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Do people in the America continent refer to us people from the USA as "United Statians" or any other name like "Gringo" "Yankee" anything other than "Americans"?
Do people from lets say Brazil ever consider themselves American?
Americans are people from the whole continent. Americans from the united States are U.S. Americans or U.S. nationals.
People from Brazil are Brazilians and Americans
People from Canada are Canadians and Americans
people from the U.S. are U.S. Americans and Americans.
The same way people from Japan are Japanese and Asian
The same way people from Lybia are Africans and Africans
The same way people from Spain are Spanish and Europeans
The same way people from Israel are Israeli and Asian.
Do people in the America continent refer to us people from the USA as "United Statians" or any other name like "Gringo" "Yankee" anything other than "Americans"?
Do people from lets say Brazil ever consider themselves American?
As you know, most scholars believe that a stylized version of the first name of "Amerigo Vespucci" is the source of the name America. However, the source of the name was never written down by a contemporary.
As Amerigo Vespucci never visited present day USA, some Latin Americans resent the use of the denonym "American" to designate only citizens of USA. In a language text book you will always you will always see the word "estadounidenses" instead of Americano. But in reality it is seldom used.
Benjamin Franklin in particular thought that USA was a terrible name for a country, as he considered it ugly. He much preferred the name Columbia as in "District of Columbia" or "Columbia the Gem of the Ocean". Of course, the name idea never took hold beyond those poetic uses. Now, of course, the "Republic of Colombia" differs by only one vowel.
Out of an effort not to be rude, I do not say "Soy Americano". I prefer to say "Vivo en Philadelphia" or "Nacà en Pennsylvania" .
Most of the time it is not required to say where that we are from USA. The way we pronounce our English vowels usually identifies us immediately. But I would say "Soy de los Estados Unidos" because "Soy estadounidense" sounds very awkward.
I don't know what I would say in Brazil as I don't know any Portuguese.
Side question: why are people from the U.S so adamant on identifying with their state? As in I don't know anyone who goes by Albertan or Ontarian here in Canada. It's an innocent question, so relax in advance.
Side question: why are people from the U.S so adamant on identifying with their state? As in I don't know anyone who goes by Albertan or Ontarian here in Canada. It's an innocent question, so relax in advance.
I always refer myself as a Minnesotan unless I am speaking with people from outside the US who probably don't know where Minnesota is.
State Pride is huge, probably because of pro and college sports.
Side question: why are people from the U.S so adamant on identifying with their state? As in I don't know anyone who goes by Albertan or Ontarian here in Canada. It's an innocent question, so relax in advance.
Our states are so very diverse. I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. I don't say I am from CA because then people could think LA. LA and SF are at two completely different spectrums. So I say I am from San Francisco. Actually it was on one of the ballots years ago to divide CA in two states like North California and South California because people from LA and SF are so different. It was stupid and didn't go anywhere.
But anyway I identify with my city and my state way more then my country. I have nothing in common with Alabama or Arkansaw, or even Alaska and that is just starting with the A states.
But I don't say I am a Californian or I am a San Franciscan. I say I am from California or I am from San Francisco.
And I bed to differ with you. I have met Canadians while traveling abroad that say I am from Vancouver or I am from Toronto.
As you know, most scholars believe that a stylized version of the first name of "Amerigo Vespucci" is the source of the name America. However, the source of the name was never written down by a contemporary.
As Amerigo Vespucci never visited present day USA, some Latin Americans resent the use of the denonym "American" to designate only citizens of USA. In a language text book you will always you will always see the word "estadounidenses" instead of Americano. But in reality it is seldom used.
No, that's not the reason. Some Latin Americans resent the use of the demonym "American" to designate only citizens of USA because that way the name of a whole continent is being used to refer to a single country. It doesn't matter whether Amerigo Vespucci visited present day USA or not. What matters is that the name America (whatever its source) was initially used to refer to present day South America, then gradually extended to include all of the Americas, and then when the USA gained independence, it was used by the USA in its name. And you know, what USA says and does gets propagated throughout the world...
Quote:
Originally Posted by PacoMartin
But I would say "Soy de los Estados Unidos" because "Soy estadounidense" sounds very awkward.
The fact that the word estadounidense is, perhaps, not an everyday word doesn't make it awkward at all. It is used mainly in newspapers and TV, books... It's true that it isn't so widely used in spoken language, but it is well-known and understood by anyone. In spoken language, BTW, the most common word used here may be "yanqui" (yankee), not "americano". (Here, I mean in Argentina).
And no, "estadounidense" isn't awkward. Feel free to use it.
Americans are people from the whole continent. Americans from the united States are U.S. Americans or U.S. nationals.
People from Brazil are Brazilians and Americans
People from Canada are Canadians and Americans
people from the U.S. are U.S. Americans and Americans.
The same way people from Japan are Japanese and Asian
The same way people from Lybia are Africans and Africans
The same way people from Spain are Spanish and Europeans
The same way people from Israel are Israeli and Asian.
B.S.
First of all..
Brazilians are South Americans.
Canadians are North Americans.
Would a Brazilian or a Canadian go to Europe or Asia and when asked "Where're you from?" Would they answer with "America"?
Would a Russian claim to be Asian?
Just because 1% of the world get bent out of shape about the meaning of the word 'American', doesn't mean the other 99% is wrong.
Never have I seen/heard/met someone who identifies with their continent of birth before their country of birth.
And I bed to differ with you. I have met Canadians while traveling abroad that say I am from Vancouver or I am from Toronto.
Yes, but of course people would say that. People all over the world would tell you what city they are from. I am talking exclusively about states or territories. I can't really remember if I've heard anyone outside of the states identify with a state or region before their city/town or country. I just find it interesting.
First of all..
Brazilians are South Americans.
Canadians are North Americans.
Would a Brazilian or a Canadian go to Europe or Asia and when asked "Where're you from?" Would they answer with "America"?
Would a Russian claim to be Asian?
Just because 1% of the world get bent out of shape about the meaning of the word 'American', doesn't mean the other 99% is wrong.
Never have I seen/heard/met someone who identifies with their continent of birth before their country of birth.
I'm interested in hearing the answers to these questions.
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