A large number of clicks to my blog suggests that the attitude of the British towards Russian-speaking people is an issue that worries many. Although it is quite understandable: preparing for a tourist trip, and even more so, preparing for moving to a permanent place of residence in the UK, you want to know how the natives will treat you. Will they treat with respect or, on the contrary, extremely dismissive or even unfriendly. Therefore, it does not hurt anyone to study this issue in advance.
Peculiarities of attitude towards Russian speakers
We will try to determine what is the basis of the perception of people from the Russian Federation by the inhabitants of Great Britain. What attitude in general - positive or negative? Should one keep silent about one's Slavic roots or, on the contrary, successfully use them in the United Kingdom?
If you decide to conduct an experiment on the streets of London and stop passers-by and ask about their attitude towards Russians, then most likely you will hear one of the following opinions from discouraged passers-by.
Confusion
Many of them will be confused, having no information about this people. And, most likely, the most common answer to your question will be the notorious "I" m sorry, but I don "t know much about Russian". Well, judge for yourself - if suddenly you were suddenly asked to tell about your attitude towards the Catalans, could you immediately describe your attitude towards this nation? And many Brits can't.
Such an answer is possible due to the fact that in their lives they hardly met people from our country, and if so, then many do not know how to distinguish us from other nationalities of the Soviet Union. For them, we, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Kazakhs, Moldovans and all peoples who speak the same language, are one huge nation. In their understanding, all immigrants from the USSR are Russians.
All most Brits know about us is communism, the Iron Curtain and the Soviet Union. The complex past of the USSR makes negative feelings towards the state as a political unit, but this does not mean at all that it is the same towards specific people. Not even at all. British citizens are educated and literate enough not to believe the false information available from the media. They independently form their opinion about world events and about the personalities inhabiting a particular region.
Despite the fact that the media can speak quite negatively about the leadership of the country, I noticed that ordinary people in general do not give in to this information. Radio and television speak of our state as a cruel, aggressive, backward country, the citizens of Britain still do not succumb to the statements of journalists and TV presenters. In their opinion, a very strong-willed, competent and strong leader stands at the head of the country, from whom weak-willed British politicians need to learn.
But if you still want to know the opinion of the British about the Russians, you are unlikely to get a clear and unambiguous answer - too much distance separates this distant and incomprehensible country from England.
Here is a clear opinion about the French has long been formed. Neighbors who eat frog legs as food have been ridiculed and teased by the British for centuries. Or if we touch on the Indians, then despite their non-standard appearance and the great remoteness of their homeland, they nevertheless became their own, relatives. This is most likely caused by the historical memory of the colonization of Indian land. The conquerors developed caring, paternal feelings towards the Indians. England is an international country, people from all over the world live in it, and in London 60% of people are from other countries.
Curiosity
The inhabitants of the United Kingdom are an inquisitive people, and of course they are interested in hearing as much as possible about our people. This can be explained by the fact that they know little about this nation, and they are driven by curiosity. Why are we similar in appearance to the Poles they do not like, why do we have a dialect similar to them, and how similar are our national habits and characters? But, Polish workers have long been known in the UK, and people from the largest country in the world are a new, still unexplored mystery.
Be prepared for the fact that they will be sincerely interested in where you were born or in what city you live. Although, most likely, the questioners will not know any cities other than Moscow and St. Petersburg. So you will have a great opportunity to talk about the peculiarities of geography, amazing places and beauties of nature.
In your stories about the distant and beautiful Motherland, keep in mind that incredible stories about severe winter frosts and huge snowdrifts that are swept by an ice blizzard are very popular. Living in a rainy gray climate, listeners will readily envy you, who saw huge snowdrifts and sledded down the mountain, suffered a terrible cold and once frostbite your nose or ears.
Respect
If a resident of England once met a person who came from Russia, who, fortunately, turned out to be a well-mannered, intelligent and pleasant person, then he can be sure that the Briton will forever remain an admirer of the Russian people. If you meet such a person, he will do his best to make a pleasant impression on you - he will collect all his knowledge about the great geniuses of music, literature, astronautics and science. Surely you can hear the name of Leo Tolstoy or Gagarin.
In a word, once in the United Kingdom, you can be respected because you are a citizen of the great Russian Federation. True, this respect will last as long as you maintain the brand of an educated, well-read and well-mannered person. If you have these qualities, and besides, you are a sincere, friendly person, then you are provided with warmth and responsiveness in communication.
Sympathy
Slav women are very sympathetic to the local men. This is proven by the numerous marriages of the British with Russian women. Often these are long and happy unions. I myself know several such families where the father is an Englishman, the mother is a Slav, and there are common children. There are examples where even children from the mother's former family life are present. But their presence does not interfere with a happy union in the eyes of the representatives of the stronger sex of the United Kingdom.
But, it should be noted that there are much fewer marriages with a Russian husband and a British wife. For some reason, women in England are not very disposed towards Slavic men.
What in the guise of Slavs attracts the British? Undoubtedly, the first factor in the list of female attractiveness is external beauty. But the fact that they are good housewives is also important, they are also able to feel the mood of their husband and support him in time. The birth and upbringing of children is the main value of family life for our women. These qualities make a woman in the eyes of every normal man a reliable wife, mother, mistress.
