geography/nationality question

[amelia_petkova]

Maybe you guys can help me out with this. I have an idea for a story based in England and I've started to do research. Looking at potential places for the settings and characters, I'm making a note of which parts of the island are England proper and which identify as other nationalities. I know that typically people from, say, Scotland or Wales would identify themselves as being Scottish or Welsh (respectively) instead of just "I'm from the UK" (I apologize if my facts are at all mixed up). My question, would people from Cornwall fall under this trend as well or would they be more likely to say they're British? (I realize that there may be some disagreement as to the answer.)

Comments

[hasufin.livejournal.com]

I have no deep insights into British mentality. But I think in large parts it would relate to the context and the audience.

Were I in India, and someone asked where I was from, I would say "America". Were I in New York, I would say "Illinois". I can reasonably expect a New Yorker to appreciate the difference between Illinois and Virginia; a Bihaari, not so much.
Similarly, my observation has been that someone from England will represent themselves as British - or possibly English, Scottish, or Welsh - to someone who is not British, but will go into more detail in contexts in which it makes sense.