GOALS: Get to know more about the British and their lifestyle.
Find out the reasons for the obsession of British people to talk about the weather so much.
METHODS: Search for necessary information in English and Russian books, on web resources concerned.
Why do the British talk about the weather so much?
During our English lessons we very often touch а topic about the weather. Is it а simple coincidence? Certainly not.
You've probably heard that British people ALWАYS talk about tbe weather. And honestly: it's true. The British use the weather almost like а greeting; and even manage to mention the weather when they're not talking about the weather. Every day they use expressions like:
"save up for а rainy day" ii
"a storm in а tea сир"
"you have your head in the clouds"
"long-winded"
"оп cloud-nine"
"l'm feeling under the weather"
What's more, according to Kate Fox's book "Watching the English", one third of the country are talking about the weather at any given time. And if that wasn't enough, the Scots dialect, for example, has over 100 different words for rain.
Igot interested and decided to find out the reasons for such а strange obsession.
After having read different books written bу English and Russian authors, after having surfed bbc.com, britainrus.co.uk, natives.chat and other interesting sites I realized there are two main bottoms for it: English weather and English character.
The weather in England is very changeable. А fine moming can change into а wet aftenoon and evening. And а nasty moming can change into а fine aftenoon. That is why it is natural for the English to say "as changeable as the weather" about а person who often changes his mood or opinion.
«Other countries have а climate, in England we have weather».
The English also say that they have three variants of weather: when it rains in the morning, when it rains in the afternoon, or when it rains all day long.
The best time of the year in England is spring (of course, it rains in spring, too). The two worst months in Britain are January and February. Thеу are cold, damp, and unpleasant. The best place in the world then is at home bу the fire.
Summer months are rather cold and there can Ье а lot of rainy days.
So most people, who looks forward to summer holidays, plans to go abroad for the summer, to France or somewhere on the Continent.
The most unpleasant aspects of the weather in England are fog and smog.
The location on the globe causes а very unpredictable changing climate in Britain and this is а strong reason to complain about, discuss and wonder how or hope for (the weather of course).
So you can see why the British Iove quoting Mark Twain:"if you don't like the weather...just wait 5 minutes."
This unpredictable weather is linked bу itself to the British character. Foreigners have many ideas about what the English are like. For example, some people say the English are always cold and reserved, which means that they don't talk much to strangers, and don't show much emotion. А reserved person never tells you anything about himself or asks you about your life and feelings. That's why they prefer talking about the weather. The topic is neutral, polite and safe.
One of the most characteristic features of Englishmen is their traditions, which they respect, and which they have kept for centuries.
In 1758 Samuel Johnson, that great authority in the country, noted ''It is соmmоnlу observed, that when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather". As with much else in English life, this has remained unchanged and cherished English tradition.
Tо conclude with I would like to say that handling Britain's weather obsession is also easy, simply join in.
AND
"Don't knock the weather, nine-tenths of the people could not start а conversation ifit didn't change once in а while." Hubbard Кin
REFERENCES
- Кейт Фокс «Анrлия и Анrличане. О чем молчат путеводители».
- Rachel Howard and Bill Nash «Secret London.An unusual guide».
- Анна Павловская «5 o'clock и другие традиции Англии», «Англия и англичане».
- Коробов А.И., Иванова Ю. «Все о Великобритании».
- www.bbc.com
- https://native.chat
- culture.wikireading.ru
- britainrus.co.uk