Use of the definite article in common usage of country's name
Oct 17, 2006 | 8:11 pm
#1
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Use of the definite article in common usage of country's name
...and the outsider's perceived level of arrogance amongst the countrymen.
The first ones that come to mind are La Argentina and La France. I was really surprised how often the definite article is used in Argentina. [It is kind of hard to compare countries where initials are used, such as the USA or the UK]. You don't hear other spanish speaking countries using the definite article. I don't know about others. Thoughts? Discussion?
The first ones that come to mind are La Argentina and La France. I was really surprised how often the definite article is used in Argentina. [It is kind of hard to compare countries where initials are used, such as the USA or the UK]. You don't hear other spanish speaking countries using the definite article. I don't know about others. Thoughts? Discussion?
Oct 17, 2006 | 9:11 pm
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I have never heard Argentina or France used with the article. But Argentina's would probably be El, not La, because Argentina starts with an A (similar to el agua still being feminine). But who cares? This is a dumb thread. Why am I wasting my time with it?
Oct 17, 2006 | 9:58 pm
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Originally Posted by srk123
I have never heard Argentina or France used with the article. But Argentina's would probably be El, not La, because Argentina starts with an A (similar to el agua still being feminine). But who cares? This is a dumb thread. Why am I wasting my time with it?
It is "la argentina".
Oct 17, 2006 | 11:19 pm
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The "The" in front of USA and UK seems not to be just because the country names are "initials" - I think this pattern is true for many names that read like short descriptions of the constitutional status of the country. (such as "long form" names which start with "Republic of" / "Kingdom of" / "Union of" etc.).
I think many countries have an official "long form" name ("The Kingdom of Liliput") and a "short form" ("Liliput"), which ends up being used almost as if it were the formal name of the country. However, in the case of the USA and the UK, there seem to be no good "short form" options.
USA = "America" is unsatisfactory because there are other Americas (and Frank Lloyd Wright's suggestion "Usonia" never took off).
UK = "England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales" or "Great Britain and Northern Ireland" are not particularly short.
I think many countries have an official "long form" name ("The Kingdom of Liliput") and a "short form" ("Liliput"), which ends up being used almost as if it were the formal name of the country. However, in the case of the USA and the UK, there seem to be no good "short form" options.
USA = "America" is unsatisfactory because there are other Americas (and Frank Lloyd Wright's suggestion "Usonia" never took off).
UK = "England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales" or "Great Britain and Northern Ireland" are not particularly short.
Last edited by jib71; Oct 17, 2006 at 11:25 pm
Oct 17, 2006 | 11:28 pm
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Originally Posted by stut
The Gambia
The UAE
The Seychelles
and at one point, The Lebanon
The UAE
The Seychelles
and at one point, The Lebanon
friend of mine told me that I sounded weird for saying "The" with Gambia, Lebanon and Yemen. And so I feel very self-conscious when referring to those countries now and I'm not really sure what to call them.
Oct 18, 2006 | 4:52 am
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"America" but "The United States". There appears no standard rule.
A similar problem afflicts the country whose capital is Prague. In the old days "Czechoslovakia" was universal. But now it's most usually called "The Czech Republic", I am not certain how that Republic got in there as most other countries are republics as well and do not use it as a suffix except in formal communications. The language and nationality use Czech readily enough ("I am Czech and I speak Czech") but "We are going to Czech" seems unknown. A few, non-English speaking places call it "Czechia", which adds to the differences.
A similar problem afflicts the country whose capital is Prague. In the old days "Czechoslovakia" was universal. But now it's most usually called "The Czech Republic", I am not certain how that Republic got in there as most other countries are republics as well and do not use it as a suffix except in formal communications. The language and nationality use Czech readily enough ("I am Czech and I speak Czech") but "We are going to Czech" seems unknown. A few, non-English speaking places call it "Czechia", which adds to the differences.
Oct 18, 2006 | 5:08 am
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Originally Posted by WHBM
"America" but "The United States". There appears no standard rule.
A similar problem afflicts the country whose capital is Prague. In the old days "Czechoslovakia" was universal. But now it's most usually called "The Czech Republic", I am not certain how that Republic got in there as most other countries are republics as well and do not use it as a suffix except in formal communications. The language and nationality use Czech readily enough ("I am Czech and I speak Czech") but "We are going to Czech" seems unknown. A few, non-English speaking places call it "Czechia", which adds to the differences.
A similar problem afflicts the country whose capital is Prague. In the old days "Czechoslovakia" was universal. But now it's most usually called "The Czech Republic", I am not certain how that Republic got in there as most other countries are republics as well and do not use it as a suffix except in formal communications. The language and nationality use Czech readily enough ("I am Czech and I speak Czech") but "We are going to Czech" seems unknown. A few, non-English speaking places call it "Czechia", which adds to the differences.
Even in their passport stamps they put "CR" IIRC.
Oct 18, 2006 | 5:19 am
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Originally Posted by WHBM
now it's most usually called "The Czech Republic"
(Just thought I should Czech. I have a Slow Vacuuous feeling this morning).
Oct 18, 2006 | 5:28 am
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Originally Posted by jib71
A Usonian friend of mine told me that I sounded weird for saying "The" with Gambia, Lebanon and Yemen. And so I feel very self-conscious when referring to those countries now and I'm not really sure what to call them.
friend of mine told me that I sounded weird for saying "The" with Gambia, Lebanon and Yemen. And so I feel very self-conscious when referring to those countries now and I'm not really sure what to call them.