"USians"

[Masquerouge]

You never hear people saying, "I was on holidays in Asia" when they go to Thailand etc....

Yes, yes you do. Mostly from Americans.

 

[Arwon]

"Statesider"

Argument over, as far as lack of suitable alternatives go. If it's good enough for us Sydneysiders it's good enough for y'all. Brief, unambiguous, and not at all arrogant or imperialist.

I use estadounidenses in Spanish usually, though I find norteamericanos unacceptable as it feels like ignoring Mexico and Canada.

And those of you claiming to be confused - bull. You're being obstinate. You can usually tell if they mean the citizens of the US or the residents of the continents by the conversation around the term. It's rare that anyone will refer to or address someone not of the US as American.

Not true. In Spanish/Castillian, americano (and America) is frequently used to distinguish the peninsular from the rest of the Spanish speaking world. Among those of us who need to do this frequently in English it can be equally awkward... my "History of America" class was categorically NOT a course about the United States.

 

[Ansar]

I use estadounidenses in Spanish

.

 

[Arwon]

Seriously guys. Statesider.

 

[brennan]

IIf I have been talking about s. c. and n. america, and now I want to refer exclusively to USians, what term do you suggest to avoid confusion with previous context?


/thread

US Citizens. Duh.

 

[GenMarshall]

I find the term USians ridiculous.

 

[Evie]

So to sum up this thread :

1)Americans are going to go on calling themselves Americans. There is nothing nobody can do about this.

2)Quebecers, Latin Americans, and anyone else who dislike the above name are going to use whatever alternatives make them happy. There is nothing americans can do about this.

Everybody understand perfectly what both "American" and the alternative words (Unitedstatesians most of all) means, so there's no real use arguing one way or the other over it.

We can whine, rant, and try to denounce rabidly how the evil others are doing wrong all we want, but this is the way things are, and the way things will be.

 

[JtheJackal]

Instead of trying to change the name of people from the United States, you guys should work on making a prominent word for people from the American continents. I'm mean since North Americans and South Americans are too long for people to say apparently.

 

[Arwon]

State

Siders

 

[Evie]

Instead of trying to change the name of people from the United States, you guys should work on making a prominent word for people from the American continents. I'm mean since North Americans and South Americans are too long for people to say apparently.

North American and South American each address only half the region/continent. We'd like to have a word for everyone from the Tierra del Fuego to Nunavut, thank you very much.

And you know what? This continent/region was America before the country. So we'll stick with having an alternate name (well, I mean, one that doesn't involve expletives) for you guys, thank you very much.

 

[brennan]

Instead of trying to change the name of people from the United States, you guys should work on making a prominent word for people from the American continents.

I'll go with "Americans" thanks.

 

[Junzi Nicuzn]

And OUR point is that the United States hijacked our continent name for their own private name

Spoiler :

Thomas Jefferson: Gentleman, I have here with me a declaration. A document that will declare to the world we are of England no longer. We shall not serve a kingdom oversea, shall not bow to king we cannot see. A bold testament that we are a nation unto ourselves, a nation of free men. This declaration of independence will blaze a path that others will surely follow, for we tread ground few before have traveled. But the siren song of freedom is too great for any nation of thinking men to ignore, and just as the sun shall rise tomorrow; just men shall rise tomorrow and overthrow their oppressors. And this...

Jefferson holds up the Declaration of Independence in a clutched fist.

TJ: Shall lead the way! No longer will we shackle ourselves to a distant throne. We declare that we are independent, and united in our resolve to maintain that independence.

Jefferson holds the Declaration of Independence before him, admiring it.

Jefferson: I rather like it.

Jefferson: I wrote it myself, you know?

Ben Franklin: Hey!

Jefferson glances back at Franklin, now standing with his hands upon his hips in the back of the Hall.

Jefferson: With some help from Mr. Franklin, of course.

Franklin nods his head towards Jefferson before retaking his seat.

Jefferson: There's only one problem; I'm not entirely sure what to call ourselves. Each colony we represent is equal in this league, so we surely cannot name ourselves Virginia or Delaware or such. I was thinking Columbia, it seems rather popular with the people, but felt I should have your distinguished opinions first.

Franklin: Columbia seems a fine name to me.

John Hancock: To I as well. I believe, Mr. Jefferson, that none can oppose to Columbia as the name for the nation your document births.

Jefferson smiles, pleased that his proposal has been accepted. Then John Adams bolts upright out of his seat.

John Adams: Gentleman, wait! I believe we are overlooking something here. If we are to name this great nation Columbia, we will be styled as Columbians. A fine label, indeed, but hardly distinctive. If we instead called our nation America, we would be forever called Americans. Why, think about that. Any events, any policies taking place in British, French, or Spanish colonies here on these two continents could no longer be called American policies. Because we would be Americans! We can deny that label to all others, a final snub to those royal monarchs who would mistreat free and decent men. And it would be ever so confusing to the nations of the rest of the world. "Wait, do you mean Americans from America the country, or Americans from America the continent? I say, be more specific, I have no idea to which you refer from the context clues of the rest of your dialogue!" Oh, their confusion and annoyance would be so delightful!

