NationStates Jolt Archive

We had age, middle name, I remember one about sexual orientation...So, those are my excuses for this stupid thread. I'm bored but I shouldnt do anything because I gotta study but I dont want to do that neither. [/rant]

Anglo, German, Danish here...

I'm a clown. :)

Dad side is from Germany, mom side goes as far back as the Civil War (US) from the mountains of North Carolina.

I'm a clown. :)

*hits Goofball in the face with a pie*

Had to be done.

*hits Goofball in the face with a pie*

Had to be done.

That's what they always say.

mm.... blueberry. :)

That's what they always say.

mm.... blueberry. :)

*takes a Seltzer bottle and squirt it in your face*

Let's see how far we can push the clown!

African-American, German, Spanish, Native American, German Jewish, and Polish Jewish.

I think that's all.

I'm half Labrador 1/4 blue heeler and 1/4 boarder collie

*takes a Seltzer bottle and squirt it in your face*

Let's see how far we can push the clown!

*tosses a container of crazy purple knockout gas and runs*

Whitebread chicken eating honky.

African-American, German, Spanish, Native American, German Jewish, and Polish Jewish.

I think that's all.

So you are a black self hating Jew who conquers himself and then comes to the rescue, and you really really like Spicy food?!

That, also had to be done.

Man, Bear and Pig.

*tosses a container of crazy purple knockout gas and runs*

*puts on a face mask and runs after the clown, tackles him really hard*

1/2 German
1/4 Polish
1/4 Russian


...I conquer myself on an infrequent basis. :p

*puts on a face mask and runs after the clown, tackles him really hard*

*squirts you in the eyes with lapel flower and attemps a 40yard field goal with your groin.*

Man, Bear and Pig.

http://www.morethings.com/fan/south_park/photo_gallery/al-gore-is-manbearpig.jpg

I'm being cereal you guys!

*squirts you in the eyes with lapel flower and attemps a 40yard field goal with your groin.*

Hmm, I always knew you were fruity. :p

Hmm, I always knew you were fruity. :p

I'm nutty. :)

I'm nutty. :)

Nuts are fruit.

Nuts are fruit.

*gives Soheran a slice of Cheese cake*

You earned it. :D

Nuts are fruit.

Exactly.

....I think. :p

*gives Soheran a slice of Cheese cake*

You earned it. :D

What for?

Exactly.

....I think. :p

Are you tomotoey too? Or are you one of the sectarians who insists that tomatoes keep to their culturally imposed prison known as "The Vegetables"?

(Hmm... that isn't half as funny as it was when I first got the idea. Whatever.)

Angolan, Trinidadian, English, Irish, Native American, and French.

What for?



Are you tomotoey too? Or are you one of the sectarians who insists that tomatoes keep to their culturally imposed prison known as "The Vegetables"?

(Hmm... that isn't half as funny as it was when I first got the idea. Whatever.)

Tomatoes don't deserve to get lumped together with republicans. :p

*tosses a container of crazy purple knockout gas and runs*"Family Guy did it"

Unless I am adopted I am Vietnamese last I checked.

1/3 Dutch
1/4 Canadian
2/5 Albino

1/3 Dutch
1/4 Canadian
2/5 Albino

What's the remaining 1.666666666 percent?

What's the remaining 1.666666666 percent?

fillers. :)

What's the remaining 1.666666666 percent?

High Fructose Corn Syrup?

fillers. :)

High Fructose Corn Syrup?


Just so it's not MSG.

Ukrainian on my father's side. My mother is from somewhere north of Switzerland.

English, Scottish, Irish, German.

100% cupcake.

I randomly congealed out of a banana and sweat from Hitler's running trousers.

I randomly congealed out of a banana and sweat from Hitler's running trousers.

I just thought mein fuhrer was happy to see me!

German/Lithuanian/Irish/English

Probably a few other things if you look deeper. *shrugs*

German/Lithuanian/Irish/English

Probably a few other things if you look deeper. *shrugs*

Open up!

*looks deeper*

*screams*

Open up!

*looks deeper*

*screams*

Cute, eh? I named him Rodrigo.

One parent was English/Scottish. The other parent was English/Polish Jew.

Lombardi. :p

English, with some Welsh and Irish.

I'm a mix of Etruscan, Kelt, Roman, Langobard, French, Spanish, German, Slavic and Magyar. That is, I'm Milanese. Hence, 100% Italian and 101% European.:D :D

Sorry... I really can't take my ethnicity too seriously.

I'm a mix of Etruscan, Kelt, Roman, Langobard, French, Spanish, German, Slavic and Magyar. That is, I'm Milanese. Hence, 100% Italian and 101% European.:D :D

Sorry... I really can't take my ethnicity too seriously.I think I'm somewhere along those lines. Ethnicity doesn't exist unless a person believes itt to exist. ie. Ethnicity is relational and not physical.

As for my families roots... my dad's side is boring and I know virtually nothing about it. On my mum's side... well there's a surname that it pretty much only found within an incestuous village in Cheshire - my mum and my aunt being the only two people to be listed under Gainham in the whole of the Greater London telephone directory. My Grandma is a 2nd generation immigrant who is half Dutch and half Irish, half protestant, and half catholic. How the hell her parents ever got together I have no idea.

part German, part Polish, part Russian, part Norweigan from my mum's side

Welsh from my dad's side (go Celts!)

English, part-Welsh, part-Irish, and possibly part-French and part-Viking if you go back far enough.

