However[/B] - British is normally taken to relate to nationality not geographical location, so I disagree with your comment thereon.
Isn't this only because, so far, the entirety of Great Britain has belonged to one country?
As this may change in the next few days I don't see why the use of "Britain/British" (which, as far as I can tell, is entirely unofficial) can't change as well. Even if a citizen of Scotland is not also a citizen of the UK, I don't think there's any problem calling themselves British since Scotland is on (Great) Britain.
It is Irish for me, never British, even when the whole island was under British rule, most people always called themselves Irish and never British, you just have to read the census forms to see this under the nationality bit.
It is usually the Welsh and English who always use the British term because their culture doesn't have much depth.
Wales is indeed a country! And Britain currently consists of the island of Great Britain plus Northern Ireland. If Scotland leaves, it will be just England, Wales and NI that make up Britain, otherwise known as the UK.
When did Britain & UK mean the same?
As far as I knew
Britain = England, Scotland & Wales
UK = England, Scotland, Wales & NI
I consider myself British, but I live in Northern Ireland. Technically, that should be "United Kingdomish" but that doesn't quite roll of the tongue as well.
Wales is indeed a country! And Britain currently consists of the island of Great Britain plus Northern Ireland. If Scotland leaves, it will be just England, Wales and NI that make up Britain, otherwise known as the UK.
yes you can keep on thinking that the country is called Britain but 1/2 the people who actually live in N.Ireland will say otherwise.
I don't actually have a British passport but until the passport says 'The United Kingdom of Britain' then you are wrong.
Isn't this only because, so far, the entirety of Great Britain has belonged to one country?
As this may change in the next few days I don't see why the use of "Britain/British" (which, as far as I can tell, is entirely unofficial) can't change as well. Even if a citizen of Scotland is not also a citizen of the UK, I don't think there's any problem calling themselves British since Scotland is on (Great) Britain.
That would be like Canadians calling themselves American though, wouldn't it? And they don't usually do that. Though, if automatic dual nationality is allowed, some 'no' voters might do that, I guess?
That would be like Canadians calling themselves American though, wouldn't it? And they don't usually do that. Though, if automatic dual nationality is allowed, some 'no' voters might do that, I guess?
I'd say that Canadians technically are Americans. Although, because of the common use of that word, a Canadian would have to specify that they mean the continent(s) and not the country to avoid misunderstandings.
I'd say that Canadians technically are Americans. Although, because of the common use of that word, a Canadian would have to specify that they mean the continent(s) and not the country to avoid misunderstandings.
Yes I agree, and that's how I think it would work with Scots (Brits) if they go indy!
My nationality is British, born and live in England, but British through and through.
I'm the same. I do think of that as the (largest) subset of my sovereign state which is the UK. I might consider redefining after Thursday since with 53.5 million people in England it would make sense to identify with the much larger group and perhaps push for some form of coherent national and democratic representation..
I've always said I'm English - I'm not Scottish, Welsh or Irish, I am English. It's what I always said when I lived abroad and what I continue to say now
It's not a preference, I don't mind saying I'm British, it's just the first thing that pops into my head when asked - I'm English When asked where I'm from, I say England.
Me too. It just comes more naturally to me to say I'm English.
•Great Britain = England, Scotland & Wales
•The British Isles = Great Britain + Northern & Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Isle of White, Guernsey, Jersey and all the other surrounding smaller islands.
•United Kingdom = Great Britain + Northern Ireland
•British Citizen = The British Isles minus the republic of Ireland
I've always wondered, never really known. What's the true difference? I suppose it would be that you could claim to be British if you were English, Welsh, Irish or (currently) Scottish - because of Great Britain - but then people from Northen Ireland, Welsh and Scotland will (in my experience) always refer to themselves as Irish, Welsh or Scottish.
It's seemingly only people from England who differ between naming themselves as both English and British, but is there a difference? What do you consider yourself to be?
I suppose it depends on the situation. Usually, I would say I'm British but, for example, at Twickenham or Wembley, I'm an Englishman and proud of it.
We can be either / or as the occasions suits. How good is that...?
I have never once heard anyone from Wales or Scotland refer to themselves as British; they always refer to themselves as Welsh or Scottish. Only English people will use both English and British - Why?
Somewhat irrelevant to the post? Whether they're independent or not, you still wont hear a Scottish person refer to themselves as British.
Have you ever met a Rangers fan? Many of them very much see themselves as British.
