Discussion Groups / British English / January 2004

Sure. They can use that meaning when they speak Spanish, and they can
even use that meaning when they speak English. Where the fur starts to
fly is if anyone tells citizens of the United States of America to stop
calling themselves Americans. We've been through that a few times on
a.u.e, and as a result wrote this summary, collectively, for our FAQ:

--------
American
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Should US citizens call themselves "Americans"? The fact is: they do.
And they call their country "America," among other terms. To modern
speakers of the English language, both in the US and elsewhere, these
are the most frequent meanings of the words "America" and "American."

However, to many people outside the USA, the name "America" (with
various spellings: Amerique, Amerika, etc.) can quite normally mean the
entire "New World." That tradition goes back to the days of the first
European explorers. We have heard complaints from time to time,
especially from native Spanish speakers, that the citizens of the United
States of America have commandeered the name, as if they were the only
ones in the Americas. These attempts to convince US residents to start
calling themselves something else, such as USonians or USans, in
deference to the other inhabitants of the landmass, usually lead only to
anger and bafflement, on both sides.

However, when explaining why they call themselves "American," those in
the US are hereby cautioned not to overstate the case and imply that any
other use of the word is wrong, impossible, or obsolete.  "American" has
indeed been used for a very long time, as an English word, to mean "an
inhabitant of, or pertaining to, the Americas." This meaning is
supported by all major dictionaries, although many of us encounter it
only rarely, in fixed combinations such as the American crocodile, the
Organization of American States, and the Pan-American Games.

[END QUOTE FROM FAQ]

I'm not sure Texans consider themselves part of the USA, but okay...

This is a common Error:  the idea that "United States of America" came
first, and calling the people in what *became* the (initial part of the)
USA "Americans" came second.  Not so:  they were called "Americans" before
1776.

TFOTMI, "America" has more than one meaning. The USA-type of "American"
shouldn't object to the desire of the Peruvian (say) to call himself an
"American" when speaking English.  But, by the same Metrocard, no Peruvian
or European should object to a USA-type of American using "American" to
mean "of the US".  Non-Americans (that is, non-US-type Americans) should
endeavo(u)r to understand the US usage of "American", and not to angrily
and bitterly condemn it.

I've argued (in AUE) that "America" has a slightly different meaning from
"United States".  "The US" is the political entity, the polity, the
"state", the current official politico-legal structure.  "America" is the
*nation*, not the *state*:  the people, the land, a romantic-poetic view
of the people who happen to call themselves "Americans" in the US sense
and the "country" (not the "state") they call home.  It might be a little
bit like how "the UK" is a name that will not survive the abolition of the
monarchy, but "Britain" and "England" etc. :-) will remain.

In my view, "an American" in the US sense is broader than just the body of
American (more properly, US) citizens.  An immigrant to the US who is not
yet a citizen but who has come to identify closely with the people and
culture of the US (more properly of "America") is, in my book, an
"American".

This comes up more frequently than sauerkraut.  Every once in a while
someone discovers that the United States is in the continent of North
America, that there are other countries in the continent of North
America, and that the continent to the south of North America also has
the word "America" in it.  They then start to crow that Peruvians,
Guatemalans, and Canadians have the same right to be called
"Americans" as do the residents of the United States.  The next step,
if you follow the familiar path, is to suggest that we be called
"USAians" or something equally ridiculous.

In actuality, it's a technically -if even marginally - correct
position even if it's completely without practical merit.  There is
nothing ambiguous about the terms "American" or "America".  The
meaning is universally recognized and accepted without question.
While Ecuadorians and Panamanians may have some murky "right" to be
called "Americans", it simply isn't done and would cause confusion.  

I suppose I shouldn't say "isn't done" because there are probably
seven or eight people in the world that actually do it.  They are far
less in number, though, than the members of the Flat Earth Society,
the believers that the moon landing was filmed in Hollywood, and
people who have actually sighted the Loch Ness monster.

If you follow the usual process of the people before you that have
insisted on the rights of Manitobians, Sonorians, and Mato Grossoians
to call themselves "Americans", you will next insist that you once had
a conversation with a man whose brother's employer's wife once
employed a gardener that was born in Tucumán and was greatly grieved
that he was not considered an American.

In another post on the same subject, you say  "However, when I
say "America", I mean the continent. If I need to differentiate
between parts of that continent, I will use terms such as "USA",
"Bolivia", "North America....".     If you do this in practice, and
not just in your mind, you will be met with nothing but confusion.
First, because it is generally accepted that there are two continents
with "America" in the name, and second because no one will have the
foggiest idea of the area you are referring to.  If you present
yourself at the Aserca Airlines desk and try to book a ticket to
America, you will probably be referred an airline that serves NYC.
They will not assume your destination to be Caracas.

Now, I will grant you that proclaiming that a Nova Scotian has full
rights and privileges to be called "American" is a good pub argument
if cricket or football discussions don't interest you.   It's
especially good if you include some table-thumping indignation about
Yanks usurping the language now that there are no more red indians to
kill.  It will help, though, if you don't mind people winking at each
other and sotto voce comments about "Old Davidson's on again about the
America/America  thing".

I certainly have no intent of discouraging you in calling Baffin
Islanders and Chileans "Americans".  It gives you a certain eccentric
charm that may cover an otherwise undistinguished personality.  And, I
certainly have no intent with arguing with your premise.  It's an
interesting little  idiosyncrasy that makes a quite good party trick.
Your only problem will be guiding the conversation around to the
subject so that you can say, in a Potteresquely Plonking Manner "The
Yanks are not the only ones deserving to be called Americans, you
know".