A mix of German, English, French, Irish, Welsh, and Danish, with a tiny bit (1/64 or less) of Native American (no idea what tribe) thrown in.

This has been done before, but:

Mostly French and English, with a little bit of Welsh.

Of course, if you go back far enough, we're all Ethiopian. :)

Heinz 57 here

As far as I know: English, Scotch, Dutch, German, American Indian (Cherokee), French, African, Irish, and if you go back far enough probably Roman ( meaning most anything in Europe)

Born in Berlin. My dad is ethnic German (grandpa is Sudeten German, Grandma from East Prussia), and my mom is Canadian with Polish-Jewish background. We moved to Canada in 1993-94.

Half Lower-Saxon (Dad's side), half East-Prussian (Mom's side).

Half-German (with a Swedish background sometime around the 30-years-war), half-Austrian (with god knows what sort of backgrounds, but most likely some Checz in there), living in Ireland with an English boyfriend.

I do like Europe :)

My mother is from somewhere north of Switzerland.
Ultima Thule, perhaps?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Thule_carta_marina_Olaus_Magnus.jpg

Anyway, my family is Jewish-German from Berlin (so Prussian before that) and Jewish-German from Austria. Theres also some Russkij thrown in there, but we arnt really sure where in Russia. Maybe somewhere in North-Western Russia.....

The ethnicity of me is Indian though I've only visited India 4 times in my life. I consider myself a Britih citizen with Indian heritage.

Of my eight great grandparents 4 were English, one Scottish, one Irish, one Italian and one Jewish. Plus I have a French passport. So I like to say I'm a British mongrel

The only people to care about ethnicity (knowing fractions and percentages and whatnots and actually asking other people) I've come across are racists or colonials, sometimes both.

100% Indian, specifically 100% Gujarati.

Greek, Turkish, Welsh, Irish (and somewhere back a couple of generations, English & Scottish)

i am ethnically ginger. dare to oppress me.... :p

Mostly God :) but also Puerto Rican, a little Spanish, and a little African.

i am ethnically ginger. dare to oppress me.... :p

Oppression is unnecessary where shunning is sufficient.

The only people to care about ethnicity (knowing fractions and percentages and whatnots and actually asking other people) I've come across are racists or colonials, sometimes both.

You must have a small social circle...

i am ethnically ginger. dare to oppress me.... :p

Red power! Have you seen that episode in South Park??

You must have a small social circle...

I'm not a colonial or a racist, so I don't come across many people who care about ethnicity, so in that sense I do have a small social circle, thankfully.

Oppression is unnecessary where shunning is sufficient.
:p
Red power! Have you seen that episode in South Park??
yep, i'm a day-walker :D

I'm not a colonial or a racist, so I don't come across many people who care about ethnicity, so in that sense I do have a small social circle, thankfully.

Whose a colonial these days? Have you come across 21st century?

I'm a clown. :)

:p moi aussi.

I'm 1/3 German, 2/17 Polish, 4/9 Jewish, 167/404 Magyar, and 93/827 Tatar/Mongol.

Approximately.

Whose a colonial these days?

It's a term used to denote those who live in the former European colonies.

It's a term used to denote those who live in the former European colonies.

In Swedish English?

OED:


colonial

• adjective 1 relating to or characteristic of a colony or of colonialism. 2 in a style characteristic of the period of the British colonies in America before independence. 3 (of animals or plants) living in colonies.

• noun a person who lives in a colony.


Notice the lack of "former"...If you want to use it as a misnomer tho, dont use it in such a silly context...

1/2 Swedish 1/2 Dutch. Hooray me

A fair bit Irish, but mostly English.

In Swedish English?

No, in English, which I am free to use as I please. That the OED doesn't mention the usage precludes me in no way from using it.

Cree and Irish.

Cree and Irish.

Oooh, one more ancestry to taunt you over. :)

No, in English, which I am free to use as I please.


In other words, incorrect English, since Oxford English Dictionary is pretty much like the authority on standart English...


That the OED doesn't mention the usage precludes me in no way from using it.

It doesnt. Stupidity is not illegal. So, it also doesnt preclude you from sounding silly, especially considering the fact that you were trying to make an offensive remark about me and people answering with fractions...Anyway, enough of this shit...

Ethnicity? Anglo Saxon and Kadazan-dusun.
Nationality? British and Malaysian.

English all the way back to the late 19th century, when there's a bit of German in there.

Oooh, one more ancestry to taunt you over. :)
You weren't aware of the Irish side? I've mentioned it often. My Irish side both thanks and curses my Cree side for potatoes...

In other words, incorrect English, since Oxford English Dictionary is pretty much like the authority on standart English...

There is no authority on standard English. Belief to the contrary is just loony.

It doesnt. Stupidity is not illegal. So, it also doesnt preclude you from sounding silly, especially considering the fact that you were trying to make an offensive remark about me and people answering with fractions...Anyway, enough of this shit...

It is a value neutral statement - you live in what was once a colony, you're colonial - unlike your feeble attempts at reproaching me for my intellect, thinking I'd give a pattootie, so your taking offence at it is none of my beeswax.

It doesnt. Stupidity is not illegal. So, it also doesnt preclude you from sounding silly, especially considering the fact that you were trying to make an offensive remark about me and people answering with fractions...Anyway, enough of this shit...Wow...watch the colonial get all angry...

