XII Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2020

Conversations about the weather have long rightfully occupied a place in the list of features of the British. So what is the reason for this phenomenon?

I would like to mention the uniqueness of the weather in the United Kingdom. It is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Continental Europe, in a zone where several air masses meet from different parts of the world, hence its frequent variability.

The variability of the weather is one of the most frequent reasons for discussions. Sometimes, the British have to watch the weather forecast several times in the morning to get dressed accordingly. Of course, this cannot be ignored.

However, this is not the main reason for talking about rain, bright sun, or snowfall. Most often, the question "Today, it's cold, isn't it?" is helping the British to express greetings, to fill an awkward pause in the conversation or transfer the conversation to another topic. Such phrases serve as a kind of code to break the ice between the interlocutors. It is worth noting that according to the rules of etiquette, you must always agree with the questioner. If you say "No, I think it's warm enough today", the other person perceives this as ignorance or a negative attitude towards him or her.

In other cultures, of course, the themes are also used to establish contact with the interlocutor. "Many scientists identify 2 opposite needs of human communication: a positive face (the desire to be approved) and a negative face (the desire to be left alone)," writes BBC Future. People who prefer a "positive face" will choose to discuss acquaintances, news and so on. The British, who prefer the opposite type for the most part, are more likely to choose such an unobtrusive topic as the weather for a conversation.

This is what makes our world so diverse and interesting. It would seem that such a common thing as the question "Is it raining again today?" becomes a cultural symbol of an entire nation.