| Nautilus said: Its funny.You bash me about twisting the argument of America and Americas, but you then go on to just twist or outright lie about your own arguments.India is NOT a continent, it is a sub-continent.Or if you prefer, a region of Asia.And it is called the Indian subcontinent, not India, making your whole point about that null. |
It doesn't matter whether you classify it as continent as sub-continent, or "region".
They are all larger geographic entities with same name/signifier as smaller entity which is member of larger group.
Which equally applies to the example of German ethno-region vs. German state, despite "continents" never invoked there.
Thus potentially introducing confusion, yet reference to smaller entity who is only one to claim that name as it's own, is accepted usage.
Funny thing is, English language (and others) have numerous others cases of ambiguity in meaning, so what is so special about this case?
| Nautilus said: And how the hell do you know people in another languages refer to the US as America?Do you per any chance speak every language in the world?Dutch,German,japanese?Just for reference, I found this page in which at least one person dosent call US America, so not every person does that:(not to mention that he goes on to say that the term is confusing to him, further proving my point that not everyone uses it or even finds it the most appropriate) |
I never claimed anything about "all" languages/people.
I stated that "people all over the world, in English and other languages" use the term America to refer to nation and people of USA.
That statement is not unproven by one person/language not using such approach, but is proven true by more than one language doing so.
How do I know that? Well, I happened to study Japanese as well as Spanish, and the term in Japanese is romanized as "Amerika-jin".
Of course, had you paid attention you would have known I also speak Spanish by my explicit reference to Spanish term "Estadounidense".
| Nautilus said: And yes sure, Germany was a kind of "United States" until the end of the 19th century if Im not mistaken, with each state having its own prince that would rule over the state, but still having to answer to an Emperor.Argentina full name is Argentine Republic.Panama full name is Republic of Panama.But what about it?Whats the point?I dont understand why are you trying to make all this a political issue, when there was none to begin with.USA is also casually referenced as United States too, but Mexico is not.Thats all there is to it. |
Firstly, I explicitly addressed why this is "political" issue for those who prefer not to use the term "America" re: USA,
namely Latin Americans who resent the presumptiousness and actual domination/aggression by USA within realm of Americas.
To claim that they (unlike other world nations) are actually "confused" by the usage is an insult to their intelligence,
and more particularly, erasing their actual political-linguistic stance against USA presumptiousness and domination.
Secondly, while skipping over distinction between Holy Roman Empire, Prussia/subsequent German Empire, and Germania
suffice it to say that the current and historic existence of Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, and Netherlands should make clear
how a broader region of "German-ness" clearly has and does exist wholely apart from the states calling them self "Germany" etc.
While there does not and has never existed broader regions with a claim to "Argentine" or "Panamanian" identity distinct from those states.
The fact remains that the USA is casually referenced, in both English and other languages, as "America". That's all there is to it.
| Nautilus said: The point is, I personally find the use of the term US more appropriate on this discussion, since it not a US-centric discussion, and thus envolves people from the other countries.I stated an opinion, but I was not forcing people to use it.That is just an opinion, something some people seem hard to understand.But now, if you only can see conpiracy theorists about "language-nazi mandates"(what the hell is that?)which you think Im trying to do here, then Im sorry, but I cant do nothing to convince you of otherwise. |
As I previously stated, you are free to use "US"/"USA" designations as you wish (despite the aesthetic awkwardness of acronyms),
nobody ever made an issue of your personal usage of such, and as such nobody attacked your personal expression of your opinion.
But you were the one who made an issue of other's usage of language, seeking to change their usage of language.
Your first post in the thread, referring to OP's language usage: "You mean US?Because America is a continent, you know?"
You were not impeded in your self-expression using your preferred terminology, you intervened to change others' language usage.
You act as if you're more enlightened than the OP or others. You're not.
