3 ms·

Can you elaborate? What does this mean?

• msla 6y ago
  It's a long joke about word etymology relating to how many times the Green and Pleasant Land has been conquered: "Britain" relates to "Briton" which used to mean a Celtic native of the British isles. That is, the people who were there when the Romans showed up. "English" comes from the Angles, one of the Germanic peoples who colonized Britain when the Romans left. Etymologically, being English and British means you're of a mixed parentage indeed, and rather proves the case that immigrants integrate quite well. "Pork" and "beef" come from Norman French, "Norman" from the fact they were originally Vikings and French from the fact they settled in Normandy before expanding their holdings in 1066. Again, proof that modern Great Britain is a land of immigrants, strivers, and hopefuls from across the water, going back to time immemorial.
  • ardy42 6y ago
    >>> I'd make mention of the fact they likely think the English can be British, but they also probably imagine that a good Englishman can eat pork and beef! > "Pork" and "beef" come from Norman French, "Norman" from the fact they were originally Vikings and French from the fact they settled in Normandy before expanding their holdings in 1066. Again, proof that modern Great Britain is a land of immigrants, strivers, and hopefuls from across the water, going back to time immemorial. That's not how I initially interpreted that at all. I had figured "can eat pork and beef" was most likely referring to Hindu and Jewish/Muslim dietary prohibitions.
  • scubbo 6y ago
    Wow - an in-depth and interesting joke. I'm glad that I asked - I, like your other replier, thought that "Pork and beef" were a reference to religious dietary restrictions, and had assumed that you were making some obliquely-racist claim that England was now controlled by "those people". I apologise for having misjudged you - thank you for the explanation!