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Discussion Groups / British English / September 2005"Commonwealthian"?
What is the proper term for a citizen of any of the British Commonwealth countries? Thanks for any help. Ken > What is the proper term for a citizen of any of the British Commonwealth > countries? There hasn't been a "British" Commonwealth since 1949. See: http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=38150 For the rest, the Commonwealth's FAQ is here: http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/FAQs.asp?NodeID=20706&int1stParentNodeI D=20596 but it doesn't answer your question. "Citizen of a Commonwealth member country" would do, I suppose, but it is clumsy. What is the context of your question? Giles [...] > "Citizen of a Commonwealth member country" would do, I suppose, but it > is clumsy. What is the context of your question? > > Giles I had written the line "A person who doesn't know whether to eat an egg from the shell, like the British and Commonwealthians, or to fry it, like the Americans, will poach it, as a wimpish compromise." Then it seemed to me that "Commonwealthians" may not be the right word. Ken >[...] >> "Citizen of a Commonwealth member country" would do, I suppose, but it [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Americans, will poach it, as a wimpish compromise." Then it seemed to me >that "Commonwealthians" may not be the right word. Google finds a few examples of "Commonwealthian" used in reference to people of the Commonwealth of Nations (as it has been since 1946). Commonwealthian is an "unofficial" and informal word. I think that it would be acceptable in informal writing. In your example: "like the British and Commonwealthians" it is clear which commonwealth is meant. There is unlikely to be confusion with the Commonwealth of Independent States (12 former Soviet Republics), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or the Commonwealth of Australia  SignaturePeter Duncanson UK (posting from u.c.l.e) > I had written the line "A person who doesn't know whether to eat an egg from > the shell, like the British and Commonwealthians, or to fry it, like the > Americans, will poach it, as a wimpish compromise." What makes you think the British don't fry eggs? And what about scrambled ommelettes? That "Commonwealthian" is so much like "Cromwellian" that it makes me think you are talking about the Revolution, and of course you can't make a commonwealth without breaking legs. Paul Burke > That "Commonwealthian" is so much like "Cromwellian" that it makes me > think you are talking about the Revolution, and of course you can't make > a commonwealth without breaking legs. Cancel Christmas! > I had written the line "A person who doesn't know whether to eat an egg from > the shell, like the British and Commonwealthians, or to fry it, like the > Americans, will poach it, as a wimpish compromise." Then it seemed to me > that "Commonwealthians" may not be the right word. "...like the British and those from the Commonwealth..." might do, but it sounds snotty to me. "Colonials" might work, but would get you beaten to death (in the most humane way possible under the circumstances) by the politically correct. Umm... Dunno. Maybe your version is better. As others have pointed out, it ought to be understood correctly given the context. Giles > > I had written the line "A person who doesn't know whether to eat an egg from > > the shell, like the British and Commonwealthians, or to fry it, like the [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Giles The Commonwealthy? No? OK. Ivan > [...] >> "Citizen of a Commonwealth member country" would do, I suppose, but [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I had written the line "A person who doesn't know whether to eat an > egg from the shell, like the British and Commonwealthians Why not "...like those from/the people of-Britain and the Commonwealth"? >What is the proper term for a citizen of any of the British Commonwealth >countries? > >Thanks for any help. "Commonwealth Citizen" is the phrase I am familiar with. The phrases "Commonwealth Citizen" and "Citizen(s) of the Commonwealth" are used by the Commonwealth Secretariat: http://www.thecommonwealth.org/ and from the Young Commonwealth website: http://www.youngcommonwealth.org/cw_text_only_version/ic_chap_09.html Simply by living in one of the countries of the Commonwealth, we are Commonwealth citizens. The guidance notes for the (UK) Electoral Registration Form which I filled in a few days ago says: "To be included in the register an elector must be a British or Irish citizen, other Commonwealth Citizen or a citizen of a member state of the European Union". SignaturePeter Duncanson UK (posting from u.c.l.e) Thanks to all. It appears my original word was not all that bad and will have to do. (The piece is light humor and not to be taken seriously as comparative eggery...) Ken |
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