You weren't aware of the Irish side? I've mentioned it often. My Irish side both thanks and curses my Cree side for potatoes...

I probably was, but you think I have some sort of file on you that I can peruse to refresh my pre-senile mind?

There is no authority on standard English. Belief to the contrary is just loony.


Pftt. Because you say so? Right, whatever... :rolleyes:


It is a value neutral statement - you live in what was once a colony, you're colonial - unlike your feeble attempts at reproaching me for my intellect, thinking I'd give a pattootie, so your taking offence at it is none of my beeswax.

Your lack of english is consistent with your lack of civil etiquette, in which you dont tell strangers that they may be racists.

English and Irish. There may be a little bit of Spanish and Scottish in there too, but that's away back.

I probably was, but you think I have some sort of file on you that I can peruse to refresh my pre-senile mind?
No, I simply assume that because of the overwhelming esteem you hold me in, not to mention the nearly crushing affection you have for me, you would simply remember every minute detail. If not for those reasons, then at least to use them against me later. Has Oeck truly surpassed you in this? You're losing your touch old man...

Pftt. Because you say so? Right, whatever... :rolleyes: Why don't you back up this ridiculous claim of standardised English? I've been speaking the language my whole life, and I have failed to find the definitive ten commandments of English. We have no Royal Academy like the Spaniards, no formal organisation for the preservation of the English language, and there is incredible variation. So what are you on about? Other than developing a massive hardon for Fass?


Your lack of english is consistent with your lack of civil etiquette, in which you dont tell strangers that they may be racists.

Oooh, touched a nerve, hmmm? Are you a racist? If not, then what are you on about? If so, well...tough shit.

How many languages do you speak by the way? The man speaks English at a PhD level, along with various other languages at the maximum level of fluency. And you want to lecture him on his usage? Bitch, please.

Pftt. Because you say so? Right, whatever... :rolleyes:

No, because it's true.

No, I simply assume that because of the overwhelming esteem you hold me in, not to mention the nearly crushing affection you have for me, you would simply remember every minute detail. If not for those reasons, then at least to use them against me later. Has Oeck truly surpassed you in this? You're losing your touch old man...

Let there be no doubt as to my never, ever having denied the superior qualities of Oeck's obsessive-compulsive, almost hamster-like, stalking abilities and skills in comparison to those, in her shadow so nakedly and impotently flaccid, attributed to me.

Let it console you that the touch I lose was never gonna come your way, sister.

No, because it's true.

Word. *soul clap*

Let it console you that the touch I lose was never gonna come your way.
I shan't allow my fond delusions to fall into obscurity. If for nothing else than to force you to imagine blissful congress with someone of the wrong gender. I'm evil like that.

Okinawan.

Pftt. Because you say so? Right, whatever... :rolleyes:

No, but because there simply is no authority on standard English.

Your lack of english is consistent with your lack of civil etiquette, in which you dont tell strangers that they may be racists.

Yet, for all my claimed lack of English, I still manage to properly use majuscules and apostrophes, not to mention resist abuse of the ellipsis.

I'm Pictish, obviously.

Concepts of national identity are hopelessly obsolete. For instance, the so-called Celtic nations (Wales, Ireland and Scotland) have no more Celtic ancestry than the English.
Plus, national identity is tied in with prejudices and dumb misconceptions about whose ancestors oppressed who else's ancestors.

Because of this, myself and a friend decided to ditch the whole concept and revive an extinct ethnic group - the Picts. Works for us, anyway.

Why don't you back up this ridiculous claim of standardised English? I've been speaking the language my whole life, and I have failed to find the definitive ten commandments of English. We have no Royal Academy like the Spaniards, no formal organisation for the preservation of the English language, and there is incredible variation. So what are you on about? Other than developing a massive hardon for Fass?
I figured I could get an angry Native American to make my counterargument for me. :p


How many languages do you speak by the way? The man speaks English at a PhD level, along with various other languages at the maximum level of fluency. And you want to lecture him on his usage? Bitch, please.
Anyone else notice how odd it is that it's mostly the people who don't speak English as a first language who actually seem to pay attention to it? Like here on this forum we have Fass, Aelosia, Oeck and so on.
Word. *soul clap*
*soul clap right back! (whatever that means)*

I don't have an ethnicity. But I could post two cat pics.

No, because it's true.

"The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP), and is generally regarded as the most comprehensive and scholarly dictionary of the English language."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_English_Dictionary

"The Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words, both present and past. It traces the usage of words through 2.5 million quotations from a wide range of international English language sources, from classic literature and specialist periodicals to film scripts and cookery books."
http://www.oed.com/about/

"The Oxford English Dictionary has long been considered the ultimate reference work in English lexicography."
http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-English-Dictionary-Second-Set/dp/0198611862

"The Oxford English Dictionary Online is the world's leading authority on the history and
evolution of the English language since 1150. Highly and widely-acclaimed, it has also
proved to be one of the most popular JISC resources with 134 subscribers in higher and
further education institutions as at May 2006."
Link (http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:8tD9T8i2uk0J:www.jisc-collections.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/jisc_oed_eval.pdf+Oxford+English+Dictionary,+authority&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=ca)

Anyone else notice how odd it is that it's mostly the people who don't speak English as a first language who actually seem to pay attention to it? Like here on this forum we have Fass, Aelosia, Oeck and so on.

well, it's like this, Spanish is my second language and when I was learning it I had to learn all that "conjugating verbs" stuff, that I never learned in English.

