So, in light of it being July 4th, I have a question for the Americans

**pornJester** · 07-04-2004, 05:17 PM

Ok, let's call it Pimptopia.. happy?

**Tempest** · 07-04-2004, 05:17 PM

Shit disturber..

**StuartD** · 07-04-2004, 05:18 PM

Originally posted by pornJester
Ok, let's call it Pimptopia.. happy?

Heh, I like that. So that would make you a Pimptonian then, correct?

**Spunky** · 07-04-2004, 05:19 PM

Canada's Big Brother

**pornJester** · 07-04-2004, 05:19 PM

Originally posted by MaskedMan
Heh, I like that. So that would make you a Pimptonian then, correct?

Fo' sure. Damn someone registered that domain already.

**Rep** · 07-04-2004, 05:27 PM

Actually, Canada is derived from the word "kanata" which in Huron-Iroquois language means "village" or "settlement".

http://www.canadianaconnection.com/cca/name_canada.htm

So you're just a description aswell. I'd stick with United States.

**StuartD** · 07-04-2004, 05:29 PM

Originally posted by Rep
Actually, Canada is derived from the word "kanata" which in Huron-Iroquois language means "village" or "settlement".

http://www.canadianaconnection.com/cca/name_canada.htm

So you're just a definition aswell.

Every word comes from some other word... but Canada itself is just a name. It's not a definition.. it came from a definition.

United States is hardly a new word derived from some other language.

**xxxdesign-net** · 07-04-2004, 05:31 PM

Originally posted by MaskedMan

I figure this is why people from the US are called Americans...

Americans.. Who made that name official? Did they think they were alone on the continent..?

**StuartD** · 07-04-2004, 05:36 PM

I just want it to be said that I have nothing agains the name "The United States".. I just think it could be fun to think of some other names that the US could have ended up with.

**fuzebox** · 07-04-2004, 05:40 PM

Calling someone a "United Station" instead of an "American" would be kind of weird.

**L0stMind** · 07-04-2004, 05:43 PM

Thats why you call em texans or californians or new yorkers etc.

**StuartD** · 07-04-2004, 05:47 PM

Originally posted by L0stMind
Thats why you call em texans or californians or new yorkers etc.

Yeah, but you're a British Columbian just as much as a Canadian... so... why can't a Texan be a... uhmm... United Station?

Fuzebox, I'm so gonna hurt you for that.

**L0stMind** · 07-04-2004, 05:51 PM

Bah, I cant see you hurting anyone...

United Station sounds like a dance music radio broadcast...

**StuartD** · 07-04-2004, 05:52 PM

Originally posted by L0stMind
Bah, I cant see you hurting anyone...

United Station sounds like a dance music radio broadcast...

he lives 4 floors down from me now, I could drop stuff on his head

Actually that sounds like fun, but no.. you're right. I couldn't do it.

**CDSmith** · 07-04-2004, 06:19 PM

Some names I came up with....

New Britain

Kickassistan

Lower Nukegolia

Betterthanyoustria

Slowa (opposite of Rush-ia)

Aggressoronia

**pimplink** · 07-04-2004, 06:23 PM

Originally posted by MaskedMan
Why do you figure it is that the United States was never given it's own name... and what would you name it?

I mean... ok, put it this way, Canada is what this country is called, Jamaica is what that country is called... but the United States isn't so much a name, it's what it is... it's a description more than a name... it's 50 states united.

I figure this is why people from the US are called Americans... I mean, Canada is in North America as well, but we're Canadians. People are from Mexico are calls Mexicans... most countries have a name to call their inhabitants... but the US has "Americans."

So, what do you think would have been a good name for the US instead of the US?

I have an idea, Why don't you answer your own question and then tell us what you think, what do you think?

**boobmaster** · 07-04-2004, 06:24 PM

Originally posted by MaskedMan
Why do you figure it is that the United States was never given it's own name... and what would you name it?

I mean... ok, put it this way, Canada is what this country is called, Jamaica is what that country is called... but the United States isn't so much a name, it's what it is... it's a description more than a name... it's 50 states united.

I figure this is why people from the US are called Americans... I mean, Canada is in North America as well, but we're Canadians. People are from Mexico are calls Mexicans... most countries have a name to call their inhabitants... but the US has "Americans."

So, what do you think would have been a good name for the US instead of the US?

I would argue that the name of the country is 'America'. The word 'America' is a word that defines a continent but it is also used to refer to a country within that continent (as well as to the divided continents of North and South America).

Names are nouns. The head noun of the phrase "United States of America" is the noun "America". The phrase 'United States of America' is an extended name, a descriptive phrase if you will -- the same way that 'The Republic of Macedonia' is the extended name of 'Macedonia'.

