Discussion Post: Being British

[crazyparakiss.livejournal.com]

When writing British characters I have found, as an American, that it can be rather hard to capture the language, the attitude, and most of all the traditions. Thanks to some of my amazing British friends here I have gleaned more understanding about these subtle differences between two cultures. winterstorrm suggested “Watching the English” to me and I suggest it to any author of the Harry Potter fandom who wishes to learn a bit more about English culture, whatever nationality you are.



Britspeak:

This is just a small selection as an example. Please refer to Kubrick Potter's Brit-pick guide for an almost definitive list.

Gotten—Since my first Britpick I have been constantly vigilant with this one, I went so far as to spank a Brit I know for it in a fic (funnily I didn’t KNOW she was British so this is me being embarrassed) So here is what I say to people when I see gotten in a fic! NO NO NO! I was told by the great and powerful tari_sue that this not to be used ever! Always go with got! :D

Forgotten- Forgot

Bangs –No, Fringe is appropriate. Bangs equates loud noises.

Braids—Plaits (on that note Braiding—Plaiting)

Pants—Trousers

Underwear—Pants

Panties—Knickers

Zipper-Zip

Vest—Waistcoat

Undershirt—Vest

Purse—Handbag

Sneakers—trainers

Jello—Jelly

Jelly—Jam

Pancakes—For HP specific CAULDRON CAKES

Candy—Sweets

Soda—Coke, Sprite, Pepsi (the name of the soda)

Take out—TAKEAWAY (I like this word, hence all caps XD)

Egg plant—Aubergine

Garbage or trash—RUBBISH (I like this word >.> so it must be in all caps)

Apartment—Flat

Drugstore—Chemists

Co-worker—Colleague

Elevator—Lift (The Ministry has the lifts)

Check—Cheque

Check at a restaurant—Bill

Check as in the check pattern on clothing—exactly the same, Check :D

Nightstand—bedside table

Store—Shop

Wager—Bet

Curse/Cuss—Swear

Closet—Wardrobe (Like an armoire, it is a piece of furniture.)

A walk in (built into the house) closet—A walk in wardrobe/Dressing room

Let’s talk UK Fries!

Chips=Thick cut potato wedges that are deep fried.

Fries= Julienne fries, like shoe string fries.

Crisps= THINK POTATO CHIPS (also any packaged “chips” would classify as crisps)

Chavs= Trashy uncouth people who live on benefits, have no job, lots of kids, and smoke lots
BritSlang dictionary: Here

Brit Daily Life:

No running tabs in a pub. You pay when you order, every time you order. (There are exceptions to this but as a general rule, go with this rule.)

No sitting down and waiting to be served in a pub. You would go in and find a table and get the number then go to the bar to order the food if you are not getting food you can go to the bar and then sit down wherever. Some pubs have restaurant areas and they are waiter service for drinks and food.

No sitting on the front porch, things like sitting on the porch only chavs sit in front of their house in England.

100 pence to the pound, just as American’s have 100 pennies to the dollar (I thought that was kinda handy and neat so I added it, not that it’s really all that useful when writing HP.)

BritAttitude:

Walking up to a person, thrusting out your hand, and saying, “Hi, my name is _____” is something that is a No-No.

Brits do not cheer at the end of a film (movie).

Brits do not sing often the national anthem before sport games unless it's an international and they do sing it is just as likely to be Land of Hope and Glory or Jerusalem as God Save the Queen.

Brits find patriotism embarrassing and think American's are way over the top with theirs.

BritTraditions:

MOST BRITISH MALES ARE NOT CUT! And if I have to explain what I mean by “cut” then you are FAR TOO YOUNG TO BE READING THIS BLOG. Anyways, if they are cut it is usually for religious reasons.

Brits do not 'date'. They 'go out with someone'. Usually exclusively. It is unlikely that someone would be 'dating' more than one person as this would be cheating as it doesn't work how it does in the US.

No baby showers (although this seems to have taken off a little in trendy circles).

BritGeography:

Whilst England could fit into Texas eight times this doesn't mean if someone lives twenty miles from a certain other town they are going to know the person you are asking about in that town. Yes we can drive to the sea in as little as two hours from most places.

Therefore, a two hour drive for a Brit is considered a long one (whereas a two hour drive for a Texan is a daily, one way, work commute, ah I remember those years living in Dallas XD).


