Why Do Brits Call The United States "America"? (weather, capita)

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by RubyandPearl

Repeat post:

Sheesh.

How many times does one have to say the same thing?

The question isn't about what the people are called, it's about what the country is called, ie. America vs US.

I'm exhausted.

You still have not answered the question, in terms of what other than American are we supposed to call you.

[saibot]

Originally Posted by RubyandPearl

America isn't faster or easier to say than "US"

That's the whole point.

People don't say United Kingdom, they say UK.

I'm exhausted.

Actually, regardless of the fact that one is four syllables and the other is two, they take about the same time to say. And for that matter, it's hardly ever just "US," it's "the US."

I find the long stressed syllables (the you...esss...) more ponderous than "America," which trips lightly off the tongue.

[RubyandPearl]

Originally Posted by saibot

Actually, regardless of the fact that one is four syllables and the other is two, they take about the same time to say. And for that matter, it's hardly ever just "US," it's "the US."

I find the long stressed syllables (the you...esss...) more ponderous than "America," which trips lightly off the tongue.

Saying America involves the lips - M and R, and the throat - C as well as the tongue.

US only uses the tongue and slides right out.

[Shawn Ford]

Even as an American, I always thought they were saying; "united SLATES of america" which I thought was kind of dumb but chalked it up to the fact that all the good names were already used up or the guy that first used that term (Madison?) was drunk and slurring his words. Thanks for clearing this up, it makes much more sense now.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by Brave New World

You still have not answered the question, in terms of what other than American are we supposed to call you.

Well, how about “confused”?
This thread is getting belabored.

[saibot]

Originally Posted by RubyandPearl

Saying America involves the lips - M and R, and the throat - C as well as the tongue.

US only uses the tongue and slides right out.

Thanks for schooling me. I only have an MA in Linguistics so I’m not quite clear on how the speech apparatus works.

[Zoisite]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

Well, how about “confused”?

That works for me.

.

[bigpaul]

the UK is made up of 4 countries, the US is only one.
I live in England, I am English, not united kingdomish!

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

Well, how about “confused”?
This thread is getting belabored.

I will call Americans whatever they want to be called, however other than Americans I am perplexed as to what to call them.

[BruinsGirl]

I am from another country originally and we also called USA America.
I know at least several other country which does the same.
It is informal name for USA.