I don't have an ethnicity. But I could post two cat pics.

And you probably will. :p

I shan't allow my fond delusions to fall into obscurity. If for nothing else than to force you to imagine blissful congress with someone of the wrong gender. I'm evil like that.

As evil lends you too much credit and credence, I should as vigorously as my self-perceived stubby phalanxes permit me to indent the keys on this electric clavier before me prefer to characterise you as iniquitous.

-snip-

"Fifty million Jim Crows can't all have been wrong."

And you probably will. :p

Of course.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q100/TheSteveslols/1163920438-1162576236691.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q100/TheSteveslols/b9729606.jpg

"The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP), and is generally regarded as the most comprehensive and scholarly dictionary of the English language."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_English_Dictionary


That's a fine claim to make. Doesn't make English any more standard though, because the English speaking countries have not signed on to the concept of standardisation. Go ahead, prance about and say, 'here it is, here is the English we should all be speaking'. The Newfies will continue to snicker up their plaid sleeves at you.

well, it's like this, Spanish is my second language and when I was learning it I had to learn all that "conjugating verbs" stuff, that I never learned in English.

Exactly, that's the point. Most people aren't taught English in schools. It's assumed they'll learn it perfectly from their parents. Except their parents weren't taught either, so... and it goes on for generations.

/rant

well, it's like this, Spanish is my second language and when I was learning it I had to learn all that "conjugating verbs" stuff, that I never learned in English.

There are still grammatical terms I know only in French or Spanish, but not in English.

That's a fine claim to make. Doesn't make English any more standard though, because the English speaking countries have not signed on to the concept of standardisation. Go ahead, prance about and say, 'here it is, here is the English we should all be speaking'. The Newfies will continue to snicker up their plaid sleeves at you.

I've heard that Newfies sound ridiculously like Dubs. For no other reason I declare that to be the proper way to speak English.

well, it's like this, Spanish is my second language and when I was learning it I had to learn all that "conjugating verbs" stuff, that I never learned in English.

Not trying to be offensive in anyway, Smunk, but that constitutes failure on either your part or that of your English teachers, or possibly a combination thereof. It's not uncommon, though, at least not here in the US, sadly, for people not to know stuff like parts of speech, conjugations and the like until they try learning a foreign language.

No, but because there simply is no authority on standard English.


In other words, incorrect English, since Oxford English Dictionary is pretty much like the authority on standart English...


Being pretty much LIKE the authority and being THE authority are not same concepts, tho similar.



Yet, for all my claimed lack of English, I still manage to properly use majuscules and apostrophes, not to mention resist abuse of the ellipsis.

So you are a spelling nazi, but you cant differentiate tone differences of your wording or nuances as exampled above. Ok...

As evil lends you too much credit and credence, I should as vigorously as my self-perceived stubby phalanxes permit me to indent the keys on this electric clavier before me prefer to characterise you as iniquitous.

That works for me also.

"The Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium.

You're undermining your own, already very weak, argument here, as you just acknowledged that the OED is nothing more than a descriptive (and not prescriptive) dictionary.

Not trying to be offensive in anyway, Smunk, but that constitutes failure on either your part or that of your English teachers, or possibly a combination thereof. It's not uncommon, though, at least not here in the US, sadly, for people not to know stuff like parts of speech, conjugations and the like until they try learning a foreign language.

it's both. I am learning now, as I am teaching my children, however, none of that was covered in school, we never got past "noun, verb, adverb" and I tuned out after the second grade.

I've heard that Newfies sound ridiculously like Dubs. For no other reason I declare that to be the proper way to speak English.

If you want to hear the a pure Irish or Scottish accent, as it sounded nearly two centuries ago, visit the Maritimes. There have been various linguistic studies to support the claim that because of the relative isolation of immigrants living in the Maritimes, the accents remained somewhat frozen in time.

Being pretty much LIKE the authority and being THE authority are not same concepts, tho similar.

The thing being that it isn't even "like" the authority, since there is no authority for it to be "like".

So you are a spelling nazi, but you cant differentiate tone differences of your wording or nuances as exampled above. Ok...

Tone differences in written language? As I said, those were your beeswax, not mine. As to the nuances, well, I shall let the irony of that reflecting on you stand for itself.

Not trying to be offensive in anyway, Smunk, but that constitutes failure on either your part or that of your English teachers, or possibly a combination thereof. It's not uncommon, though, at least not here in the US, sadly, for people not to know stuff like parts of speech, conjugations and the like until they try learning a foreign language.

Education is rather faddish. Strict adherence to grammar for a space of years gives way to the whole language approach...after a while it is realised that entire peer groups have gone through elementary school with little to no grammar instruction, and the pendulum swings back. And forth. And back again. I missed English grammar...my youngest brother was drilled harshly in it. Bizarreness.

So you are a spelling nazi, but you cant differentiate tone differences of your wording or nuances as exampled above. Ok...

When did "example" become a verb? :confused: The word for which you're looking, I believe, is "exemplified."

it's both. I am learning now, as I am teaching my children, however, none of that was covered in school, we never got past "noun, verb, adverb" and I tuned out after the second grade.

Ah, I see. I had pretty good English teachers (in West Virginia, surprisingly) who drilled all of that stuff into our heads, and since I was interested in being a writer from first grade on, I kept paying attention. I was even one of those dorks who wasn't bothered by the whole sentence-diagraming thing. ;)

1/4 Hakka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakka), 3/4 Cantonese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantonese_people).
100% Chinese-Canadian.

