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Jinx

Feb 14, 2011, 3:35 PM

Post #1 of 17 (3387 views)

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Where it's at (geo literally)

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What I mean is, USA and Canadian ex pats keep saying and writing "Mexico" and then refer to home as "North America".

Long ago in school, I was taught that is incorrect. However, I realize all things are not academic, and, at any rate, it may be a gray area.

There are 7 continents. I've been checking and several sources parallel the map link here: http://www.worldatlas.com/...mage/countrys/na.htm The yellow is North America. Mexico is yellow.

Even though Mexico is Latin America, you can clearly see from the following page, it is a North American country in Latin America. http://lanic.utexas.edu/subject/countries/

Yes, that last page put the Caribbean in another column when "continent wise" it is North America. Central America is a region but on the North American continent. So both of those are "iffy-er". I can understand that.

But Mexico not being North America? That is rocking my world. Not greatly, but say you?
Life is a ballgame,
But you've got to play it fair.
- lyrics by Sister Wynona Carr

sparks

Feb 14, 2011, 4:17 PM

Post #2 of 17 (3371 views)

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Re: [Jinx] Where it's at (geo literally)

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>>> writing "Mexico" and then refer to home as "North America

Just geologically challenged with a good dose of ethnocentricity

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

Reefhound

Feb 14, 2011, 5:09 PM

Post #3 of 17 (3347 views)

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Re: [Jinx] Where it's at (geo literally)

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English culture classifies North America and South America as separate continents, but most Latin American cultures classify them as one continent, America.

The seven-continent model is usually taught in China and most English-speaking countries. The six-continent combined-Eurasia model is preferred by the geographic community, the former states of the USSR (including Russia), and Japan. The six-continent combined-America model is taught in Latin America, and some parts of Europe, including Greece[citation needed], Italy[citation needed], Belgium, Portugal and Spain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent

However, your point is valid. There is no Central America continent and Mexico clearly is not in South America.

(This post was edited by Reefhound on Feb 14, 2011, 5:09 PM)

Maesonna

Feb 14, 2011, 5:36 PM

Post #4 of 17 (3336 views)

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Re: [Jinx] Where it's at (geo literally)

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For some, if they also speak Spanish, it may be because the usual word in Mexico for “American” is “norteamericano”. So it’s not only NOB-ians who identify “North America” with a country north of Mexico. “Norteamericano” is a used a lot more than “estadunidense” (“United Statesian”). You may hear the word “americano” but it means something else, namely a person of the Americas (North, Central or South).

rvcycleguy

Feb 15, 2011, 8:24 AM

Post #5 of 17 (3244 views)

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Re: [Jinx] Where it's at (geo literally)

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My wife who is from Colombia was taught there are only 5 continents. America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. no consideration for north vs south or antartica

(This post was edited by rvcycleguy on Feb 15, 2011, 8:25 AM)

joaquinx

Feb 15, 2011, 9:06 AM

Post #6 of 17 (3218 views)

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Re: [rvcycleguy] Where it's at (geo literally)

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In Reply To

My wife who is from Colombia was taught there are only 5 continents. America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. no consideration for north vs south or antartica

When you look at the map of the western hemisphere, you see that the northern land mass is attached to the southern land mass by a very narrow strip of land. Unlike Africa being attached to Asia by a much larger strip of land. Now if the America(s) are considered as one continent, shouldn't Africa and Asia be also considered as one. While were are at it, consider the union of Europe and Asia being one mega-continent since the only thing that separates them is the Ural mountains.

With this twisted logic, we would have only three continents: America, Australia, and Euroafroasia. Or only two since we might think of Australia as a very large island.

Rolly

Feb 15, 2011, 10:00 AM

Post #7 of 17 (3197 views)

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Re: [rvcycleguy] Where it's at (geo literally)

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¿5 continents? They omit Antarctica also?

Rolly Pirate

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On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Reefhound

Feb 15, 2011, 10:11 AM

Post #8 of 17 (3185 views)

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Re: [joaquinx] Where it's at (geo literally)

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There really is no logic, twisted or otherwise. The link I gave is a pretty interesting read and states upfront that continents are determined subjectively rather than strict criteria. What do we consider contiguous? Does the underwater continental shelf count? How large is large?

rvcycleguy

Feb 15, 2011, 10:11 AM

Post #9 of 17 (3184 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Where it's at (geo literally)

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yes sir, apparently , the penguins get no consideration....

