When you think of America...........

senile1

senile1

Member
Location
Virginia, USA
When most people
think of the United states and America, they seem not to separate the two. When
using the term Americans to refer to US citizens is like using European to
describe France or the UK, as neither America nor Europe are countries, they are
both continents. There are about 23 independent Nations in North America alone,
and 12 in South America. What is your thought ?
 

Senile1, this subject was brought up quite some time ago, and proved to be somewhat incendiary, lol.. By and large, Canadians do not consider themselves Americans in any form--not even North Americans. It speaks to our national identity as a distinct society.
 
Shalimar said:
Senile1, this subject was brought up quite some time ago, and proved to be somewhat incendiary, lol.. By and large, Canadians do not consider themselves Americans in any form--not even North Americans. It speaks to our national identity as a distinct society.
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That is the irony, the "term" America, and/or North America describes a region/ continent , not a country. Does not deny the individuality of a State, no more than it suggests a merger of States.
 

There isn't a separation unless you are thinking of the Americas. US citizens are considered Americans as the territory is United States of America. That's why its actually called the USA or US of A, The US is a shortened version.
 
I see your point. I think if people in the states referred to themselves as something other than Americans, Canadians wouldn't be such sticklers for our point of view. Yes, we are a part of North America, but we don't self identify as such. Living next door

to the most powerful country in the world, with similarities in language, entertainment, food, etc,but culturally different in many areas, is it any wonder we are adamant regarding being a distinct society? We are a pluralist society after all, not a

melting pot. During the last discussion around this topic, one American gentleman was incensed when the Canucks refused to see ourselves as North Americans. Of course, he also made the error of saying Americans and Canadians were the same. Oops. Lol.
 
senile1 said:
That is the irony, the "term" America, and/or North America describes a region/ continent , not a country. Does not deny the individuality of a State, no more than it suggests a merger of States.
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Actually, of course, "America" does describe one country, The United States of AMERICA. I have "talked" with a few Canadians on online boards who jokingly pointed out that they too are American, but, like our Shalimar, they had no desire to be called Americans! :)
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naming_of_the_Americas

"In modern English, North and South America are generally considered separate continents, and taken together are called the Americas in the plural, parallel to similar situations such as the Carolinas. When conceived as a unitary continent, the form is generally the continent of America in the singular. However, without a clarifying context, singular America in English commonly refers to the United States of America.[SUP][1]"
[/SUP]
 
AprilT said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naming_of_the_Americas

"In modern English, North and South America are generally considered separate continents, and taken together are called the Americas in the plural, parallel to similar situations such as the Carolinas. When conceived as a unitary continent, the form is generally the continent of America in the singular. However, without a clarifying context, singular America in English commonly refers to the United States of America.[SUP][1]"
[/SUP]
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I thought this was pretty funny. :) We beings are so entertaining.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_...ica_the_continent_vs_america_the_country.html
 
You are correct when you say that America is referred as the United States of America, but there is a misinterpretation in the actual meaning. We are the United States of the American Continent.
 
senile1 said:
You are correct when you say that America is referred as the United States of America, but there is a misinterpretation in the actual meaning. We are the United States of the American Continent.
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The name America is still considered a country, no matter how you slice it. The Americas is how the continent is described by today's terms. No one is going to mistake what you mean no matter where you are when you say you want to go to America. But if they think you mean South America or Canada, by all means don't correct them. :) Of course I should when used context sometimes matters as well.

I want to live in America in
 
senile1 said:
You are correct when you say that America is referred as the United States of America, but there is a misinterpretation in the actual meaning. We are the United States of the American Continent.
Click to expand...

Actually we are The United States of America, often referred to as "America." There no "American continent," there is North America, and there is South America, two different continents.

Why are we having a third-grade geography discussion on a seniors board?
 
AprilT said:
The name America is still considered a country, no matter how you slice it. The Americas is how the continent is described by today's terms. No one is going to mistake what you mean no matter where you are when you say you want to go to America. But if they think you mean South America or Canada, by all means don't correct them. :) Of course I should when used context sometimes matters as well.

I want to live in America in
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So, If I want to book a trip to Rome and/or any other European destination, I only need to book a flight to Europe. Just as important, when coming back to the US, I need only to book a flight to America. Applying something erroneously, does not make it right, no matter how many may view it.
 
Guitarist said:
Actually we are The United States of America, often referred to as "America." There no "American continent," there is North America, and there is South America, two different continents.