Evidence for this: the suffix -an means roughly 'person who lives in country X', where X stands for the country denoted by the root or base word the suffix is attached to. e.g.,

Germany + -an = German = "person who resides in Germany."
Macedonia + -an = Macedonian = "person who resides in Macedonia."
Italy + -an = Italian = "person who resides in Italy."

by analogy ...

America + -an = American = "person who resides in the country, not continent, of America."

Another piece of evidence for this can be summarized in the following way: One of the ways in which the meanings of words change is by either by 'extending' or 'reducing' their frame of reference over time. At one point in the history of English, the word 'hound' ment the same thing that the word 'dog' means today. It referred to the class of dogs in general. Now it refers only to a specific breed of dog. Thus, it's scope of reference has reduced over time. The word 'America' is in the process of doing the same thing, although it still retains both meanings currently - continent AND country.

**boobmaster** · 07-04-2004, 06:26 PM

Originally posted by MaskedMan
So, what do you think would have been a good name for the US instead of the US?

SOUTH CANADA

**slapass** · 07-04-2004, 06:28 PM

We are not alone in our name style. You just have an ethnocentric way of looking at country names. Nice try though.

**ImLost** · 07-04-2004, 06:37 PM

america

**CDSmith** · 07-04-2004, 06:39 PM

Ragheadstompia

**StuartD** · 07-04-2004, 06:40 PM

Originally posted by slapass
We are not alone in our name style. You just have an ethnocentric way of looking at country names. Nice try though.

When did I say that the United States was the only one named in such a way?

**gornyhuy** · 07-04-2004, 06:50 PM

USSR = United Soviet Socialist Republic
UAE = United Arab Emirates (sp?)
UK = United Kingdom

Just to name a few.

**StuartD** · 07-04-2004, 06:54 PM

Originally posted by gornyhuy
USSR = United Soviet Socialist Republic
UAE = United Arab Emirates (sp?)
UK = United Kingdom

Just to name a few.

Ok, so come up with some new names for them too if you want, I just figured it would be neat to do the US since it is the 4th of July and all.

**pussyluver** · 07-04-2004, 06:54 PM

Canada, Mexico and the US - all North America. You're all Americans!!! Happy Now?

**Spunky** · 07-04-2004, 06:56 PM

Canada Jr

**nofx** · 07-04-2004, 06:59 PM

Originally posted by MaskedMan
So, what do you think would have been a good name for the US instead of the US?

Taxes R Us

**CDSmith** · 07-04-2004, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by gornyhuy
USSR = United Soviet Socialist Republic
UAE = United Arab Emirates (sp?)
UK = United Kingdom

Just to name a few.

USSR --- aka Russia
UK -- refers to a group of countries under one rule... Great Britain, or Britain.
UAE -- this may be one exception.

**StuartD** · 07-04-2004, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by spunky1
Canada Jr

Hahaha... somehow I don't think that one would go over very well

**StuartD** · 07-04-2004, 07:01 PM

Originally posted by nofx
Taxes R Us

I think that one suits Canada better actually.

**L0stMind** · 07-04-2004, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by MaskedMan
I think that one suits Canada better actually.

MUCH better name for Canada

**xxxdesign-net** · 07-04-2004, 07:06 PM

Originally posted by boobmaster
I would argue that the name of the country is 'America'. The word 'America' is a word that defines a continent but it is also used to refer to a country within that continent (as well as to the divided continents of North and South America).

Names are nouns. The head noun of the phrase "United States of America" is the noun "America". The phrase 'United States of America' is an extended name, a descriptive phrase if you will -- the same way that 'The Republic of Macedonia' is the extended name of 'Macedonia'.

Evidence for this: the suffix -an means roughly 'person who lives in country X', where X stands for the country denoted by the root or base word the suffix is attached to. e.g.,

Germany + -an = German = "person who resides in Germany."
Macedonia + -an = Macedonian = "person who resides in Macedonia."
Italy + -an = Italian = "person who resides in Italy."

by analogy ...

America + -an = American = "person who resides in the country, not continent, of America."

Another piece of evidence for this can be summarized in the following way: One of the ways in which the meanings of words change is by either by 'extending' or 'reducing' their frame of reference over time. At one point in the history of English, the word 'hound' ment the same thing that the word 'dog' means today. It referred to the class of dogs in general. Now it refers only to a specific breed of dog. Thus, it's scope of reference has reduced over time. The word 'America' is in the process of doing the same thing, although it still retains both meanings currently - continent AND country.

not sure what you are trying to prove... we figured out american was in reference to America... the question why Americans (and America)? WHats the story/reasoning behind naming the country like the continent...?

**fuzebox** · 07-04-2004, 07:11 PM

Originally posted by MaskedMan
I could drop stuff on his head

God damn, I never thought of that

**M_M** · 07-04-2004, 07:42 PM

well soon there will United States of Europe as well.. Dont think they will come up with a different name then

So, in light of it being July 4th, I have a question for the Americans

So, in light of it being July 4th, I have a question for the Americans

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