SOCIEDAD Y CULTURA.

ESTEREOTIPOS Y EMBLEMAS DE LOS PAISES DE HABLA

INGLESA. LA CANCION EN LENGUA INGLESA COMO VEHICULO DE INFLUENCIA
CULTURAL

>Understanding a piece of discourse in any language involves much more than just knowing the
language. In order to make sense of any text in the target language we need to have a “pre-
existing knowledge of the word”.
>This topic is important as it fully justifies the need to acquire a certain degree of cultural
knowledge about the community whose language is the object of study. You cannot simply
command the target language if you have not learnt a certain amount of cultural aspects which
affect the lives of that linguistic community in a significant way.
>What is the culture of a linguistic community? It is not only made of a language shared by its
members but also of beliefs, values, customs (social rules, dances, festivals, folklore, music,
myths, legends, cuisine, rituals) and "scholastic knowledge" (arts, history, science, religion,
popular knowledge,...etc). To put it in another way: for learners of a foreign language, the
language is not enough. It is important to reach some kind of mastery (or at least familiarity) of
customs, traditions, history or even the music or the literary or artistic figures belonging to that
linguistic community. The higher the degree of mastery of cultural knowledge, the better the
chances to understand any type of text (be it written or oral, involving a lot of extra-textual
information or little) created by a member of that linguistic community.
>The problem with this – when it comes to the English speaking community – is that the English
speaking community is so diverse (Americans, Canadians, British, Irish, Australians, South-
Africans, New-Zealanders… have developed an identity of their own) that this task is all the
more extensive and difficult. On top of that, there are new cultures such as the Indian, Pakistani
…etc. However, we Spanish-speaking people have the advantages of sharing a culture close to
that of the English-speaking community (as against Chinese-speaking or Arab-speaking people)
although most of us are not aware of this fact. This closeness is due to the fact that Western
countries have inherited and developed a Western culture and identity, based on the Greco-
Roman civilization.
>Moreover, due to the predominance of English-speaking countries (especially USA) throughout
the West (and across the world) and due to the phenomenon of globalization, it is virtually
impossible to keep a "hermetic existence": to be free from the influence of English-speaking
countries. To put it bluntly, it is impossible for a Spaniard to know nothing about the Americans
or the English and their culture.
2. Society, culture and stereotypes of English-speaking countries.-
>A. The United Kingdom and Ireland
>One of the main ideas to take into account is that “England” is not equivalent to “Britain” and
that “Great Britain” is not a synonym of “United Kingdom”.
>· “Great Britain” is the official name for England, Scotland, Wales and the adjacent isles
(except The Isle of Mann and the Channel Islands).
>· “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” comprises the historic kingdom of
England and Scotland, the principality of Wales and the province of Northern Ireland. This
means that the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish are British, but only the English are
English.
>A.1. SCOTLAND
>The Scottish have developed a clearly distinct identity of their own and they object to being
called English. They want to maintain their identity separate from the British.
>The origins of The Scottish date back to Celtic tribes (the Picts and the so-called Scots – the
latter obviously named Scotland after their own designation) and not really to Anglo-Saxon
tribes.
>Under the Roman Empire, the proud and fierce Celts were strong enough to repel the Roman
expansion in northern “Britannia”. In fact, the Romans were so fed up with the Pictish raids that
they eventually set out to build the so-called Hadrian's Wall (a defensive wall in northern Britain,
which originally ran 117 km).
>Later on, the Scots, who in 850 had beaten and replaced the Picts’ control of the territory
(forming the Kingdom of Scotland) started a long fight against the relatively “newly comers”
