The name may be really stupid, but America is the name used to reference the United States and is recognized by hundreds of millions if not billions of people. North America: continent. South America: continent. The Americas: 2 continents. America: 1 country. Just because it’s dumb doesn’t make it not true.
America is the name used to reference the United States
USians are arrogant as fuck. America is a continent. Country is called United States of America.
Coincidently, USians asked where they are from never say “USA” or even “America” for this matter. They say name of their state or even worse, two letters like everyone around should know where every shithole in the US is.
Also, it’s not about the name but how that name came to be. Mexican United States (Mexico) are called that way because they’re the region around the mexica territory (today part of Mexico City). They’re not ‘stealing’ the name from anyone.
The United States of America (U.S.A.) are called that way because they were the first independent states in America, the continent’s name: a well known fact at the moment. But today, most American countries are independent, so the people from the United States have been rewriting geography and even history saying there are two continents, that there isn’t a continent named America, etc. Sorry, but many countries and thousands of historical documents tell us that America was and is the name of the continent, and that it is not okay to take it for one country alone.
I imagine the outrage this would cause for centuries if France (just to name some country) tried to pull this off. “United Communities of Europe”, “we are the only Europeans 🇨🇵”, “Europe is a country”, “there’s West Europe and East Europe, the Europes, but that’s it”…
the people from the United States have been rewriting geography and even history saying there are two continents, that there isn’t a continent named America, etc. Sorry, but many countries and thousands of historical documents tell us that America was and is the name of the continent, and that it is not okay to take it for one country alone
Do you expect British people to tell you that they’re from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and get cross when they don’t as well?
Depending on where you grew up and were taught geography, America may or may not have been taught to you as a combined landmass from the Southern tip of Chile to the northern islands of Canada, or separate continents split near Central America.
There is no right or wrong way of defining that. It all depends on custom and convention.
The reason you say why people from the USA respond with the United States when people ask them where they’re from is likely because it’s a shortened version of the full country name. This is similar to asking someone born in the United Mexican States that they’re from Mexico, or someone from the People’s Republic of China that they’re from China, or someone from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that they’re British (or Scottish or Irish or Welsh), or someone from the Argentine Republic that they’re Argentinian, or someone from the Boliviaran Republic of Venezuela that they’re Venezuelan, or someone from the Republic of Korea that they’re South Korean (although most people actually just refer to this country as Korea, but that might depend on regional differences too depending on which country you grew up in and were taught from).
Another reason might be how the USA’s government is structured. We have a federation where the overall government is a sum total of Tribal, State, and Federal governments. People of indigenous tribes in the USA refer to themselves as Native Americans or Indigenous, while people from different states have names for themselves (e.g. Michiganders from Michigan, Californians from California, Kansans from Kansas, Hoosiers from Indiana). You might think that because the federal government, officially called the “United States” in our constitution, covers the entirely of the geography of the USA that that’s how you would refer to people from that nation. And you would be somewhat right because the US takes on international relations per the duties outlined in the constitution. But it would be false to refer to the whole country as just the US. The whole country is the USA, and perhaps that is why people from that country refer to themselves as American.
Why can’t we have a more nuanced discussion where we talk about how each country/culture prefers to be referred to? I think it’s pretty asinine to refer to the people of, for instance, South Korea as South Koreans because that’s my American conception of that country, when in reality people of the Republic of Korea refer to themselves as Hanguk-in or Hanguk-saram. I would be perfectly fine with referring to that people using that terminology.
Why do we have to force labels and categories onto peoples when we could just listen to them for what they prefer themselves
Five continents
We have been taught in school (way back in the '60s in Europe) that there are five continents, Africa, America, Asia, Australia, and Europe, for instance symbolized in the five rings of the Olympic Games.
Six continents
However, there is no standard definition for the number of continents. In Europe, many students are taught about six continents, in which North and South America is combined to form a single America.
These six continents are Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/Oceania, and Europe.
That last bit is definitely not unique to the US. I’ve heard people from all parts of Europe, even when in the US, say they’re from Gloucester, or Antwerp, or Perth, or where have you. It’s not like they immediately say England, Belgium, or Australia every time. You’re definitely nitpicking this point.
I never ever heard anyone in Europe doing that when they are abroad. I heard multiple USians answering in two letters (some state’s acronym apparently) when they are asked where they are from.
