英美国民性格对比

A Contrastive Study of British and American Characters

and Implications

Abstract:This paper is to have a contrastive study of British and American Characters. Firstly, the author gives a brief introduction about the two nations. Secondly, the author will introduce some detailed information about British characters and American characters. This part is the soul of the paper, also it includes the author’s opinions. Thirdly, the author will state several implications of this Study. In this part, the author concludes the necessaries of knowing about British and American Characters and the right attitudes towards their characters and values. Finally, it is a brief conclusion, it’ll benefits us in our communications with foreigners.

Key words: contrastive study; British character; American character; implications

1.Introduction

This paper is about a contrastive study of British and American Characters. It’s based on several books. After we finished our textbook we all know that Britain and America are two different nations, they have different cultural backgrounds, different history and so on. These result their civilian’s different characters. The paper introduces British and American characters separately, then some obvious differences between them. I hope readers can benefit something from it.

2. The Contrastive Study of British and American Characters

2.1 British Character

Britain isn’t a single nation country. So, there isn’t the existence of British characters, in other words so called “British characters” mainly mean “E nglish characters”. But, in the whole Britain, English characters represent most of the British characters, so, I’ll place great emphasis on English characters.

First , English people tend to be rather conservative-a little more so, perhaps, than most of others. In fact the conservative attitude consists of an acceptance of things which are familiar, and an important aspect of it is an inclination to be suspicious of anything that is strange or foreign. English people don't want to figure out whether the familiar ideas or practices are right or wrong .They tend to be hostile, or at least bored when they hear any suggestions that some modification of their habits, or the introduction of something new and unknown into their lives, might to be convenient to them.( 吴延迪，1994) Although modern methods of cooking, by electricity or gas, were accepted long ago, and few people would now favor the old type of coal—fined grate. Even sometimes a great deal of smoke is poured into the room when cooking. May be we feel confused, perhaps it is because different cultural background results in different characters. Now won’t deeper study about the reason.

Second, to other Europeans, the best known quality of the British, especially the English, is reserve. A reserved person is one who doesn’t talk very mush to strangers, doesn’t show much emotion and seldom gets excited. And conversation in Britain is in general quiet and restrained and loud speech is considered ill-bred .This reluctance to communicate with others is an unfortunate quality in some ways, since it tends to give the impression of coldness and it’s ture