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because we clearly are not any longer.
what do you think?
I think that you probably know that's not what it means
I think we should remove the Britain, just call the place Great. 😆
Maybe remove the United from United Kingdom as well
Mediocre Britain?
If France enlarged Brittany would they have to? Can you imagine the gammon rage!
It will be.
Its a geographical name. Britain is the landmass consisting of England and Wales. The whole island including the Scottish mainland is Great Britain.
There's even more to it when you include the islands. Ordnance Survey had a nice explanation of it a few years back.
But as we Scots like to point out, once Scotland is independent the UK can no longer be called Great Britain*, the Greatness leaves with the Scots. 🙂
.
.
*That's a play on words, the whole island will still be Great Britain because it is geographical description, not political.
I think that you probably know that’s not what it means
says who pal........... ;o)
No.
Just too much hassle and nitpicking for no reason.
Just keep the "Great" in Britain even if it means GB is no longer great as I rather have that to remind me of the once great nation.
p/s: in the far east they only know England ... Scotland, Wales and N.Ireland are considered as villages ... 😃
ton
Member
says who pal……….. ;o)
Me!
I stopped using the term years ago. Now I just say I'm British or English or from the UK.
Britain is the landmass consisting of England and Wales. The whole island including the Scottish mainland is Great Britain.
First I've heard them separated down into parts like that. Don't think there is such as a thing as Britain being England and Wales.
I think you should do some reading (or stop trolling).
The "great" in GB doesn't mean wonderful despite what flag-waving racists would have you believe, it means greater or bigger, the largest island in the British archipelago. As opposed to little / lesser Britain which is Brittany (or if you go back far enough, Ireland).
This sort of nomenclature is commonplace in the UK. Near me there is Great Harwood and Little Harwood, that doesn't imply that Little Harwood is a bit shit. (I mean, it is, but that's nothing to do with the name.)
By that dint, is there a singletrackmoon forum?
I stopped using the term years ago. Now I just say I’m British or English or from the UK.
I just pretend I'm from America, much less embarrassing 😉
I think we should either use "Great" (as in put it in quotes) or decapitalise the "G" and have a small g.
And the word itself should be pronounced with a sarcastic tone... as in "yeah, like greeeeaat Britain"
🤠
🤷♂️
As is, I very rarely hear anyone use the term anyhoos... most people I knock about with call it UK... and even then with a hint of sarcasm.. since we most certainly aren't "United"
First I’ve heard them separated down into parts like that.
Great Britain geographically is the mainland island. Great Britain politically also includes various islands like the Isle of Wight (basically most of them bar the Isle on Man and the Channel Islands IIRC).
"Britain" as a term in isolation isn't consistently defined anywhere as far as I'm aware, it's colloquial at best.
I think we should either use some “Great” (as in put it in quotes) or decapitalise the “G” and have a small g.
Calling the island "Greater Britain" would probably a) have been more accurate and b) perhaps lessened our sense of arrogant self-importance in the world.
Mediocre Britain?
I was going to suggest OK! Britain
Then I thought since it’s all ruled from London why don’t we just call the whole lot England
As is, I very early hear anyone use the term anyhoos… most people I knock about with call it UK… and even then with a hint of sarcasm.. since we most certainly aren’t “United”
We seldom use the term UK because it is an abbreviation for Ulu Klang ... meaning village of the "damn", well actually the true meaning is a remote backward village. When people refer to England they refer to the entire GB. 😆
UK = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulu_Klang
First I’ve heard them separated down into parts like that. Don’t think there is such as a thing as Britain being England and Wales.
When you do your GCSE’s you’ll hear all about it.
i think Britain would be fine, just Britain.
despite what flag-waving racists would have you believe,
Like these?
Or are they not racists?
i think Britain would be fine, just Britain.
That is acceptable but I still prefer GB to remind people of past.
I stopped using the term years ago. Now I just say I’m British or English or from the UK.
It would never ever have occurred to me to say I was from Great Britain. Britain perhaps, England probably.
That is acceptable but I still prefer GB to remind people of past.
i would rather forget our past.
i would rather forget our past
The past is what makes you/us today.
