• percent@infosec.pub
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      edit-2
      4 hours ago

      Most English-speaking countries teach the seven-continent model. There is no place named “America,” so when native English speakers omit “The United States of” for brevity, other native English speakers understand that they’re referring to the USA.

      It seems to cause some confusion with cultures that are taught the six-continent model (in which there is a continent called “America”). I would guess that it’s because a lot of people are unaware of these cultural differences.


      Edit to actually answer your question 😅: In English, Canada is in a continent called “North America”

      • Wilco@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        7
        ·
        3 hours ago

        Its all just America. America is named after Amerigo Vespucci (1454–1512), an Italian explorer and cartographer. His name wasn’t “North America” … so you all are wrong. It is what it is.

        • percent@infosec.pub
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          edit-2
          3 hours ago

          Oh that was centuries ago. In the US, we’ve even divided states in a similar manner over the years. The Province of Carolina became North Carolina and South Carolina. Dakota Territory -> North and South Dakota. Virginia and… West Virginia (not sure why no “East Virginia”).

          I suppose you can say it’s “wrong” on the Internet, but if you tried the six-continent model on a school test in an English-speaking country, it would likely be marked as incorrect.

          There are also five- and I think even four-continent models in some cultures. The thought of any of them being “wrong” is really interesting, to me. Personally, I’ve never really thought about any of them as “right” or “wrong”, just cultural differences.

          • Wilco@lemmy.zip
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            4
            ·
            3 hours ago

            The point is moot either way. Canada and the USA are on the exact same continent. Say American or say North American … the US and Canada are the same.

            • percent@infosec.pub
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              2 hours ago

              Sure. I was mostly just trying to answer your question and clear up some of the confusion. In all continent models, Canada and the USA are indeed on the same continent 🙂

    • LeFantome@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      4 hours ago

      There is no continent called America.

      However, there is a country that hundreds of millions of people identify as “America”.

      Be smarter.

      • Wilco@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        7
        ·
        3 hours ago

        HAH HAH HAH heh. What continent is Mexico on? What continent is the USA on? Hint: United States of … Are you smarter than a 3rd grader? Fucking lame ass trolls.

        • Glide@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          34 minutes ago

          Imagine spending your time being intentionally obtuse about the colloquial understanding of “America” and then calling other people “lame ass trolls.” C’mon man. Be better.

    • LeFantome@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      4 hours ago

      You don’t like to be publicly respected for your informed opinions?

      Why not?

      Everybody knows what you are saying. What percentage would you estimate are impressed?

    • JackbyDev@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      5 hours ago

      Might be meant to explain that folks say “American” to mean people from the United States more often than the American continents. Especially since it’s for teaching people a different language.

      • Wilco@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        3 hours ago

        Yea, but we troll MAGA by telling them that Mexicans and Canadians are Americans … it breaks them.