Tone differences in written language? As I said, those were your beeswax, not mine. As to the nuances, well, I shall let the irony of that reflecting on you stand for itself.

Translation:

Bitch, please.

That works for me also.

Ever the péripatéticienne that way, hein?

Translation:

Bitch, please.

You knows me, girl.

Education is rather faddish. Strict adherence to grammar for a space of years gives way to the whole language approach...after a while it is realised that entire peer groups have gone through elementary school with little to no grammar instruction, and the pendulum swings back. And forth. And back again. I missed English grammar...my youngest brother was drilled harshly in it. Bizarreness.

I think it also depends a lot on where you are. I'm guessing there are a lot of little pedulums swinging everywhere, because a lot of the people with whom I attended uni (a private school that drew from everywhere, not just one state or region -- or even country, for that matter) had no clue, say, when to use the subjunctive. Of course, they may have just tuned out when that stuff was being taught, like Smunkee said.

Education is rather faddish. Strict adherence to grammar for a space of years gives way to the whole language approach...after a while it is realised that entire peer groups have gone through elementary school with little to no grammar instruction, and the pendulum swings back. And forth. And back again. I missed English grammar...my youngest brother was drilled harshly in it. Bizarreness.

I think you are right, my husband was drilled harshly on grammar, while I was not ,and the kids behind me (graduating about now) were again, while my kids would be doing the "whole language" gig.

The thing being that it isn't even "like" the authority, since there is no authority for it to be "like".


So one can be like another only if that another thing exists? What about when that one thing approaches to that another thing, even if the another thing is not defined/non-existant? No? There goes the whole limit concept in maths. :rolleyes:


Tone differences in written language? As I said, those were your beeswax, not mine. As to the nuances, well, I shall let the irony of that reflecting on you stand for itself.

Tone differences in written language. Thats a metonymy. Look it up...

So one can be like another only if that another thing exists?

Just step away from the keyboard, mate. You're killing your own cause here with rubbish like that.

So one can be like another only if that another thing exists? What about when that one thing approaches to that another thing, even if the another thing is not defined/non-existant? No? There goes the whole limit concept in maths. :rolleyes:

So you do admit there is no prescriptive authority on the English language? Well, then, that should end your (grammatically incorrect and thus hypocritical) bitching.

Tone differences in written language. Thats a metonymy. Look it up...

I needn't look it up as I freely acknowledge it as such, but I also see it for the nonsensical oxymoron that it is and that has no bearing on me, since this, not in any way conferable textually, "tone" is entirely a figment of your imagination.

So you do admit there is no prescriptive authority on the English language? Well, then, that should end your (grammatically incorrect and thus hypocritical) bitching.


There is one that is similar and which educated people base their wording on.


I needn't look it up as I freely acknowledge it as such, but I also see it for the nonsensical oxymoron that it is and that has no bearing on me, since this, not in any way conferable textually, "tone" is entirely a figment of your imagination.

I guess I'm just not used to being called racist or colonial or perhaps both, especially in a thread which supposed to be conversational. :rolleyes: Call it zero tolerance for assholes.

There is one that is similar and which educated people base their wording on.

Ugh...you unnecessarily ended a sentence in a preposition.

Oh, and you've just got to love when someone who starts a thread actually helps hijack it. :D

I think it also depends a lot on where you are. I'm guessing there are a lot of little pedulums swinging everywhere, because a lot of the people with whom I attended uni (a private school that drew from everywhere, not just one state or region -- or even country, for that matter) had no clue, say, when to use the subjunctive. Of course, they may have just tuned out when that stuff was being taught, like Smunkee said.
Well, standards here are provincial, but that doesn't mean they are adhered to strictly, and each school division has a different take on grammar. And the subjunctive? I can tell you what it is in French, Spanish, and Cree...but in English? I'd be guessing.

There is one that is similar and which educated people base their wording on.



I guess I'm just not used to being called racist or colonial or perhaps both, especially in a thread which supposed to be conversational. :rolleyes:

uh oh! getting a bit close to the ak-ak there...

I guess I'm just not used to being called racist or colonial or perhaps both, especially in a thread which supposed to be conversational. :rolleyes: Call it zero tolerance for assholes.

You must drive yourself nuts. Or that particular assholery doesn't count?

I guess I'm just not used to being called racist or colonial or perhaps both, especially in a thread which supposed to be conversational. :rolleyes: Call it zero tolerance for assholes.

No-one called you racist. And 'colonial' is just our humourous way of referring to Americans, inclusive (I forgot to do my research and mistook you for one of your southern neighbours! :-X)

No-one called you racist. And 'colonial' is just our humourous way of referring to Americans, simply because it's kind of arrogant for them to claim the entire pair of continents as their own.

But that's a whole other debate.

Name one of the nationalities Canadians dont like being mistaken for :D

Well, standards here are provincial, but that doesn't mean they are adhered to strictly, and each school division has a different take on grammar. And the subjunctive? I can tell you what it is in French, Spanish, and Cree...but in English? I'd be guessing.

It's not often used in English, mostly just in "if" clauses -- e.g., "If I were (not "was") a real grammar Nazi, Nova Magna Germania would have been invaded by now." ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/squorn/givemepoland.jpg

Standards here in the US have different levels, in most cases, though, directed by the individual States, although each school district has something of a free hand, so probably much like the Canadian system, I'm guessing.

