British politeness A polite behavior includes an appropriate

British politeness A polite behavior includes an appropriate use of language, elegance of manners, respect and consideration for others.

In Britain you will find most people are kinder to you if you behave politely, respecting local people and customs. You may sometimes upset people by things that you say or do, even if these things seem perfectly normal in your own culture. Queuing fairly is important in the UK: if someone was there before you, let him/her be served first

To start, the British love saying “I am sorry”. You say “sorry” if you bump into someone, if you are standing too close or slightly if you just make a little wind while passing a person. If it for some strange reason shouldn’t fit to say “sorry” , you then have to say either “thank you” or “please”. Living in England, you just have to accept that you have to end each and every sentence with one of those. Yes, thank you. Can you say that again, please? I don’t want any milk in my coffee, thank you. Can you please hand me the salt, please? You even have to say thank you to the bus driver when you go off the bus.

«…They boarded with patience and without pushing, and said sorry when they bumped or inadvertently impinged on someone else’s space. I admired this instinctive consideration for others, and was struck by what a regular thing that is in Britain and how little it is noticed…An Asian man collected tickets in fast motion and said thank you to every person who passed. He didn’t have time to examine the tickets you could have handed him a cornflakes boxtop but he did manage to find a vigorous salute for all, and they in turn thanked him for relieving them of their tickets and letting them pass. It was a little miracle of orderliness and goodwill. Anywhere else there’d have been some on a box barking at people to form a line and not push. Bill Bryson

If a British talks to you they often give you affectionate nicknames. You can hear so many bizarre things. The classical ones are: dear, young lady, miss, ma’am, dearie, flower, love, chick, chuck, me duckie, mate, guv, son, sir and so on. But sentences like: “Can you please tell me what you want to order, pumpkin ? ” just doesn’t make any sense. Interesting Fact The ‘affectionate’ name ‘duck’ is thought to come from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘ducis’ which was meant as a term of respect; similar to the Middle English ‘duc’, ‘duk’ which denotes a leader, commander, general; from which comes the title ‘Duke’ and the Old French word ‘ducheé’ — the territory ruled by a Duke.

If you don’t hold the door open for someone walking 30 meters behind you – God forbid! This is one of the British’ favourite things to do to make the time pass. It’s not necessarily so nice being the last person behind either. If you’re 20 meters behind a person who decides to hold the door for you, you feel like running towards the door in order not to waste that person’s time. And then after you unwillingly have run, you of course have to remember saying either “Thank you” or “I´m sorry”. So, even though it’s a nice thing to do just find this awkward and stressful as well.

Though the British are world-known for their politeness, (maybe) this sometimes is just a way of masking their rudeness. It’s difficult to understand them when they are being sarcastic, ironic or simply rude. So, instead of being straight forward, they are wrapping their displeasure and indifference in a polite covering. Here are some examples : Oh, that’s so interesting! = That’s so uninteresting and doesn’t make any sense I only have a few comments on you essay, dear = Rewrite the whole thing, you idiot Quite good = Quite disappointing I’ll bear it in mind = I’ve already forgotten. The table, which has been posted on an number of blogs, has attracted thousands of comments from both Britons and foreigners claiming the interpretations are true to life.

In Britain. . . Do stand in line: In England we like to form orderly queues (standing in line) and wait patiently for our turn e. g. boarding a bus. It is usual to queue when required, and expected that you will take your correct turn and not push in front. ‘Queue jumping’ is frowned upon. Do take your hat off when you go indoors (men only) It is impolite for men to wear hats indoors especially in churches. Nowadays, it is becoming more common to see men wearing hats indoors. However, this is still seen as being impolite, especially to the older generations. text taken from and copyright of projcetbritain. com Do Shake Hands: When you are first introduced to someone, shake their right hand with your own right hand. Do Smile: text taken from and copyright of projcetbritain. com A smiling face is a welcoming face. Do Drive on the left side of the road Do not greet people with a kiss: We only kiss people who are close friends and relatives. Avoid talking loudly in public It is impolite to stare at anyone in public. Privacy is highly regarded. Do not ask a lady her age It is considered impolite to ask a lady her age Do not pick your nose in public: We are disgusted by this. If your nostrils need de-bugging, use a handkerchief. Avoid doing gestures such as backslapping and hugging This is only done among close friends. Do not spit. Spitting in the street is considered to be very bad mannered. Do not pass wind in public text taken from and copyright of projcetbritain. com Now how can we say this politely? Let’s say that you want to pass wind. What do you do? Go somewhere private and let it out. If you accidentally pass wind in company say ‘pardon me’.

British Etiquette and Customs Dining Etiquette If invited to a person’s house for dinner, ensure you are punctual as already discussed. Do not sit down at once when you arrive. The host may show you to a particular seat. Table manners are Continental, i. e. the fork is held in the left hand the knife in the right while eating. Do not rest your elbows on the table. When you finish eating, lay your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate. remember If you have not finished eating, cross your knife and fork on your plate with the fork over the knife. If invited to a meal at a restaurant, the person extending the invitation usually pays. Usually Starters will be served first, followed by the main course, before dessert. When discussing business over dinner, be prepared to back up your claims with facts and figures. Brits rely on facts, rather than emotions, to make decisions.

Making Friends The Brits are generally friendly and open-minded. It usually takes some effort at first to build relationships, but once built it could last over a long period of time. one easy way to make friends is to chat with your school mates as the opportunity presents itself. Attending activities and parties organized by the Student Union is another great way to make friends and meet new people. Generally, the Brits are very reserved and private people and their women are accustomed to being independent. It is considered impolite to ask a lady her age. The two classic signs a lady would like to be left alone are reading a newspaper or listening to music through headphones. Only interrupt if you actually know the lady quite well. In the UK It is deemed okay for a woman or young lady to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, unlike many parts of Africa.

Tipping is not expected in the UK, in the way it is in the United States or Canada, but is much appreciated. It is not necessary to tip at all in taxis, but it is customary to round up to the nearest pound on metered taxi journeys, more as a convenience than a tip. On an airport journey in a booked minicab you might wish to tip two or three pounds if the driver helps with your bags. If taking a metered London taxi from Heathrow the metered charge will be so high compared to minicabs, that this really is not necessary. Some restaurants add on an ‘optional’ service charge to bills, of typically 10% or 12. 5%. This should always be noted in the menu. If you are unhappy with the service you can ask for it to be removed. For parties of six or more the service charge is sometimes mandatory. If a service charge has been added onto your bill, you should NOT add any further tip Punctuality ► The Brits are generally punctual, especially the Scots. The Brits consider it rude and impolite if you turn up late for an appointment. In most cases, the people you are meeting will be on time. Call even if you will be 5 minutes later than agreed. If you have been delayed or cannot make the appointment , then make an effort to contact the person to let them know. It is a good idea to telephone and offer your apologies.

THE END Made by Anastasiya Ryazanova