The British Perspective on Communicaition

The reason for this subtlety is partly to be found in the British tendency towards slightly indirect communication and their desire to avoid confrontation when possible.

The British are a very private people. This mean they do not offer much information about themselves, and that they do not ask you questions they deem to be too personal.

For example, questions that are perceived quite innocent in Northern America will often be seen as too personal in the UK. This is especially the case if the questions are about family or money.

The Development of the Language

The British rightly see themselves as social people who have an open, polite, and welcoming culture. They are well educated and great conservationists, and most are very eloquent in their use of the English Language.

Furthermore most British people have a good understanding of their history and many of the great poets who have influenced the English language. Looking at the UK's history, this is a logical cultural development.

Over the ages the UK has been conquered by the Romans, the Saxons, the Vikings, and the Normans. And during the Norman rule the French language was the language spoken by the kings and the nobility for more than a hundred years. Because of this being able to express themselves in English carries a certain level of defiance and importance to the British

The UK's history as an empire has also influenced the language. During the height of the Empire, the British brought together more than sixty nations from all over the world. Keeping the peace within the Empire and with the other nations of the world required a high level of tact and diplomacy. As a result the two aspects of tact and diplomacy are still valued as some of the most important characteristics in the British language.