There is one that is similar and which educated people base their wording on.

And were we to use it as a benchmark for your posts, your status as an "educated" person would be put into serious question, so allow me to do just that as I dismiss your reproaching of my language usage.

I guess I'm just not used to being called racist or colonial or perhaps both, especially in a thread which supposed to be conversational. :rolleyes:

You are colonial if your location field is truthful, and my experience is such that it's basically only colonials and racists (sometimes both) that give a damn about ethnicity. Racists for obvious reasons, colonials out of some seemingly compensatory yearning for heritage they see their own domicile lack.

No-one called you racist. And 'colonial' is just our humourous way of referring to Americans, simply because it's kind of arrogant for them to claim the entire pair of continents as their own.

But that's a whole other debate.

Actually Catalasia, 'colonial' refers to people of any nation that is a former colony.

Name one of the nationalities Canadians dont like being mistaken for :D

Ummm Canadian?

Racists for obvious reasons, colonials out of some seemingly compensatory yearning for heritage they see their own domicile lack.
That is a very interesting theory, which I support wholeheartedly.

And were we to use it as a benchmark for your posts, your status as an "educated" person would be put into serious question, so allow me to do just that as I dismiss your reproaching of my language usage.



You are colonial if your location field is truthful, and my experience is such that only it's basically only colonials and racists (sometimes both) that give a damn about ethnicity. Racists for obvious reasons, colonials out of some seemingly compensatory yearning for heritage they see their own domicile lack.

So you'd be ok if I called you eurotrash or stupid or maybe both?

It's not often used in English, mostly just in "if" clauses -- e.g., "If I were (not "was") a real grammar Nazi, Nova Magna Germania would have been invaded by now." ;)

Do not forget the French-like usage after constructions such as "It's [adjective] that" ("It's vital that he make a Poland reference") and after certain verbs ("I demand that that pic never be reposted").

colonials out of some seemingly compensatory yearning for heritage they see their own domicile lack.

That's very true. You don't find many people in Britain who are that concerned to call themselves Celts, and any European with at least some sort of grounding in anthropology and/or archaeology can tell you that the word 'Celt' means very little and has never referred to any homogenous ethnic group. Yet the colonies seem to be overrun with them. Where did they come from?!

So you'd be ok if I called you eurotrash or stupid or maybe both?

Those would be intentionally offensive, but, sure, go ahead. As I've written several times in my replies to you already: I don't give a patootie about your opinion.

Do not forget the French-like usage after constructions such as "It's [adjective] that" ("It's vital that he make a Poland reference") and after certain verbs ("I demand that that pic never be reposted").

Yes, that as well. Note, though, that I did say "mostly." ;)

That's very true. You don't find many people in Britain who are that concerned to call themselves Celts, and any European with at least some sort of grounding in anthropology and/or archaeology can tell you that the word 'Celt' means very little and has never referred to any homogenous ethnic group. Yet the colonies seem to be overrun with them. Where did they come from?!

We have the same thing with deluded "Vikings" revisiting the "homeland" going on and on about how they're so and so fractionally Norse.

That's very true. You don't find many people in Britain who are that concerned to call themselves Celts, and any European with at least some sort of grounding in anthropology and/or archaeology can tell you that the word 'Celt' means very little and has never referred to any homogenous ethnic group. Yet the colonies seem to be overrun with them. Where did they come from?!

First, we're not colonies anymore, thank you. :p

It comes from not having a heritage tied to a land, at least not a heritage that goes back all that far. It's very easy for a Swede, for instance (and no, Fass, I'm not picking on you personally), to just shrug it off. But try to think of it from the perspective of someone in the US whose lineage in this country might only go back a hundred years or so. People like to have a sense of their past. Here in the US and the other former colonies, we've only got so much of it rooted in our current nations, so there's a tendency to look beyond them.

Those would be intentionally offensive, but, sure, go ahead. As I've written several times in my replies to you already: I don't give a patootie about your opinion.

Fass said "patootie." http://209.85.48.8/9854/48/emo/roflma.gif

Polish, Russian, and German. I think we also have some Irish and English in us from my mom's side.

Yes, that as well. Note, though, that I did say "mostly." ;)

Note, though, that you did not provide evidence for it being the case "mostly", which I must say was remiss of you in light of the inevitable pedantry of these fora when it comes to such things. :p

Note, though, that you did not provide evidence for it being the case "mostly", which I must say was remiss of you in light of the inevitable pedantry of these fora when it comes to such things. :p

Damn you! I challenge you to a duel, fine sir! En garde! http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i25/be_fit/smiles_193.gif

Damn you! I challenge you to a duel, fine sir! En garde!

http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/flag007.gif

Due to time constraints and starvation, I surrender.

American of 100% Italian ancestry.

Probably the last generation in my family that will be able to make that statement.

And no, I'm not mobbed up ;)

http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/flag007.gif

Due to time constraints and starvation, I surrender.

http://209.85.48.8/9854/48/emo/roflma.gif

You, my friend, just won this thread! Not that it's much of a prize... ;)

Irish, German, Lichenstienian(?), and Austrian.

Almost Entirely:
http://www.webmaster-tool.co.uk/flag-animated/Wales-Red-Dragon.gif

and a little bit: (on my grandmothers side)

http://www.accessirelandholidays.com/Images/Flags/irish_flag-animated.gif

Consider myself Welsh though and proud of it! Cymru am Byth!

