is likely to be at a disadvantage. An RP accent is now
associated mainly with the upper classes, and many younger educated people have a modified
regional accent.
New words are still being added to English from other languages, including Italian
(tiramisu), Chinese (feng shui) and Japanese (karaoke). Existing words gain new senses, and
many slang terms become part of the standard language. New expressions spread quickly
through television and the Internet.
English is now an international language and is used as a means of communication between

people from many countries. As a result the influences on the English language are wider than
ever and it is possible that World English will move away from using a British or American
standard and establish its own international identity.
(from Oxford Guide to British and American Culture, p.178)
2.4. DID YOU KNOW?
Canute (also Cnut) (c.994-1035)
a king of England (1017-35) who was born in Denmark and was also king of Denmark and
Norway.
Boudicca (also Boadicea) (died AD 62)

the queen of the Iceni tribe of eastern Britain when it was part of the Roman Empire. She led
the Iceni against the Romans and destroyed several of their camps. When she was defeated
she killed herself. She is often shown in pictures driving a chariot (= an open carriage pulled
by a horse) with blades attached to the wheels.
Hadrian’s Wall
a wall in northern England built between 122 and 127 AD by the Roman emperor Hadrian,
from Wallsend on the River Tyne to Bowness on the Solway Firth. It was the northern border
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from Wallsend on the River Tyne to Bowness on the Solway Firth. It was the northern border
of the Roman Empire, from which the Romans could keep back the Picts. It was a major
achievement, 73 miles (120 kilometres) long and 16 feet (4.9 metres) high, with forts (=
strong military buildings for defence) every mile along its length. Long sections of the wall
still remain, and thousands of tourists visit it every year. It was made a World Heritage Site in
1987.
King Arthur Brutus in Hadrian’s Wall
Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1343-1400)
an English poet. He is often called ’the father of English poetry’ because he was the first major
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an English poet. He is often called ’the father of English poetry’ because he was the first major
poet to write in English rather than Latin or French. His best-known work is The Canterbury
Tales.
Received Pronunciation, often called RP, is the accent that is widely accepted as the standard
accent for both native and foreign speakers of British English.
William Caxton (c.1422-91)
the man who set up the first printing firm in Britain. He printed his first book in 1474. By
printing books in English, Caxton had a strong influence on the spelling and development of
the language. Many of the books he published were French stories which he translated
himself.
2.5. Review:
2.6. Exercises: Click here to view exercises of Unit 2.

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09:58, 09/08/2023

PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE

2.1. WHO ARE THE BRITISH?

2.1.1. Why British not English?

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2.1.2. How was the United Kingdom formed?

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Question: Who invaded Britain?

Complete the table below with information from the text:

INVADER FROM DATE

2.1.5. Multiracial Britain

(from Spotlight on Britain, pp. 2-4)

(from Spotlight on Britain, pp. 2-4)

1. What is the government’s policy on immigrants’ languages?

2. What problems do the immigrants have to confront?

3. What have been done to solve these problems?

2.1.6. Anglo Saxon Religion

Examples of Saxon Gods:

Days of the Week:

Ðunresdæg ( the day of the god Ðunor or Thunor ),

From Pagan to Christianity:

(from Woodlands Junior School Kent Website)

2. Where do the names of the days of the week originate from?

2.2.1. The Celts

2.2.2. The Romans

2.2.3. The Saxons, Jutes and Angles

2.2.4. The Vikings

2.2.5. The Normans

(from In Britain - 21 Century Edition, pp.10-11)

2.3. THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

2.3.1. The roots of English

2.3.2. The development of Modern English

English is now an international language and is used as a means of communication between

(from Oxford Guide to British and American Culture, p.178)

2.4. DID YOU KNOW?

Canute (also Cnut) (c.994-1035)

Boudicca (also Boadicea) (died AD 62)

King Arthur Brutus in Hadrian’s Wall

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1343-1400)

William Caxton (c.1422-91)

2.6. Exercises: Click here to view exercises of Unit 2.

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