General Info

[Trim1]

If you don't accept there is a continent called 'America', surely you would accept there is a greater joint continent or region called the Americas. Whose people are American.

Of course I accept that there is a region called the Americas. I mentioned the "Americas" in my very first post on this subject. As for whether I would call the people who live in the Americas region "Americans," first I need to explain a few things.

This discussion is straying from the purpose of this message board, but I'll write something about the word "coger" in Spanish that should be useful to mongers.

The administrator would be justified in moving this discussion somewhere else or suppressing it, but I think this topic is going to come up over and over ("International" is in the name of the website), so maybe we might as well try to settle it now.

My explanation is long (Monger Longer described something shorter that I wrote as "verbal diarrhea"). I tried to give a shorter explanation, but it looks like this is a complicated topic that requires a long explanation.

JjBee62 pointed out that there is a Miami both in Florida and in Ohio and that the most popular answer isn't necessarily correct. If someone says he is from Miami and you assume that he means Miami, Florida, you could be wrong.

If someone says he plays football, he might mean that he plays American football (a game that originated in the United States of America, also known as gridiron) or he might mean that he plays a game that Americans call soccer. In writing "Americans" here, I am referring to people from the United States of America rather than people from the Americas region. I'll return to this topic later.

Let's say an American (again, I'm referring to someone from the United States of America) travels to England and says to an Englishman that he plays football when he means that he plays American football. The listener thinks the American means soccer because that is what football means in England (and most of the world). However, in the United States and Canada, American football is simply called "football. ".

Is the Englishman wrong or is the American wrong? The Englishman has the wrong idea about what the American plays, but it is because the American did not adapt his language to the conventions used in England. Was it wrong for the American to say that plays football? He does play football, and if he had said that in the United States of America or Canada, there would be no confusion. In England, however, he needed to say "American football" to communicate clearly because "football" in England means what Americans call soccer.

In discussing how language is used in different parts of the world, it might be more useful to think in terms of "how can I communicate clearly?" rather than in terms of what is correct or not correct. The same word can have more than one meaning. However, the conventional meaning of a word may be different in different parts of the world or in different communities. Meanings can also change over time.

Here is an article about the Spanish word coger: https://thebogotapost.com/cogiendo-coger/6449/.

According to this article, coger means "to fuck" in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the USA and it doesn't have that meaning in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, and Spain. However, a Colombian told me that she tried to use the word in Panama with the meaning that she wanted to catch a bus, and the person thought what she said was funny because it has a vulgar meaning there.

So, do I accept that people from the Americas region should be called Americans? What is important is not what I accept, but what other people accept. If I write "Bob is an American," I need to guess what someone else is going to think upon reading my sentence. If that person grew up in an English-speaking country, he will most likely think that I am saying that Bob is from the United States of America. If that person grew up in Latin America, then it is more complicated. He would probably still think that I mean that Bob is from the United States of America, but he might think that I mean that he is from the continent of America.

Also, if the person is from Latin America, there might be some kind of discussion about how people from the United States of America are egotistical for calling themselves Americans. That normally doesn't happen with people who grew up in English-speaking countries. I believe that mainly comes from the different continent model that is used in Latin America. If someone from the continent of Asia is an Asian, shouldn't someone from the continent of America be called an American? But there is no continent named America for English-speakers.

There is, however, a region called the Americas. Shouldn't we call people who live in the Americas "Americans?" It is important to note that the English language doesn't have a centralized authority for the English language like the Real Academia Espanola. We don't have a language designer saying things like, "the word American should mean someone from the Americas region and we could call people from the United States of America 'Americans' but we will pick something else because that term is already reserved for people from the Americas region. ".

At some point in time, people just started using America to refer to the United States of America and American to refer to people from the United States of America. There is no problem for English-speakers in using America to refer to the United States of America. There is no confusion. However, for Spanish-speakers, America has a different meaning: it means a continent. Since English-speakers refer to the United States of America as America, it is only natural for us to also refer to people from the United States of America as Americans. But what about people from the Americas region?

As you have probably noticed, we often need to have some way to refer to people from the United States of America. English-speakers have settled on calling people from the United States of America "Americans" and I kept referring to an American in my football example. I'm willing to call people from the United States of America estadounidenses or gringos in Spanish. If everyone else called people from the United States of America USAns and JustTK's made-up word were in the dictionary, I would use it, too.

