American (USA)

[chileno]

I have a couple of questions. And a lot of people have problems with them.

"I live in America, and what is more, I became an American citizen not too long ago. Therefore, I am an American."

Does anybody disagree with these statements?


And why?


Do not be shy, please!

[poli]

Originally Posted by chileno

I have a couple of questions. And a lot of people have problems with them.

"I live in America, and what is more, I became an American citizen not too long ago. Therefore, I am an American."

Does anybody disagree with these statements?


And why?


Do not be shy, please!

I think a lot of people call citizens of the United Stated Americans, and for lack of a fast easy word for us, it's OK but it can sound imperialistic.
Please be aware that Canadians,Mexicans,Chileans,Brazilians and anyone a citizen of the Americas are techincally Americans too.
In Spanish, I sometimes refer to myself as estados unidense fully knowing it's an awkward word.

[Fazor]

Originally Posted by poli

I think a lot of people call citizens of the United Stated Americans, and for lack of a fast easy word for us, it's OK but it can sound imperialistic.

I remember one of my Spanish teachers in high school talking about this, and that some people can get offended by us calling ourselves "Americans" since, as you said, they're American too. I don't know if people really get offended or not, but I try not to say it when talking to non-US Americans, just in case.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by chileno

I have a couple of questions. And a lot of people have problems with them.

"I live in America, and what is more, I became an American citizen not too long ago. Therefore, I am an American."

Does anybody disagree with these statements?


And why?


Do not be shy, please!

I have my own opinion above.

The sencond phrase sound bad.

I prefer the first one.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

I have a couple of questions. And a lot of people have problems with them.

"I live in America, and what is more, I became an American citizen not too long ago. Therefore, I am an American."

Does anybody disagree with these statements?


And why?


Do not be shy, please!

Are you asking about the use of the word "America" to represent the "USA"? Or are you talking about the use of the word "citizen" to describe a "naturalized citizen"?

If the first, unfortunately, I have no issue with it. It's a context thing. In this context, and given what I already know about you, I know that you're talking about the USA and not "the Americas" in general. If someone wants to clarify, they may do so in context. We talk about context a lot here, and so I think it is nothing more than a context question. If someone is offended by the use of the term "American" to refer to someone in the USA, I think that their issue is not this term, but the fact that so many Americans (!!) are so often so ego-centrically offensive.

If the second ... I LOVE that there are more and more naturalized citizens. it's WHO and WHAT this wonderful country is all about. I take a HUGE issue with those who want to keep the USA looking all white and Anglo-like. We're built on the principles of the "melting pot" and in this global society, that means that there will be lots and lots of races and colors and creeds coming together.

CONGRATULATIONS, by the way!!

[Rusty]

Both sentences are correct, Crotalito. He wasn't asking for a correction. He's asking if it's OK to call himself an American.


The noun American has been used since 1580, according to some sources. It originally described the 'native American' discovered on the American continent.

Since then, three different meanings have evolved for the noun.

The first meaning listed in every dictionary I checked is "A citizen of the United States of America." The second meaning is "A native or inhabitant of the Western Hemisphere." The third meaning is "An Indian of North or South America."

So, when we citizens of the U.S. call ourselves Americans, we are simply using the first meaning given in the dictionaries of American English. When people other than citizens of the U.S. use the noun to refer to themselves, they are simply employing one of the other two definitions.

I think that those who are offended that we in the U.S. refer to ourselves as Americans should check the dictionary. They'll see we are employing the noun correctly.

[chileno]

Poli, laepelba and Rusty are onto something, but the subject is still lacking some more explanation.

I am going to wait until Angelica says something about this.

And please anybody else, please contribute with your knowledge and/or your opinion.

Thanks.

[tacuba]

I usually get around the problem by avoiding it altogether. Instead of saying "Soy americano" I will usually just say "Soy de Estados Unidos". I have used "Soy estadounidense" but I find it's really hard to pronounce after 3 or 4 beers.:>))

That being said, most Mexicans that I know here refer to U.S. citizens as "americanos". I don't think I've ever heard a Mexican use "estadounidense". And when the relationship is comfortable and familiar, they simply call me "gringo", or "pinche gringo" with no hint of disparagement.

I find that name calling (or giving nicknames) is very prevalent in Mexico. You hear "flaco", "gordita", "pelón", "chino", and others all the time among friends.

[Elaina]

In spanish, I have noticed that people from Mexico say, if you are born in the states as "Ah, eres Americana". But I wouldn't say, "Soy Americana" if for example I don't have blue eyes or blonde hair. Unfortunately many people relate one with the other. Gringa = Americana

If I was "Mexican-American", I wouldn't say, "Soy Americana", I would say "soy ciudadana americana" or "nací en los Estados Unidos". Of course, this would only come up in some other country and not here in the U.S. (I don't think).

My co-worker who is also an interpreter is always asked what part of Mexico she is from and she very politely says, "soy de los Estados Unidos". She too, would not say she is "Americana" as she does not have the features of a "white person".

I agree with Rusty about the usage of the noun, unfortunately it is widely misunderstood.

[Tomisimo]

If you're in Mexico, just say "soy del otro lado" and everyone will understand you.

[Elaina]

¡Eso es muy cierto!