Another attractive feature is our beautiful pronunciation. They also like a special accent and melodious sound. The richness of our speech makes it possible to express our thoughts more vividly and colorfully.
London tourists visiting Moscow are delighted with the richness and beauty of architecture, the grandeur and originality of nature. The infrastructure of Moscow makes an indelible impression, especially the Moscow Metro. Compared to the London Underground, the Moscow Underground is a work of art.
Indifference and antipathy
In some cases, relations between the citizens of these two states are at least indifferent, and hostile at worst.
The political positions of our leaders give rise to personal mutual antipathy of citizens. Fortunately, only a few British citizens support England's political antipathy towards Russia.
Sometimes directness, excessive rudeness, even the frown of the Russian type can be repulsed. These qualities are sometimes a feature of our mentality, and we do not control ourselves in their manifestation. Therefore, before communication, practice in the image of a sincere smile on your face - it has people.
Assertiveness and intransigence in character also repels many. Lack of knowledge of the language can also become a minus in the perception of you by the inhabitants of the UK. They believe that “worldwide” English has long become the main language on the planet, and it doesn’t fit in your head, how you still don’t understand it. Although they themselves are too lazy to learn our language, thinking that the whole world is obliged to speak English. And the Slavs, thinking similarly, in turn, are also lazy in learning English. For this reason, there is misunderstanding.
Finishing the review of these interethnic feelings, I would like to quote one Briton: “This is a great nation. I want to give advice - do not consider all Slavs as bad people just because you have not met good personalities. Although I myself am an Englishman, I still prefer this nation to the British.
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Additional
information
How do the British live? How do they do business, why are they in no hurry, and what do they even mean when they joke? Anthony Mayall and David Milstead answer these questions and more in their book "Those Strange Englishmen", which is published in April by Alpina Publisher. We publish some witty fragments from it.
System of values
Common sense is a fundamental concept. Only common sense will tell you whether to take an umbrella with you in case of rain. Common sense says: you can not sit on a cold stone (otherwise you will get hemorrhoids). Common sense forces you to put on clean underwear every day - what if a car hits you and you end up in the hospital? For the English, the essence of common sense is summarized by Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting: "Always be ready."
Common sense tells us that it is impossible to make a mistake, to blunder, to take a wrong step. Give in to life circumstances? Unforgivable stupidity! Any business or activity planned outdoors should have a back-up "under the roof" in case "the worst happens." Even in accounting reports there is a column "Unforeseen expenses".
Is it any wonder, then, that at important business meetings the British sometimes turn out to be less prepared than the rest. However, this in no way can shake their confidence in the indispensable triumph of common sense.
Rules of the game
If the British say that you "know the rules of the game" - cheers, exhale, you have been recognized! For a foreigner is awarded such an assessment extremely rarely and never - by all unanimously.
This expression has nothing to do with a game or sport, it is about behavior (both on and off the playing field) that commands respect. With any physical exertion and trials, the one who knows the rules of the game will try to make sure that no one notices how much effort it costs, and - ideally - win thanks to his inner superiority. And then he will show modesty and will not shout about his victory, and will also show generosity to the loser.
Anyone who knows the rules of the game must be able to lose. Disputes with judges or obvious chagrin are unacceptable. But a casually thrown (but by no means through clenched teeth!) remark like “the best always win!”, addressed to everyone and everyone, is very, very desirable, even if you have been dealt a crushing defeat.
And not that such words could deceive anyone - for this, the British have too developed a spirit of rivalry, especially in sports. The Englishman would rather have someone cross his path in matters of the heart than beat him at tennis, but in either case he will not allow anyone to notice his experiences: this would mean that he "went too far far".
Stoicism, the ability to meet the vicissitudes of fate cheerfully and calmly - these are the main features of the English character. And this is by no means the insensitivity of a wooden doll with a “fixed upper lip”, not oriental fatalism and not Scandinavian gloominess. It's just a special attitude to life.
The Englishman suspects all foreigners of a tendency to overreact to everything and always "make noise over trifles", but he will treat you much warmer, finding you have a reserved sense of humor. An example of typical English stoicism is the case of a circus worker whose arm was bitten off by a tiger. When the unfortunate man was taken to the hospital and asked if he was allergic to anything, he replied: "Only tigers."
Clubs, parties and classes
"To be one of", to be involved - that's what is really important for an Englishman. Individuality is great, and in some cases it is even recommended, but in general, feeling like a member of a team is preferable.
The Englishman is happy and serene surrounded by his own kind, with whom he has much in common (perhaps, however, all members of the group just pretend that this is so).
The need for their "involvement" is also manifested in the devotion of the British to the class system, which is constantly threatened with destruction, but which nevertheless remains the defining moment of the life of English society. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the existence of classes, and there is no question of their abolition at all. The Englishman perceives his class as a very large club of which he is a member.
According to English tradition, society should consist of three main classes. In the old days it was the aristocracy, merchants and workers. However, due to the growth of the merchant class (middle class), the aristocracy and workers had to make room, and the middle class decided to split into upper, middle and lower.
Everyone understands perfectly well that under any life circumstances they must make an appropriate impression - that is, one that corresponds to their ideas about what others think of them and how these others perceive what representatives of a different class wear, say, eat and drink, and also where they live and with whom they communicate.
