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Talk about wild generalisations! If you really get into it, there are huge variations within the regions of those countries. It would be like lumping in all people from Kentucky and NYC as typical Americans.
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Originally Posted by Hengist
Talk about wild generalisations! If you really get into it, there are huge variations within the regions of those countries. It would be like lumping in all people from Kentucky and NYC as typical Americans.
My generalizations come from the fact that the only ethnic group with more per population inventions and major medical discoveries than the Scots are Jews. By comparison there are very few Irish innventions/ innovations but there are lots of Irish/ Irish American statesman and entertainers.
In the US my experience is that people who are self described "Irish Americans" tend to be very upfront and outgoing, while self described Scottish Americans tend to be more "book worms" and eccentric
My generalizations come from the fact that the only ethnic group with more per population inventions and major medical discoveries than the Scots are Jews. By comparison there are very few Irish innventions/ innovations but there are lots of Irish/ Irish American statesman and entertainers.
In the US my experience is that people who are self described "Irish Americans" tend to be very upfront and outgoing, while self described Scottish Americans tend to be more "book worms" and eccentric
I've always found that 99% of self proclaimed 'Irish or Scottish' Americans have never even visited those countries, let alone share the same culture! Americans are Americans.. period.
I've always found that 99% of self proclaimed 'Irish or Scottish' Americans have never even visited those countries, let alone share the same culture! Americans are Americans.. period.
I'm not sure it would be feasible, and definitely not desirable to the hosts, if every American with ancestors from those countries traipsed through them.
I think they mean their genetic heritage, which is what it is. But I agree, culturally Americans are, well, American.
Genetic heritage? There has been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing between Ireland and Scotland over the centuries. I doubt you could identify any real genetic difference, though the border Scot may have little culturally in common with the Highlander, Glasweigian, or Orcadian. Same is certainly true of Ireland (the island), and probably Wales. I could be wrong though.
In the US my experience is that people who are self described "Irish Americans" tend to be very upfront and outgoing, while self described Scottish Americans tend to be more "book worms" and eccentric
Genetic heritage? There has been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing between Ireland and Scotland over the centuries. I doubt you could identify any real genetic difference, though the border Scot may have little culturally in common with the Highlander, Glasweigian, or Orcadian. Same is certainly true of Ireland (the island), and probably Wales. I could be wrong though.
Going by DNA: most people in the UK as well as Ireland can trace their direct lineage to Spain, of all places. R1b is a very common Y chromosome variant in all of the above.
Genetic heritage? There has been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing between Ireland and Scotland over the centuries. I doubt you could identify any real genetic difference, though the border Scot may have little culturally in common with the Highlander, Glasweigian, or Orcadian. Same is certainly true of Ireland (the island), and probably Wales. I could be wrong though.
My comment had nothing to do with any perceived genetic differences between Ireland and Scotland. The word Scot is a Gaelic word meaning Irish for God's sake.
Culturally, they aren't that different. I wouldn't say that one would be more outgoing over another or whatever. There's a strong history of music, storytelling, poetry, literature in the Irish culture- I'm sure you'd find it within the others as well. Wherever you find tons of bad, rainy weather, long winters etc. you'll be sure to find music, dancing, storytelling, drinking- pub culture, etc. The Welsh still use their language and although Gaelic, doesn't sound or resemble Irish Gaelic or Scottish Gaelic (which have many of the same words and sounds).
I wouldn't argue, but I haven't heard anything about them being descendants from Spain though (my husband tells me they come from the Vikings/Normans (which is why you find many "Fitz" names in Ireland). Perhaps that goes even farther back. I certainly wouldn't try to determine any traits by listening to Irish, Scottish, or Welsh Americans since they are generally so far removed from the respective culture that they still see those countries with romanticized notions.
Also want to add that the patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick, was actually Welsh!
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