NationStates Jolt Archive

Britain is the name of an island off the North-West coast of Continental Europe. The United Kingdom is a governing body that currently rules the island of Britain, as well as a portion of Northern Ireland and various oversea holdings. England is the name of a sovereign subdivision of the United Kingdom, located on Britain, and is similar (though not identical) to a State in the United States of America.

Did I get that right?

Britain is the name of an island off the North-West coast of Continental Europe. The United Kingdom is a governing body that currently rules the island of Britain, as well as a portion of Northern Ireland and various oversea holdings. England is the name of a sovereign subdivision of the United Kingdom, located on Britain, and is similar (though not identical) to a State in the United States of America.

Did I get that right?
Errr...yeahbasically.

Yes, you did! *claps*

However, it is commonly referred to as "Britain" or "England".

Technically it's Great Britain, but yeah.

In theory, however, England has always come first in the UK.

Yes, you did! *claps*

However, it is commonly referred to as "Britain" or "England".

Isn't "Great Britain" the proper term these days?

Great Britain is an Island.

The UK is a country comprising of Great Britain plus 6 counties in Ireland called "Northern Ireland" and other territories.

The nations in GB are England, Scotland, and Wales. They're not sovereign states. Neither is the fourth "nation", Northern Ireland.

England etc. are kind of like states in the US, except England doesn't have its own legislature, whereas Scotland has a Parliament, and Wales and Northern Ireland have an Assembly (although NI's is suspended at the minute).

So yeah, you were pretty close.

Isn't "Great Britain" the proper term these days?

I believe that is what is on maps. People get peeved when I say "England" instead of "Britain".

However, it is commonly referred to as "Britain" or "England".

Only referred to as "England" by the English, and by ill-informed foreigners.

Only referred to as "England" by the English, and by ill-informed foreigners.
Yeah.

Everyone else calls it Albion.

¬_¬

Oh, and a similar side-note:

never refer to "Gaelic" when you are in Ireland. There, it's known as Irish. And if you call it Gaelic, you scream "tourist!". Of course, that's assuming you aren't already screaming "tourist!", which you probably are.

And if there happens to be a large demonstration against your home country, pretend to be Canadian.

That's what I learned when I went to Ireland.

Great Britain is an Island.

...however debate still continues as to whether certain other islands (such as Anglesey) which are close to the coast of that island should also be counted as part of Great Britain or not.

The nations in GB are England, Scotland, and Wales.

...however none of these nations are entirely contained within the major landmass which is termed 'Great Britain'.

Oh, and a similar side-note:

never refer to "Gaelic" when you are in Ireland.

Unless you are talking about football, obviously.

...however debate still continues as to whether certain other islands (such as Anglesey) which are close to the coast of that island should also be counted as part of Great Britain or not.

Yea, but I thought it would just be easier to lump them all under "Great Britain" or "other territories."

...however none of these nations are entirely contained within the major landmass which is termed 'Great Britain'.
Nope, but then I never said they were :)

Did I get that right?

Not bad... and for a bonus point: what are the British Isles?

...however debate still continues as to whether certain other islands (such as Anglesey) which are close to the coast of that island should also be counted as part of Great Britain or not.

...however none of these nations are entirely contained within the major landmass which is termed 'Great Britain'.
Could you leave the nits alone, I don't think they enjoy being picked.

Could you leave the nits alone, I don't think they enjoy being picked.

Without pedantry the internet is nothing.

Without pornography the internet is nothing.
Fixed for accuracy.

Unless you are talking about football, obviously.

I thought that went without saying :p

Not bad... and for a bonus point: what are the British Isles?
An British geopolitical colonial construct, or the name for GB + Ireland + surrounding islands, depending on your viewpoint?

An British geopolitical colonial construct, or the name for GB + Ireland + surrounding islands, depending on your viewpoint?

And on the subject of British geopolitical colonial constructs, what are

a.) the mainland?
b.) the province?
and
c.) the Ardoyne?

And on the subject of British geopolitical colonial constructs, what are

a.) the mainland?

Ireland if you live on Rathlin, GB if you live on Ireland.

b.) the province?

Ah, the unionist/BBC name for NI.

Although I do remember reading that NI is a province of the UK, so is a province in its own right; just not a province of Ireland (i.e. not Ulster). Don't know if that's true or not though.

and
c.) the Ardoyne?
Difference between Ardoyne and the Ardoyne?

Ireland if you live on Rathlin, GB if you live on Ireland.

Ah, you know what they say about using Rathlin to predict the weather? If you can see Rathlin from the north coast it's going to rain. If you can't see Rathlin it already is raining.


Close: GB if you live on Ireland and had a Protestant upbringing/unionist leanings. Else it is most likely to refer to mainland Europe.



Difference between Ardoyne and the Ardoyne?

Apparently the definite article was added by BBC journalists in the early seventies when reporting on trouble there. Residents of the time have been heard to say that they new where Ardoyne was, but not the Ardoyne.

Shibboleth, shibboleth, shibboleth.