And although the English recognize that much more social mobility is desirable for their society, they prefer to enter into marriages within their class, among equals. In order not to argue over trifles, for example, is it good to decorate walls with porcelain ducks and is a fish knife really necessary?
Business
In world business circles, English businessmen are not taken too seriously, they seem to be amateurs, preferring to rely on some kind of instinct in business and not trusting proven methods of analysis and organization of work.
The English take great pride in their ability to get things done without too much haste, albeit in some way, by mistake and confusion, that is, to act without much worry about discipline or planning. In the past, this attitude to work has served them very well, and it is in the past that all the lessons that the British would like to learn are contained.
The English way of solving practical problems is extraordinarily democratic. Any decision is made collectively, that is, by some kind of commission. If you decide to contact someone from the business community by phone, you will be told each time that he is in a meeting or that he has an important meeting. Meetings drag on ad infinitum while the participants try to reach a consensus instead of making a specific decision. The once-widely held belief that the British work harder and harder than anyone else is now greatly shaken, as statistics show that on average Germans work 44.9 hours a week, Italians 42.4 and English only 42. Of course, the latter they immediately stated that the Germans and Italians, firstly, have much more holidays and days off, and secondly, it is not the number of working hours that matters, but the quality of work.
Time saving
In general, the English love punctuality and strive for it, but are by no means obsessed with it. After all, time can be measured in arbitrarily small conventional units: for example, the expression “One moment!” means a shorter period of time than "Just a second!", but still not as short as "Instantly!". But thrown to you "Wait a minute!" can stretch for five or six minutes, but "Give me five minutes!" usually means a quarter of an hour.
Just following orders
Since the English hate being told what to do and how to do it, any order must be given with a certain degree of deference, which many other peoples find absolutely redundant. If you state your requirement in the form of a request, you will certainly achieve the desired result. But try to express it in the form of an order, as the British will immediately announce a break and begin to drink tea.
Language
The English are extremely proud of their language, although most of them use only a tiny part of it (and even that is often not good enough). The Oxford English Dictionary consists of 23 volumes and contains more than 500,000 words, while the most complete German dictionary has only about 185,000 words, and the French dictionary has less than 100,000. Shakespeare's working dictionary included 30,000 words (some of he invented them himself), which is twice as large as the lexicon of a modern educated Englishman. Most of the inhabitants of Foggy Albion get along just fine with 8000 words - the same number of words in the King James Bible (English translation of 1611), which most Anglican churches still use today. The foundations of the English language were laid when it served as the main means of communication for multilingual tribes, being completely devoid of any linguistic tricks such as cases and inflections. And the secret of its success lies in the fact that this language, like the English themselves, is constantly absorbing something, drawing from the culture with which it is currently in contact. No other language has as many different ways of expressing practically the same thing as English. The English have a positive view of this tradition of linguistic receptivity, but general changes in language are frowned upon until one becomes accustomed to them. After that, they are considered "standard English". The English will never miss an opportunity to discuss pronunciation, spelling rules or word usage. In general, this is a game that the British take very seriously.
Meanwhile, English as a means of communication in the world of people takes about the same position as Microsoft in the world of computers: the modern world community cannot do without English. The French, of course, continue to stand their ground, arguing that the use of English in, say, aviation "delays the development of the industry and hinders the use of more adequate terminology," but English continues to be increasingly widely used in all areas. It is spoken by one billion people; it is used by 80% of Internet users; 75% of all letters on the globe are written in English, and it is constantly studied by more than 200 million Chinese.
In India, there are far more people who consider English as their native language than in England. Voyager 1 takes into deep space, far beyond our solar system, a message from the United Nations written in English on behalf of 147 countries! Soon the British will be able to travel around the globe using only their mother tongue, without ever having to repeat or even raise their voices. Such a perspective makes them feel "comfortable" - this English word has no equivalent in any other language of the world, and there are more than 2700 of them, and in no other culture.
Conversation and gestures
When talking with an Englishman, you always feel like a complete idiot, because here they almost never say what they think, but very often - things are directly opposite to their own opinion. For example, if the story you told caused the English to evaluate something like “How interesting!”, You should not take it seriously. This is just a spoonful of honey in a barrel of tar. When one Englishman is interested in the health of another, the answer will be the same: "It's a sin to complain!" There is the most that neither is a pretense. For complaining is a favorite pastime. When talking to anyone, they are always complaining and whining about everything: they are not satisfied with health, government, bureaucrats, food prices, young people, old people. Nodding with an air of importance and feeling united in their general displeasure with others, they grumble and grumble about everything in the world, until finally, refreshed by a good portion of mutual grumbling, they agree amicably that everything around is very bad and somehow it is completely impossible to improve the state of things, but because that's how it is in English.
How to start a conversation
Since the British are practically incapable of frank conversation, they invented an incredible number of metaphors, a set of which is known to everyone, and everyone, using this set, feels great. This includes, for example, euphemisms that help avoid heated debates on various slippery issues.
The English do not die, but "extinguish the candle" or simply "change over." When they go out of need, they "follow their heart" or simply "go somewhere." They are faithfully served by a huge number of platitudes, which they often and with pleasure pull out into the light of day in order to keep the ball of conversation in the air or to cover up their reluctance to say something specific. However, the British are a little ashamed of the hackneyedness of these phrases and call them derogatory French word "cliche". Passing from one cliche to another, an experienced interlocutor can skillfully avoid both excessive categorization and excessive vagueness of judgments, regardless of the subject of the conversation.
