THE MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY

A foreigner just starting to learn about the national identities in Britain may be surprised at
how difficult it seems to define the terms referring to the different groups of inhabitants on the
British Isles.
Let us have a closer look at the loyalties and senses of identity most typically felt by the
British people.
The native British
Britons: the Celtic people living in Western Europe from about 800 BC (Great-Little Britain)
Scots: Celtic people migrating from “Ireland” to Scotland during the Roman rule
Welsh: the Celtic people living or driven to Wales at the Roman times
Angles-English: one of the Germanic peoples arriving in the Br Isles in the 5-6th centuries
(+Saxons Jutes) (East)Anglia: the land of the English tribes
Normans the (French-speaking!!!) conquerors and their descendants after 1066
Anglo-Normans mixed aristocratic class especially outside England (Ireland)
Because of the expansion of the English, the Celts first were confined to the “fringes”, then
lost their independence and had bitter feelings about it. Now there is a revival of their
identities, which mostly involves their cultural integrity as well as some self government in
national matters (education, law, religion).
See: the history of the Union Jack and the national emblems, patron saints and holidays.
The Scots
The first Act of Union meant the unification of Scotland and England in 1707 though the
Scots tried to regain their independence in the following decades. Their resistance was finally
crushed in the mid-18th century and began to regain their national consciousness in the
romantic movement (greatly supported and encouraged by Sir Walter Scott). Today Scottish
Gaelic language is spoken as the first language in the western isles and in some enthusiastic
circles on the mainland. Their typical appearance and music became well-known all over the
world due to the success of Mel Gibson’s Braveheart although some cultural events had
attracted many visitors before. Now Scotland is gaining more and more independence: they
have had their Parliament in Edinburgh since 1999 and the oil found in the North Sea off the
Scottish coast provided the country more financial independence. In spite of the growing
wealth and being more and more a tourist attraction, many Scots do not hesitate to move
southward if they are given the opportunity.
Famous Scots. Burns, Alexander Fleming
The Welsh
Being the first country occupied by the English in 1301, there is little that remained from the
original ways of life. The organisation of public life is like that in England. 20% people speak
Welsh as their first language, it is taught at schools and the cultural traditions enjoy great
public attention and support. Similarly as in Scotland, heavy industrialisation did a great harm
to the original ways of life and the landscape in the 19 th and early 20th century. Also, these
areas were the ones that were badly struck by economic crises and unemployment. These
territories gave the most soldiers to the colonising British army—this is the sign of poverty,
cultural and social backwardness.
The Welsh have their national Assembly—not parliament and have some freedom in their
national matters.
Famous Welsh: Dylan Thomas,
The Irish
Their identity is probably the most complicated and politically the most delicate matter. The
country was incorporated into the kingdom in1800 after centuries of oppression, exploitation
and misery. The country was divided in 1920, when, at last, the southern part became
independent.
Northern Ireland is the scene of century-old opposition, from the point of view of politics and
religion as well. The national feeling is strong and some political groups chose to fight for
their freedom by any means, including terrorism. Self-government and the northern Irish
parliament was suspended (in the early 2000s) and the country is under the direct rule of the
Houses of Parliament in London these days.
The most acceptable way of keeping their identity is the use of the native Irish Gaelic. The
popularity of Irish music, dance, art as well as the Irish writers helps to keep the national
feeling alive.
Famous Irish.
James Joyce—wrote in English+ G.B. Shaw, W.B Yeats….

1. BENNSZÜLÖTT native
2. FOGALOM, KIFEJEZÉS term
3. UTAL referring to
4. RAGASZKODÁS, HŰSÉG loyalty
5. VÁNDOROL to migrate
6. TERJESZKEDÉS expansion
7. LESZÁRMAZOTT descendant
8. HÓDÍTÓ conqueror
9. ÚJJÁSZÜLETÉS revival
10. (ÖN)AZONOSSÁG identity
11. EGYESÍTÉS unification
12. TUDATOSSÁG consciousness
13. FÜGGETLENSÉG independence
14. PÉNZÜGYI financial
15. DÉLRE southward
16. GYARMATOSÍT occupy
17. HÓDÍT conquer
18. SZEGÉNYSÉG poverty
19. ELMARADOTTSÁG backwardness
20. ELNYOMÁS oppression
21. KIZSÁKMÁNYOLÁS exploitation
22. NEMZETGYŰLÉS national assembly
23. FELFÜGGESZT to suspend
24. AZ ÍR ÜGYEK LONDONBÓL the county(Ireland) is under the direct rule of
VALÓ IRÁNYÍTÁSA… the Houses of Parliament in London
25. VÍVMÁNY achievement,acquisition