Having the term Great will remind people of the past good and bad.
Without knowing the past you have no future (cannot remember the bad deeds done etc) and will do it again.
I have always understood it as British Isles is a geographical term that includes Ireland and all the small islands ( now obviously not used for that). United Kingdom is the next division down - all the islands including channel islands and isle of man and NI as well as the mainland. great britain is the mainland but includes the western and northern isles but not the channel islands or the isle of man. Britain is just england and wales. At points Scotland ( or alba) was known as north britain but again obviously that is archaic. the railway hotel in Edinburgh was the north British hotel but now the balmoral
However when a bunch of brits cannot agree and make blunders in this stuff ( as I bet I have here) then how the heck can anyone from outside the UK get it
Pretty sure many non UK people who used to think Great meant 'good' are no longer under any delusions after watching three years of Brexit induced paralysis / stupidity on a Trumpian scale.
Delusional Britain would be more apt.
However when a bunch of brits cannot agree and make blunders in this stuff ( as I bet I have here) then how the heck can anyone from outside the UK get it
We only know England coz the rest are villages. If I told my home town village folks that I was going to Scotland they would laugh at me for exchanging a nice warm village for a remote cold village. Therefore, everything in GB is England ... no point explaining to them coz they would laugh their heads off. 😆
Also the only cities the folks know in GB is London and Manchester, the latter due to the Manchester Utd. When I told folks I was going to Newcastle I got some funny looks and look down on ... dammit ...
Try it next time you visit the far east ... tell them you are from Glasgow or Cardiff see how they react. They will ask you how far are you from London and the further away the more they think you are poorer than them. 😆
When you do your GCSE’s you’ll hear all about it.
You have a link to anything that shows Britain = England and Wales? They don't do GCSE's in my country.
Wiki has a section on it
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminology_of_the_British_Isles
I have never heard of the subdivision they use of " the british islands"
and also on the debate about the naming especially refering to the british isles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles_naming_dispute
Britain is just another name for the U.K.
That is acceptable but I still prefer GB to remind people of past.
Its’s not changed in size.
The past is what makes you/us today.
Having the term Great will remind people of the past good and bad.
Without knowing the past you have no future (cannot remember the bad deeds done etc) and will do it again.
Well, it seems we're going down some past historic rhetoric.. Great France? Great Portugal? Great Spain? Great Germany? All have islands (not Germany) under their "colonial" amass, some taken by force, some given up, some still aligned to their "greater" governmental controls..
S'pose we ought to just bring out that good ol' Pink Map of the Planet and be done with it all and just shout louder in English and finger wag at everyone else.
Nope.
Lets not.
I do wonder what the royal family think of the current state of the nation, obviously her Maj won't address the nation and say something like "You lot, go get a wash, be nice, stop fighting and lets kick out the current crop of inbreds in parliament and create a republic" which is what I do think she'd rather like ATM.
(apart from Andrew, he can **** off)
benv
First I’ve heard them separated down into parts like that. Don’t think there is such as a thing as Britain being England and Wales.
......
You have a link to anything that shows Britain = England and Wales? They don’t do GCSE’s in my country.
From Ordnance Survey's blog 3 Aug 2011
Great Britain
Great Britain is the official collective name of of England, Scotland and Wales and their associated islands. It does not include Northern Ireland and therefore should never be used interchangeably with ‘UK’ – something you see all too often.
Here at Ordnance Survey, we’re responsible for mapping Great Britain, which is why we don’t make maps of Northern Ireland.
Technically, if you lose the ‘Great,’ Britain only refers to England and Wales.
.
ton
i think Britain would be fine, just Britain.
No, not until it is just Britain. 🙂
Its’s not changed in size.
Don't think it about the land mass but me think it is in preparation of Scotland leaving. Yes?
I do wonder what the royal family think of the current state of the nation,
The last monarch of England/GB/UK whatever will be Prince George of Cambridge according to the crystal ball prediction, and the first president will also be Prince George. Then after that the end ...
Britain is just another name for the U.K.
I guess it is, sort of, but the people that use the terms interchangeably may not be aware of the ‘and Northern Ireland’ part of the full official term.