Anglo-Saxons (who had come in the 5th Century from the Continent) and prevented them from
conquering this land. It was so for many years, but the ever-growing predominance of the
English nation in the British Isles would entail a gradual anglicisation and English influence
upon Scotland from the 11th century on (for example, the English language – the Northern
English dialect – started to spread in the Lowlands). Eventually Scotland inevitably became an
English-speaking nation and was united to England in 1707.
>Today the Scottish can proudly say that they have their own self-government through the
Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, their own religion (the Presbyterian Church of Scotland), their
own education authorities and, most importantly, their own languages. The official language is
English, but they have:
>- Gaelic (Celtic language). It is the language of the most rural areas of Scotland, the Highlands
& Hebrides Islands, with fewer than 100,000 speakers.
>- The “Scots language”. Many scholars think that it is simply a dialect of the English language.
It is the language of the Lowlands, for lowlanders have traditionally been more under the
influence of England.
>That is why highlanders, who are by nature more conservative, unsophisticated and more
jingoist than lowlanders, regard themselves as the "true, genuine Scots". Highlanders live on the
sheep cattle and fishing in the most remote areas of Scotland. Some of them still wear the
traditional kilt.
>The lowlanders (who are less conservative and more sophisticated) are concentrated on the
industrialized and densely populated areas or towns of the South.
>How are the Scottish seen elsewhere? The stereotype of the Scottish is that of a serious-minded,
hardworking (albeit stingy) person.
>Scotland has given rise to many more famous people than could be expected from a nation of
such modest size and population (about 5 million people today): Sir Walter Scott and Robert
Louis Stevenson (literary figures). Adam Smith (philosopher and father of capitalism), James
Watt (renowned for the invention of the first practical steam engine) o Sean Connery (one of the
most popular Hollywood actors nowadays).
>They were also pioneers settlers in America, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
A. 2. WALES
>Somewhat isolated by a rugged, mountainous terrain, the Welsh have retained more of the
culture of their Celtic forebears than the Scottish have. In fact, Welsh is the official language of
Wales, together with English and the most flourishing of the Celtic languages, with about
500,000 active Welsh speakers of a population of 2,900,000, especially in rural and less
populated areas. Several schools in Wales now use Welsh as the medium of instruction, several
written publications are made in Welsh (mostly in poetry and in the press), and television and
radio broadcast are made in that language.
>On the other hand, although Wales have been politically united to England since the 16th
century (1535 Act of Union), it has clearly kept a feeling of having a distinct identity from the
English one. For instance, Wales has experienced a relatively recent nationalist revival of the
Welsh political life. Nationalist parties have received a considerable political support, to the
point that representatives of the Welsh Nationalist Party are in the House of Commons in
London. Also, the Welsh have obtained their self-government through the Welsh Assembly.
>Paradoxically, although the Welsh have kept a stronger Celtic identity than the Scottish, it is
curious to note that the Welsh constitute a relative submissive nation (as against the Scottish).
For instance: the educational system of Wales is most similar to that of the English Local
Education Authorities (LEAs). Also, in a referendum held in September 1997 barely more than
half of the Welsh voters supported the creation of a Welsh assembly (50.3 for, 49.7 against).
>The Welsh fall into two main groups:
> Sheep farmers in the mountains in central and northern regions.
> Those living in the industrialized south (coal mining, steel manufacturers).
The title of Prince of Wales is conferred to the eldest son of the UK’s sovereign. Prince Charles
was invested as 21st Prince of Wales by his mother Queen Elisabeth II in 1969.
>Important Welsh people: Dylan Thomas.