English weather
If the topic of the weather is not mentioned in the conversation, consider that you have not talked. Without the obligatory phrase “What a sunny day it is today” or “It’s pouring like a bucket, isn’t it?” communication will not work.
In the British Isles, the weather, like the inhabitants of these places, is categorically unpredictable. Due to its geographic location, the UK is a perpetual victim of atmospheric change, so the planning of any kind of outdoor event is always under threat. The British have become accustomed to this state of affairs for many centuries, but extreme weather conditions take them by surprise every time.
When autumn frosts kill the well-groomed plants in the garden, and fogs and cold rains wash away the bright spots of linen canopies from the city squares, under which it is so pleasant to drink tea in hot summer, then all this, according to the British, serves some higher purpose - to decorate the conversation.
“It’s frosty, isn’t it?”, “They say it will be a sunny day tomorrow!”, “But the cold will still hold out, won’t it?”. Windy and frosty, damp and warm, fresh, dank, blowing through, a pleasant light breeze - the meteorological conditions are always inaccurate, and the temperature is even more so plus or minus ten degrees. When you can say what the difference is between “temporary heavy rains”, “with occasional showers” and “short-term heavy rains”, you should know that you have finally learned to understand these strange Englishmen!
The national character is tenacious in all peoples. But this applies to no other people more than to the English. The first and most obvious feature of this nation is the stability and constancy of character of its constituent individuals. They are less susceptible to the influence of time, transient fashions than others.
The curiosity of the English allowed them to get acquainted with the best of what other peoples have, and yet they remained true to their traditions. While admiring French cuisine, an Englishman will not imitate it at home. Being the embodiment of conformism, the British at the same time retain their individuality.
It cannot be said that the English have never changed. Changes are constantly taking place, but these differences, so visible externally, do not affect nations. The original features of the English nature still remain a kind of common denominator, have a profound impact on the national character and general lifestyle.
The British demonstrate moderation and restraint in behavior and in public life, they are not prone to extremes. They prefer to stick to the golden mean. "A. Herzen cited the words of an Englishman explaining to a Frenchman the difference between the two nationalities: “You see, you are hotly eating your cold veal, and we are cold-bloodedly eating our hot steak.”
Conservatism in public life is the next feature of the English national character. The British themselves note that they think about the past better than about the future. The English “hardly believe in innovations, patiently endure many temporary delusions; deeply and forever sure of the greatness that is in the Law and Customs, once solemnly established and long recognized as just and final.
It is to English conservatism that the British owe their complex, mispronounced spelling, left-hand traffic, the fierce defense of the pound against the introduction of the euro, and the maintenance of their many traditions. The preservation of the monarchy and universal love for the royal family is also a tribute to English conservatism.
The British are exceptionally law-abiding, researchers note that respect for the law is a source of national pride for the British. Unlike Russian drivers, English drivers will definitely stop at a zebra crossing and let a pedestrian pass, even if there is no policeman nearby who can fine you for not following this rule.
"Fair play" is a national priority, part of the gentleman's code - in all situations, the Englishman must behave honestly. Unlike the Americans, for whom the most important thing is victory, for the British, the most important thing is honest behavior in the game. Cricket is considered the most honest game in England and the phrase “It's not a cricket.” (This is not cricket) ”is an expression of disapproval of dishonest behavior.
The English are always polite and courteous. In a store or office, they patiently wait to be noticed. It is not customary to draw the attention of the attendants to oneself, and it is useless if another client is being served at that moment. But as soon as your turn has come, you will be served for exactly as long as necessary, while you can talk with the seller about the weather and other things, and none of those standing in line will show the slightest annoyance or impatience.
English people speak "Thank you" not only in response to the service provided, but also in many other communicative situations: the passenger says “Thank you” to the controller in response to his gratitude, when he returns the checked ticket, the cashier will say “Thank you”, answering your gratitude for the banknote, which he changed you.
If you push an Englishman on the street, step on his foot on a bus, etc., he will immediately instinctively apologize to you.
If you are standing in the middle of the street, confused, with a map in hand, they will definitely come to you and find out if they can help you with anything.
Particularly noteworthy is the politeness towards the subordinates. A high-ranking Englishman will never talk down to his subordinate. From the outside, their conversation will look like a conversation between two people of the same social status. Politeness to inferiors is one of the manifestations of aristocracy in England.
The British are characterized by the spirit of competition, “the struggle of “all against all” (remember the famous “Homo homini lupus est” by Hobbes), which is manifested both in economic competition and in sports.”
Sports for the British above all. English newspapers are overloaded with sports news, and the same can be said about radio and television broadcasts. In pubs, patrons watch sports avidly and passionately discuss the results of sports matches. The British are happy to bet and bet, play on the sweepstakes. The roots of sport are deep in the English national character: the British claim priority in football, rugby, croquet, baseball, golf, badminton, boxing, billiards, horse racing, dog racing; even tennis, invented by the French, was turned into a spectacle by the British, who held the world's first championship at Wimbledon in 1877.