Anyway, bollocks to all of that, I’m from Yorkshire, me. Anywhere that plays cricket is aware of Yorkshire, and the rest can just bugger off
Especially Lancashire
As I was taught in school in 90s (west of Scotland).
Great Britain = mainland Scotland, England and Wales.
British Isles = as above plus Ireland (the island) Scottish Islands, English Islands, Welsh Islands and the Isle of Man.
United Kingdom = Great Britian, Scottish Islands, English Islands, Welsh Islands and Northern Ireland
Ireland (the island) = Ireland (the country) and Northern Island
Channel Islands = not part of UK but Crown Dependencies
Isle of Man = not part of UK but Crown Dependency
Anyway, bollocks to all of that, I’m from Yorkshire, me. Anywhere that plays cricket is aware of Yorkshire, and the rest can just bugger off
Yorkshire is classified as a remote village ... 😆
As I was taught in school in 90s (west of Scotland).
In the far east we keep things simple they are all England in the mind of the folks. 😆
Some teachers don't even know GB/UK/England etc.
Britain is just another name for the U.K.
Nope - that is definitely wrong. UK includes northern ireland.
the official name of the country politically is "the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland"
From Ordnance Survey’s blog 3 Aug 2011
That blog is a load of shite, full of contradictions and corrections.
'Great' is a bit old fashioned. Maybe we should move with the times: 'Fierce Britain' or 'Bear Britain' would show the world we are still cool and a force to be reckoned with
Do you lot actually know where you are or which country or nation you live in? 🤣 🤣 🤣
It'll soon be the nation previously known as the United Kingdom and now comprising Little England and Wales; a new nation of Scotland and adjacent to the newly formed United Republic of Ireland.
... previously known as the United Kingdom and now comprising Little England and Wales; a new nation of Scotland and adjacent to the newly formed United Republic of Ireland.
Yes, use that in the passport I like it. 🤣 🤣 🤣
Literally nobody would ever introduce themselves as "great british" and pretty much nobody as "from great britain". There's some people who probably would, except they'll always answer "english" not "british" let alone "great british".
benv
That blog is a load of shite, full of contradictions and corrections.
Have you got a link that shows Ordnance Survey's description of the countries they map is wrong?
chewkw
Do you lot actually know where you are or which country or nation you live in?
Aye, some of us do.
Nope – that is definitely wrong. UK includes northern ireland.
Well yes to be specifically accurate but Britain is England, Wales and Scotland.
Again,
Political definitions and geographical definitions differ.
There is no official definition of "Britain" in isolation. It's commonly used as a shorthand for "the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" - ie, the UK - and to be honest most people (outside of the non-English parts of the UK) use England / Britain / the UK / GB interchangeably anyway.
I've never heard anyone assert that "Britain" is England and Wales (excluding Scotland) outside of this thread and that one-liner from a blog post on a previous page. Citation needed.
I've spent hours explaining this to US friends over the years. I never thought I'd have to explain it to people who actually live here.
But did you all know the 2 digit iso code for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is actually GB and not UK?
ISO 3166 in case you care (I have to due to work)
Have you got a link that shows Ordnance Survey’s description of the countries they map is wrong?
Not saying they are wrong, just their blog on the subject is shite. I don't know if they are right or wrong from reading it. Could have been the work experience kid that came up with it for all I know.
I have heard the "Great Britain" for the mainland and "Britain" for england and wales before but cannot find any sources
Northwind - I describe myself as British not English or Scottish. I do usually also say " but Scotland is my home"
Growing up in Glasgow in the 70s I had the idea of ever calling myself a Scot beaten out of me 🙂 - and I have a very English name and accent. However I do not consider myself English. So British it is. Same as I would never wear a kilt.
those attitudes have changed over the decades however and it is much more acceptable now for immigrants to refer to themselves as Scots and to wear a kilt
“Britain” for england and wales
Not a thing.
tjagain
Member
Northwind – I describe myself as British not English or Scottish. I do usually also say ” but Scotland is my home”
But not "great british".
I mean, you're alright.
Should be rebranded as Greaterborisshiteland.
Are we all happy to conceded that Great Britain didn't exist until 1707 and the Treaty of Union? That being the case, either Scotland or England withdrawing from that treaty would mean the end of Great Britain.
