Reply to Referring to people from USA as "American"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][qu[b]ote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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.[/quote]

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! [/quote]

MOST humans are taught there are 5 continents. [/quote]

Really!?! Is this what Europeans are taught? I'm very curious now! [/quote]

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.

[/quote]

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