The British have a pronounced sense of English superiority. English, in their opinion, means the best. The English name “continental breakfast”, which has come into use by many peoples, is associated with non-English, i.e. not very high quality, not "as it should be."
The feeling of English superiority is also manifested in the indulgent attitude of the British towards foreigners.
With foreigners, the British are usually very polite, ready to patronize them. To a Russian girl who ended up at London Heathrow Airport without a penny in her pocket, for two hours, during which she waited for her friend, whom she came to visit (and who was late to the airport due to traffic jams), seeing her confused look , several Englishmen came up and lent her money. The girl did not ask for money, but the British felt it necessary to give it to her, since she is a foreigner. As an acquaintance who finally met her commented on this situation, such behavior of the British was quite natural, however, if an English girl were in the place of a foreigner, no one would help her - the British believe that a person should take care of himself, or for him this should be done by the social authorities.
English patriotism is believed to be based on a sense of security - as a nation they have been secure for centuries due to the country's insular position. The British are unshakably confident in their national achievements, which was largely facilitated by the success of the country's colonial policy, in particular, the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century, 20% of the territory of our planet with a population of 400 million people was under the rule of the British Empire. The British believe that all the most important things happen in England.
Unlike the Americans, who tend to be businesslike and busy, the British love to pretend to be bums. "Demonstration of laziness and relaxation in the UK is a manifestation of aristocracy."
Slowness, slowness in behavior characterize the English national character. “Half an hour for lunch is always not enough for the British (Russians fit in 5-10 minutes). For Russians, an English family dinner is long and a church service is short.”
Another national feature of the British is calmness in critical situations. The English are always calm and reserved. "One of the commandments of a gentleman is to always have a 'hard lip', never to lose his temper."
When it comes to the “hard upper lip” of an Englishman, there are two concepts behind this - the ability to control oneself (the cult of self-control) and the ability to respond appropriately to life situations (the cult of prescribed behavior).
The British are very tolerant and prone to compromises. They are well aware that the existence of different opinions among people on the same issue is in the order of things.
They do not make comments to others, even if their behavior creates them great inconvenience. If the remark is nevertheless made, it will sound in a very mild form (Excuse me. I think you "re standing on my foot - on the subway train), often in the form of a request (Could you please stop talking? - to classmates during the lesson) " .
For the British, respect for the property of another person is a prerequisite for decent behavior in society. One cannot, for example, criticize the property of another. In England, it is not customary to laugh at deceived husbands - this man suffered in what belongs to him.
The British are very careful about compliance privacy. For English culture privacy is one of the main cultural values that predetermines the features of everyday life, the type of relationship, the rules of communication. There is even such a thing as sense of privacy(feeling of "grab"). privacy- This that zone of personal autonomy into which outsiders are not allowed to enter.
The English will never interfere in other people's affairs unless asked to do so. There is a joke that if you tell an Englishman that he dropped burning ashes on his trousers, then in response you can hear: “For ten minutes now, matches have been burning in your jacket pocket, but I did not consider it possible to interfere in your affairs!”
The zone of personal autonomy is tangibly manifested in everyday life.
Rapprochement of interlocutors in English communication is permissible only up to the `privacy zone.' Intrusion into this zone is considered a gross violation of the norms of communication. To the question of whether it is customary to ask this question in transport, the professor of linguistics answered in surprise: Why should you know that?
The British quite liberally bring up their children, it is customary to treat children as equals. English mothers do not wrap up their children, do not dictate to them every minute what they should do. A small child can run barefoot in the pouring rain without the mother even trying to stop him. If the child cries, the Englishwoman does not rush to console him, but calmly waits for him to calm down himself.
The British are very fond of nature and actively protect it. Gardening is a hobby of the vast majority of the British, their real passion. The garden is often given the semblance of a natural landscape, as the English love everything natural.
The British are very punctual at formal events and sit-down dinners.
The English are very savvy. They do what they need to do and try not to do anything extra.
The British have always had a desire for freedom. Researchers note that only a threat to his freedom can raise an Englishman to fight. The English court, operating on the basis of the so-called "case law", is considered one of the most independent in the world.
Despite the sullenness and taciturnity of the English, they cannot be denied a sense of humor. If life in France is more about wit, then life in England is more about humor. French wit flourishes in a social atmosphere. Even a foreigner who does not know French can feel the sparkle of wit on the crowded boulevards, watching lively groups at cafe tables. English humor is something secret, private, not intended for outsiders. He manifests himself in semi-noticeable hints and grins addressed to a certain circle of people who are able to appreciate these omissions as vague highlights on well-known objects. That is why this humor is at first alien to a foreigner. It cannot be felt immediately or along with the acquisition of the language.
The ability to meet difficulties with humor and optimism is undoubtedly the source of strength for the English. The ability to maintain a sense of humor in difficult times is valued by the British as the primary dignity of the human character. It is considered not only natural, but almost obligatory to joke in the mine, when rescuers remove miners covered by a landslide from there. A man who has just been carried out of a burning building by firefighters is trying to make a joke about sunscreen.
Emotional restraint is the most important distinguishing feature of English communicative behavior. The British try to hide emotions in all situations. M. Lyubimov in his book “England. Walking with the Cheshire cat. writes: “hearing about a terrible earthquake, an Englishman will not bulge his eyes, will not open his mouth in surprise, and even more so will not start tearing his hair. Most likely, he will notice: “Is it really so? Bad story, right? A rare Englishman will directly throw in the face "You are lying!", And say: "Your information is not entirely accurate, sir!"
