BS: Usasian

Subject: BS: Usasian
From: GUEST,Dazbo at work
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 10:27 AM

is there a proper noun for a citizen of the usa? Obviously American is too ambiguous

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: Amos
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 10:31 AM

No, it's not. It is widely used because the U.S.A. is the only nation that calls itself America, as distinguised from the North, Central, and South American land-masses. People from South America are referred to as Brazilians, Chileans, Argentineans, etc. No-one thinks of themselves as a citizen of a land-mass.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: bobad
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 10:32 AM

American works for me. By virtue of common usage it has has become the universal descriptor for a citizen of the US.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: CarolC
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 10:34 AM

I use USAn most of the time.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 10:36 AM

Universal if the US is the whole universe.

A European or a Canadian , just as likely to use the work "Yank or Yanky".

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: pdq
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 10:42 AM

It seems pointless to argue this again. Somebody from the United States is an American. Somebody who hates Jews is anti-Semitic, even though the term could technically refers to other people from the same area. Life is too short to worry about trivial things like this.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 01:34 PM

Canadians here (western Canada) refer to Americans as Americans.

I have heard that Yankee was used in the Maritimes, but it is now probably obsolets.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: gnu
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 01:40 PM

Nope. WE call em all Yankees, Yanks, Americans, Southerners, and best of all... "Welcome to Atlanic Canada. Yes, we certainly do take American money. What may I help you with today, sir/ma'am?"

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: gnu
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 01:45 PM

Oh, an aside... the Newfs don't really cotton to "The Maritimes", a term which was in general use before NF was forced into Confederation, so we try to say "Atlantic Canada" nowadays, eh.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: Bee
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 04:18 PM

'Americans' works for me. I think the only reason anyone complains about it is because of the perception that too many USA Americans are uninformed to the point of rudeness about the rest of the American continents, so in a way it is used as an underhanded reminder that other countries exists.

I personally don't think Americans are as uneducated about other countries as they used to be, or as they are currently made out to be, although I can only speak for Canada. I'd be very surprised to hear now some of the silliness I heard in the fifties and sixties.

Some examples from the late fifties, when we spent a year living outside Orlando...

"So is there any growing season at all?"
"Ma'am..." looking at the Nova Scotia, Canada postal address "It's too late to send things overseas for Christmas."
"Don't you ever try to cheat me again, little girl! That's a slug, that's not money!"... said of the Canadian dime I tried to pay for my cafeteria milk with.
Gas jockey, filling our tank and gazing at the car in front of us "That's a damn funny way to spell Montana..." - Manitoba plate.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 04:32 PM

Yes, I remember some of that.
When we transferred here, my mother asked if our house would have indoor plumbing.
On a visit back to the states with an Alberta license, I was often asked where is Alberta?

The odd thing is, at school in New Mexico, I remember we were made to fill in the states and provinces on an outline map. But everyone forgets their schooling as rapidly as possible.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: PoppaGator
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 04:43 PM

Back when the Olympics were held in Atlanta, GA, telephone operators taking ticket orders were known to tell folks calling from the great state of New Mexico that no, we can't help you, this number is only for ticket orders within the US. Stupidity knows no national boundaries.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: Bee
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 05:23 PM

Exactly, and we should check our own backyards as well - I'd be hardpressed, given a blank map of the USA, to remember which of the Mid-Western states goes where. I used to know, as a school kid, and I could point them out now, but...

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 06:42 PM

I don't know where Alberta is.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: Alice
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 07:19 PM

It's north of me.
Alice in Montana

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 07:48 PM

Montana?

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: bobad
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 08:00 PM

Played quarterback for the 49'rs.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 08:12 PM

I thought Patsy Montana sang better.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: pdq
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 08:18 PM

Alice is in Texas, just a short drive from Ben Bolt. I been there, I know these things.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 10:06 PM

And leave a coin at Dime Box if you want to hear her sing.

Alice has an alter ego in Australia.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 29 Aug 08 - 11:38 PM

Q,

Most Canadian's won't call you a Yank to your face. But I know lots of folks from out west (in Canada) who use the term. But Canadians feel justified in their use of the term by New York Baseball and old patriotic James Cagney movies.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 04:59 PM

I have lived out west in Canada for more years than I care to state and have long had Canadian citizenship- and I repeat what I posted far above- "Canadians here (western Canada) refer to Americans as Americans." I guess I haven't met with your kind of folks.

Subject: RE: BS: Usasian
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 05:29 PM

ditto. not in my circles either. In real life I've never been exposed to much of what I read on mudcat on this Canada v US stuff. Heard it from Torontonian backpackers (with the little flags) in Europe and about nowhere else.