Quebec is to France what Mexico is to Spain - accurate analogy?

[ChrisC]

Originally Posted by Eduardo983

French and Italian speakers refer to people from the U.S. as états-unien and statunitense.

German speakers refer to people from the U.S. as "U.S.-Amerikaner" (U.S. American)

Spanish and Portuguese speakers refer to the people from the U.S. as estadounidense and estadunidense.

Originally Posted by Moth

I hate to burst your bubble.

I have lived in Europe and visited there numerous times as well as spending time in Canada and Latin America as well. Nobody uses USA or United States. Everybody says America. I myself used USA endlessly, but to no avail.

Everyone from the Tundra to Tierra del Fuego being Americans is true, semantically at least. But Canadians and Mexicans sure as hell are not going around proclaiming themselves Americans. Nor are Cubans, Bolivians, etc.

An American, as its generally understood and accepted, is someone from the USA. Its a convenience born out of phoenetics, not some sinister plot to monopolize a word. And it implies a nationality, whereas your use implies a wide geographical area.

An Argentine who insists he is an American is the exception, not the norm.

Hmmm, you can't both be right.

I haven't been to Europe, but I have to South America. What I remember hearing exclusively is either 'estadunidense' or 'norteamericano' (or gringo or colorado). Since I have never personally called myself an American in another country of the Americas, I can't say I've drawn an argument about it. To me, it's just an issue in logic and avoiding ambiguity.

[Moth]

Originally Posted by ChrisC

Hmmm, you can't both be right.

I haven't been to Europe, but I have to South America. What I remember hearing exclusively is either 'estadunidense' or 'norteamericano' (or gringo or colorado). Since I have never personally called myself an American in another country of the Americas, I can't say I've drawn an argument about it. To me, it's just an issue in logic and avoiding ambiguity.

Actually we both are right. He is right, semantically. I am by common acceptance.

And during 1 year's residence in Germany plus numerous other visits, I have NEVER heard US-Amerikaner. They say Amerikaners (M), Amerikanerin (F) or Amis (slang). And during lots of visits to Italy, I was always referred to as "American!" with that cute accent.

[Cornerguy1]

Great stuff, guys........and totally off the original topic.

Let's move on