The English only allow themselves to really show their emotions at funerals, and then they usually pull themselves together quickly. “Shortly after the tragic death of Princess Diana, tour guides in London, talking about her funeral, noted with a sense of national pride that the young princes did not shed a tear during the entire ceremony, thus demonstrating that they were true Englishmen.”
The British avoid being categorical. Answers "Yes" or "No" are too categorical for them, and the British try to avoid them. As a result, English speech is full of phrases like "I think", "I think", "I believe", "I may be wrong, but ...", etc.
The British cannot argue at a party, it is customary to avoid any conflicts when communicating. It is considered bad manners to display one's erudition immoderately and to state categorically whatever it is.
The British are surprised by the ability of Russians to make phone calls and talk about nothing. They prefer to immediately explain the reason for the call. This also applies to negotiations. Calling home on business to either a subordinate or a boss is not accepted in this country. The British generally consider the telephone a less appropriate channel of communication than mail. A phone call can unsuccessfully interrupt a conversation, a tea party, a TV show. In addition, it requires an immediate response, leaving no time to think and weigh the answer. The recipient has the right to open the mail when it is convenient for him. It is in writing, and not by telephone, that it is customary, for example, to arrange a business meeting. This form of communication allows you to plan your time more flexibly.
Every Englishman, wherever he lives, bears the stamp of his nationality. It is not always possible to distinguish a Frenchman from an Italian or from a Spaniard, but it is difficult to confuse an Englishman with anyone else. Wherever he comes, he will bring his customs, his manner of behavior everywhere, he will not change his habits anywhere and for anyone, he is everywhere - at home. This is an original, original, highly integral character.
There are rules of etiquette that are international, that is, they are observed in all countries. At the same time, the etiquette of each country may have its own, and rather significant features, due to historical, national, religious and other traditions and customs. A Russian who plans to travel to another country, first of all, needs to study those rules and norms of etiquette that differ significantly from those of his own country.
In my work, I will touch only on those rules and norms of etiquette that a Russian cannot do without on a trip abroad. I considered it necessary to also study the norms and rules of business etiquette, since, in my opinion, Russians traveling to England also need to know these norms and rules. If a Russian visiting England can still do without knowing the rules of business etiquette, then a Russian leaving the country for a business purpose cannot do without knowing and following the rules of both business and everyday etiquette.
When studying the rules of English etiquette, we selected 54 rules. We have grouped all the rules into 2 groups:
- - Everyday etiquette;
- - Business Etiquette.
The rules of everyday etiquette were divided into the following subgroups:
- 1. Table etiquette;
- 2. Etiquette of greeting and address;
- 3. Guest etiquette;
- 4. Communication etiquette;
- 5. Etiquette in transport.
- 38 rules governing everyday life, and 16 rules from the Business Etiquette category.
Speaking about the national character of the English, many authors of textbooks note the following features: conservatism, pride, reverent attitude towards their home and pets.
Actually, the British are the product of a mixture of many ethnic groups - the most ancient Iberian population with peoples of Indo-European origin: tribes of Celts, Germanic tribes of Angles, Saxons, Frisians, Jutes, to some extent Scandinavians, and later Franco-Normans. From the peasant nature of the Saxons, the English character inherited a penchant for everything natural, simple, uncomplicated, as opposed to everything artificial, ostentatious, pretentious: prosaic efficiency, putting the material side of life above spiritual values; adherence to traditions with distrust of everything unusual, unusual, especially foreign; addiction to the hearth as a symbol of personal independence. The Scandinavian Vikings (professional sailors) introduced another essential feature into the English character - a passion for adventure. In the soul of a homely Englishman, one always feels the alluring call of the sea, a romantic craving for distant shores.
So, the Anglo-Saxon practicality with the Celtic daydreaming, the pirate courage of the Vikings with the discipline of the Normans were embodied in the English character.
The first and most obvious feature of this nation is the stability and constancy of character of its constituent individuals. They are less susceptible to the influence of time, transient fashions than others. The curiosity of the English allowed them to get acquainted with the best of what other peoples have, and yet they remained true to their traditions. While admiring French cuisine, an Englishman will not imitate it at home. Being the embodiment of conformism, the British at the same time retain their individuality. It cannot be said that the English have never changed. Changes are constantly taking place, but these differences, so visible externally, do not affect nations. For better or worse, the original features of English nature still remain a kind of common denominator, have a profound impact on the national character and general lifestyle.
The British are heavy on their feet, tend to go around sharp corners, they have a desire to be out of prying eyes, which gives rise to a cult of privacy.
Modern English consider self-control to be the main virtue of human character. The words: "Know how to control yourself" - the best way to express the motto of this nation. The better a person can masteryourself, the more worthy he is. In joy and in sorrow, in success and failure, a person must remain unperturbed, at least externally, and even better, if internally. Considering an open, uninhibited display of feelings as a sign of bad manners, the English sometimes misjudge the behavior of foreigners, just as foreigners often misjudge the English, mistaking the mask of equanimity for the face itself, or not realizing why one should hide one's true state of mind under such a mask. .
