Culture stuff

Etymology

Etymology refers to the study of the history of words and names. The origin of certain name places, such as England (for example), tells an important story about the ancient heritage of the land and the people that once inhabited it. England’s name originally comes from the term “Land of the Angles”, which was translated to Engla Land in Old English. The Angles were an ancient Germanic (or Saxon) tribe, one of the few that occupied the region now known as England during the Early Middle Ages (a period that stretched from about 400 to 1000 of our Common Era, or CE). This tribe hailed from an area in the Bay of Kiel known as the Angeln Peninsula. This is situated in the Baltic Sea. Replica of a decorated gold and silver Anglo-Saxon helmet found at the Sutton Hoo archeological site in East Anglia The first time any mention of the name for modern-day England was used was in the first century of our Common Era. In this instance, Tacitus used the Latin word, Anglii. The first time the word “England” was used in reference to the bottom part of the Great Britain area was in 897 CE. The first time it was spelt as it is today was in 1538. When used in conjunction with another term (such as Saxon, representing the ancient Germanic tribes), this word becomes Anglo- (that is, Anglo-Saxon). Another name for England is “Albion”, which was originally used to refer to the entire area of Great Britain. The origin of this term is not clear. It could be from the Latin word meaning ‘white’ (albus), which would refer to the iconic White Cliffs of Dover. These are the first sight to greet many ocean-bound travellers arriving in England for the first time. Alternatively, there could have been an island called Albiones, since one was mentioned in Massaliote Periplus, which was a merchant’s handbook in ancient times. Today, the term Albion is still sometimes used in reference to England in poems and classic literary works. Loegria is another name for the country of England. This name is usually used in a romantic context and refers to the Welsh word “Lloegr”, which hails from the legend of King Arthur. England’s history is a complex one. Peering into the many names it has been given and their origins reveal elements of this rich heritage, peeling away the layers to uncover a land of extraordinary origins.

Architecture

England’s history is a long and complex one. This heritage is perpetuated as we consider the architecture through the ages, much of which remains as a testimony to the people and events that moulded the nation’s rich heritage. There are remnants of this architecture from ancient Druidic times (e.g. Stonehenge) and Roman occupation (e.g. the Roman Baths), right through the Victorian and Early English phases to the modern look and feel of the 21st century. Each design era exudes its own signature styles and an undeniable air of intrigue, despite being very different from one another. Although trends and eras have overlapped and coincided, English architecture can basically be defined according to the following timeline: • Prehistoric (e.g. Stonehenge and similar structure) • Roman (stylish, sophisticated, advanced) • Saxon (simplistic, wood was the main medium) • Medieval (focus on the ability of sculptures to educate, rounded, heavy arches) • Gothic (divided into Norman, Early English, Decorated, and Perpendicular) • Tudor (smaller buildings, focussed more on details than space) • Elizabethan (grand, beautiful, emphasis on opulence) • Baroque (bold, curved lines with plenty of weight and detail, disproportional) • Georgian (classical style, the townhouse being the most prominent rise of the era) • The Palladian Movement (graceful, understated elegance) • Victorian (a return to the Gothic era, this phase was characterised by being either very extravagant and detailed, or almost bizarrely simplistic) The buildings that have remained significant through the ages, both for their historical and cultural import as well as for the fact that they remain for tourists and locals to enjoy are usually abbeys and monasteries, castles, country houses, cathedrals and manors. Waddesdon Manor is a country house in the village of Waddesdon, near Aylesbury. in Buckinghamshire, England. The house was built in the Neo-Renaissance style of a French château between 1874 and 1889 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild The last member of the Rothschild family to own Waddesdon was James de Rothschild before the property was bequeathed to the nation upon his death.

Sayings And Expressions

There are a number of sayings and expressions that come from England, some a little more risqué than others. The following are only a few of these:

Bloody Nora – usually said in exasperation (e.g. “Bloody Nora, I can’t seem to figure this timetable out!”)
The Bees Knees – just fabulous.
What Are You Like? – said to someone that is being silly or funny.
Tongue in Cheek Humour - referring to a wry, subtle or teasing humour that may not be obviously humorous at first.
Voddy – Vodka.
Cheesed Off – very annoyed or bored.
Spiffing – great, wonderful.
Cor – an exclamation of surprise or wonder.
Dodgy - not trustworthy.
Chuffed to bits – very pleased.
Bob's your uncle – said in place of “and there you have it!” or “you have it made”.
Big girl's blouse – a weakling or weak person (in terms of character).
Burning the candle at both ends – working too hard with no rest.
Your eyes are bigger than your stomach – you took more food than you were able to eat.
Tie the knot – to get married.
Talk the hind legs off a donkey – referring to an extremely talkative person.
Do you want a brew? – would you like a cup of tea?
As queer as a nine bob note – strange or odd.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth – do not question it when you experience good fortune, just accept it.
A cat may look at a king – although ‘inferior’, a person is not restricted in what he can do in the presence of someone superior to him.

Many famous sayings come from the writings of acclaimed English author, poet and playwright, William Shakespeare. Just some of these include:

A dish fit for the gods - a delicious meal.
A fool's paradise – happiness that is based on an unrealistic or false hope.
A foregone conclusion – a decision that was made before all the evidence was considered.
A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse – used when someone is looking for something that is relatively unimportant.
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players – referring to the perceived futility of life and smallness of mankind.
All's well that ends well – as long as a situation ended well, it can all be considered to be alright.
As pure as the driven snow – pure and clean.
At one fell swoop – something that happens suddenly and in one, swift action.
Fight fire with fire – fight with the same intensity or tools that your opponent is using.
Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears – usually said in jest when trying to get the attention of an audience.
I will wear my heart upon my sleeve – to be very honest and open with one’s emotions.
Love is blind – when in love, one does not see the imperfections of another as others may.
Make your hair stand on end – something that makes you feel fearful, awkward or eerie.
Much ado about nothing – making a fuss over a relatively small or unimportant situation.
Mum's the word – keep quiet, particularly about a certain secret or piece of information.
There's method in my madness – although my methods seem nonsensical, I have a plan.
Too much of a good thing – there is such as thing as too much of something, even if it is very enjoyable.
Wild goose chase – an unsuccessful search in the wrong places.
Woe is me – expressing pity for one’s self.