English and British?

Question

I am an Asian student who want to major in English literature. I got some problems reading the articles about difference between English and British. I want to know what and how you (of course British people) refer to nationality, identity and difference between E and B.

Answer 1

You are Asian because you originate from the Asian sub-continent. However, you may draw a distinction between yourself and other Asians depending on whether you are a Sikh, Hindu, Gujarati, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or any other criteria.

In the British Isles every inhabitant born here is referred to as British. Any of these could be English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish.

Asian and British are generic terms of reference.

Answer 2

Well, simple: British is an inclusive term for: Scottish, English, Northern Irish, Welsh, and probably also Cornish and Manx (inhabitants of Cornwall and Isle of Man who probably at this stage can be called English, as they lost their language and separate national identity). It is like "Belgian" being inclusive of Flamand and Valon, the difference being, that most of British people are using a common language - English.

Because of the domination fo the English language the picture is sometimes somewhat blurred. People in Gibraltar, Malta, Falkland Islands and other British colonies do not seem to stress their English, Irish, Welsh or Scottish origins. Some problems arise when people try to join for example national football teams of Scotland, Northern Ireland, England or Wales, as you have a British citizenship and may live in England, have a Welsh mother and a Scottish father and be born in Norhtern Ireland (Ulster). Maybe someone could say a few things about how these issues are resolved.

Answer 3

People born in England are English. Born in Wales they are Welsh. Born in Scotland they are Scottish. Born in Northern Ireland they are Northern Irish.
They all live in the United Kingdom. The 4 countries are united. The English, Welsh and the Scottish live in Great Britain. The northen Irish do not live in Great Britain.
Note Southern Ireland is a totally different country.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

The Uk includes England,Scotland,Wales and Northern Irland but not the republic of Irland.Great Britain is England Scotland and Wales.The British Isles is England Wales Northern Irland and the Republic of Irland.So British is of the United Kingdom,Great Britain and the Northern Irland.But English is just used for the people who live in Eng.

Answer 5

I say I'm English. I was born in England as opposed to just somewhere in Great Britain. Although British would also be correct, English is stating I was born in England and not in Scotland Wales or Northern Ireland. It is being specific.Many people who were born in England but are not of English descent-having parents of other races, tend to refer to themselves as British as they were born in the Great Britain. It realy does depend on whether or not we choose to be specific. As we are separate nations under the cloak of the United Kingdom, we all have our individual national pride-some more than others-especialy if all of their family were actually born in England. The Scottish even have different laws to the English and different holidays as well as their National Dress. I hope this helps although it sounds complicated. If a form asks if I'm British I say yes, but if it asked if I was English, British, Asian etc, I would say English.

Answer 6

English refers to the language that all British people speak (except a tiny handful of Welsh and Gallic speakers).
English also refers to the natives of the country of England
British refers to the natives of the Island of Britain which includes England, Scotland and Wales.
There are other British people.....the staunch unionists of Northern Ireland, the people of Malta and the Falkland Islands.
I'm a native of England but my dad is Welsh...my preferred label is British.

Answer 7

England is a part of Great Britian (or the United Kingdom, as are Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). One can be born in England, speak English, but your nationality (and passport) would be British.

Answer 8

English is born in England (not Ireland, Scotland or Wales), British incorporates all of the above, including England.

Answer 9

The British Isles comprises four countries, England, part of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.. British means you are from the British Isles.
English means you were born in England. The same way that Irish means you were born in Ireland

Answer 10

Britain emcompasses the countries England, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. If you come from one of those, you are British. However, if you are born in England, then you are also English. Same as Scottish or Welsh or Irish.
Each country has its own identity and you'll find a welshman is very insulted to be called English, but wouldn't mind so much being British.
The english people I know are very patriotic and proud to be "English" and they prefer to be called English rather than British.