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[Magellan]

Noticed some confusion in replies on several threads concerning the 'correct' terminology when referring to this side of the pond.

So I thought I would clear a few things up......

Great Britain - GB - is the largest island in Europe and describes the political union of England, Scotland and Wales

United Kingdom - UK - is the sovereign state and also includes Northern Ireland. It is an abbreviation of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

British Islands - is the UK but also includes the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands (jersey, Guernsey etc) which have separate Parliaments and legislature, but have the British Monarch as head of state.

British Isles - Is the the whole lot together including the Republic of Ireland and all the other islands (there are over 1,000 islands in the British Isles).

England - this is the bit of the largest island in the Union but excludes both Scotland and Wales (dark orange on the attached map). England is often used colloquially - and incorrectly - refered to Great Britain or the UK as a whole.

Politically the term 'British' refers to any person from the United Kingdom, but we sometimes get quite anal about individual identities such as Welsh, English etc. etc.

Hope this helps sort out some of this confusing chit!

Magellan 

[ice6900]

I^m a british person originating from Guernsey!  although since atleast 3 previous generations of both sides of my family were Guernsey born i have a nice stamp in my passport, excluding me from benefit from EU provisions relating to employment and establishment! SO i guess I^m a Guern

[Magellan]

I^m a british person originating from Guernsey!  although since atleast 3 previous generations of both sides of my family were Guernsey born i have a nice stamp in my passport, excluding me from benefit from EU provisions relating to employment and establishment! SO i guess I^m a Guern

Hi ther Ice,

You are right in that as a self governing Bailiwick, Guernsey is a British Crown Dependency, but not part of the UK. The islands are not even part of the European Union, but are part of the Customs Territory of the European Community, by virtue of Protocol Three to the Treaty on European Union.

I guess this can be confusing as it means that Islanders are full British citizens, but not all are European citizens!

Any British citizen who applies for a passport in Guernsey receives a passport bearing the words "British Islands, Bailiwick of Guernsey". Under the provisions of Protocol Three, Channel Islanders who do not have a close connection with the UK (no parent or grandparent from the UK, and have never been resident in Great Britain or Northern Ireland for any five-year period) do not automatically benefit from the EU provisions on free movement within the EU and consequently I guess that is why you have that '...nice..' stamp in your passport to that effect.

[Screamin]

Thanks much for the lesson. I'll forget it all but thanks. I'm pretty sure that I'm a Heinz having descended from a Welshman and German by way of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

[Magellan]

Thanks much for the lesson. I'll forget it all but thanks. I'm pretty sure that I'm a Heinz having descended from a Welshman and German by way of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

Not sure if that makes you one of the many, or one of the few!

[miker]

Guernsey...Is that where the tan cows come from...Like Bessie.

[Magellan]

Guernsey...Is that where the tan cows come from...Like Bessie.

Yes it sure is! I think they are also famous for tomatoes.

[miker]

!

[SPIDERMAN]

Noticed some confusion in replies on several threads concerning the 'correct' terminology when referring to this side of the pond.

So I thought I would clear a few things up......

Great Britain - GB - is the largest island in Europe and describes the political union of England, Scotland and Wales

United Kingdom - UK - is the sovereign state and also includes Northern Ireland. It is an abbreviation of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

British Islands - is the UK but also includes the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands (jersey, Guernsey etc) which have separate Parliaments and legislature, but have the British Monarch as head of state.

British Isles - Is the the whole lot together including the Republic of Ireland and all the other islands (there are over 1,000 islands in the British Isles).

England - this is the bit of the largest island in the Union but excludes both Scotland and Wales (dark orange on the attached map). England is often used colloquially - and incorrectly - refered to Great Britain or the UK as a whole.

Politically the term 'British' refers to any person from the United Kingdom, but we sometimes get quite anal about individual identities such as Welsh, English etc. etc.

Hope this helps sort out some of this confusing chit!

Magellan 

       Figures a guy with a site handle like yours could navigate even complicated stuff like the above.
 
My question should be a walk in the park. Somebody from Ireland is Irish. A person from Wales is Welsh. Folks from Scotland are Scottish. BUT, I'm never sure if people from England are English or British. Which is it, why and which do you prefer personally.

B B

[sadunbar]

Noticed some confusion in replies on several threads concerning the 'correct' terminology when referring to this side of the pond.

So I thought I would clear a few things up......

Great Britain - GB - is the largest island in Europe and describes the political union of England, Scotland and Wales

United Kingdom - UK - is the sovereign state and also includes Northern Ireland. It is an abbreviation of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

British Islands - is the UK but also includes the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands (jersey, Guernsey etc) which have separate Parliaments and legislature, but have the British Monarch as head of state.

British Isles - Is the the whole lot together including the Republic of Ireland and all the other islands (there are over 1,000 islands in the British Isles).

England - this is the bit of the largest island in the Union but excludes both Scotland and Wales (dark orange on the attached map). England is often used colloquially - and incorrectly - refered to Great Britain or the UK as a whole.

Politically the term 'British' refers to any person from the United Kingdom, but we sometimes get quite anal about individual identities such as Welsh, English etc. etc.

Hope this helps sort out some of this confusing chit!

Magellan 

I contract hundreds of skilled laborers from Great Britian each year.  I have done so for about 20 years.  Mechanics, fitters, electricians....machine tool builders...  Contract them to come to the U.S. and construct machinery and then install it worldwide.  Incredible reliable and skilled workforce.  My question is for as close as you all live to each other, why do you all have such differing accents?  For English speaking people, I have an incredibly difficult time understanding many of the contractors.  It's quite a source of amusement sometimes!   

[SPIDERMAN]

I contract hundreds of skilled laborers from Great Britian each year.  I have done so for about 20 years.  Mechanics, fitters, electricians....machine tool builders...  Contract them to come to the U.S. and construct machinery and then install it worldwide.  Incredible reliable and skilled workforce.  My question is for as close as you all live together, why do you all have such differing accents?  For English speaking people, I have an incredibly difficult time understanding many of the contractors.  It's quite a source of amusement sometimes!   

Yeah, what he said, we don't have ANY regional accents here in the USA.

Nope, none whatsoever
 
Me an Carl Hubbard talk exactly alike

B B

[naitram]

i think you have a thick ME accent dont know how anyone in dago understands you

[SPIDERMAN]

i think you have a thick ME accent dont know how anyone in dago understands you

They don't, hence my complete lack of assimilation in spite of having been here for 11 years 

B B

PS
    Even Beagle doesn't know what the hell I'm saying 1/2 the time

[sadunbar]

The funny part is I have known some of these guys for 20 years.  And each time we meet again, it is like starting all over understanding each other - and we are both speaking English!    It is always good for a laugh.  A few days later and we are back on track...

[SPIDERMAN]

The funny part is I have known some of these guys for 20 years.  And each time we meet again, it is like starting all over understanding each other - and we are both speaking English!    It is always good for a laugh.  A few days later and we are back on track...

No Scott, THEY speak English, YOU speak American

And the Cockneys - - - - fuhgedaboutit

B  B