Thursday, July 22
English Behavior - Weather Talk
A recent trip to the bookshop brought into my line of sight a book about the quirks and habits of the English people. Once in my purview, resisting the urge to pick it up and take it directly to the counter was difficult. Frugality prevailed for once, and was rewarded by aquisition of copy on loan from the Windsor library. Thus a return trip to the bookshop was forestalled and the checking account saved from becoming £20 lighter and our large book collection from becoming even larger. (At least for now.) The book is called "Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behavior" and is written by social anthropologist Kate Fox.
The first chapter deals with "weather talk". 'When two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather'. This over 200 year old quote is considered by the author to be as accurate today as it was all those years ago. She says however, that all this weather talk really doesn't have as much to do with the weather as it does with overcoming natural English reserve and actually speaking to each other. A short interaction about the weather, carried on within the boundaries of weather speak rules, is a relatively risk free way to make a small connection with someone. Most of us would know that "How do you do?" isn't really a question about health or well-being. In the same way, "Nice day, isn't it?" is not a real question about the weather. Logical examination of the weather doesn't really have much to do with it. Just a simple "Yes, isn't it?" works as a correct response to a weather greeting.
To participate properly in weather talk one must agree with the comment. She compares it to a church service where the priest says "Lord, have mercy upon us" and waits for the reply. It would be unthinkable to reply "Well, actually, why should he?" when "Christ have mercy on us" is your proper response. When talking weather the same sort of pre-determined response is required. She advises that if you find yourself in a situation where you can not agree with the weather greeting the proper mode is to express your disagreement in terms of person quirks or sensibilities. Thus "Oh, isn't it cold?" could be responded to with "Yes, but I really rather like this sort of weather – quite invigorating, don't you think?" or "Yes, but you know I don't tend to notice the cold much – this feels quite warm to me."
Ms. Fox also describes a weather hierarchy which is considered the norm. Sunny and warm/mild would be considered the best weather, followed by sunny and cool/cold; cloudy and warm/mild; cloudy and cool/cold; rainy and warm/mild; and ending with rainy and cool/cold as the worst weather. This hierarchy can be used when commenting about the weather. So, "Oh, it's chilly today" can be responded to with "At least it's not raining." If the weather comment is at the lower end of the hierarchy you can respond by predicting imminent improvement. "Awful weather, isn't it?" can receive a "Yes, but they say it's going to clear up this afternoon" as a response. There is a chance that your weather chat partner will respond with "Yes, well, they said that yesterday and it poured all day." In which case you can both moan about the whole situation together.
She does warn that the worst possible weather-speak offense, to belittle English weather, is one mainly committed by foreigners, particularly Americans. For example, a Brit moaning about the weather being hot at 20 C is not going to take kindly to an American or Australian who laughs and says "You call this hot? This is nothing! You should come to Texas [Brisbane] if you wanna see hot!" This type of comment it a very serious breech of the agreement "rule" and should be avoided at all costs. These comments will just re-enforce the British idea that Americans have a "mine's better than yours" fixation.
The whole point of the exercise is to communicate. To agree, to have something in common. To get past the awkwardness of interaction and enjoy a little social bonding.
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The first chapter deals with "weather talk". 'When two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather'. This over 200 year old quote is considered by the author to be as accurate today as it was all those years ago. She says however, that all this weather talk really doesn't have as much to do with the weather as it does with overcoming natural English reserve and actually speaking to each other. A short interaction about the weather, carried on within the boundaries of weather speak rules, is a relatively risk free way to make a small connection with someone. Most of us would know that "How do you do?" isn't really a question about health or well-being. In the same way, "Nice day, isn't it?" is not a real question about the weather. Logical examination of the weather doesn't really have much to do with it. Just a simple "Yes, isn't it?" works as a correct response to a weather greeting.
To participate properly in weather talk one must agree with the comment. She compares it to a church service where the priest says "Lord, have mercy upon us" and waits for the reply. It would be unthinkable to reply "Well, actually, why should he?" when "Christ have mercy on us" is your proper response. When talking weather the same sort of pre-determined response is required. She advises that if you find yourself in a situation where you can not agree with the weather greeting the proper mode is to express your disagreement in terms of person quirks or sensibilities. Thus "Oh, isn't it cold?" could be responded to with "Yes, but I really rather like this sort of weather – quite invigorating, don't you think?" or "Yes, but you know I don't tend to notice the cold much – this feels quite warm to me."
Ms. Fox also describes a weather hierarchy which is considered the norm. Sunny and warm/mild would be considered the best weather, followed by sunny and cool/cold; cloudy and warm/mild; cloudy and cool/cold; rainy and warm/mild; and ending with rainy and cool/cold as the worst weather. This hierarchy can be used when commenting about the weather. So, "Oh, it's chilly today" can be responded to with "At least it's not raining." If the weather comment is at the lower end of the hierarchy you can respond by predicting imminent improvement. "Awful weather, isn't it?" can receive a "Yes, but they say it's going to clear up this afternoon" as a response. There is a chance that your weather chat partner will respond with "Yes, well, they said that yesterday and it poured all day." In which case you can both moan about the whole situation together.
She does warn that the worst possible weather-speak offense, to belittle English weather, is one mainly committed by foreigners, particularly Americans. For example, a Brit moaning about the weather being hot at 20 C is not going to take kindly to an American or Australian who laughs and says "You call this hot? This is nothing! You should come to Texas [Brisbane] if you wanna see hot!" This type of comment it a very serious breech of the agreement "rule" and should be avoided at all costs. These comments will just re-enforce the British idea that Americans have a "mine's better than yours" fixation.
The whole point of the exercise is to communicate. To agree, to have something in common. To get past the awkwardness of interaction and enjoy a little social bonding.
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Wednesday, July 21
In the News - Provinces clash over "King Arthur" links
King Arthur is a big boost to tourism in Wales, specifically Cornwall. Tintagel Castle draws many visitors each year to what is considered (and advertized) as Arthur's birthplace. Several years ago a book was published saying that King Arthur was actually a Scot, which gets the Cornish quite upset. The new movie "King Arthur" has brought this story to the forefront again. Both "sides" of the Scotland/Wales debate have their proof and are hoping to benefit from a boost in tourism because of the movie. Historians do say that legendary figures that have been claimed by multiple locations are more likely to be myth than real history. Perhaps there is enough of King Arthur for both to have a share in his "history".
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Tuesday, July 20
Driving
After five days back in the US, I am pleased to report that I have not forgotten myself and driven down the left hand side of the road. Nor have I embarrassed myself by going to the wrong side of the car to get in to drive. Our second evening in I had a "moment" as I was pulling into the Forest Hills Grocery car park. I wasn't sure where I was supposed to be for a split second, but it worked out okay after a moment or two of me panicking and asking the kids "where am I supposed to be?!". It would have helped if the car coming towards me was on the proper side of the road. Generally that is what causes me to have moments of doubt. People who are driving down the wrong side of the road (usually in car parks). The other time it is difficult is when backing out of parking spaces.
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