Read the texts 4 and 5 and compare English and American сharacters.
Text 4
English character
One of the most striking features of English life is the self-discipline and courtesy of people of all classes. There is little noisy behavior, and practically no loud disputing in the street. People do not rush excitedly for seats in buses or trains, but take their seats in queues at bus stops in a quiet and orderly manner.
Englishmen are naturally polite and are never tired of saying “Thank you”, “I’m sorry”, “Beg your pardon”. If you follow anyone who is entering a building or a room, he will hold a door open for you. Many foreigners have commented on a remarkable politeness of the English people.
English people don’t like displaying their emotions even in dangerous and tragic situations, and ordinary people seem to remain good tempered and cheerful under difficulties.
The Englishman does not like any boasting or showing off in manners, dress or speech. Sometimes he conceals his knowledge: a linguist, for example, may not mention his understanding of a foreigner’s language.
The Englishman prefers his house to an apartment in a block of flats, because he doesn’t wish his doing to be overlooked by his neighbors. “An Englishman’s house is his castle”.
Sunday is a very quiet day in London. All the shops are closed, and so are the theatres and most of the cinemas.
Londoners like to get out of town on Sundays. The sea is not far –only fifty or sixty miles away and people like to go down to the sea in summer or somewhere to the country for skiing in winter.
Text 5
American character
American society seems to be much more informal than the British and, in some ways, is characterized by less social distinction. Students do not rise when a teacher enters the room. One does not always address a person by his title, such as “Major” or “General” or “Doctor” in the case of a holder of a Doctor of Philosophy degree. The respectful “Sir” is not always used in the northern and western parts of the country.
However, it is best to use a person’s title when first meeting him/her, and then allow the person to tell you how he/she wishes to be called.
They use first names when calling each other, slap on the back, joke and are much freer in their speech, which is more slangy than the conventional British English. Your will often hear the word “Hi” (a form of greeting among friends) used instead of the usual “Hello”, and “Howdy” instead of “How do you do?
Those who don’t easily show these signs of friendship are called “snooty” or “snobbish”. In contrast, people who show such simple signs of friendship, particularly to their own economic and social inferiors, are praised as “regular guys”, or as “truly democratic”. As a description of character, democratic is generally used to signify that a person of high social or economic status acts in such a way that his or her inferiors are not reminded of their inferiority.
Yet, in spite of all the informality, the Americans, even in the way they address each other, show consciousness of social distinction. For example, one is likely to use somewhat more formal language when talking to superiors. While the informal “Hello” is an acceptable greeting from employee to employer, the employee is more apt to say “Hello, Mr. Ferguson,” while the employer may reply “Hello, Jim”. Southerners make a point of saying “Yes, sir,” or “Yes, Ma’am,” or “No, Sir,” or “No, Ma’am,” when talking to an older person or a person in position of authority. While this is a good form all over the United States, “Yes, Mr. Weston” or “No, Mrs. Baker” is somewhat more common in a similar situation in the North or West.
Certain other forms of politeness are observed on social occasions. Women may wear hats in church, in restaurants, and often when attending luncheons in public places and other public social functions except those that take place in the evening. Men who do wear hats ordinarily remove them in elevators, churches, restaurants, private homes, business offices – in fact, in most public situations when they wish to show respect.