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[laureltp]

you throw the bait at us and we took it.

Ahhh the good ol' ' soy Americano' debate, a staple of expat life in Buenos Aires. I've enjoyed a few good beers going back and forth over that question. For good measure, next time you find yourself in that discussion, just find a way to throw out the fact that there are, indeed, 7 continents on the planet, and see what kind of response you get from the Argentines, or Argentinians, as the case may be.

 

[SaraSara]

The Vikings very likely discovered America before...

I've always believed that, but recently found out that the famous Vinland map which proved it may be a forgery.

 

[French jurist]

I've always believed that, but recently found out that the famous Vinland map which proved it may be a forgery.

Indeed but L'Anse aux meadows is genuine ("compelling evidence" would say some !).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L'Anse_aux_Meadows

 

[French jurist]

There is too this archeological site off the coasts of Rio de Janeiro where Roman amphoras (late period, coming from north africa) were found. Probably a merchant vessel that got lost.

 

[mini]

Well, he really discover America to the rest of the 'civilized' world so the 'estadounidenses' imported from the British islands and then from every other parts of the world can call themselves Americans....but then the Spanish, the French and Portuguese were in the same boat (continent) why they can't call themselves Americans too?....If an Argentine present himself and said I'm an American...is viewed almost ridicule and obscene to others who didn't born in the continent.

If s/he said it in English it would be taken to mean he is from the USA as that is the most common use of the English word. If said in Spanish they know s/he means from the continent.

BTW, this "confusion" only happens in Spanish. There is no other word for a citizen of the United States of America in French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Polish, Russian & probably a whole bunch more. ONLY in Spanish are citizens of the USA called "estadounidense" (United Statians).

North Americans from the US have taken over that name and declared it their own, but that doesn't mean much to the South Americans who feel the same way. And in reality, they have much more historical claim to it. Because before their was a USA, there was the Americas and all those living in the Americas were, wait for it........... Americans.

Um... No. They were Inca, Maya, Souix, Iriqois, Zapara, Yagua, Chipawa, Cherokee, Yanomamo, Kayapo, Aztec, etc, etc, etc, etc.

 

[French jurist]

If s/he said it in English it would be taken to mean he is from the USA as that is the most common use of the English word. If said in Spanish they know s/he means from the continent.

BTW, this "confusion" only happens in Spanish. There is no other word for a citizen of the United States of America in French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Polish, Russian & probably a whole bunch more. ONLY in Spanish are citizens of the USA called "estadounidense" (United Statians).

In french, there is one word Mini : Etats-Unien although Américain is used more often

 

[French jurist]

Nevertheless, it could well be that Americans named themselves this way, not to differentiate themselves from other "Americans" but primarly to affirm their own identity in regard of the British.

 

[mini]

In french, there is one word Mini : Etats-Unien although Américain is used more often

"More often"? In 15 years of living in French speaking countries in Europe I've never heard it used by normal speaking people. It seems to be a word from Quebec, and a relatively new one at that.
http://correcteurs.blog.lemonde.fr/2007/06/04/etats-uniens/
"Par contre, en France si vous parlez “États-uniens”, on vous regarde de travers ou on vous prend pour un snob !"

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/états-unien
(usage: rare)

 

[AlexfromLA]

Um...... Yes. They are all , wait for it.............. Native Americans if you want to get specific.

Um... No. They were Inca, Maya, Souix, Iriqois, Zapara, Yagua, Chipawa, Cherokee, Yanomamo, Kayapo, Aztec, etc, etc, etc, etc.

 

[French jurist]

Bonjour Mini,

By more often, I meant Américain of course.
Yes, "Etats-Uniens" is quite rare and the first link (excellent blog btw) explains quite well the root.
As one of the reactions explain, Mexico is in fact "Estados Unidos Mexicanos", so the same problem should occur.

In fact, quite often people trying to name "Americans" a different way do so for political purposes.