Noblesse Oblige: An Enquiry Into the Identifiable Characteristics of the English AristocracyOxford University Press, 2002 - 106 ページ The Great U and Non-U DebateUntil Nancy Mitford wrote 'The English Aristocracy' in 1955, England was blissfully unconscious of U-Usage and its lethal implications. The phenomenon of 'Upper-Class English Usage' had, it is true, already been remarked upon by Professor Alan Ross who, in an academic paper printed in Helsinki ayear earlier, claimed that the upper classes now distinguished solely by their use of language, but it was the Honourable Mrs. Peter Rodd (as she was addressed by U-speaker Evelyn Waugh, Esq.) who first let the cat out of the bag. Her article sparked off a public debate joined vigorously by EvelynWaugh, 'Strix', and Christopher Sykes, whose counterblasts are collected here. Osbert Lancaster, caricaturist of English manners, takes the debate into the visual dimension, and John Betjeman poeticizes on the theme with characteristic charm:Phone for the fish-knives NormanAs Cook is a little unnerved;You kiddies have crumpled the serviettes And I must have things daintily served. A new introduction by Ned Sherrin reveals more of the articles and correspondences that were generated by the debate, in his inimitably entertaining fashion. |
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American become begin Dear Betjeman called Chapman christian name cinema class-distinction Copyright course Cousin Cousin Emmy definitely non-U dinner Duchess dukes Earl Encounter England English aristocracy English language English lord Evelyn Waugh fashion Fortinbras friends gentlemen H. C. Wyld Harold Acton inverted snobs Jessica Mitford JOHN BETJEMAN joke Lady Fortinbras language letters linguistic class-indicators living London look luncheon male middle class Miss modes of address Motor-car Nancy Mitford Nancy's Nanny Ned Sherrin never Noblesse Oblige non-U speaker non-U words non-U-speakers notepaper old-fashioned peerage peers perhaps person PETER RODD phrase prefix Professor Ross pronounce pronunciation Pursuit of Love rich Ross's serve to demarcate serviette Shinwell Hall slang social society speak speech surnames syllable rhymes T-people talk tease thing tion U-speakers U-speech U-usage umbrellas un-T upper class vocabulary wife women write written wrote young