5th Topic UK + USA culture Flashcards
5th Topic - GEOGRAPHICAL, HISTORIC, AND CULTURAL FRAMEWORK OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES. DIDACTIC APPLICATION OF SIGNIFICANT GEOGRAPHIC, HISTORIC AND CULTURAL ASPECTS.
5th Topic - GEOGRAPHICAL, HISTORIC, AND CULTURAL FRAMEWORK OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES. DIDACTIC APPLICATION OF SIGNIFICANT GEOGRAPHIC, HISTORIC AND CULTURAL ASPECTS.
- ENGLISH LANGUAGE
English is a West Germanic language that was raised in medieval England and that nowadays is a lingua franca, which is, according to Harmer, “a language widely adopted for communication between two speakers whose native languages are different from each other’s”.
The choice of a lingua franca is based on political (significant influence in international organisations such as UNO), economic (a top requirement for jobs, commerce, globalisation, etc.) and cultural criteria (having paramount importance in fields like music, cinema, science or internet).
2.1.ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD
The degree of infiltration of the English language among countries: there are countries where English is spoken as a first language, such as Australia or New Zealand, other countries where it shares the role of official language, for example, India, Pakistan, etc. All these countries, linguistically speaking, revolve around two spheres of influence: the Commonwealth and British and the American.
The UK and Commonwealth
The Commonwealth is a free association of sovereign states comprising Great Britain and 53 other countries (such as Canada, Australia, etc.), most of them former dependencies who maintain ties of practical cooperation and acknowledge the British monarch as the symbolic head of their association.
United States of American
American English continues the tradition of the decayed British Empire. It wields considerable authority in many parts of the world. A list would include: Western Europe, the Middle East and the Far East (with some notable exceptions).
The influence of the USA today is spread worldwide, and it can be observed in any field of human activity, from culture to commerce, science or economics.
- GEOGRAPHIC, HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL FRAMEWORK OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES
Considering the two spheres of influence are the United Kingdom and the United States, the focus is on their geographical, historical and political frameworks.
3.1. THE UK
There are many factors implicated in the construction of the UK identity:
UK A)Geographic, socio-economic and political features
Geographical position:
It is composed of islands situated in northwest Europe, constituted by: England (London), Scotland (Edinburg), Wales (Cardiff) and Northern Ireland (Belfast).
Relief and climate:
There are no high mountains on either of the islands. However, the Pennines and the Cambrian Mountains can be named. The most important rivers are the Thames and Humber. The British Isles enjoy a mild climate. The rainfall is abundant and regular.
Economy:
The currency of the United Kingdom is the sterling pound, and it is the fifth-largest economy in the world. The chemical industry is strong as well as the financial services and tourism.
Population:
It is around 68,329.000 million. The most populated cities in the UK are London, Birmingham and Glasgow.
Politics:
UK is a Constitutional Monarchy, being the head of the state, Queen Elizabeth II. There are two main political parties: the Labor party and the Conservative party, and The Prime minister is Boris Johnson.
UK B)Historic Features
From Stonehenge in the Bronze Age, the first historical inhabitants of the British Isles were the Celts. However, they were invaded over the centuries by many civilisations: Romans (1st century), Jutes, Saxons and the Angles (throughout the fifth century)?
Later came the Vikings from Scandinavia and after the Danish invasion, the most significant event was the Norman Conquest in 1066, which gave birth to a new civilisation, including a new language with a lot of Latin influence.
From 1338 to 1453, the “Hundred Years’ War” took place between France and England.
Almost a century later, in 1534, King Henry VIII made Wales a part of the United Kingdom 1535 and married Catalina de Aragon, establishing the relationship with Spain.
Then, the English started to look for new land and goods under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603); it was the beginning of the British Empire.
In 1800, the Act of Union was signed, joining the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland. It was not until 1922 that the Irish finally achieved independence, and the Republic of Ireland could start its way.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, many old British colonies had started to get their independence from the United Kingdom, like Australia (1903) and New Zealand (1931). The United Kingdom took part in the First and the Second World Wars as the process of independence of former colonies continued: South Africa, India and Jamaica.
On 1st February of, 2020, the UK left the European Union through Brexit.
UK C) Cultural features and contributions
British are both very individualistic yet community-minded, with a strong civic sense. Their love of the countryside is well known, and their appreciation for tradition.