The people using the language don’t give a shit if you’re mad that U.S. arrogance is the reason the U.S. is referred to as America. Language is to be used to send a message, not dance around 16 topics hoping you can finally manage to vomit out whatever it is you’re trying to say.
You gave enough of a shit to bitch and moan in the first place, so which is it? Do you recognize that your contribution to the topic is worthless, or do you think you’re somehow above it all - a shining example of a human we should all strive to be like?
Fair warning, I am going to record myself laughing at you if you point to the second perspective. Like, GUHAHAHA fucking Ganondorf laughing.
Definitions come from how people use words, not the other way around.
That’s how Trump can get away with his lies in the USA. 🙄
Despite of what brainwashed USians may think, words do not create a reality.
Person who lives in the USA is as much of an American as a person from Brazil, Mexico or Canada. The same as European means a person living in Europe, not necessarily in the European Union.
So can you or I. At least a quarter billion people say “America” and mean “United States of America” every day, and at least a quarter billion people hear them say it and understand what they mean. Therefore, the meaning of that word has skewed.
If you picture an “American” in your mind I know damn well the first thing that pops into your head is not a resident of Brazil, and that is what language is actually about. Moving ideas, not definitions.
I promise your random Mastodon screenshot is not as definitive as millennia of language evolution. Also, you’re assuming I’m american when I could damn well be a European etymologist for all you know
The name may be really stupid, but America is the name used to reference the United States and is recognized by hundreds of millions if not billions of people. North America: continent. South America: continent. The Americas: 2 continents. America: 1 country. Just because it’s dumb doesn’t make it not true.
It’s the only country that has “America” in the name so it’s not really that dumb.
USians are arrogant as fuck. America is a continent. Country is called United States of America.
Coincidently, USians asked where they are from never say “USA” or even “America” for this matter. They say name of their state or even worse, two letters like everyone around should know where every shithole in the US is.
Jesse what the fuck are you talking about
Which word gave you trouble?
The United States of Mexico would like a word.
We’re considering changing it to simply Mexico. It’s been talked about.
Until you guys do, it seems fucked up for the USA to just take US. German uses US-Amerikaner, which is at least clear.
Wait that didn’t go through yet? I thought that name change went through years ago
*Mexican United States.
Also, it’s not about the name but how that name came to be. Mexican United States (Mexico) are called that way because they’re the region around the mexica territory (today part of Mexico City). They’re not ‘stealing’ the name from anyone.
The United States of America (U.S.A.) are called that way because they were the first independent states in America, the continent’s name: a well known fact at the moment. But today, most American countries are independent, so the people from the United States have been rewriting geography and even history saying there are two continents, that there isn’t a continent named America, etc. Sorry, but many countries and thousands of historical documents tell us that America was and is the name of the continent, and that it is not okay to take it for one country alone.
I imagine the outrage this would cause for centuries if France (just to name some country) tried to pull this off. “United Communities of Europe”, “we are the only Europeans 🇨🇵”, “Europe is a country”, “there’s West Europe and East Europe, the Europes, but that’s it”…
Yup, precisely that.
I’m not from the USA but it’s not that deep. Their country will cease to exist soon enough so why get worked up about it.
Some of them were definitely butt hurt about my comment! 😂
Do you expect British people to tell you that they’re from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and get cross when they don’t as well?
God you’re insufferable
Found a butt hurt USian 😂😂😂
Butt hurt? Naw.
Disgusted with your parents for raising such an ass? Absolutely.
You are not butt hurt at all, that’s why you replied to three of my different comments. You are so funny, USians 😂
Depending on where you grew up and were taught geography, America may or may not have been taught to you as a combined landmass from the Southern tip of Chile to the northern islands of Canada, or separate continents split near Central America.
There is no right or wrong way of defining that. It all depends on custom and convention.
The reason you say why people from the USA respond with the United States when people ask them where they’re from is likely because it’s a shortened version of the full country name. This is similar to asking someone born in the United Mexican States that they’re from Mexico, or someone from the People’s Republic of China that they’re from China, or someone from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that they’re British (or Scottish or Irish or Welsh), or someone from the Argentine Republic that they’re Argentinian, or someone from the Boliviaran Republic of Venezuela that they’re Venezuelan, or someone from the Republic of Korea that they’re South Korean (although most people actually just refer to this country as Korea, but that might depend on regional differences too depending on which country you grew up in and were taught from).
