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Yes I understand that, I'm not arguing that the term American to some means from the U.S. I've said that in an earlier post. The point that myself and others have made is that depending on where you live in the world the term differs.
This story came out today, another possibly silly cities rankings. Notice how they use the term America. It includes the U.S., Canada and Brazil.
That's why as I said earlier it's fun to challenge some folks from the States on the term American...many haven't a clue that it does not mean EXCLUSIVELY people from the U.S.
"Challenging" people on the use of the word "American" makes little sense when speaking English.
What English language equivalent of "Estadounidense" is there? Stater? US-er?
None. Throughout the English speaking world, the proper way to describe citizens of the US is "American":
a·mer·i·can
/əˈmerikən/
Adjective
Of, relating to, or characteristic of the United States or its inhabitants.
Noun
A native or citizen of the United States.
Even in places like Portugal, "Americano" is used to identify people from the United States. In Germany, it's Amerikaner.
Canadians don't run around calling themselves American, and that's because they have a very valid and easy adjective to use: Canadian. No such luck for the United Stateser.
If you tell most people in the world you're American they are sure as hell going to know you're talking about the United States. That's because Mexicans, Brazilians, Canadians, etc. call themselves.... Mexican, Brazilian, and Canadian.
If absolutely necessary, they will say, for example "North American" "South American" and "Central American" .... which would only oddly been used when people feel the need to identify broadly with their continental origins. In my experience, only the most disagreeable inhabitants of the Americas will take issue with "American" being used as an adjective for "Of the United States." Usually the kinds of people who have general disdain for the USA in general.
The "Americas" are unique from when someone calls themselves a "European" or an "Asian" because THOSE terms are much more loaded, and 99% of the time indicate racial origins in addition to nationality. Being from the "Americas" provides no clues as to your racial or ethnic identity... which brings us full circle back to the word "Hispanic," since being Hispanic gives no real clues as to what you may look like, or your background.
"Challenging" people on the use of the word "American" makes little sense when speaking English.
What English language equivalent of "Estadounidense" is there? Stater? US-er?
None. Throughout the English speaking world, the proper way to describe citizens of the US is "American":
a·mer·i·can
/əˈmerikən/
Adjective
Of, relating to, or characteristic of the United States or its inhabitants.
Noun
A native or citizen of the United States.
Even in places like Portugal, "Americano" is used to identify people from the United States. In Germany, it's Amerikaner.
Canadians don't run around calling themselves American, and that's because they have a very valid and easy adjective to use: Canadian. No such luck for the United Stateser.
If you tell most people in the world you're American they are sure as hell going to know you're talking about the United States. That's because Mexicans, Brazilians, Canadians, etc. call themselves.... Mexican, Brazilian, and Canadian.
If absolutely necessary, they will say, for example "North American" "South American" and "Central American" .... which would only oddly been used when people feel the need to identify broadly with their continental origins. In my experience, only the most disagreeable inhabitants of the Americas will take issue with "American" being used as an adjective for "Of the United States." Usually the kinds of people who have general disdain for the USA in general.
The "Americas" are unique from when someone calls themselves a "European" or an "Asian" because THOSE terms are much more loaded, and 99% of the time indicate racial origins in addition to nationality. Being from the "Americas" provides no clues as to your racial or ethnic identity... which brings us full circle back to the word "Hispanic," since being Hispanic gives no real clues as to what you may look like, or your background.
This is an excellent post, both on American and Hispanic. The only value I see in the word Hispanic is in advertising, meaning you can communicate in Spanish and a lot of people will mostly understand what you are trying to say...and yes, I understand that there are differences in language by geography.
why would it be a joke about argentinians?? You guys dont know where Argentina is, or even is it is an island in the pacific ocean. If you made a joke about us it will mean you know something to joke about, instead of thinking we are mexico, duh
have you been paying attention at all? lol
So you really believe that no US citizen would ever know where Buenos Aires and Argentina are located? Really? Because most people I know who are educated and/or fairly well-travelled would have some knowledge of the region--many people I know have actually been to Buenos Aires or would like to travel there.
Assuming the worst about people based on a tossed off joke sort of makes you sound as stupid as those you imagine to make fun of.
So you really believe that no US citizens knows where Buenos Aires and Argentina are located? Really? Because most people I know who are educated and/or fairly well-travelled would have some knowledge of the region--many people I know have actually been to Buenos Aires or would like to travel there.
Assuming the worst about people based on a tossed off joke sort of makes you sound as stupid as those you imagine to make fun of.
You really hit the nail on the head. In other words - Pot, meet Kettle.
