Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour (2001, this edition 2014) is a comedic social anthropological look at the habits of the English people—the defining characteristic of Englishness.
The author, a real social anthropolist, undertakes daily ‘experiments’ in her native England to determine or confirm Englishness–such as deliberately bumping into people to see how many say ‘sorry’ and what happens when she jumps the queue.
Her analysis focuses on rules—the rules and taboos of culture: rules of gift-giving, hairstyles, dancing, greetings, humour, conversations, gossip, privacy, hospitality etc. She doesn’t forget the distance rule, the appropriate tone rule, the feedback rule, and the long goodbye rule.
I lost count of the number of rules discussed—not in detail, but in a succinct summary style, so that she can cover the most number as possible. I think there is a number rule somewhere in this very large book.
She looks at class and race, tribalism and globalism, and britishness and Englishness. And what to say at the pub, at the races, when horseriding, and in unexpected situations, such as in the front garden.
And there is such a thing as the modesty rule. My favourite is the newspaper rule (because I still like to buy one), but she did not mention MY newspaper rule (perhaps because it could be just a specific Martina rule)!
It’s a long read, but it’s a pick-up and put-down read, dipping in and out—if that’s within the rules! Like a reference book. Fun, interesting, and very entertaining.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of: The Paris Residences of James Joyce (2020), Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).
Comments
Post a Comment