NEOhio1

Feb 15, 2011, 10:23 AM

Post #10 of 17 (3176 views)

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Re: [rvcycleguy] Where it's at (geo literally)

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It was sometime in the late 80s and early 90s when I noticed any referral to the United States became "America" and not "the United States" and as that usage continued to gain momentum the lines became blurred so n ow only the United States is America. It still grates on me in news casts and TV shows when they say 'reporting from America' instead of 'reporting from the United States'.

It was about the same time that we started using dots to separate the numerical dates and phones numbers, and when we started saying 'Jimmy is in hospital' instead of 'Jimmy is in the hospital'. Those two I saw happen because of our Australia relatives pointed it out between their US trips.

La Isla

Feb 15, 2011, 10:32 AM

Post #11 of 17 (3175 views)

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Re: [NEOhio1] Where it's at (geo literally)

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In Reply To

It was about the same time that we started using dots to separate the numerical dates and phones numbers, and when we started saying 'Jimmy is in hospital' instead of 'Jimmy is in the hospital'. Those two I saw happen because of our Australia relatives pointed it out between their US trips.

I don´t remember saying "Jimmy is in hospital" while living in the US for most of my life. I've always said, and still say, " . . in the hospital" Isn't "in hospital" British usage? And using dots to separate dates and phone numbers? Not in my experience living in New York City and Philadelphia.

Reefhound

Feb 15, 2011, 11:02 AM

Post #12 of 17 (3163 views)

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Re: [NEOhio1] Where it's at (geo literally)

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It still grates on me in news casts and TV shows when they say 'reporting from America' instead of 'reporting from the United States'.

Why? There are other countries with "United States" in the name, as in the Mexican United States. But there is only one country with America in it's name. If people from the Mexican United States can call themselves Mexican, why shouldn't people from the United States of America call themselves American?

Bennie García

Feb 15, 2011, 11:05 AM

Post #13 of 17 (3162 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Where it's at (geo literally)

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¿5 continents? They omit Antarctica also?

To all the ethnocentric gringos, and there sure are plenty of those, there are many in this world that are taught there are 5 continents.

Take a look at the Olympic symbol. The 5 rings represent the 5 continents. Good enough for me.

Reefhound

Feb 15, 2011, 11:26 AM

Post #14 of 17 (3154 views)

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Re: [Bennie García] Where it's at (geo literally)

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The symbol of the Olympic Games is composed of five interlocking rings, colored blue, yellow, black, green, and red on a white field. This was originally designed in 1912 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games. Upon its initial introduction, de Coubertin stated the following in the August, 1912 edition of Revue Olympique:

The emblem chosen to illustrate and represent the world Congress of 1914...: five intertwined rings in different colors - blue, yellow, black, green, and red - are placed on the white field of the paper. These five rings represent the five parts of the world which now are won over to Olympism and willing to accept healthy competition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_symbols

(This post was edited by Reefhound on Feb 15, 2011, 11:30 AM)

Bennie García

Feb 15, 2011, 11:33 AM

Post #15 of 17 (3145 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] Where it's at (geo literally)

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In Reply To

The emblem chosen to illustrate and represent the world Congress of 1914...: five intertwined rings in different colors - blue, yellow, black, green, and red - are placed on the white field of the paper. These five rings represent the five parts of the world which now are won over to Olympism and willing to accept healthy competition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_symbols

From the same cite:

"As can be read in the Olympic Charter, the Olympic symbol represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games. "

Reefer, you need to be a little more thorough in your investigations. You learn much more that way.

Edit: I see that while I was composing my post, the reefer man edited out his claim that the rings don't represent the continents. In his haste to prove me wrong he hadn't read his own cite thoroughly. SOP for the reefer, I'm afraid.

(This post was edited by Bennie García on Feb 15, 2011, 11:41 AM)

arbon

Feb 15, 2011, 12:05 PM

Post #16 of 17 (3131 views)

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Re: [Bennie García] Where it's at (geo literally)

"To all the ethnocentric gringos, and there sure are plenty of those, there are many in this world that are taught there are 5 continents."

It is very difficult to unlearn knowledge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reefhound

Feb 15, 2011, 1:09 PM

Post #17 of 17 (3112 views)

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Re: [Bennie García] Where it's at (geo literally)

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I edited that out because various sources characterized it in various ways. I edited it before anyone else posted. What is the sop? You mean to make a correction? Of course, you would know nothing about that.

Personally, I'll take the words of the logo's creator over someone else's interpretation but that's just me. He didn't say continents, he said "parts of the world".

BTW, what are the five "continents" you think they represent?