As for needing a way to refer to people who live in the Americas region, that doesn't come up in conversation or writing nearly as often. Americans are not thinking, "if we call ourselves Americans, then what we will call people from the Americas region?" If I needed to convey the meaning that Bob is from somewhere in the Americas region, I would write it just like that ("Bob is from somewhere in the Americas region") rather than write "Bob is an American" because my guess would be that the reader would be thinking that I mean that Bob is from the United States of America if I wrote it that way. I might be willing to express the same idea as "Bob es americano" in Spanish because I think I'd have a better chance of conveying the meaning that Bob is from the American continent that way, but I have found that even Spanish-speakers often understand "americano" to mean someone from the United States of America.

It is not up to me to assign meanings to words (unless I'm making up a new word). I have to guess how other people will interpret words, and how they interpret words may depend on the context, the location, and / or their background.

[JjBee62]

Would someone else like to explain to JustTK why when a person from the United States says he is American he means that he is from the United States of America as opposed to trying to convey the meaning that he is from the Americas region? (It is also true that a person from the United States is from the Americas region since the United States is part of the Americas region.) I could explain it to him myself, but maybe it would be better to let someone else do it.

And I thought I was bad.

Is a Carolinan from North Carolina or South Carolina? How about a Dakotan? If someone writes they are from Jersey, you would probably assume New Jersey, but you could be way off. Miami? Florida or Ohio? Indiana? State or city in Pennsylvania? The most popular answer isn't necessarily correct. Sure, usually American refers to a citizen of the US, but if someone is confused, what's the harm in clarifying? It's worth noting that Colombians do not typically refer to us as "Americanos. ".

When I lived in New Mexico, I had Americans, from the USA, ask if I needed a passport to get into the US. True story.

In the context JustTK used it, he was correct. If Petro's policies are considered unfriendly to the US of A, but not to all the other countries in the Americas, it's not correct to say he's unfriendly to America.

If you had told the Romanian "USA", she would have immediately known where you were from. The same is true if you had said "New York. ".

Just my thoughts on the subject.

[Trim1]

If you don't accept there is a continent called 'America', surely you would accept there is a greater joint continent or region called the Americas. Whose people are American.

Note. You don't need to say your a USAn, that was a bit of fun, but you could say " I am from the USA", or from Wyoming, or even North American. But whatever, I still contend its not correct to claim that Petro is not America-friendly.

Would someone else like to explain to JustTK why when a person from the United States says he is American he means that he is from the United States of America as opposed to trying to convey the meaning that he is from the Americas region? (It is also true that a person from the United States is from the Americas region since the United States is part of the Americas region.) I could explain it to him myself, but maybe it would be better to let someone else do it.

[JustTK]

Again, for native English-speakers, there is no single continent named America. In the seven-continent model, North America and South America are separate continents.

If you don't accept there is a continent called 'America', surely you would accept there is a greater joint continent or region called the Americas. Whose people are American.

Note. You don't need to say your a USAn, that was a bit of fun, but you could say " I am from the USA", or from Wyoming, or even North American. But whatever, I still contend its not correct to claim that Petro is not America-friendly.

[Trim1]

Just not worth arguing about. Both sides have a point.

I don't think there should be anything to argue about. I think it is obvious that when a person from the United States of America says that he is American or from America, he is referring to the United States of America rather than the continent of America in the six-continent combined-America model. Again, for native English-speakers, there is no single continent named America. In the seven-continent model, North America and South America are separate continents. What is there to argue?

[Combo]

I'm trying to explain why people from the United States of America often call ourselves Americans in English rather than "USAns" (JustTK's made-up word). People from Latin America (and some other countries) sometimes object to this because America is the name of a continent for them. They use a continent model in which North America and South America together are regarded as one continent called America (the six-continent combined-America continent model). In contrast, native English-speakers regard them as two separate continents and there is no single continent called America for us.

I thought this should have been clear to JustTK after I posted links to the Wikipedia article on "Continent" in English and Spanish two days ago, but he still writes things like, "Too lazy to say your from the USA or your a USAn. It would be simpler and more for all if you simply said your Floridan, or conetticutian or whatever, instead of saying your from a continent".