Depends scotroutes.
On one of the Wiki references is the romans describing Great Britain as the island we know as great britain today and little britain as the island of ireland
But then did the english not attempt to rename scotland as "north Britain"
Are we all happy to conceded that Great Britain didn’t exist until 1707 and the Treaty of Union?
Was in use hundred of years earlier, scotroutes, but yes, describing England and Scotland.
There are earlier records of a similar name for an area of that didn’t include Scotland though.
I quite often say I'm Welsh these days rather from the UK.
It saves awkward conversations about how rediculous and racist the English are.
But did you all know the 2 digit iso code for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is actually GB and not UK?
Yeah - it's one of the very rare instances where the ISO code differs from TLD domain codes (ie, we're www.blah.co.uk rather than www.blah.co.gb).
There's rather a [cool | dull] reason for this: the UK's academic network came up with a name resolution system way before DNS was really a thing and "UK" is what they settled on; essentially we were ahead of the standard. When JANET transitioned to TCP/IP proper it was always envisioned that we've migrate to .gb to fall in line with the rest of the non-US world but it never happened.
There may be other TLDs which depart from ISO standard but the only one I can think of off the top of my head is .su for the Soviet Union, which AFAIK still exists even though the USSR obviously doesn't. (USA aside which doesn't use country-specific TLDs.)
Are we all happy to conceded that Great Britain didn’t exist until 1707 and the Treaty of Union?
Nonsense. It's existed since several thousand BC, long before anyone thought to give it names. (-:
If it ain’t from Yorkshire it’s sh*te.
I have no more to say!
Look to the translation into other languages for a clue
In German it is Groß Britannien - literally LARGE Britain.
It is certainly not Großartig Britannien or Wunderbar Britannien or any other superlative that implies a glorious heritage
Interesting.
Perhaps someone should inform the Ordnance Survey they don't know what they're talking about.
I'm sure they'll welcome the erudite opinions of random STW posters. 🙂
Here's the link
Oh God, he's in this thread, isn't he? Non-sequitur inbound.
<<KILLFILE>>
My understanding was that the titular "Great" was the established convention for the colloquial name for an archipelago - as we kind of are consisting of lots of islands (LOTS! I mean lots, count 'em).
I'm late to the party, aren't I?
Do you lot actually know where you are or which country or nation you live in?
Yes. Next.
I quite often say I’m Welsh these days rather from the UK.
It saves awkward conversations about how rediculous and racist the English are.
Nothing at all like the Welsh, then...*
Oh, and that term, ‘racist’: has no real meaning at all, race is a convenient myth used to belittle or insult other ethnic groups.
*My partner grew up in North Wales, she learned Welsh to O-Level standard, and she can (un)happily go on at some length about how she was treated by the local Welsh.
Where does the Isle of Wight fit into all this?
Where does the Isle of Wight fit into all this?
It's an English island.
And is in Great Britain ‘politically’, but is it ‘geographically’?
Perhaps someone should inform the Ordnance Survey they don’t know what they’re talking about.
I'm not going to comment on the accuracy or lack thereof of the article, but an OS blogger is not the OS.
And is in Great Britain ‘politically’, but is it ‘geographically’?
Yes. No. I'm sure I've covered this at least twice now.
Nothing at all like the Welsh, then…*
Difference being, the English hate everyone, the Welsh (and Scottish and Irish) just hate the English. And I increasingly can't blame them.
<<KILLFILE>>
👆 ❌ 👫 👂 🔔 🗣️ 👅 🤣
I’m sure I’ve covered this at least twice now.
You have. But, I don’t think that makes it definitive.
<<KILLFILE>>
I have rather wondered for a while now, how do people using the killfile routinely and consistently know when to reply recommending the killfile? Surely if you do then it's not really all that effective?
You have. But, I don’t think that makes it definitive.
Of course, I'm just a random gobshite on the Internet. But if I'm wrong I'll cheerfully update my understanding if you have any canonical evidence to the contrary.
A lot of confusion could be avoided if we just renamed it Bigger Brittany
Or people just understood the meaning of the word great.