Because most Americans are actively taught not to use the word "English" to refer to contemporary citizens of the UK, even if they are from England. Once you have that idea ground into you enough, it's hard to overcome it.
Furthermore, it's kind of unfathomable to insular American sports enthusiats that regions within a single political unit would compete independently at an international competition. It'd be like the Texans or the Californians fielding their own Olympic teams.
Oh yes. On more than one occasion, and by separate teachers, I was told "English is the language, British are the people." Now, this was in the context of learning world geography, so it makes a little bit of sense.
The only exception was when we were doing a poetry unit. The language differences between, say, Robert Burns and John Keats made it reasonable to use "Scottish" or "English" as the correct descriptor.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2010-06-14 12:01 am (UTC)Furthermore, it's kind of unfathomable to insular American sports enthusiats that regions within a single political unit would compete independently at an international competition. It'd be like the Texans or the Californians fielding their own Olympic teams.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-14 09:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-14 02:49 pm (UTC)The only exception was when we were doing a poetry unit. The language differences between, say, Robert Burns and John Keats made it reasonable to use "Scottish" or "English" as the correct descriptor.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-14 03:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-14 07:25 pm (UTC)