Just not worth arguing about. Both sides have a point.

[The Cane]

I'm trying to explain why people from the United States of America often call ourselves Americans in English rather than "USAns" (JustTK's made-up word). People from Latin America (and some other countries) sometimes object to this because America is the name of a continent for them. They use a continent model in which North America and South America together are regarded as one continent called America (the six-continent combined-America continent model). In contrast, native English-speakers regard them as two separate continents and there is no single continent called America for us.

I thought this should have been clear to JustTK after I posted links to the Wikipedia article on "Continent" in English and Spanish two days ago, but he still writes things like, "Too lazy to say your from the USA or your a USAn. It would be simpler and more for all if you simply said your Floridan, or conetticutian or whatever, instead of saying your from a continent".

One time I was over in Germany at an FKK club talking to a girl from Romania. She asked me where I was from and I replied, "The United States". She says, "Huh"? Again I answered, "The United States". Again she's like "What"? Finally I said, "America". Then she goes, "Oh, OK"! LOLOLOL! Now admittedly, most of those girls are pretty uneducated, and it's one reason why you find them working in FKK clubs. But that short exchange drives home the point. As JustTK proposes, there I was telling someone I was from the "United States", and in her mind that didn't click. But as soon as I said "America", then all of a sudden she understood and made the connection. And she wasn't thinking about the "United States of Mexico" or Costa Rica or Colombia or any place other than the USofA. My conversation with that girl showed just how ingrained around the world it is that "American" = somebody from the United States of America, and not from any other country in the Americas. And as you point out, even people from all the other countries in the Americas (including the United States of Mexico and Canada) think the same way. As was also pointed out, the only people who don't think that way are ones who have some axe to grind with the United States and its people "appropriating American" for themselves. Well that train left the station a long, long time ago. And it's not coming back!

[Trim1]

Verbal diarrhea. What are you hoping to accomplish other than coming across as argumentative?

I'm trying to explain why people from the United States of America often call ourselves Americans in English rather than "USAns" (JustTK's made-up word). People from Latin America (and some other countries) sometimes object to this because America is the name of a continent for them. They use a continent model in which North America and South America together are regarded as one continent called America (the six-continent combined-America continent model). In contrast, native English-speakers regard them as two separate continents and there is no single continent called America for us.

I thought this should have been clear to JustTK after I posted links to the Wikipedia article on "Continent" in English and Spanish two days ago, but he still writes things like, "Too lazy to say your from the USA or your a USAn. It would be simpler and more for all if you simply said your Floridan, or conetticutian or whatever, instead of saying your from a continent".

[Monger Longer]

1. You are free to use words as you see fit, however, if you use words in a different way than the people you interact with, there may be some communication difficulties.

2. "instead of saying your from a continent".

Are you saying that when someone says he is an American, he is saying that he is from the continent of America? In the seven-continent model that is used in English-speaking countries, there is no continent named America. There is a continent named America in the six-continent combined-America model that is mainly used in Romance language countries. Also, you should have written "you're" instead of "your. ".

"I never hear europeans say theyre from europe or africans say theyre from africa. ".

When someone from the United States of America says he is from America he is referring to the United States of America, not the continent of America in the six-continent combined-America. English-speaking countries use a different continent model.

As for saying "I'm a USAn" instead of "I'm an American," well, that is a word you made up. I wouldn't expect other people to use it. It doesn't have anything to do with laziness.

3. It is relevant. People who grew up in countries that use the seven-continent model generally use the word America to refer to the United States of America. People who grew up in countries that use the six-continent combined-America model tend to use the word America to refer to a continent instead and sometimes criticize the usage of the word America to refer to the United States of America. However, after I explain that that there is no continent named America in the seven-continent model, they usually have a better understanding of why the word has a different meaning for people from a different part of the world.

I think it is unlikely that you grew up in country where English is the primary language.

Verbal diarrhea. What are you hoping to accomplish other than coming across as argumentative?

[OldSchool318]

Been a hot minute since I've been down in Colombia and I heard weed is legal now. I recently asked the same question I'm the Thai section.

Do they have shops for it, and can you smoke in street or bars?