[poli]

To make things more confusing. A Mexican one told me he was from the Estados Unidos de Mexico.

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by poli

To make things more confusing. A Mexican one told me he was from the Estados Unidos de Mexico.

Yes, the official name is Estados Unidos Mexicanos, not México.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Hernán: ¡eres un provocador profesional!

I can't have an opinion on personal choices. Having the citizenship of the country where you're living is to me a natural alternative.

Talking about the "gentilicio" itself, Rusty has stated a very objective linguistic point of view, which I subscribe to on principle. Personally, I have always preferred "estadounidense" and "US American", but I'm not prejudiced against someone else using "americano" and "American".

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Hernán: ¡eres un provocador profesional!

I can't have an opinion on personal choices. Having the citizenship of the country where you're living is to me a natural alternative.

Talking about the "gentilicio" itself, Rusty has stated a very objective linguistic point of view, which I subscribe to on principle. Personally, I have always preferred "estadounidense" and "US American", but I'm not prejudiced against someone else using "americano" and "American".

First of all - I totally agree with your first statement!!

Second - isn't it interesting that he refuses to comment until YOU have commented. Must be nice to be Angelica these days....

[chileno]

Aha!

Let me state that I am not un provocador profesional!

Amateur, YES

Ok, David nailed it to the ground, as a reply to Poli.


Estados Unidos Mexicanos. (or as one might surmise "Estados Unidos de Mexico")

Estados Unidos de America.

One is referred as Mexico, therefore the other has to be referred as America.

If anybody that lives in the Americas, calls him/herself american, it is rightly so, referring to the continent(s). Usually as North American, Central American or South American.

Brazil's, up until sometime in the 60's, name was Estados Unidos de Brazil, and was referred to, as Brazil.

Canada, Mexico and the USA, are all in North America, then they can all be called Norteamericanos. USA and Mexico could be both called Estado Unidenses along with Brazil.

Me extraña Angelica que siendo mejicana no hubieras visto esto venir.

All the comments were excellent! Thanks.

I hope nobody is mad at me. Just wanted to elicit some comments, which I got. I myself would get very upset when an American would say that he was an American and that i was Chilean.

I guess American people do not pay much attention to that instead of trying to not hurt people's feelings...

What say you?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by chileno

Aha!

Let me state that I am not un provocador profesional!

Amateur, YES

¿De veras?

Originally Posted by chileno

Estados Unidos Mexicanos. [...]

Me extraña Angelica que siendo meXicana no hubieras visto esto venir.

[...]

Jaja... mis preferencias históricas interfirieron con tus "malas intenciones". En general siempre pienso en "República Mexicana", no en el nombre oficial.

In any case, I never take part in the debate of how American is any American.


@Lou Ann: And you're learning fast.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

¿De veras?




Jaja... mis preferencias históricas interfirieron con tus "malas intenciones". En general siempre pienso en "República Mexicana", no en el nombre oficial.

In any case, I never take part in the debate of how American is any American.

@Lou Ann: And you're learning fast.

Yes, she is!

I like to teach American people, because they are more daring, even though they present themselves with the same insecurities as anybody else, but they tend to quelch them and plow ahead!

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Lou Ann: And you're learning fast.

Thanks!!

Originally Posted by chileno

Yes, she is!

I like to teach American people, because they are more daring, even though they present themselves with the same insecurities as anybody else, but they tend to quelch them and plow ahead!

You guys ARE talking about my learning Spanish fast, right? Or do you mean that I'm learning y'all's personalities fast? Hmmm.... Well, Thank you................

Originally Posted by chileno

I hope nobody is mad at me. Just wanted to elicit some comments, which I got. I myself would get very upset when an American would say that he was an American and that i was Chilean.

I guess American people do not pay much attention to that instead of trying to not hurt people's feelings...

What say you?

I am sometimes annoyed with the arrogance that many (most?) USAmerican's have. I guess that many people around the world are very proud of their own nations/nationalities. But for some reason, American pride sometimes seems to come off "different" in a way that I cannot put my finger upon. I don't think that the actual incidence of the use of "American" to mean "US Citizen" is what bothers me, but that we never developed our own "name" for our country. As if we needed one.... It really does come down to not hurting feelings... Do many USAmericans even care?

Anyway - you would have a difficult time making me angry because you have so quickly endeared yourself to me (and I'm sure to others). It's good to hear you discuss something so close to your heart.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Thanks!!



You guys ARE talking about my learning Spanish fast, right? Or do you mean that I'm learning y'all's personalities fast? Hmmm.... Well, Thank you................

What's this, psychology I???

Originally Posted by laepelba

I am sometimes annoyed with the arrogance that many (most?) USAmerican's have. I guess that many people around the world are very proud of their own nations/nationalities. But for some reason, American pride sometimes seems to come off "different" in a way that I cannot put my finger upon. I don't think that the actual incidence of the use of "American" to mean "US Citizen" is what bothers me, but that we never developed our own "name" for our country. As if we needed one.... It really does come down to not hurting feelings... Do many USAmericans even care?

Anyway - you would have a difficult time making me angry because you have so quickly endeared yourself to me (and I'm sure to others). It's good to hear you discuss something so close to your heart.

Ah, thanks. And yes, I guess every country has its "idiotsyncracy"