"Challenging" people on the use of the word "American" makes little sense when speaking English.
What English language equivalent of "Estadounidense" is there? Stater? US-er?
None. Throughout the English speaking world, the proper way to describe citizens of the US is "American":
a·mer·i·can
/əˈmerikən/
Adjective
Of, relating to, or characteristic of the United States or its inhabitants.
Noun
A native or citizen of the United States.
Even in places like Portugal, "Americano" is used to identify people from the United States. In Germany, it's Amerikaner.
Canadians don't run around calling themselves American, and that's because they have a very valid and easy adjective to use: Canadian. No such luck for the United Stateser.
If you tell most people in the world you're American they are sure as hell going to know you're talking about the United States. That's because Mexicans, Brazilians, Canadians, etc. call themselves.... Mexican, Brazilian, and Canadian.
If absolutely necessary, they will say, for example "North American" "South American" and "Central American" .... which would only oddly been used when people feel the need to identify broadly with their continental origins. In my experience, only the most disagreeable inhabitants of the Americas will take issue with "American" being used as an adjective for "Of the United States." Usually the kinds of people who have general disdain for the USA in general.
The "Americas" are unique from when someone calls themselves a "European" or an "Asian" because THOSE terms are much more loaded, and 99% of the time indicate racial origins in addition to nationality. Being from the "Americas" provides no clues as to your racial or ethnic identity... which brings us full circle back to the word "Hispanic," since being Hispanic gives no real clues as to what you may look like, or your background.
Right on.
I'll repeat - out of all the countries in North, Central, and South America, the ONLY country that incorporates the word "America" into the name of the country is (wait for it, wait for it....)
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
So - when shortening this rather long name, people the world over (not just citizens of the United States of America) use phrases which include, but are not limited to, terms like "American" or "America" (as in the song "God Bless America"). Other common monikers are "US," "USA," "the States," etc. But it would be a bit awkward to call someone a "Stater" or a "US-er" or a "Uniteder." Come on.
But the traditional nomenclature endures. Except for people from the Spanish-speaking world, most people in the world still say "I will visit America" or "She's American" -- in Europe, in Asia, in Australia, in Africa, in the Middle East. Canadians might not say "America" (but some do), and 99.9% say "American." To suggest, as some posters here, that only people from the United States promote "America"/"American" is preposterous.
"Challenging" people on the use of the word "American" makes little sense when speaking English.
What English language equivalent of "Estadounidense" is there? Stater? US-er?
None. Throughout the English speaking world, the proper way to describe citizens of the US is "American":
a·mer·i·can
/əˈmerikən/
Adjective
Of, relating to, or characteristic of the United States or its inhabitants.
Noun
A native or citizen of the United States.
Even in places like Portugal, "Americano" is used to identify people from the United States. In Germany, it's Amerikaner.
Canadians don't run around calling themselves American, and that's because they have a very valid and easy adjective to use: Canadian. No such luck for the United Stateser.
If you tell most people in the world you're American they are sure as hell going to know you're talking about the United States. That's because Mexicans, Brazilians, Canadians, etc. call themselves.... Mexican, Brazilian, and Canadian.
If absolutely necessary, they will say, for example "North American" "South American" and "Central American" .... which would only oddly been used when people feel the need to identify broadly with their continental origins. In my experience, only the most disagreeable inhabitants of the Americas will take issue with "American" being used as an adjective for "Of the United States." Usually the kinds of people who have general disdain for the USA in general.
The "Americas" are unique from when someone calls themselves a "European" or an "Asian" because THOSE terms are much more loaded, and 99% of the time indicate racial origins in addition to nationality. Being from the "Americas" provides no clues as to your racial or ethnic identity... which brings us full circle back to the word "Hispanic," since being Hispanic gives no real clues as to what you may look like, or your background.
Yeah I'm with Kathryn on this, Singapore native here that's lived in India as well. American out in Asia is exclusively referring to people from the United States.
Last edited by Trafalgar Law; 04-09-2013 at 10:24 AM..
Good point. Of course, English Canadians tend to have an "issue" with their similarity to Americans (read = people from the United States). It's sort of like people from Luxembourg who like to think they are more like the French, when in reality they really are more like the Germans.
Good point. Of course, English Canadians tend to have an "issue" with their similarity to Americans (read = people from the United States). It's sort of like people from Luxembourg who like to think they are more like the French, when in reality they really are more like the Germans.
How about French-Canadians?
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. If you made a joke about us it will mean you know something to joke about, instead of thinking we are mexico, duh