Adams hugs himself with glee. A small murmur of approval ripples through the audience.

Hancock: A marvelous idea, but even we do not have the audacity to name our nation America. To name our country that when it holds but a small part of the land of the continent which shares its name is unthinkable

Jefferson speaks up, somewhat crestfallen that his name is no longer favored.

Jefferson: Perhaps...perhaps we can call ourselves the United States of America. For that is what we are; states, of America, united. And people will still call us Americans. People are not going to use the terms Uniteders or Statesians, for those are cumbersome and trip upon the tongue. No, if we name ourselves the United States of America they shall call us Americans and not even realize what we have done. Why, I bet it would be a couple centuries before they even began to suspect!

A hush falls over the group as they all stare at Jefferson. Adams stops hugging himself and begins to slowly clap. Franklin rises out of his seat and joins Adams in applause. The rest of the men in that hot Philadelphia hall follow suit. Thus a nation was born. And generations of people to come were condemned to be ignored, forgotten as no one knew what to call the rest who would occupy those two continents.

That is not how it happened. We did not "hijack" the term, we did not choose our name just to snub the rest of the landmass. It just evolved that way. Next time we name a nation, we'll be sure to consider the feelings of others.

Not true. In Spanish/Castillian, americano (and America) is frequently used to distinguish the peninsular from the rest of the Spanish speaking world. Among those of us who need to do this frequently in English it can be equally awkward... my "History of America" class was categorically NOT a course about the United States.

Touche. My lack of omniscience rears its ugly head.

So to sum up this thread :

1)Americans are going to go on calling themselves Americans. There is nothing nobody can do about this.

2)Quebecers, Latin Americans, and anyone else who dislike the above name are going to use whatever alternatives make them happy. There is nothing americans can do about this.

Everybody understand perfectly what both "American" and the alternative words (Unitedstatesians most of all) means, so there's no real use arguing one way or the other over it.

We can whine, rant, and try to denounce rabidly how the evil others are doing wrong all we want, but this is the way things are, and the way things will be.

Damn tootin', you fake froggy! I keed, I keed. I do agree with that post though. Spot on. On an unrelated side note, my boss is English Canadian, and boy does she love you Québécois. And by love, I mean to insult. I tend to ignore her anti-Québécois rants. Did I say unrelated side note? I meant pointless. This side note was pointless.

 

[gangleri2001]

Who the hell says USians?

 

[Lay_Lay]

The Central African republic is never called "Africa" and its people are "Central Africans". (And many languages, such as French, actually use "Centrafricans" instead.)

Then the Central African Republic is also guilty of such arrogance, since it claims the "Central Africans" label for its people. There are other Central African countries! Which did you mean?

Central African Republicans. That's what I'm calling em from now on. Arrogant bastads.

 

[Ansar]

Who the hell says USians?

Tu dices Estadounidense o Americano?

(translation: Do you say Estadounidense or Americano?)

 

[gangleri2001]

Tu dices Estadounidense o Americano?

I say Nord-americà

BTW, I'm pleased to make you know that you'll get some infractions points soon.

 

[Ansar]

I say Nord-americà

Is that Catalan?

BTW, I'm pleased to make you know that you'll get some infractions points soon.

You don't get an infraction if you include a translation.

 

[Evie]

Then the Central African Republic is also guilty of such arrogance, since it claims the "Central Africans" label for its people. There are other Central African countries! Which did you mean?

Actually, no, they're not.

That is because the official language there is French, not English.

And in French, the country name (République Centrafricaine) is quite distinct from Central Africa (Afrique Centrale). Similarly, Centrafricains (people of the CAR) are distinct, at least in writting from Africain du Centre, Centre-Africain, Africain Central, or any other french terms used for people from the broader Central Africa region.

 

[Gogf]

No, but there are two continents full of Americans. So to call citizens of the United States 'Americans' is to cause confusion. Imagine the confusion if you were to start talking about 'Europeans' and it transpired you were only talking about the French. It's just lazy language really.

Your analogy might make sense if France was actually called "The French State Of Europe" and if the people of the continent had not traditionally been called "Europeans." In reality, though, it doesn't.

I completely agree with Kraznaya, and I don't really understand why you guys use this term other than to show your distaste for the United States.

 

[gangleri2001]

You don't get an infraction if you include a translation.

I told you that because you wrote the pronoun "tú" WITHOUT accent. For that you clearly deserve some infraction points. BTW, you should read this thread:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=277975