which writer coined the terms U and non U

[fred1]

[grasscarp]

Nancy Mitford

[JoolsTwo]

Nancy Mitford

[joggerjayne]

... who also reminded us ...

... that one should say "What?" rather than the affectatious "Pardon?"

... and that one should eat as soon as one is served ... rather than waiting for everyone else to be served (which is, in upper circles) seen as an insult.

[kettledrum]

The terms U & Non U were coined by the philologist & academic Professor Alan Ross. They were brought to the attention of a wider public in a book called Noblesse Oblige -a collection of essays - edited by Nancy Mitford.

[sherrardk]

Sorry to sound ignorant - but what do the terms U and Non U actually mean? Thanks

[joggerjayne]

Upper Class, or Non Upper Class

[grasscarp]

U is upper class behaviour and non U is non upper class behaviour

[sherrardk]

Thanks for that - seen the term before and never actually bothered to find out what it meant.

[joggerjayne]

Hence "Noblesse Oblige" ...

the supposed obligations of the nobility.

[beejay1124]

how hence ?
JJ

[joggerjayne]

Because, beejay ... the book set out the manner of behaviour that was to be expected of the upper classes.

The inference was that nobility did not merely give privileged freedom ...

... it also conferred a set of rules of expected behaviour, or ... obligations.

Hence ... "Noblesse Oblige" ... nobility obliges one.

And, hence ... "hence"

J x