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Tema 69, 2a parte

  Admin Dom Mar 23, 2008 8:43 am

(parte 2 de 3)
A.3. IRELAND
>Again, the population of Ireland is predominantly of Celtic origin. As a matter of fact, the
process of anglicisation and influence of England upon the British Isles is quite similar in each
case: one strong and predominant nation (England) conquers and assimilates weaker Celtic
nations (Wales, Scotland and ultimately Ireland).
>However, to the idea of subjugation (which is normal in any conquest), we have to add a
historic fact, a historic injustice, which will help to understand better why the Irish have
traditionally been such recalcitrant people towards the English, unprepared to accept the English
sovereignty in any form. From the 16th century on, the Irish people started to be driven out of
their homes, and their lands were systematically granted to English colonists and Scottish
lowlanders, who spoke English and were Protestants. From then on, aboriginal Irish (whose main
identity features would be their ardent Catholicism and even their Gaelic language) were
regarded as second-class citizens.
>On the other hand, one of the most dramatic and decisive events for Ireland’s future was the
Irish Famine of 1845-1848, in which almost a million Irish were left to die by the British
authorities, and over a million people were thus compelled to emigrate, mainly to the United
States. These new exiles carried with them a deep resentment towards the British presence in
Ireland, and eventually they and their descendants played a vital role in financing the fight for
Irish independence.
>The struggle for national freedom in Ireland against the domination of England (latterly Great
Britain) lasted for 750 years, from the time of the invasion in 1170 to the establishment of the
Irish Free State or Republic of Eire in 1922, which brought independence to 26 of its 32
counties. This fight still continues in Northern Ireland (Ulster, 6 counties and part of the United
Kingdom), with discrimination against the Catholics. This has lead to continuous riots and
violence on the Catholic side, which is carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The IRA
claims for the unification of the whole of Ireland. In 1998 Ireland, Britain and political parties in
Northern Ireland reached peace agreement over Northern Ireland involving the devolution of a
wide range of powers to a Northern Ireland Assembly (“Good Friday Agreement”). Refusals to
decommission weapons by the military groups forced the British government to suspend the
Assembly in 2000.
>Probably, as a consequence of this apparent never-ending fight, the Irish have kept their Celtic
identity more consciously and proudly than Scottish or Welsh have. However, they have failed in
one important aspect: nowadays, almost everybody speaks English. About one third can also
speak Irish, although Irish is the nation’s official language with English.
>As a result of this dual Irish identity (the protestant and the catholic identities) many famous
Irish personalities are often labeled as being of “Anglo-Irish” descent and of “genuine” Irish
descent:
>- Famous “Anglo-Irish” writers are Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde
>- Famous Irish writers are William Yeats or James Joyce.
>Other famous writers from Ireland are Samuel B. Beckett or Bernard Shaw
>How are the Irish seen elsewhere? They are often considered warm, welcoming people, even
though they are also seen as unsophisticated, due to the fact that Ireland has traditionally been a
rural country.
A.4. ENGLAND
>England is the largest division of the United Kingdom, with a population of 50 million, which
is equivalent to more than 831001747714f the total population of the country. Besides, it is now
the most predominant state of the British Isles.
>The origin if the English is closely related to the Anglo-Saxon tribes than invaded “Britannia”,
following the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century. These Germanic tribes conquered and
occupied lowland Britain, routing and driving the Celts (who had been living under the control of
Rome until then) out of their lands into Wales, Scotland and even Brittany in France.
>Much later on, the power of the English become stronger and stronger and England came to
conquer and annex Wales, Scotland and Ireland one after the other, imposing its power,
institutions and language.
>Afterwards, England (which would later become Great Britain, together with Scotland, Wales
and Ireland) would create one of the most pervasive and vast empire of human history, the
British Empire, which would extend its culture, language, influence and control over all the
continents in the world
>Much of that “superiority sense” is still present in the English psychic, even if the English are
now aware of the end of its empire. An Englishman is thought to be reserved, introvert,
unemotional, shy of strangers. They dislike showing emotion and lack of control. They are cold
