British or English?

[sarahnmitch]

I was born in England, but left home 18 years ago after my A levels. I have spent the last 13 years married to an American, living mostly in Germany (now Italy) with a couple of years in between in New Jersey (all at US military bases).

A lot of people ask where I am from and I will always answer "English", but if the question is asked the other way around, it usually comes out "Are you British?" A couple of days ago, I was completely flummoxed by the follow up question "Does it bother you if someone calls you British?"

Trying to put it into perspective, I likened it to calling an American, Canadian or vice verse, but that isn't quite true. Nobody would call a Frenchman German, or an Austrian Italian even though those countries are all in the same land mass of Europe, so why do Americans have such a hard time grasping the fact that (Great!) Britain is made up of four separate countries?

Just wondering what your individual thoughts are on this? Comments please.

[christhear]

I am English and proud of it. If I am asked to write where I come from rather that tick a box I will also put English. I bet if you ask the same question of Someone from Scotland or Wales they would always go for Scottish or Welsh rather than British. Or are we all just European now?

[ShirleyD]

I would have thought the american equivalent was their states. Although, whilst I would have once said British, I will now say English as we are pushed more and more to not be proud of our identity and culture.

[SDJ]

It depends on the circumstances and the question being asked whether I answer English or British. Proud to be both!![msnwink]

Sandra

[luckylady]

I am Engish or British doesn't bother me. I am also proud to be both. [msnsmile2]

[Sandra M]

If asked I would probably answer British without thinking but being born in Birkenhead, really it should be English[msnwink]

Im happy to be either

Sandra

[Jill]

I am English as I was born in England and do not like being called British. British to me is the shortened form of Great Britain which covers, England, Scotland and Wales which are all individual countries. Bet there are not many Scots who like to be called British.

[grayster]

To fellow Brits I'm English and to the rest of the world, I'm British.

[GrahamC]

I am English, very proud of it and will always put that on forms as my nationality.

It seriously annoys me that the political elite in this country feel that is OK be Scotish, Welsh, or Irish, and celebrate the fact but we cannot be English

[taylona]

I am English as I was born in Enland.

What I find frustrating are forms which do not allow that. Ie I have to say British or I'm from the UK.

[alastair]

I would say if anyone has a British passport then they are British.

[Jill]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by alastair
I would say if anyone has a British passport then they are British.
[/quote]

Nobody has a 'British' passport as they are issued by 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Britain is NOT a country in its own right whereas England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are individual countries which collectively form the United Kingdom and if you do not include Northern Ireland then you have Great Britain.

[wrpac00]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Jill
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by alastair
I would say if anyone has a British passport then they are British.
[/quote]

Nobody has a 'British' passport as they are issued by 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Britain is NOT a country in its own right whereas England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are individual countries which collectively form the United Kingdom and if you do not include Northern Ireland then you have Great Britain.


[/quote]

But your passport will say you are a Britsh Citizen[msnwink]

[sunseeker]

My nationality is English and thats how i see myself. My passport says my nationality is ; British citizen.
I guess one day Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will get their independence and the British thing will be in the history books.

Dave

[alastair]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Jill
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by alastair
I would say if anyone has a British passport then they are British.
[/quote]

Nobody has a 'British' passport as they are issued by 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Britain is NOT a country in its own right whereas England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are individual countries which collectively form the United Kingdom and if you do not include Northern Ireland then you have Great Britain.


[/quote]
Would a citizen of Great Britain not be British.

[fiona]

I am ¾ Scottish and ¼ English, married to someone who is the other way round. My husband regards himself as English, and then British and I regard myself as Scottish and then British. I am not in the slightest offended / worried by anyone calling me British!

[LiesaAnna]

im Brighton born and bred therefore i'm English and proud... but born to English mum and German dad.... i'm confused lol:D

[Jill]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by wrpac00
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Jill
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by alastair
I would say if anyone has a British passport then they are British.
[/quote]

Nobody has a 'British' passport as they are issued by 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Britain is NOT a country in its own right whereas England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are individual countries which collectively form the United Kingdom and if you do not include Northern Ireland then you have Great Britain.


[/quote]

But your passport will say you are a Britsh Citizen[msnwink]


[/quote]

Which means I am from one of the following countries: England, Scotland or Wales (which make up Britain, or to give it its full title Great Britain)therefore English, Scottish or Welsh.

