Referring to people from USA as "American"

[Anonymous]

People from the USA have been referred to by the world as Americans and have been calling themselves Americans for a long time.

Who cares what the rest of the peewee countries in the Americas think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[qu[b]ote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:South American here who has lived in the USA for two decades. It boils down to how many continents there are. As you may or may not know, most people in the world are taught that there are 5 continents, with north and south America being a continent called America. (Antarctica is not considered a continent since it is inhabited). People in the USA and in a few more places are taught that there are 7 continents
Who is right? Arguments can be made either way.

The point is that Latin Americans think there are 5 continents, and someone from, say, Bolivia is American, as someone from the USA. This fact, as well as the perceived or actual arrogance / ethnocentrism from some/many people from the USA leads to the reaction you are describing.

Technically, the name "America" was first assigned in early 16 century maps to what is now the coast of Brazil. This fact, as well as the fact that most people in the world refer to America as the greater fifth continent, suggests that it is reasonable for people to be irked at the exclusivist use of the name by people in the USA. One could argue that people from the USA are one of the few poeple of the world without a internationally-agreed adjective for their nationality.

I don't mind at all if people call themselves American, since they are referring to their nationality and the word "America" is a formal part of their name. But, from a purely geographical (not nationality-based) perspective, American is anyone from the Americas.

OP here. I have spoken Spanish since I was 5 and had no clue some people thought there were 5 continents! you learn something new daily!

MOST humans are taught there are 5 continents.

Really!?! Is this what Europeans are taught? I'm very curious now!

In most of Europe they are taught 6- America, Europe, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, Asia

I believe in France, Antarctica is left out so they are taught 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares what the rest of the peewee countries in the Americas think?

... and this would be why they roll their eyes.

[Anonymous]

Looked up info on continents: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent

I thought everyone thought of 7 continents.

[Anonymous]

South American here. Yes, to be fully accurate, Europeans (including France as far as I know) are taught that Antarctica is a continent, while Latin Americans are taught that it is not. My point, however, remains that Europeans and Latin Americans (and many others) consider that America is a continent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares what the rest of the peewee countries in the Americas think?

... and this would be why they roll their eyes.

+1

[Anonymous]

I'm Canadian and I've never heard a Canadian refer to themselves as American, despite the fact that Canada is part of North America. Usually, we want to make it clear that we are not from the United States!

[Anonymous]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldseem%C3%BCller_map

[Anonymous]

Latin Americans are taught that the continent called America is divided into three parts -- south, central (or "meso") and North America.

The funny thing is that, for South Americans, Mexico is part of Central America, while Mexicans are adamant that they belong to North America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I would say that when you (plural you) are speaking English, the correct word is "American", and when you're speaking Spanish, the correct word is "estadounidense".

Especially since there is no continent called "America". The continents are North America and South America. People from Canada, the US, Mexico, and the countries in Central America are all North Americans. People from the countries in South America are South Americans.

You have been taught that there is no continent called America. Most people in the world, and all Latin Americans, are taught differently.

How do you know that "most people in the world", and all Latin Americans, are taught that the continents are Asia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, and America?

Also, geologically and biogeographically it does not make sense to lump North America and South America into one continent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:South American here. Yes, to be fully accurate, Europeans (including France as far as I know) are taught that Antarctica is a continent, while Latin Americans are taught that it is not. My point, however, remains that Europeans and Latin Americans (and many others) consider that America is a continent.

Wait, what? Latin Americans are taught that Antarctica is not a continent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Out of curiosity, what is the actual term in Spanish?

estadounidense- United Stateser

Gringo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are splitting hairs. North American is accurate, but so is American.

OP here. When I refer to myself as "American" I am corrected often by Spanish speakers.

I'm not trying to split hairs.

Mexico is also the United States of Mexico, but no one refers to them (in Spanish) as United Statesers.

I am corrected to by other Spanish speakers but guess what? I don't care. If Mexican's don;t refer to them selves as US'ers even though US is in their name that it their problem. America is in the USA name. The French refer to us as American. Everyone understands that American means us as in the USA.

For what it is worth, I was born in South America. If you want to sound silly and say I am American when you really mean Peruvian or Chilean who is not a Peruvian-American or Chilean-American, by all means do so. But you will look silly. It;s like someone from peekskill syaing they are New Yorkers. No, you are from upstate NY. Deal with it.

Other people being sensitive about it should not be our concern. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the people you mentioned can and should call themselves American. It's not different than calling yourself European when you are from Greece and/or Norway.

Then how do we distinguish Americans from Mexicans/Canadians whatnot? There's no other name that people from the US can call themselves.

I disagree that they're American. Central American/North American- Yes.

We can call ourselves North American too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Latin Americans are taught that the continent called America is divided into three parts -- south, central (or "meso") and North America.

The funny thing is that, for South Americans, Mexico is part of Central America, while Mexicans are adamant that they belong to North America.

No, South Americans know full well that by America and say "Yo soy Americano" you mean you are from the U.S.A. But they pull that bs like well we are all Americans to try to force some silly point.

I was born in South America and it annoys me when I go back on vacation and everyone is so "offended" if you say American. Offended by what? It is the country's name!!!!!

AMERICANO= USA