Always thought of myself as British, until I lived in N. Wales and then realised, with encouragement, that I was English, and British didn't really matter.
Now still British and happy to be, but ultimately English, and proud of that too.
Will Scotland be classed as part of Great Britain if they leave the union? If Britain is England, Wales and Scotland then surely they will no longer be classed as British same as the ROI isn't.
Also because (if the yes vote triumphs) they are no longer part of the UK or Great Britain does this mean they will have to adopt their own passport seeing as our passport is for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and they will cease to remain a part of either? And if they choose to keep the pound does this mean it will be the Scottish pound with their own exchange rate and separate to the Sterling pound and how will that affect it's strength and inflation and their economy if they have to sustain their own currency. Surely it wont hold as much value as Sterling making it a weak currency which will leave them wide open to mass inflation.
My present understanding of the situation is devolution will allow Scotland to be independent yet still hold certain rights which the ROI currently do not have as an independent nation. Will they realistically be totally self sufficient or remain to have access to the parts of Britain which still benefit them whilst doing away with the parts that don't?
except for when I have been to the US, they seem to insist I am English and come from England (been a few years so might have changed now), which is still correct but not what my passport says
I don't think anybody is concerned enough or has any vested interest to "insist" you are English. But ya gotta love your quote here: "they seem to insist I am English and come from England .... which is still correct"
Comments
As this may change in the next few days I don't see why the use of "Britain/British" (which, as far as I can tell, is entirely unofficial) can't change as well. Even if a citizen of Scotland is not also a citizen of the UK, I don't think there's any problem calling themselves British since Scotland is on (Great) Britain.
It is usually the Welsh and English who always use the British term because their culture doesn't have much depth.
When did Britain & UK mean the same?
As far as I knew
Britain = England, Scotland & Wales
UK = England, Scotland, Wales & NI
I have never heard of NI being part of Britain
yes you can keep on thinking that the country is called Britain but 1/2 the people who actually live in N.Ireland will say otherwise.
I don't actually have a British passport but until the passport says 'The United Kingdom of Britain' then you are wrong.
Anyone with a British passport born and brought up in any country can call themselves British.
That would be like Canadians calling themselves American though, wouldn't it? And they don't usually do that. Though, if automatic dual nationality is allowed, some 'no' voters might do that, I guess?
Yes I agree, and that's how I think it would work with Scots (Brits) if they go indy!
I'm the same. I do think of that as the (largest) subset of my sovereign state which is the UK. I might consider redefining after Thursday since with 53.5 million people in England it would make sense to identify with the much larger group and perhaps push for some form of coherent national and democratic representation..
Me too. It just comes more naturally to me to say I'm English.
•The British Isles = Great Britain + Northern & Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Isle of White, Guernsey, Jersey and all the other surrounding smaller islands.
•United Kingdom = Great Britain + Northern Ireland
•British Citizen = The British Isles minus the republic of Ireland
I suppose it depends on the situation. Usually, I would say I'm British but, for example, at Twickenham or Wembley, I'm an Englishman and proud of it.
We can be either / or as the occasions suits. How good is that...?
I dont have any interest in England
Have you ever met a Rangers fan? Many of them very much see themselves as British.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/comment-scottish-referendum-yes-vote-would-have-ramifications-for-rangers-fc-1-6298907
I was watching a match of their's on Friday night and their fans were singing God Save the Queen in the stands.
Now still British and happy to be, but ultimately English, and proud of that too.
Also because (if the yes vote triumphs) they are no longer part of the UK or Great Britain does this mean they will have to adopt their own passport seeing as our passport is for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and they will cease to remain a part of either? And if they choose to keep the pound does this mean it will be the Scottish pound with their own exchange rate and separate to the Sterling pound and how will that affect it's strength and inflation and their economy if they have to sustain their own currency. Surely it wont hold as much value as Sterling making it a weak currency which will leave them wide open to mass inflation.
My present understanding of the situation is devolution will allow Scotland to be independent yet still hold certain rights which the ROI currently do not have as an independent nation. Will they realistically be totally self sufficient or remain to have access to the parts of Britain which still benefit them whilst doing away with the parts that don't?
What on earth makes you say Wales isn't a country ?? Of course it is !
I am Welsh - and British.
I don't think anybody is concerned enough or has any vested interest to "insist" you are English. But ya gotta love your quote here: "they seem to insist I am English and come from England .... which is still correct"
alrighty. LOL