Working on "was / were" with a student yesterday, we were asking each other questions such as:"Where were you at 6pm yesterday?" /"What day was it yesterday?"/"Were you on holiday last week?" and so on. Then my student had to ask me, "Were you in England in 2000?" She looked astounded when I replied, "No, I wasn't." When she got over her astonishment, she managed to put together the question, "But where were you in 2000?" "I was in WALES!" I replied, clapping my hands and adding a "hurrah!" Italians have constantly to be reminded that Wales is not England or in it and that a Welsh person is British but not English. You see, reader, that I do my bit.
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14 comments:
Teach them right the first time. They should understand easy enough. If you asked one of them if they were Roman or Milano, I'm sure they would correct you.
Good for you, Welshcakes! Keep educating.
I think the Welsh are not alone amongst European peoples.
I think both Corsicans and Bretons dislike being seen as French, and the Catalonians are reluctant spaniards.
Wales at least can point with proide to a separate identity within the UK and her own national sports teams, even if the seat in the UN is yet to come...
Good point, Steve. Thanks, Liz.
Crushed, I'm sure all we Welsh thank you for your support - though I gather the Assembly's a bit of a mess at the moment!
There is the United Kingdom, there is Britain or Great Britain (England/Scotland/Wales). Is this it?
It is very difficult for us foreigners.
Complimenti!
Poor Eurodog, it is confusing and she's forgotten about Northern Ireland.
Hey, ethia for the catchpa, practically a word, sounds Italian for something.
You do well, Welsh!
I commented on your granita post but now I'm not sure if it went through as I moved a bit quickly and may have lost it...ummm...time will tell, no doubt! :)
Despite living in England for the past 10 years I remain firmly Scots - all my life, when travelling, I've made sure people know I'm Scottish and I'm pretty sure it makes a difference in terms of perception.
How do they pronounce Wales? My mother has great difficulty with her Greek mothertongue. It sounds like "Whiles" and puts my sons in hysterics.
Eurodog, even some British people get confused about it! Geographically GB consists of England, Scotland and Wales but politically it is the "UK of GB and Northern Ireland". See wikipedia's article for the status of the outlying isles. Thanks, jmb! Hi, Lee. Yes, got your granita comment too, as you can see. Thanks, everyone, for all your nice - and fun - comments.
Sally, you're right: it does make a difference in perception. I'm often told I'm "different" from most English people here because I do show my feelings. I tell people I'm Welsh and they say "Oh, that explains it" though most of them have never met another English or Welsh person! Ellee, they don't pronounce it! They have vaguely heard of "Il Galles" [Wales]but think it's, at best, a region of England. Only rugby-following men have any concept of it.
Welshcakes
I always reply 'English' when asked about my accent. I wouldn't think to reply 'British'.
Though my grandparents are from Anglesey and we did spend every summer there in my childhood.
So i have some Welsh allegiance!
Hi, Pommy. Well, it's probably the teacher in me - I have to make them understand the difference!
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