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People will usually consider British and Americans as the same, because of the language, and the historical link since America started as a British colony. They forget that America is a much more complex nation full of people from all parts of the globe, some who don't even speak English to this day. Many French people use the term 'Anglo-Saxon' for Americans, Australians, British, English-speaking Canadians, New Zealanders, etc... , nevertheless that's not right those nations differ, even their English varies per nation. Many Americans would have a hard time listening to a real Australian 'outback'.
Location: Segovia, central Spain, 1230 m asl, Csb Mediterranean with strong continental influence, 40º43 N
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I don't consider they are the same. One thing that distinguish American people to European ones is the way Americans are fake, because they often smile everyday and everywhere.
Anglo-Saxon meaning in French media is a bit the same as the anglosphere. It includes Canada, US, UK and Australia. Not Ireland, and I don't know about NZ because french tend to see NZ as a paradise. But in practice, people are thinking about England and US.
More than the language it means the economic and political values of English-speaking countries. Little government intervention in the economy, the common law, liberalism/capitalism, mass media, pop culture, strong individualism, etc. According to the person speaking, it can be pejorative or nice.. But most of time it's pejorative. It's about some kind of English-speaking league trying to force his language and values to the rest of the world.
I think you get the idea.
edit. Btw. But some very non educated people, nobody would say British and American are the same. Some could argue British are closer to American than continental European. And that's why they shouldn't be trusted, bla bla, we should have listened De Gaulle, they shouldn't be in the EU, bla bla, But last time in London I met this awesome British couple, their hairs were crazy, and they were so nice, they are coming to Paris next week , bla bla, American biatch, bla bla, Those Rosbif don't know how to cook bla bla.
Usual stuff between old neighbours.
Last edited by JedlaRoche; 08-11-2013 at 07:35 PM..
People will usually consider British and Americans as the same, because of the language, and the historical link since America started as a British colony. They forget that America is a much more complex nation full of people from all parts of the globe, some who don't even speak English to this day. Many French people use the term 'Anglo-Saxon' for Americans, Australians, British, English-speaking Canadians, New Zealanders, etc... , nevertheless that's not right those nations differ, even their English varies per nation. Many Americans would have a hard time listening to a real Australian 'outback'.
I don't know where people consider British and Americans as the same, not in France at least. It is not because we use on term for descriving a wide number of people that we think that those people are the same.
Now it may seems funny for you that French use the 'Anglo-Saxon' for the USA, Britain, Canadians but many Americans think that Quebecer and French are the same just because we speak the same language, it is weird especially when those two regions are more disconned of each other than most English speaking countries are to the USA.
Most French people would have a very hard time to understand well a Quebecer speaking fast.
It is not like the English speaking countries were the only ones with variations.
As JedlaRoche the Anglo-saxon meaning in French media is the same as Anglosphere, it has nothing to do with the ethnicity.
NOBODY in Europe considers British and Americans as the same.
Why?
1. They look completely different
2. They dress completely different
3. They speak a different language
4. Their behaviour is totally different
5, They hang in different crowds
Americans tend to mix with locals, while English rarely mingle with non-English, except Scots. Scots won't hang with Brits, so you can see them in local bars and hang with local people.
The term Anglo-American is dandruffy, very old.. nobody uses that word anymore.
Now it may seems funny for you that French use the 'Anglo-Saxon' for the USA, Britain, Canadians but many Americans think that Quebecer and French are the same just because we speak the same language, it is weird especially when those two regions are more disconned of each other than most English speaking countries are to the USA.
.
What is really dumb is that these people often make jokes about negative French stereotypes (women with unshaved armpits, people who don't wash often enough, etc.) against people from Quebec. Not only are they stupid and incorrect when it comes to the French, but they are totally illogical when applied to people in Quebec.
Quebecers even sometimes hear these stupidities in their own country from Canadians in other provinces. (Canada is a big country - many of its citizens have never travelled across it.)
Although... people in Quebec do drink more wine, are fussier about cheese and do eat escargots more than other Canadians it is true.
A lot of people consider Germany/Austria to be the same people, countries. There are a lot of similarities and contrasts at the same time. But it does not make people uneducated. That´s silly...
It is obvious why people think that - the United States started as a British colony - the USA is kind of a "child" of the UK. Secondly - the language. Thirdly - these two countries often cooperate even though other "big players" (China, Russia, France etc.) do not agree at all. Do you remember an Iraq invasion 2003 or ongoing conflict in Syria? It is only natural to think that the UK and the USA have a special relationship...
A lot of people consider Germany/Austria to be the same people, countries. There are a lot of similarities and contrasts at the same time. But it does not make people uneducated. That´s silly...
It is obvious why people think that - the United States started as a British colony - the USA is kind of a "child" of the UK. Secondly - the language. Thirdly - these two countries often cooperate even though other "big players" (China, Russia, France etc.) do not agree at all. Do you remember an Iraq invasion 2003 or ongoing conflict in Syria? It is only natural to think that the UK and the USA have a special relationship...
Well at least they border each other, US and UK are pretty far from each other.
There is some cultural similarities, "New England" duhh!
but the Midwest and West Coast will remind you nothing of the U.K.
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