What is English?

mani · 09-09-2008, 03:26

With the olympics just ending i thought yeah all those things in the opening ceremony u could clearly say was chinese culture and heritage.

so with 2012 in mind - what is english?

the royal guard and a double decker bus?

the whole thing of business men walking around london in black suits and bowlers hats are long gone, the fish and chips has been replaced by the chicken tikka masala, hollywood has long ruled the cinema, the beatles were scouse.

the tv's are japanese technology, the cars are german/japs, the entertainment is american and politically we're the 51st state.

so what is actually still english?

K.S.H · 09-09-2008, 05:19

MePosted via Mobile Device

entwisi · 09-09-2008, 06:23

Innovation, even today the majority of inventions etc are from British born, the ipod has now been recognised by Apple as desigbned by a Brit, TV was designed by a brit, computers were designed by a Brit, look in F1 the innovation is primarily British.

Eric · 09-09-2008, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

Innovation, even today the majority of inventions etc are from British born, the ipod has now been recognised by Apple as desigbned by a Brit, TV was designed by a brit, computers were designed by a Brit, look in F1 the innovation is primarily British.

... and the Blackberry is Canadian

Maybe Britain is going thro' and identity crisis ... most of us in the rest of the world don't seem to have any problem with recognizing that GB has a distinct identity. Maybe different images slip into different heads when "Britain" is mentioned (lousy football team, crappy weather ... just joshin') but all know that it is something special that other countries are not .... But what the hell, we Canadians have our own identity crisis going. (Altho' we do put it on hold for hockey.)

Boeing Guy · 09-09-2008, 20:14

Thanks to Frank Whittle, the world is now smaller, Alexander Graham Bell allowed us to talk by telephone to each other, we watch TV thank to John Logie Baird and thanks to Alan Turing and Tommy Flowers we can discuss this on Computers.

Bonnyboy · 09-09-2008, 20:22

Cliff…need I say any more.

Cant wait for his Christmas Album.

Boeing Guy · 09-09-2008, 20:24

Oh and before I forget, Thank de Havilland for the Comet, the worlds first commercial jet airliner, without it, and its accidents, air travel would not be as safe today.

Royboy39 · 09-09-2008, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boeing Guy

Oh and before I forget, Thank de Havilland for the Comet, the worlds first commercial jet airliner, without it, and its accidents, air travel would not be as safe today.

I think you would have trouble coversing with Air Traffic Control in Blackpool trying to communicate in Chinese or Swahili?

Boeing Guy · 09-09-2008, 20:39

Yeah a bit confusing, what I meant was, that due to the things we learnt with the dreadful accidents caused by the early Comets, air transport is now much safer.

Royboy39 · 09-09-2008, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boeing Guy

Yeah a bit confusing, what I meant was, that due to the things we learnt with the dreadful accidents caused by the early Comets, air transport is now much safer.

I agree....I will be going from Spain to England on Thursday....I have no problems with that whatsoever.

WillowTheWhisp · 09-09-2008, 21:12

I notice that you don't class Scouse as English Mani.

garinda · 09-09-2008, 21:23

England is like a full English breakfast.

A real mixture of things, that really ought not work together, but does.

There are bits that are bad, when taken individually, but as a whole it works very satisfactorily.

shillelagh · 13-09-2008, 21:06

The Last Night of the Proms .......

West Ender · 13-09-2008, 22:12

What is English?

It's a pot of tea, a scone, strawberry jam and clotted cream. It's an ancient raincoat, a pair of wellies and a muddy dog. It's egg and mayo sandwiches, with tiny grains of sand in them so they ever-so-slightly crunch, eaten under a damp towel on a windswept beach after a brief dip in a freezing sea. It's drowsing in front of a blazing fire on a dark winter afternoon with a warm cat purring on your knee. It's little children with rosy cheeks and gloves on a string through their coat sleeves. It's wild daffodils growing under the trees and katkins on the hazel bushes.

I could go on........

maxwell silver · 13-09-2008, 22:16

It's a major embarresment waiting to happen