:D

My father is East Asian, my mother is Caucasian. Or my father is Japanese and my mother is American. On my mother's side, there are significant amounts of German, English, Dutch, and Irish as well as bits of Scottish and American Indian. My grandmother traced my families roots as far back as Dutch New York on my mother's mother's side and 13 people on the Mayflower on my mother's father's side. And I have family who fought at the Battle of Concord and Lexington in the American Revolution. And I am a byproduct of incest...I am directly descended an uncle/niece marriage in the late 1800s.

And yes, I am a colonial(obviously), and I have no idea why I am that interested in my family history, but I do like knowing it.

Scots/Irish/Welsh on my mother's side, French Canadian on my dad's.

And I am a byproduct of incest...

Well, that explains a lot now, doesn't it? :p

I have mostly German in me and the rest is Native American and Irish.

I have mostly German in me and the rest is Native American and Irish.

So when he pulls out, you're just Native and Irish?

So when he pulls out, you're just Native and Irish?

Don't forget dripping.

I don't give a patootie about your opinion.

:rolleyes: Does this guy ever post anything that isn't typed with a limp wrist?

White as snow with a teutonic surname.

:rolleyes: Does this guy ever post anything that isn't typed with a limp wrist?

First, we should ascertain whether you are capable of posting anything remotely interesting to anyone who is not a mouth-breathing knuckle-dragger.

*checks*

No, it appears not.

:rolleyes: Does this guy ever post anything that isn't typed with a limp wrist?

and the purpose of this post was...?

and the purpose of this post was...?

It was an excellent demonstration of asshattery, but not really related to ethnicity.

English and Scottish (apparantley also 1/8 Irish which I don't count because
1. It's negligable. 2. I've never even been to Ireland)

Native born Cuban of spaniard decent, now American citizen.

It was an excellent demonstration of asshattery, but not really related to ethnicity.

true dat.

i love that word 'asshattery', lol :D

:rolleyes: Does this guy ever post anything that isn't typed with a limp wrist?

I should most certainly hope not, sweetie.

Northern-East Dutch (mum's side), Middle-East Dutch (dad's side).

As far as I can go back (to the 15th century, yes it is amazing) no other ethnicities.

Not even German blood.

So goddamn boring :(

Well, that explains a lot now, doesn't it? :p

*looks at you from my third eye*

What now? No, no I don't think so...
:p

I should most certainly hope not, sweetie.

Fantastic edit!

Fantastic edit!

One shan't be so quick to disappoint one's man-groupies.

From my mother's family - Jewish, French, Romanian
From my father's family - Lakota, Dutch

great lakes usian. or chicagoan if we're drawing them that closely (which we could, considering the cultural differences).

Aryan (real Aryan, dammit) on my mothers side, and Transylvanian on my fathers.

Aryan (real Aryan, dammit) on my mothers side, and Transylvanian on my fathers.You mother is from Iran or Afghanistan??

Hmmmm.....

That I know of:

Seminole Indian
Cherokee Indian
Irish
possibly English
Dutch or German (or both)


Enough of my family has been in the South for long enough that I would actually assume I've got at least one black ancestor in the past couple of hundred years as well.

Mostly Scottish and Irish (surnames Pinkerton and Watson), with plenty of English on my mom's side of the family (surname Stafford). Along with that, there's a lot of Native American (Cherokee and Chickasaw) on my dad's side of the family. After all that, there's some French, German, and Scandinavian (we think Danish) from a long ways back on both sides of the family.

As for where my ancestors settled, the Pinkertons mostly went to the Northeast, with key members arriving in Rhode Island, Philadelphia (the two Philadelphia settlers are my direct ancestors), and Baltimore. As for the Staffords and Watsons, it was North Carolina and New York, respectively.

I could go into the Germanic ancestry, but since I don't really know it that well, I won't be doing that at the moment. What I do know is that my grandma's side of the family is overwhelmingly German, quite a bit of it being of the Rhineland sort.

Primarily German/Swiss, with Polish and English.

Cultural links to Irish through the fact that my grandmother was adopted by a family whose name was Kennedy, but, otherwise no genetics there.

General North/Central European.

We had age, middle name, I remember one about sexual orientation...So, those are my excuses for this stupid thread. I'm bored but I shouldnt do anything because I gotta study but I dont want to do that neither. [/rant]

Anglo, German, Danish here...

I'm American by nationality. Ethnicity, I'm Indian (the kind from India) on both sides of the family.

First, we should ascertain whether you are capable of posting anything remotely interesting to anyone who is not a mouth-breathing knuckle-dragger.

*checks*

No, it appears not.

Such a clever response. And using an comparison that's never been used before, at that. I am impressed.

How about this: why don't you become my own personal editor. Then you could ensure that at least some of my posts are at least remotely interesting ;)

I like it better when people guess. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/vajaradakini/IMG_1090.jpg

African-American, German, Spanish, Native American, German Jewish, and Polish Jewish.

I think that's all.
I can't believe you just identified "African-American" as an ethnicity. Isn't it just African?

I'm Norse.

You mother is from Iran or Afghanistan??

My grandparents (on my mothers side) are from Iran. They immigrated before my Mother was born.

No, I have never been to Iran.

No, I do not know Farsi.

I like it better when people guess. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/vajaradakini/IMG_1090.jpg

I'm saying:

1/2 Dutch
1/2 Sinhalese

If I'm right or close I award myself something.