Another reason might be how the USA’s government is structured. We have a federation where the overall government is a sum total of Tribal, State, and Federal governments. People of indigenous tribes in the USA refer to themselves as Native Americans or Indigenous, while people from different states have names for themselves (e.g. Michiganders from Michigan, Californians from California, Kansans from Kansas, Hoosiers from Indiana). You might think that because the federal government, officially called the “United States” in our constitution, covers the entirely of the geography of the USA that that’s how you would refer to people from that nation. And you would be somewhat right because the US takes on international relations per the duties outlined in the constitution. But it would be false to refer to the whole country as just the US. The whole country is the USA, and perhaps that is why people from that country refer to themselves as American.
Why can’t we have a more nuanced discussion where we talk about how each country/culture prefers to be referred to? I think it’s pretty asinine to refer to the people of, for instance, South Korea as South Koreans because that’s my American conception of that country, when in reality people of the Republic of Korea refer to themselves as Hanguk-in or Hanguk-saram. I would be perfectly fine with referring to that people using that terminology.
Why do we have to force labels and categories onto peoples when we could just listen to them for what they prefer themselves
Which continent is America? I only know of Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.
Tangential nitpick:
s/Australia/Oceania/
(shoutout to New Zealand, Hawai, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Samoa, etc)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrsxRJdwfM0
Very clever. It’s the land mass, just like Eurasia.
Eurasia is on one continental plate, the Americas are on 2-3 (depending on how you want to count the Caribbean iirc)
Definitions of continent vary and are often fairly subjective but I’ve always considered that a pretty objective standard.
So anyone who calls themselves a European is also wrong. That’s what I see you saying here.
That’s what they teach you in the USA, eh?
Sounds like Eurasians can be just as ignorant as USains.
Speaking of not being taught things…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zealandia
Ahh, you haven’t learned anything since the 60’s. Your idiotic ramblings are starting to make sense…
Ironic.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent
Can you actually read?
That last bit is definitely not unique to the US. I’ve heard people from all parts of Europe, even when in the US, say they’re from Gloucester, or Antwerp, or Perth, or where have you. It’s not like they immediately say England, Belgium, or Australia every time. You’re definitely nitpicking this point.
I never ever heard anyone in Europe doing that when they are abroad. I heard multiple USians answering in two letters (some state’s acronym apparently) when they are asked where they are from.
Great. And I am telling you that my experience is otherwise. Also, I’ve never heard USians, that’s a first.
You never spoke to a USian?
The people using the language don’t give a shit if you’re mad that U.S. arrogance is the reason the U.S. is referred to as America. Language is to be used to send a message, not dance around 16 topics hoping you can finally manage to vomit out whatever it is you’re trying to say.
Guess what, I don’t give a shit what you think either.
You gave enough of a shit to bitch and moan in the first place, so which is it? Do you recognize that your contribution to the topic is worthless, or do you think you’re somehow above it all - a shining example of a human we should all strive to be like?
Fair warning, I am going to record myself laughing at you if you point to the second perspective. Like, GUHAHAHA fucking Ganondorf laughing.
Funnily enough, that must have been the first thing your parents thought when you were born.
Crickets
I can really sense how little of a shit you give.
You’re welcome.
It seems like you think you’re funny… ??
OK
Ignorance this ignorance that.
Language evolves. The words we used to refer to locations don’t exactly match what they did 250 fucking years ago, boohoo.
Definitions come from how people use words, not the other way around.
That’s how Trump can get away with his lies in the USA. 🙄
Despite of what brainwashed USians may think, words do not create a reality.
Person who lives in the USA is as much of an American as a person from Brazil, Mexico or Canada. The same as European means a person living in Europe, not necessarily in the European Union.
So can you or I. At least a quarter billion people say “America” and mean “United States of America” every day, and at least a quarter billion people hear them say it and understand what they mean. Therefore, the meaning of that word has skewed.
If you picture an “American” in your mind I know damn well the first thing that pops into your head is not a resident of Brazil, and that is what language is actually about. Moving ideas, not definitions.
Keep dreaming, USian.
deleted by creator
Appeal to Authority
Actual research
I promise your random Mastodon screenshot is not as definitive as millennia of language evolution. Also, you’re assuming I’m american when I could damn well be a European etymologist for all you know
Of course you are, sweetie.
Ad hominem
Dig your hole.