An Englishman from childhood is taught to calmly endure cold and hunger, to overcome pain and fear, to curb attachments and antipathies.
The English are characterized by moderation, which they do not forget both during labor and in pleasure. There is almost nothing ostentatious about the Englishman. His nature is characterized by a love of order, comfort and a desire for mental activity. He loves good transport, a fresh suit, a rich library.
No noise or shouting will confuse him. He won't stop for a minute. Where necessary, he will certainly step aside, turn off the sidewalk, wriggle to the side, never expressing the slightest surprise or fright on his important face.
The common English are extremely friendly and helpful. An Englishman who has asked a foreigner a question will take him by the shoulder and begin to show him the way with various visual techniques, repeating the same thing several times, and then he will look after him for a long time, not believing that the questioner could understand everything so soon.
No one knows how to allocate his time and money as strictly as an Englishman. He works extremely hard, but always finds time to relax. During the hours of labor he works without straightening his back, straining all his mental and physical forces; in his free time he willingly indulges in pleasures.
The Englishman is very vain. He is sure that everything is going better in his country than in others. Therefore, he looks at the foreigner arrogantly, with regret and often with complete contempt. This defect in the English developed as a result of a lack of sociability and an exaggerated consciousness of their superiority over others.
Money is the idol of the British. No one treats wealth like this. Whatever the social position of an Englishman - be it a scientist, a lawyer, a politician or a clergyman - first of all he is a businessman. In every field, he devotes a lot of time to making money. His first concern always and everywhere is to make as much money as possible. But with this unbridled greed and passion for profit, the Englishman is not at all stingy: he loves to live with great comfort and in a big way.
The English travel a lot and always try to find out more facts, but they get very little closer to the people of the countries they visit. Etiquette, pride, misunderstanding of foreign customs and contempt for them do not allow them to get close to foreigners in a foreign land.
The house serves as a fortress for the Englishman, where he is able to hide not only from uninvited visitors, but also from annoying worries. Beyond the threshold of his home, he is completely freed not only from everyday affairs, but also from extraneous pressure. The English know how to feel at home as if in another world and at the same time respect the home life of other people.
The Englishman likes to live surrounded by familiar things. In the decoration of the house, as in many other things, he primarily appreciates antiquity and good quality. When it comes to updating the environment in a family, it does not mean a change of furniture, but its restoration. Every American first of all strives to show the guest his house. The English, on the other hand, rarely see anything other than a room where guests are received.
Gardening is the national passion of the British, the key to understanding many aspects of their character and attitude to life. Thanks to the temperate humid climate in England, the grass is green all year round and almost always something blooms, so that the gardener can work in the fresh air for a long time and admire the fruits of his labor. Roses and chrysanthemums continue to bloom outdoors almost until Christmas, and already in early March, the buds of crocuses and daffodils remind of the arrival of spring. Physical labor in the garden, practical skills in this matter are equally revered in all sectors of British society. In the garden, the Englishman throws off his reserve. His tastes, his behavior in the garden speak much more truthfully about his personality and character than any autobiography.
Another passion in which the personal qualities of an Englishman are manifested is pets. There is a surprisingly large number of people who breed dogs, cats, horses, cows, sheep or pigs. London parks can rightly be called the land of fearless birds and animals. The latter are not at all afraid of man: proud swans rush from all ends of the pond to a random passerby, sparrows and squirrels shamelessly feed directly from the hands of a person. Any living creature in England is accustomed to seeing a friend and benefactor in a person. Nowhere else in the world are dogs and cats cared for as much as they are here among the reputedly impassive English. A dog or cat is their favorite family member and often seems to be the most pleasant company.
Paradoxically, in English families, pets clearly occupy a higher position than children. This is manifested both in material and moral terms, since it is the dog or cat that serves as the center of universal concerns.
At heart, the British are convinced that parents in relation to their child are better off being too strict than soft. There is still a proverb here: "To spare the rod means to spoil the child." In Britain, it is generally accepted that punishing children is not only a right, but also a duty of parents. The British believe that the immoderate manifestation of parental love and tenderness is harmful to the child's character. It is in their tradition to treat children with restraint, even coolness. This instructs parents to curb their feelings, and children - willy-nilly get used to it. The disciplining influence of parents is exerted on children from a young age.
Thus, in Great Britain, more than in any other European country, adherence to the traditions, life, and habits that have been established from time immemorial has been preserved.
It is believed that numerous conquering tribes left a big imprint on the character of the English nation: the Angles, Romans, Celts, Normans, Scandinavian Vikings, Jutes and Saxons. It is this multifaceted intervention in the life and history of England that explains the special character of the native English: it combines Celtic dreaminess, Anglo-Saxon practicality, Viking courage and Norman discipline.
More than 300 thousand Russian emigrants live in the UK today, and this figure can be increased to one million, if we take into account Belarusians, Ukrainians, emigrants from Latvia and Lithuania and some others who prefer Russian to their native language (due to lack of demand) more than English.
What do Russians say about the UK?
At first glance, this country is very welcoming and friendly - even strangers smile on the streets, only “excuse me” or “sorry” respond to every careless action, and it seems that you are treated incredibly good-naturedly everywhere.