and phlegmatic people but are also dutiful and very polite. They fervently believe they are
superior to any other race on earth.
>England has given rise to an astonishing number of notable writers in all fields:
>- literature writers: William Shakespeare, Mary Shelley, Dickens
>- philosophers: Francis Bacon
>- scientists: Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton
B. United States of America
>The origins of this vast country of over 270 million people date back to the Englsih settlements
in North America in the 17th century.
>However, saying that the Americans only identify themselves with the Anglo-Saxon culture
brought then would be wrong, for the USA is truly a land of immigrants from many different
nationalities. In fact, the American society is said to be “a melting pot”, a society composed of
many different cultures, a place where people of different ethnic groups are brought together,
giving America a rather intermingled identity. There we will find people of every race, colour or
religion, or from every country of the world.
>Everyone knows that the United States has become the most powerful country in the worlds. In
a way, it has “relieved” Great Britain if the “task” of promoting the Englsih language around the
world, has extended its military and economic power and influence (e.g. “the American way of
life”, American food or American music) on the five continents.
>How are the Americans regarded given the predominance of the USA in the world? Some
people say that Americans are arrogant, but what seems clear is that they take pride in this world
preponderance and that they are very patriotic. Besides, Americans are said to be workaholic,
very independent, albeit quite materialistic.
>The United States given rise to an extraordinary number of personalities in all fields:
>- literary figures: Mark Twain, Hemingway, William Faulkner, John Steinbeck
>- philosophers: Thomas Pain.
>Moreover, it is interesting to stress the fact that the United States is the country with the
greatest number of Nobel Prizes in medicine, physics and economics, which proves that the USA
has become the most important scientific centre in the world.
>The USA is considered to be a classless society. They are more race-conscious than class-
conscious.
3. Icons, emblems, symbols, cultural and geographical landmarks of English-speaking countries.-
>3.1. UNITED KINGDOM
>British National Flag
>It was adopted in 1801 and its popular name is Union Jack. It is made up of three crosses,
representing the union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
>The upright red cross is the cross of Saint George, the patron saint of England.
>The white diagonal cross (with the arms going into the corners) is the cross of Saint Andrew,
the patron saint of Scotland.
>The red diagonal cross is the cross of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
>John Bull
>The Americans have Uncle Sam and the English have John Bull. It is a stereotype personifying
the British Nation, the people or the government. It is always depicted as a stocky elderly
gentleman, wearing a squat top hat, neckcloth, Union Jack waistcoat, tailcoat, tight breeches and
boots.
>Public Homes (pubs)
>The word pub is short for public house. There are over 60,000 pubs in the UK. Pubs are an
important part of British life. People talk, eat, drink, meet their friends and relax there. British
people drink an average of 99.4 litres of beer very year. More than this beer is drunk in pubs and
clubs.
>British pubs are required to have a license, which allows the pub to operate between 5:00 and
11:00 everyday, except Sunday, when they must close at 10:30 pm.
>Nearly all pubs sell pub lunches. One of these is The Ploughman’s Lunch, which is a large
wedge of Cheddar, some bread, some pickle and an onion. Other typical foods are scampi and
chips, pie and chips, fish and chips.
>British beer is always warm. The traditional kind is called “real ale”. Beers are served in pints
and halves.
>Pubs have traditional names that date back over 600 years. The King’s Arms, The White Horse,
The Bull and the Swam. There is usually a sign outside the pubs showing the pub’s name with a
picture. Various games, especially darts, are common features of pubs.
>The minimum drinking age in England is eighteen. Bartenders are called landlords/landladies.
>The British Bobby
>It is one of the most cherished icons, called after the founder of the modern police forced, Sir
Robert Peel.
>the Bulldog
>It symbolizes the very essence of Britishness. He is solid, reliable, loyal and very individual.
Britannia
>It is the personification of British nationalism. She is portrayed as a young woman in a neo-
classical gown and helmet, seated by the sea. She is holding a trident in one hand and a shield,
decorated with the Union Flag, in the other. At present Britannia is seen on the 50 p coins.
Tea.Tea is most definitely Britain’s national drink. Tea drinking is not just a means of
refreshment, it is also a social ritual.