Why are we having a third-grade geography discussion on a seniors board?
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Could be I am still stuck in the 3rd grade; I am rather slow. Whilst I was erroneous when writing an American Continent, The USA is still a single nation, amongst many. of the North American Continent. Please accept my most profound gratitude for your correcting me, as well my appreciation for your participation on this thread. I shall retire to finish my 3rd grade reader.
 
Shalimar said:
I see your point. I think if people in the states referred to themselves as something other than Americans, Canadians wouldn't be such sticklers for our point of view. Yes, we are a part of North America, but we don't self identify as such. Living next door

to the most powerful country in the world, with similarities in language, entertainment, food, etc,but culturally different in many areas, is it any wonder we are adamant regarding being a distinct society? We are a pluralist society after all, not a

melting pot. During the last discussion around this topic, one American gentleman was incensed when the Canucks refused to see ourselves as North Americans. Of course, he also made the error of saying Americans and Canadians were the same. Oops. Lol.
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My statement, as you do realize ,is a statement of generality. I feel one may classify themselves as they will, and I respect their right to do so. This however does not change the fact the North American Continent is comprised of many nations and it is erroneous to say the term America and/ or North America describes one nation. We are a diverse continent of many races, cultures , religions and/ or ethnic groups, but we are all Americans; none the less.
 
Well, we have the same problem - The UK, Great Britain and the British Isles. Different things.

Most Brits would regard 'America' as the same as the USA . If I was cynical, I's say that some Brits regard 'America' = Disneyland.
 
senile1 said:
So, If I want to book a trip to Rome and/or any other European destination, I only need to book a flight to Europe. Just as important, when coming back to the US, I need only to book a flight to America. Applying something erroneously, does not make it right, no matter how many may view it.
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No you need to pick a state in America or they might drop you in the Atlantic ocean. :D
 
Capt Lightning said:
Well, we have the same problem - The UK, Great Britain and the British Isles. Different things.

Most Brits would regard 'America' as the same as the USA . If I was cynical, I's say that some Brits regard 'America' = Disneyland.
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Not cynical, many people have that misconception about America, part of the Americas.:D
 
Senile, You are of course linguistically correct, but we "Americans" have claimed or been assigned the name as our own long before either of us was born. . Do you identify yourself as a Unitedstatesian? Of course not. If you identify as a Citizen of the United States of America,I am sure that you get strange reactions.
I am an American,no matter how you cut it right or wrong. the only time I refer to myself as a "Citizen of the United States" is when I am answering the Border Guards question when I am rentering th US, from Canada.
 
It has many meanings, so it can mean any or all so America can simply mean the United States if one says America. Below from a dictionary it is a separate definition on it's own and has been accepted so world wide for as long as I can remember. It is listed as one of three definitions, inclusive or on it's own. So it isn't technically wrong if one refers self as as being from America means the USA..

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/America

[h=2]Definition of America[/h]

  • 1 either continent (North America or S. America) of the western hemisphere



  • 2 or the Americas play \-kəz\ the lands of the western hemisphere including North, Central, & S. America & the W. Indies



  • 3 united states of america
 
Man, y'all are still at this?!?

Here, make it simple ...

I am a Barney Streetian.
I am also a Wilkes-Barrian.
I am also a Pennsylvanian.
I am also an East Coaster.
I am also an American.
I am also a citizen of the United States of America.
I also live on the North American continent.
I live on planet Earth (aka "the World").
I am part of the Milky Way galaxy.
Which in turn is part of the Local Group.
Which is part of the Local Sheet.
Which is part of the Virgo Supercluster which is part of the Laniakea which is part of the Observable Universe which is part of the Universe ...
 
tnthomas said:
Ya'all forgot to mention being a Yankee as well. ;-)

:ROFL:
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LOL, that's not the north and south Americas, I personally was referring to, but, yes, Yanks would be part of the country when speaking of the geographical area known as America's great norther states. :D. Note the definition from the dictionary refers to continental western hemispheres when speaking of North and South same as I.

Wait I forgot. :playful:
 
senile1 said:
When most people
think of the United states and America, they seem not to separate the two. When
using the term Americans to refer to US citizens is like using European to
describe France or the UK, as neither America nor Europe are countries, they are
both continents. There are about 23 independent Nations in North America alone,
and 12 in South America. What is your thought ?
Click to expand...
The explanation is simple. The solution is not.

I am from SWEDEN therefore I am SWEDISH.
Someone from JAPAN is JAPANESE.
Those from AUSTRALIA are AUSTRALIANS.
KENYANS are from KENYA.
..... and BRAZILIANS are from BRAZIL.
People from the United States are ..... UNITED STATES-ENS? There's the problem. You need to invent a new word if you want to solve the problem.
 

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