Would be endless the list of essential poets, writers and theatre players, for example, Shakespeare, Dickens, Jane Austin, Virginia Wolf, etc. Philosophers like Locke or Hume and musicians like Purcell.
The fields of science and engineering have also been improved by the discoveries of Newton, Darwin, Hawking, etc.
The Educational System
School is compulsory for children from 5 to 16. Children may attend either state-funded or fee-paying independent schools.
The local authorities run schools, and since the end of the 1980s, a National Curriculum was established to raise standards and ensure a balanced education.
3.2. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
There are many factors implicated in the construction of its identity:
USA Geographic, socio-economic and political features
Geographical position:
It is situated mainly in central North America (except for Hawaii and Alaska), with fifty states and Washington as the capital city
Relief:
Due to its size, the geographic variation of the USA is complete with almost any kind of landscape: impressive waterfalls, large lakes, forests, tundra and deserts.
The highest peak is Mount McKinley in Alaska (over 6,000 meters). The most important rivers are Mississippi and Missouri.
Climate:
The USA has almost any kind of climate: The North has a humid continental climate, but Florida and Hawaii are tropical, and Alaska has a polar climate, for example.
Economy:
The private sector constitutes the bulk of the US economy. It is considered a world power, especially in technological innovation and scientific research.
Population:
There are approximately 332.781.000 people, including an estimated eleven million illegal immigrants. The population is characterised by its ethnic and racial diversity in the US.
Politics:
The USA is a federal constitutional republic, and it has two major parties: the Republicans and the Democrats. The chief of the executive is the president Joe
USA Historic features
Before the arrival of Christopher Columbus, the Native Americans had lived in today’s USA for at least 10,500 years. The Spanish and British colonists failed to recognise the existing civilisations and instead regarded the natives as “Barbarians”.
By the end of the 18th century, the whole eastern coast of North America was colonised.
The Declaration of Independence was ratified and spread on 4th July of 1776, leading to the war of independence, which lasted six years and ended with the British army being defeated at Yorktown. Washington was named the first president of the United States in 1788, and the American Constitution would come into force on 9th March 1789.
After the election of Abraham Lincoln (Republican party), the issue of slavery between the industrialising North and the plantation south ended up in the civil war of Secession (1861-1865). However, the enslaved Black people gained their freedom, but they would remain segregated by local laws for a hundred years.
A short war against Spain in 1898 left the USA control over several overseas territories: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines.
After World War I, there was a period of isolationism and prosperity (the roaring 20’s) that ended in 1929 when the stock market crashed, and the Great Depression began.
The US entered World War II as an ally of the Soviet Union and Britain. The Cold War dominated the early post-war period (1947-1991) due to disagreements with the Soviet Union.
In the 60s, Martin Luther King effectively won civil and voting rights legislation: the social changes grew out of an open, fluid and diverse society.
The attack of the 11th September 2001 was a turning point in the UD politics and had a deep impact on their people’s confidence.
USA Cultural features and contributions
The US citizens feel a common identity as Americans; their patriotism is concentrated upon the nation’s creation. Their notion of freedom focuses on the individual (individualism has strong philosophical roots in the USA). They have developed a psychology of abundance.
The USA has been the origin of several artistic movements (naturalism, pop art, etc.) and excellent authors (Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, etc.).
The mixture of cultures and genres has been greatly developed in music with blues, jazz, rock and roll, etc.). They make great inversions in the field of science (NASA is one of the most important contributions to the world).
The educational system:
There is free and compulsory education (from 6 to 16 years old) in all states in the USA, and there is no federal department of education or national curriculum or assessment. There are State schools (public) and private schools.
Cultural features and contributions
The US citizens feel a common identity as Americans; their patriotism is concentrated upon the nation’s creation. Their notion of freedom focuses on the individual (individualism has strong philosophical roots in the USA). They have developed a psychology of abundance.
The USA has been the origin of several artistic movements (naturalism, pop art, etc.) and excellent authors (Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, etc.).
The mixture of cultures and genres has been greatly developed in music with blues, jazz, rock and roll, etc.). They make great inversions in the field of science (NASA is one of the most important contributions to the world).
The educational system:
There is free and compulsory education (from 6 to 16 years old) in all states in the USA, and there is no federal department of education or national curriculum or assessment. There are State schools (public) and private schools.
