I have been reading a thread on a forum I visit where more than one English person has visited America and been treated with surprise by someone that they speak such good english.

I know there's a lot of confusion over the whole English/British/UK issue and god knows what language they imagine the Scots, Welsh or Northern Irish speak but this is just mind boggling

(I do appreciate that the vast majority of American's realise that people from the UK speak english)
btw I apologise for the apostrophe *slaps head*
No really, it was a thread called daft statements and at least 2 people have said that it's happened to them.

So do a lot of Scots, and Irish, for historical reasons, but none seem to hate us nearly as much as the North Welsh, they can be very hostile towards us, and I go there, sometimes, and to keep out of trouble, I learnt Welsh, and speak it whenever I go there, so then they may think I'm Welsh.

I ain't generallising, well, okay, I am, but the North Welsh seem to be very hostile...
Maybe, I am English, but I'm more Celtic (Irish, Cornish, Scottish, Welsh, etc) than I am English.
Nelly_num, you moron, they share the same Queen as us!
Roman C, I know my history, that's why I acknowleged the historical reasons!!

But the Welsh aren't exactly fluffly little bunnies either, they did plenty of pillaging of England!
Thanks, Fireball. Really helpful.

Why do so many Scots, especially the Nationalists have such a problem with Wales? But what do you base your opinions on?
When I go to Wales, I see more of a country than Scotland. Because you all speak English, your national anthem is in English, you're trying to wipe out your languages (I'm not including 'Scots' as it's just a dialect of English). Also, all your signposts are in English, but I do know you have Gaelic ones in some areas.
The Welsh still have their own language. Scotland chose English as their language, while the Welsh were forced to speak English. Yet, they have saved it from dying out.

I have more respect for Welsh people, as they have more respect for their country. They don't base their nationality on hating us, and are proud of their culture. Wales has had cultural nationalism, and I don't think Scotland has ever had something like this. Also, Scotland went into the Union, because you were bankrupt by the Darien scheme, and England bailed you out, yet you still hate us! Independence- You're so blinded by anti-Englishness, you'll do anything to get away from us, even at the expense of your country's wellbeing.

Why do you believe that you've been oppressed by England, and Wales has had an easy ride? Do you know their history? Why do you enjoy being 'victims'? Why do you have this 'Braveheart' mentality? It's 2009!

My girlfriend is Welsh, and she had a lot of hassle in Scotland for being Welsh. She speaks her language, and so do her family. They're really proud people, and I have never seen this in the Scots. Just anger and bigotry. And not just towards the English and Welsh. Heard some nice anti-Irish chanting from Rangers fans.
I'm not aiming this at all Scots, just the ignorant ones.

I've noticed a lot of Welsh, Irish, Northern Irish and Scottish people always deny themselves as part of Britain, a lot of them hate and criticise England, are disgusted by being under the same category as it, and from what I've seen online, almost every Irish, Scottish and Welsh person brag about their culture, have usernames related to it and go on and on about themselves and their country.

Do you see me or any English people coming online, slagging off the Welsh, Irish or Scottish, writing stuff in Cornish, going on about English history and pride in our culture and giving ourselves usernames to do with England? NO, YOU DON'T.

It's OK to love your culture and take pride in your country, I do take pride in England and I also have admiration for the Scottish, Welsh and Irish and I do truly feel that we are all British united (Ireland needs to join Britain, they're just making excuses to not be involved with the English because its a self-obsessed nation). We're all part of the same thing and I don't know why non-English Brits or Irish hold things against us for events that happened centuries ago, or deny themselves to be connected to us and part of Britain and thinking of Britain as "England" simply. I find it unfair.

Now I imagine I'll be getting Scots, Welshmen and Irishmen on here having a go at me, going on about how great their culture is and how England is an atrocity.

Why do the Irish and Welsh speak their own language, but the Scottish don't?

Are the Irish and Welsh the proper Celts, and the Scots are posers. I think they want to be like the English. Are they embarrassed of their roots? Maybe they are not as brave as the Irish and Welsh, who are proud of who they are and have fought to keep their culture. Maybe they are too lazy?

Can someone explain why Irish and Welsh is doing so well, and Scots Gaelic is dying?

I am English, not Welsh or Scottish so why on visa to go abroad etc to i have to write British?
But i am not from Wales or Scotland i am from England. I am English why should i be grouped together with the scots and welsh, no offense to them i am sure they feel the same.

I had an interesting conversation about 8 years ago with a visiting Scot. He confirmed for me that in Scotland's eyes-if you are born on this side of the Atlantic, you're not a Scot you're a yank.
That's always been the way I've thought of it.
I don't wakl around saying I'm Scottish, irish or Welsh when I'm not.
I'm an American. I don't even use Irish American or Welsh American. American should be all that's needed on the subject.
But two years ago, I talked this over with a student who had spent some time in Ireland and she said the opposite. That Irish Americans are regarded as Irish (or very close to Irish) in some parts of Ireland.
So I have Welsh, Scot, and Irish in my family tree. All cultures from the British Isles that are not actually Britsh are represented in my blood.
What do the Welsh, Scots, and Irish have to say on the subject?

I really like the Northwestern European languages (Welsh, Gaelic, Scots, etc.) and I want to learn one, but the more I learn about them, the more I realize how most of the people speak English anyway.

So what I want to know is if there are any languages like this that wouldn't be so pointless to learn. Anyone?

Me and my friend were talking about Bravehert and we wonderd if the Welsh were ever allied with the Scots.