Also are there a bunch of chicas that like the good shit?

When I was there I brought gummies and a vape pen and the girls who liked it were really turned on by it.

Feel like it being legal maybe it opens up some more doors if the stigma is gone. In the CR I had a GF that hated it because she was brainwashed by the drug wars. I always feel like it would of done her some good.

[Trim1]

1. Prescriptive v descriptive. You must use words according to definitions v you are free to use words how you see fit.

2. Lazy. Too lazy to say your from the USA or your a USAn. It would be simpler and more for all if you simply said your Floridan, or conetticutian or whatever, instead of saying your from a continent.

I never hear europeans say theyre from europe or africans say theyre from africa.

3. Not relevant.

1. You are free to use words as you see fit, however, if you use words in a different way than the people you interact with, there may be some communication difficulties.

2. "instead of saying your from a continent".

Are you saying that when someone says he is an American, he is saying that he is from the continent of America? In the seven-continent model that is used in English-speaking countries, there is no continent named America. There is a continent named America in the six-continent combined-America model that is mainly used in Romance language countries. Also, you should have written "you're" instead of "your. ".

"I never hear europeans say theyre from europe or africans say theyre from africa. ".

When someone from the United States of America says he is from America he is referring to the United States of America, not the continent of America in the six-continent combined-America. English-speaking countries use a different continent model.

As for saying "I'm a USAn" instead of "I'm an American," well, that is a word you made up. I wouldn't expect other people to use it. It doesn't have anything to do with laziness.

3. It is relevant. People who grew up in countries that use the seven-continent model generally use the word America to refer to the United States of America. People who grew up in countries that use the six-continent combined-America model tend to use the word America to refer to a continent instead and sometimes criticize the usage of the word America to refer to the United States of America. However, after I explain that that there is no continent named America in the seven-continent model, they usually have a better understanding of why the word has a different meaning for people from a different part of the world.

I think it is unlikely that you grew up in country where English is the primary language.

[JustTK]

What do you mean by "that language was prescriptive"? And what exactly are you referring to with "And very lazy"?

Also, where did you grow up?

1. Prescriptive v descriptive. You must use words according to definitions v you are free to use words how you see fit.

2. Lazy. Too lazy to say your from the USA or your a USAn. It would be simpler and more for all if you simply said your Floridan, or conetticutian or whatever, instead of saying your from a continent.

I never hear europeans say theyre from europe or africans say theyre from africa.

3. Not relevant.

[JustTK]

You're being argumentative over semantics.

If you tell anyone in Colombia "soy americano", or "soy de america", 100% of them will infer that means the united states.

1. No, not at all. Poster said Petro's policies are anti-American. I said no, he is clearly cultivating better relationships w most American countries. Hence he is pro-American.

2. No doubt they would think your from USA bcos they would deduce from what you said that you can't speak Spanish.

[Trim1]

I had no idea that language was prescriptive. You should write a book about it. Yes. And very lazy. I prefer if you use made up words like USAn.

What do you mean by "that language was prescriptive"? And what exactly are you referring to with "And very lazy"?

Also, where did you grow up?

[Trim1]

One question though. Are you talking about the United States of America or LOS Estados Unidos Mexicanos?

Theoretically, "Estados Unidos" could refer to either the United States of America or Estados Unidos Mexicanos, but I'm sure you know just as well as I do that the generally accepted meaning of Estados Unidos is the former rather than the latter. So far, I have not met anyone who thinks that "Estados Unidos" (without "Mexicanos" following the two words) refers to Mexico or that an estadounidense is a person from Mexico.

I wrote Estados Unidos Mexicanos without "LOS" preceding the three words to follow the language of this article: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9xico.

For example, "Desde su conformacion como Estado federal, el nombre oficial del pais es Estados Unidos Mexicanos, aunque la Constitucion de 1824 usaba indistintamente las expresiones Nacion Mexicana why Estados Unidos Mexicanos. ".

I'm sure you also know that the generally accepted meaning of "America" in English-speaking countries is "the United States of America. " You've spent a lot of time in Latin America, so you probably already knew that "America" is the name of a continent for Latin Americans. Some people struggle with the idea that the word "America" can have different meanings in different parts of the world.