Some say to stop using the word ‘American’. What’s next?

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And don’t forget Lancaster and York!
Our minor league baseball teams play each other in a series called the War of the Roses every season.
 
I am Argentinian and, as you say, America is the name of the continent (from Americo Vespucio). I think the problem is that the US doesn’t really have a name. It’s the name of a federation with the continent. We were used to be called United Provinces of the South here, but we changed our name to a proper one.
 
Zach said:
I was responding to the political correctness context of the article. The use of American was just one of several words the article said is to be avoided.
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Would you say ‘Those Europeans are such a pain’ when you meant the French? Would you say ‘Those Asians are great cooks’ when you meant the Indonesians?

Context, Zach. Context. It’s a big world out there. Be specific when it matters is all.
 
Our anthem! You are right!
I had forgotten about that.
 
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Wozza said:
British would do. Or to be specific: English, Welsh, Scottish or Irish. Actually Northern Irish, but let’s not go there. Altbough most people use English as a catch-all for anyone from the UK. Which drives the Welsh, Scottish and Irish up the wall.

American is more equivalent to European to be pedantic.
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I always call them British unless I’m certain the person is specifically English.
 
on_the_hill said:
Wouldn’t that include Mexicans, as well?
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Yes, it would, and Canadians too, but only if you’re being pedantically correct, in the same way that those people in Colorado are claiming that “Americans” includes Panamanians, Peruvians, Chileans, Uruguayans …
 
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babochka said:
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niceatheist:
To be purely pedantic, part of the Canadian Constitution is the British North America Act.
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That’s interesting, but the fact remains that the official name of the country is Canada. Not “Canada of North America” No longer the “Dominion of Canada”, but simply “Canada”.
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Actually, my understanding is that the official name of Canada is still The Dominion of Canada. That was not amended by the Constitution Act 1982.
 
on_the_hill said:
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Wozza:
British would do. Or to be specific: English, Welsh, Scottish or Irish. Actually Northern Irish, but let’s not go there. Altbough most people use English as a catch-all for anyone from the UK. Which drives the Welsh, Scottish and Irish up the wall.

American is more equivalent to European to be pedantic.
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I always call them British unless I’m certain the person is specifically English.
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And to further cloud the muddy waters, we Australians call the English ‘poms’. It’s the equivalent of the term ‘limeys’. A mildly derogatory term. Like ‘Yanks’, I guess. Well, they did win. Not sure what the equivalent would be if the south had won.
 
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I live in the UK and to me (and I think most of us) American is synonymous with being from the USA. Americans are from the USA, Canadians are from Canada, Mexicans are from Mexico, Caribbeans are from the Caribbean, and most others are South Americans.
 
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“The university additionally lists many gendered words and phrases to avoid. These include “male,” “female,” “ladies and gentlemen,” and “Mr./Mrs./Ms.””

No Americans, no males, no females, no ladies and gentlemen, no Mr. or Mrs. or Ms.
 
Some More it lists. “Straight” “normal person” “handicap parking” and

“War,” “cake walk,” “eenie meenie miney moe,” “Eskimo,” “freshman,” “hip hip hooray!”, “hold down the fort,” “starving,” and “policeman” were among other words and phrases deemed non-inclusive by CSU.
 
Rhubarb said:
So you’re saying it’s a… Slippery slope?
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Not so much a slippery slope as a conscious and deliberate reshaping of the culture through language, with universities as the starting point for that effort.
 
Better than English, I suppose.

Does anyone from Britain call himself British-American?
 
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