But such impressions very quickly give way to the true state of affairs: there is no one of the hospitality of the British, it is imitated by a polite mask, complemented by endless apologies that fly out of the mouth automatically and do not carry any emotional load. Who even compared the English "litter" with the "red" Russian word, rushing out if, for example, a hammer instead of a nail head lands right on the finger.
There is an opinion that the majority of the British treat all foreigners not entirely partial: to someone with sympathy, to someone with disgust, to someone even with contempt, while considering their nation to be the best in the world. As one of the bloggers put it in his judgments about the British, “for British subjects, Russians in the ranking of nations occupy a line next to immigrants from Eastern European countries, perhaps giving way only to representatives of African countries and Indians.”
Often a Russian becomes an object of irony - a kind of English humor, which is sometimes expressed in very unpleasant moments: this is how banks can be faced with a mocking offer to cash a check in Russia, and instead of an apartment approved after viewing, in the end, renting the wrong one at all.
By the way, about a sense of humor - in England, its presence is considered one of the most important virtues of a person, and therefore everyone in this country tries to show himself as a person with an excellent sense of humor, which often looks rather ridiculous. The English often throw foreigners into sincere bewilderment with their penchant for physiological jokes, like greasiness, falling trousers and the like. At the same time, most jokes do not imply a particularly deep context, but rather serve as a kind of outlet for accumulated feelings and emotions. Many English people not only love to play pranks on others, but often laugh at themselves, which contrasts strongly with their stiffness and arrogance.
If we return to the topic of the fact that Russians are not very favored in the UK, then it is worth mentioning that active anti-propaganda about Russia in the media plays a big role in this. Many Russian émigrés living here complain that the broadcast news consists entirely of negative news, where the image of a Russian person is presented as an ignorant "barbarian" who prefers to earn money illegally.
Vladimir Milovanov, who has lived in the UK since 2003, says that in all ten years he has not heard anything good about Russia on official TV or read anything good about Russia in official sources. “The minimum information that can be found,” he writes, “is always negative. At the same time, they manage not to talk about what it is impossible to remain silent about.
All of the above does not mean at all that the Russian emigrant will be an outcast in the UK, although, of course, one cannot count on a warm welcome. At the same time, it is in the power of the person himself to form a kind and positive attitude towards himself, if not immediately, but over time. And above all, you will have to start with a good knowledge of the English language - as long as the ability to speak and understand is not brought to the signs of perfection, it is almost useless to expect a respectful attitude towards yourself.
Despite the fact that the British are a rather closed and delicate people, who do not openly demonstrate their emotions, especially negative ones, their attitude towards an educated foreigner is quite acceptable. By the way, the education of the Englishman himself also plays a role: if among the middle class and above it is difficult to find an ardent Russophile, then among the less educated you can meet those who believe that the Russians (meaning the hardworking Baltics) have captured all the jobs.
By the way, among immigrants there is an opinion that Russians in the UK are treated with sympathy, which is explained by Russian non-aggression, law-abiding, hard work and rapid assimilation in this country. But the attitude towards other emigrant ethnic groups is much more restless.
About life in the UK for Russians
The majority of Russians in England are middle class, with an apartment or house on credit close to the center, a job in middle management, a once-a-year holiday to Europe, and children attending a public English school.
In general, one can respond quite positively about life in the UK - there are a lot of low-wage jobs that do not require special qualifications. At the same time, the funds received are usually enough to rent a room and food. For many Russians from the Baltics, especially those who are older, this is quite enough - if you reach the age of 60, you can hope for a pension, which is due even to a person in the UK who has not officially worked a day in his life. Such a pension entitles you to free travel, a free apartment somewhere on a disadvantaged social reservation, and benefits.
About the English mentality
The dominant feature of the English character is adherence to traditions. Moreover, the British tend to leave some of their traditions, habits and rituals in their original form in order to retain all the features of gentlemanly behavior. Interestingly, the British are extremely difficult to part with the past - for them, the process of getting rid of old furniture is a certain difficulty, they tend to plant gardens in the same style as their ancestors, and a restrained manner of dressing is characteristic of most British people - regardless of financial situation.
As for the famous English coldness, it is really just a special ability of the British to self-control. It is this coldness that is considered the basis of "gentlemanly behavior" and is a characteristic feature of the English mentality. In order to control himself and wear a mask of equanimity, every Englishman from childhood has to fight with his own temperament and accustom himself to strict self-control. By the way, an open or uninhibited display of feelings in public is considered in the UK a sign of bad manners and strongly affects every Briton in foreigners (especially in emotional French and passionate Spaniards).
This is precisely what explains the excessive severity of the British in raising children - they are convinced that softness in relation to offspring does not benefit them. As in everything else, the English treat children with restraint, thus trying to form in them the habit of curbing their own feelings. It is customary for children in the UK to be sent to study at a direct distance from their parental home in order to instill in them independence and responsibility (often in boarding houses and eminent schools where British children study rather strict rules and strict discipline, according to parents, contributing to the upbringing of a true Englishman).
In general, the British are a special nation. In this country, every self-respecting Englishman is obliged to have a hobby - no matter in what form, the main thing is that this hobby be brought to perfection. They say: "My home is my castle." They are characterized by snobbery, arrogance towards other nations and stiffness. They do not share problems or difficulties because it is not accepted. And their main tradition is the unchanging loyalty to the monarchy, although the queen has long become simply a symbol of Great Britain.
