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tonyburton

Apr 19, 2009, 1:23 PM

Post #1 of 11 (4433 views)

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Mexican usage of US, USA, United States etc?

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Prompted by the thread about the acceptability (or not) of gringo/gringa, I'd like to sound out opinions about the usage of US, USA, United States, America (or other term) to identify the United States of America (capital Washington D.C.) in a book in English about Mexico. Accepted usage in English language sources appears to be United States, but I'm well aware that many well-educated Mexicans take exception to this usage on the grounds that United States applies equally to Mexico: Estados Unidos Mexicanos. The term America is also often criticized as having a much wider meaning. So... over to you... what do you think? Does it matter, and if so, why?

esperanza

Apr 19, 2009, 2:19 PM

Post #2 of 11 (4428 views)

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Re: [tonyburton] Mexican usage of US, USA, United States etc?

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In Spanish, there are so many ways of referring to the USA and its populace. For example:

el otro lado
el vecino país al norte
estadounidense

are just a few.

In English, the options are more limited. I think maybe you could get way too picky about what to call el vecino país, if you're writing only for English-speakers. I'd be more concerned when it's time to translate the book into Spanish.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Carron

Apr 19, 2009, 3:56 PM

Post #3 of 11 (4421 views)

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Re: [tonyburton] Mexican usage of US, USA, United States etc?

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I live right on the Tex-Mex border and the term here is always el otro lado.

Once when we were crossing into Texas a new border agent, young enough to be my great-grandson, snapped at me when I said my usual "I'm a US citizen". He said, "Well, you know both Mexico and America are 'United States'. Which one are you a citizen of?" That was the first and last time I have ever seen him on duty.

When I taught in Chiapas, mostly graduate level and professional students, they did not feel we have the right to call ourselves "Americans" since all of North and South America are technically Americans. I tried to explain that we come from the United States of America and they live in the United States of Mexico. Therefore we are officially Americans and they are officially Mexicans. It made sense to me, but I don't think I ever convinced a single one of my students.

morgaine7

Apr 19, 2009, 6:56 PM

Post #4 of 11 (4406 views)

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Re: [tonyburton] Mexican usage of US, USA, United States etc?

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Why not address the issue in the preface or introduction, then use the conventional United States and US? Educated Mexicans who read English will appreciate that you're aware of the problem, and readers from el otro lado will learn something and still be able to understand you. ;-)

Kate

esperanza

Apr 19, 2009, 7:59 PM

Post #5 of 11 (4403 views)

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Re: [morgaine7] Mexican usage of US, USA, United States etc?

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That's SUCH a good suggestion, Kate!

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

tonyburton

Apr 19, 2009, 8:05 PM

Post #6 of 11 (4400 views)

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Re: [morgaine7] Mexican usage of US, USA, United States etc?

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An excellent suggestion indeed; thanks! If anyone has additional ideas or comments, don't hold back, since from a layout perspective United States is SO much longer than USA, but I'm increasingly inclined to believe it's the way to go!

tashby

Apr 19, 2009, 9:11 PM

Post #7 of 11 (4393 views)

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Re: [tonyburton] Mexican usage of US, USA, United States etc?

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Kate's suggestion is perfect. Address the issue with understanding and respect and move the hell on to.....whatever shortand you prefer.

USA works for me, but then, I know....I know....

Good luck.

raferguson

Apr 20, 2009, 7:47 AM

Post #8 of 11 (4382 views)

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Re: [tonyburton] Mexican usage of US, USA, United States etc?

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USA is the only short form without ambiguity. United States could be of Mexico, (Estados Unidos Mexicanos), America could include both continents, etc. United States of America is the full legal name, but of course too long for common uses.

But in Spanish, I tend to say "Estados Unidos". Or I might write EUA or EEUU.

As far as the book, I would put in a short paragraph somewhere, maybe in the introduction, explaining the terms, the possible confusions, and defining and explaining your own usage. The technical writing rule is that the first time you use an acronyn, define it, and after that you are free to use the acronym without continuing to write out the full name.

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

sergiogomez / Moderator

Apr 20, 2009, 1:39 PM

Post #9 of 11 (4366 views)

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Re: [tonyburton] Mexican usage of US, USA, United States etc?

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As with everything written, the first thing that comes to my mind is who is likely to read the book? If the majority of the readers will likely be American, it seems like it would make sense to use "US," as it's the shortest, easiest thing to say, and also what most people who live in the US use to refer to their country.

On the other hand, if a significant portion of the readers will be Mexican, the question would merit more thought. If this were the case, and if it were my book, I would probably leave out any term with the word "America" in it, including USA. Simply because the term tend to remind Mexicans, especially educated ones (and Central and South Americans, for that matter) that America includes much more than just the United States.

As for "United States," it can spark some discussion, usually along the lines of, "Oh, look how similar the names are, the United States of America and the United States of Mexico." It's usually a more neutral discussion, however, while conversations about "America" carry the idea of "Hey, who do those gringos think they are, calling their country America and forgetting that we're Americans too."

And the way I see it, there's not much chance of "United States" getting confused with Estados Unidos Mexicanos, because pretty much everyone (every Mexican) knows that US/United States is just another name for EEUU, the place up north where cousin Pancho got thrown in jail for selling cocaine. To a Mexican, "United States of Mexico" is always either "los Estados Unidos Mexicanos" or la República. There is no translation in English. So, not much possibility of confusion if you go with US or United States.

mazbook1

Apr 23, 2009, 7:30 PM

Post #10 of 11 (4335 views)

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Re: [sergiogomez] Mexican usage of US, USA, United States etc?

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Minor correction. It's NOT the United States of Mexico, it's the Mexican United States. "Mexicanos" is an adjective, not a possessive noun. But for anyone who lives here it's La Republica.

sergiogomez / Moderator

Apr 23, 2009, 8:38 PM

Post #11 of 11 (4330 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] Mexican usage of US, USA, United States etc?

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Estados Unidos Mexicanos. And yes, I translate loosely at times.