Now we are trying to keep the post short because we would love to have questions. On anything! British culture, slang, pastimes, married life, not-so-married life, raising children, schooling, working, etc. If you can think it you can ask it! Also if you are British and want to contribute to what winterstorrm and I have here then I encourage you to do so! We can always use more knowledge while we journey to write better. :D So come one, come all!

Comments

[wellhalesbells.livejournal.com]

My beta just got me for sweaters. Of course they're jumpers! Considering how happy I get every time I see it in fanfic, you'd think I'd jump at the opportunity to use it. *headdesk*

I've been corrected by my Brit beta in regards to wishing someone a 'Happy Christmas' and she assured me it was Merry just like in the US. But then watching some random Brit film on Netflix last night, the characters are wishing one another a Harry Happy Christmas. Which is right then? *is confused*

[winterstorrm.livejournal.com]

Either is fine.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year etc but Happy Christmas is actually - in my part of UK at least - the most commonly used!

When I write cards and I want to say Happy New Year I will use Merry for Christmas to avoid being repetitive.

[crazyparakiss.livejournal.com]

JUMPERS YES! I totally forgot to add that one.

[winterstorrm.livejournal.com]

I'll knit you a Weasley jumper!

[crazyparakiss.livejournal.com]

YES! I will wear it with Weasley pride! Will it have a K on it ;)

[wellhalesbells.livejournal.com]

She also gave me this which I would have no way of knowing otherwise. (I will paraphrase her as we were being uber bitchy about our fanfiction tastes and I promised my flist an f-locked post to do so in relative private).

Here's an example from a Sherlock fanfic: "How about we go to that café there [...] and you can tell us what happened two nights ago over coffee and pie."

My first reaction was "THAT'S JUST SICK! You can't drink coffee with pie! Surely it's pie and a pint if you have to specify a beverage!" Then I realised that in this case, "pie" meant "CAKE!" Pie, over here, unless you specify otherwise, likely contains steak and ale. Or chicken and mushroom. Or ham and leek. Lovely, savoury awesome-filled pies. English people have tea and biscuits. Or go for afternoon tea. Or, if you're in a rush/strapped for cash, tea and cake. Having "coffee" is something you do with friends you don't really have any intention of seeing ever again ("Yeah, let's go for coffee sometime") or as a euphemism for sex ("You want to come up for 'coffee' *nudge nudge wink wink*?)

Misuse of "mate" is another big one. We use "mate" all the time. Though I suppose it's the equivalent of the American "pal". The problem is, it's not really logically used so although you'd say "You alright, mate!" or "I'm just going out with my mates", you'd never say "Hi, mates!" or "I'm just going out with my mate." English people are weird.

[crazyparakiss.livejournal.com]

My only question to this would be: they say people don't eat pie with coffee. Right? Are there NO people with quirky tastes. For example I have a father in law who likes peanut butter and mayonnaise. Like would it be an acceptable quirk for a character if they had an odd taste? OBVIOUSLY this person meant like cake pie XD, but I still am curious? And if there is some crazy weird food combination how would others react to it?

Like I dunno spotted dick and lager, not exactly appetizing right so what would the reaction be? Making a face? Vocalizing disgust? Or what?

Also thank you for your contribution :D

[inamac.livejournal.com]

Hot pies, both savoury (meat, vegetable, fish), and sweet (apple, blackberry-and-apple, lemon, rhubarb) are usually eaten as part of a main meal, so you would be more likely to have alcohol (beer, wine) or cold drinks with them than hot drinks like coffee and tea.

Hot drinks go with food eaten cold - sandwiches, biscuits, muffins, cake etc.

But if someone did have a quirky food combination it's unlikely that anyone would comment - the British don't criticise anyone's choices in public.

[crazyparakiss.livejournal.com]

Thank you :D

[winterstorrm.livejournal.com]

We would not be likely to say 'coffee and pie' - apple pie is popular but not usually sold in coffee shops/cafes as it tends to come with custard so might be served in a pub as a pudding.

Going for afternoon tea is kind of a thing of the past, mainly still popular in touristy spots.

Coffee is big business, and coffee and cake ftw!

[nabi-sarang.livejournal.com]

With the christmas thing it can come down to religion too. Religious people will insist on Merry christmas where a less religious person my say happy christmas. I personally say merry christmas as it feels more traditional but I have been yelled at for that at work.