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Tema 69 tercera parte

  Admin Dom Mar 23, 2008 8:43 am

parte 3 de 3
3.1.1. England
>The national flower of England is the rose. It is worn on St George’s Day (23rd April?). It has
been associated with England since the civil wars between the homes of Lancaster (red) and
York (white), which are known as the Wars of the Roses (1455-1485).
>London
>Red double-decker buses and black taxis are a typical sight on London’s busy roads.
>Cricket is England’s national game
>White flag + red cross is England’s flag
>The bowler hat and the umbrella are trademarks of the unofficial “uniform” o the City gent.
>The Queen and the Royal Family are symbols that epitomizes the rich heritage and glorious
long history of its country, even though it has come under increasing criticism in the past years
as a rather archaic relic badly in need of a dramatic change.
>The Beefeater,Punks,Mini,The Underground sign,Fox hunting,Gin and tonic
Main landmarks The Houses of parliament
> The Big Ben, The London Eye,The White Cliffs of Dover, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of
London
3.1.2. Wales
>The daffodil is the national flower of Wales. It is worn on St David’s day (1st March), which is
the first day it blooms, according to the tradition.
3.1.3. Scotland
The national flower of Scotland is commonly known to be the thistle and it appears in pound
coins
>The castles,loch Ness,The bagpipes,The kilt,Scotch whiskey
3.1.4. Northern Ireland
>The national flower of Northern Ireland is the shamrock, a three-leaved plant similar to clover.
>Sadly, one of the references that people have when they think about Northern Ireland is the
terrorist group IRA.
3.2. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The American Flag
>It is also known as the “star-spangled banner” or the “stars and stripes”. There is probably no
easier and better way to show one’s “pride of being American” than by exhibiting this flag.
>It consists of 13 horizontal stripes symbolizing the 13 original colonies (7 alternating with 6
white) and in the upper corner there is a rectangular blue field containing 50 five-pointed stars
(each symbolizing one of the States of the Union).
Uncle Sam.These nickname and image are frequently used in journal cartoons and publicity to
personify the US’s government. It is derived from the initials U.S.
>In the 20th century Uncle Sam has been depicted with a short beard, high hat and tailed coat.
>Americans frequently refer to “him” jokingly instead of saying the (American) government.
New York City It is the largest city (with a population of over 7,3 million people) in the USA,
the centre of global finance, communications and business. New York is unusual among cities
because it its high residential density, its extraordinary diverse population, its hundreds of tall
offices and apartments buildings, ...etc. As a matter of fact, when people think of America, they
are bound to think of New York City, for it is very representative of the greatness and
outstanding potential of this country.
>Its boroughs are still divided into neighbourhoods: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens,
and Broadway among others.
The Statue of Liberty.It is located in New York City. It is 46 metres high. It is a symbol of
freedom for the Americans. It was a gift from France commemorating the first centennial of
USA independence from Britain in 1876.
The 4th July.It commemorates the date when the Americans declared their independence from
England in 1776 and it is the most important date fro them. It is celebrated with parades and
fireworks across the United States.
Thanksgiving Day.It is a bank holiday observed annually in the USA on the 4th Thursday of
November. Thanksgiving day stresses the connection with the Pilgrims (17th century), when
they all gathered to thank God for what they had and even invited some Native Americans to
lunch (the lunch thus has a generosity aspect)
Halloween.It is a festivity of Celtic origin (taken to America by Irish immigrants) on 31st
October. This festivity is symbolically associated with death and the supernatural, On Halloween
many children dress in customs and go form house to house asking for sweets by saying “trick or
treat!”.
The President of the USA .The President of the USA has more power than any other president in
the democratic world.
Hollywood.It is the Mecca of cinema. It is considered the place where all actors in the world
would dream of working in one day. It is located in California, where many famous actors
usually have a luxurious mansion (mostly in Beverly Hills).
>Disney World .The first Disneyland park was built in California in 1955. Since then, other
Disneyland parks have been built, such as Eurodisney in Paris.
>Walt Disney has become an international leading name in family entertainment, having created
popular animated characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofey, Pluto the Pup,
Minnie, ...etc.
4. Music as a vehicle for cultural influence.-Music can be considered as an integral part of the
culture of a linguistic community. Therefore, modern foreign language teachers could also
include music as part of the culture to be seen in their syllabi. In this section I am concerned with
music as it can be employed as material for the teaching of foreign languages.
We can distinguish two types of music:
Folk music: it is the traditional music passed down in a community or country from generation to
generation. It is generally transmitted orally among people sharing a culture.
Popular music: it is produced and sold to a broad audience, contrary to folk music. In the 20th
century music became an extraordinary social phenomenon, especially when the mass media
became accessible to the general public, and when both TV and radio stimulate the demand for
it. As a result if it, popular music (which is in principled aimed at the general public, and
especially to the young market) has become a commercial phenomenon, even a powerful way to
influence people.
4.1. The importance of popular music today
>The emergence of “pop music” in the way it ahs developed is rather hard to explain. Music in
the 20th century seems to encompass a bewildering variety of procedures and approaches: Rock
and Roll, Blues, Soul, Jazz, Country music, Heavy Metal, House music, Disco music, Chill-out
music, New Wave, Funk or Rap could all be considered as examples of international popular
music styles.
>It is interesting to note that many of these music styles come from English-speaking countries,
and that the vast majority of the most popular bands or singers in the word are of American,
British (or even Irish or Canadian) origin.
>American origin: Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Louis
Armstrong, James Brown
>English origin: The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elton John
>Canadian origin: Celine Dion, Leonard Cohen
Irish origin: U2, The Corrs
It is easy to understand form this perspective how strong the influence of pop English music
upon the music arena is, for most international bands or singers come from English-speaking
countries. In fact, Englsih is the pop music language par excellence. As a matter of fact, it is
curious to note that many non-English-speaking artists decided to sing in Englsih (ABBA, Celine
Dion, Roxette, Ricky Martin) to reach a broader audience. This confirms that Englsih is an
international language even in the music business.
4.2. Using songs in the teaching of English as a foreign language
According to the Communicative Approach, the teaching of a foreign language must provide
students with material stimulating communicative purposes. The students should be given
“authentic material”, meaningful material which is as “real and close to them” as possible in
order to offer motivating material, in order to make them speak, listen, write and read English as
often as possible.
>Considering the interest in pop music among the general public (in particular, among the youth)
around the globe, it would be a mistake to systematically avoid music in teaching, as it can be
highly motivating material. Besides, music can be a valuable resource, not only to motivate
students, but also to make students deal with interesting issues or current problems (for instance,
some U2 songs deal with the Northern Irish conflict – Sunday, Bloody Sunday; Beatles’ songs
dealing with war, drugs and love).
>Moreover, music can be useful for drawing students’ attention to pronunciation, colloquial
language, grammatical rules or vocabulary.
>It is important to choose the songs according to the level of proficiency of the students, their
ages, their musical likes and according to the aim we would like to achieve
>There are two types of songs as a modern foreign language resource:
- artificial songs,real songs

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