Found the following on a history site which might help explain:

Is Great Britain the same as Britain?

Sometimes people use the shortened name Britain instead of Great Britain, to mean the same thing, but really Britain only refers to England and Wales.

The name Britain goes back to Roman times when they called England and Wales "Britannia" (or "Britannia Major", to distinguished it from "Britannia Minor", ie Brittany in France). The Roman province of Britannia only covered the areas of modern England and Wales. The area of modern Scotland was never finally conquered.

[sarahnmitch]

Lol Liesa! My children are the same: English Mum, American Dad, born and raised in Germany. For the longest my son thought he was German because that's where he lived. He spoke German and went to German school. Now we live in Italy, so it's even more confusing for them.

Thank goodness we were able to get Cbeebies on the telly, they both now have English accents!

[PeteF]

It really all depends on whether you are watching football or tennis [msnwink]

[Dads_Taxi]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by sarahnmitch


Thank goodness we were able to get Cbeebies on the telly, they both now have English accents!
[/quote]

You're lucky, we're all Manchester born and bred, and my girls were starting to develop American accents due to over-exposure to The Disney Channel ! That Hannah Montana has a lot to answer for.

To answer the original question, if I can't put Mancunian, I would probably put British now, as described in my passport - it causes less problems when completing security forms etc. In my younger years I would always put English, because I am. A desire for the easy life has won me over.

[wrpac00]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Jill
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by wrpac00
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Jill
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by alastair
I would say if anyone has a British passport then they are British.
[/quote]

Nobody has a 'British' passport as they are issued by 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Britain is NOT a country in its own right whereas England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are individual countries which collectively form the United Kingdom and if you do not include Northern Ireland then you have Great Britain.


[/quote]

But your passport will say you are a Britsh Citizen[msnwink]


[/quote]

Which means I am from one of the following countries: England, Scotland or Wales (which make up Britain, or to give it its full title Great Britain)therefore English, Scottish or Welsh.

Found the following on a history site which might help explain:

Is Great Britain the same as Britain?

Sometimes people use the shortened name Britain instead of Great Britain, to mean the same thing, but really Britain only refers to England and Wales.

The name Britain goes back to Roman times when they called England and Wales "Britannia" (or "Britannia Major", to distinguished it from "Britannia Minor", ie Brittany in France). The Roman province of Britannia only covered the areas of modern England and Wales. The area of modern Scotland was never finally conquered.


[/quote]

Nearly Jill but not quite correct. From the Direct Gov website.

How to tell if you are a British citizen
If you were born before 1 January 1983
On 1 January 1983, you became a British citizen if both of these applied:

•you were a citizen of the UK and Colonies on 31 December 1982
•you had the 'right of abode' in the UK
'Right of abode' means you:

•are entirely free from UK Immigration Control and don’t need to get permission from an Immigration Officer to enter the UK
•can live and work in the UK without restriction

This includes people who:


•were born in the UK
•were born in a British colony and had the right of abode in the UK
•have been naturalised in the UK
•had registered as a citizen of the UK and Colonies
•could prove legitimate descent from a father to whom one of these applies
People who had the right to live in the UK but not the 'right of abode' did not become British citizens.

[DLB-GOUROCK]

If I am asked, I am from Scotland or I am Scottish.
But I am particular when filling out forms where it requires you to state your nationality I put British.

Whiter we are English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish our nationality is British.

[belfastbob]

well put david,
we can all be proud of our individual countries of birth (england,scotland, wales or my wee northern ireland!!) and rightly so,but i'm also proud to be called british,a u.k citizen and the owner of a british passport! [clap].
we're not that different really, but its whats on the inside that counts,thats what speaks about us more than anything.so cheer up!!!! be happy, you've got florida in your veins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[clairemca]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by belfastbob
well put david,
we can all be proud of our individual countries of birth (england,scotland, wales or my wee northern ireland!!) and rightly so,but i'm also proud to be called british,a u.k citizen and the owner of a british passport! [clap].
we're not that different really, but its whats on the inside that counts,thats what speaks about us more than anything.so cheer up!!!! be happy, you've got florida in your veins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[/quote]

Well said Bob! I'm also from Belfast and proud to be a British citizen however when in Florida the Americans call me Irish, I don't care what they call me I'm just happy to be there!!!

[emm]

Like David, I would say I am Scottish, or from Scotland, but when it comes to filling in forms I have always put my nationality as British.