I like it better when people guess. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/vajaradakini/IMG_1090.jpg

you look a bit like my friend donna and she's half philipino and half spanish(i think)

I can't believe you just identified "African-American" as an ethnicity. Isn't it just African?

I'm Norse.

No. Soheran is right. African can't be an ethnicity as defined by this thread. Africa is a...continent. If he had said, say, Tanzania or Nigeria then he would say Nigerian or whatever but he clearly has a black relative born and bred in the United States of America from a line of people extending back to slavery: therefore African American. Any questions?

Polish, Dutch

I'm saying:

1/2 Dutch
1/2 Sinhalese

If I'm right or close I award myself something.

i was going to offer sri lankan as an alternative guess, then i thought no. now i think yes. wah!

Well, my dad's half black and half white, so that makes me a quarter black and a quarter white. And on my mom's side, there's some Chinese heritage too. My mom's Taiwanese, and my grandparents come from mainland China. I also have some Native American ancestry, although I'm not white sure how that works out percentage-wise. So basically in summary, I'm black, white, Asian, and Native American.

i was going to offer sri lankan as an alternative guess, then i thought no. now i think yes. wah!

Sorry to cause you unneccesary self-doubt. Would you like a positive affirmation to confirm you're previous assertion?

My grandparents (on my mothers side) are from Iran. They immigrated before my Mother was born.

No, I have never been to Iran.

No, I do not know Farsi.

Can you speak Persian? Just kidding :p

I hate it when people ask me if I can speak Indian. I generally politely explain to them the fact that there are more than a dozen different languages spoken in India, and that Hindi is the national language.

Every now and then I get a "ok, ok, but can you speak Indian??" :headbang:

Sorry to cause you unneccesary self-doubt. Would you like a positive affirmation to confirm you're previous assertion?

no, i'm sticking now. :p

Half Afrikaans half Greek (and incidentally, I look French). I have a wee bit of English blood too, but I'm not bothered putting in exact fractions for it. :)

I'm saying:

1/2 Dutch
1/2 Sinhalese

If I'm right or close I award myself something.
What's Sinhalese?

And as far as I know it, I'm not in any way Dutch...

What's Sinhalese?

And as far as I know it, I'm not in any way Dutch...

Sri Lankan.

I like it better when people guess. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/vajaradakini/IMG_1090.jpg
Hello Kitty? :p You're not a Paris Hilton fan by any chance, are you?

you look a bit like my friend donna and she's half philipino and half spanish(i think)
Not philipino or spanish either.

Half Irish + Half Filipino (I hate you people so much for mispelling it) = Me.

Half Irish + Half Filipino (I hate you people so much for mispelling it) = Me.

sorry :)

Not philipino or spanish either.

hmmmm... time for another look.....


persian?

Hello Kitty? :p You're not a Paris Hilton fan by any chance, are you?
No, I'm not a big fan of Paris Hilton, I'm a fan of Hello Kitty. :P

hmmmm... time for another look.....


persian?
Nope.

hmmmm... time for another look.....


persian?

Persian? Bit vague innit? Hedging yer bets?

I'm sticking with some form of South Asian and European mixed race...

We had age, middle name, I remember one about sexual orientation...So, those are my excuses for this stupid thread. I'm bored but I shouldnt do anything because I gotta study but I dont want to do that neither. [/rant]

Anglo, German, Danish here...

italian,irish..and maybe jewish.

A mix of German, English, French, Irish, Welsh, and Danish, with a tiny bit (1/64 or less) of Native American (no idea what tribe) thrown in.
Hmm, sounds like a mix with good chances of being attractive. So are you? :)

No, I'm not a big fan of Paris Hilton, I'm a fan of Hello Kitty. :P
Usually the two go together, so I had to ask. :)

May as well post my own as well:

I'm an English, Irish, Polish, Hungarian, Lithuanian, German, Austrian, French and Russian Jew.

Ah the plight of the wandering jews...

Nope.
Hawaiian? :confused: It doesn't help that your eyes are closed. Besides your skin tone, you seem of European descent.

Persian? Bit vague innit? Hedging yer bets?

I'm sticking with some form of South Asian and European mixed race...
You seem to think I'm a lot more exciting than I am.

I'm just a European mutt... on my mom's side I'm irish, scottish, welsh, english, french, german, swedish and norwegian, on my dad's side I'm irish and random eastern European, possibly with some Roma mixed in there somewhere.

Persian? Bit vague innit? Hedging yer bets?

I'm sticking with some form of South Asian and European mixed race...

yep ;) i'm no good at guessing where people are from. well, i think most people don't have a clue, people tend to assume i'm irish, they look all surprised when i open my mouth and i've got a posh english accent.

You seem to think I'm a lot more exciting than I am.

I'm just a European mutt... on my mom's side I'm irish, scottish, welsh, english, french, german, swedish and norwegian, on my dad's side I'm irish and random eastern European, possibly with some Roma mixed in there somewhere.

You for sure don't look 100% European. Although obviously you may be hiding blue eyes or somethin'. Can definitely see the Roma...not insulting you for being a gypsy you understand just saying you like a little South Asian.:D

Wookie.

I can't believe you just identified "African-American" as an ethnicity. Isn't it just African?

african-american is an ethnicity. it's actually one of the major ethnic groups of the united states - certainly one of the best defined, due to the history involved.

african would indicate a continent of origin. there are lots and lots of africans that are part of lots and lots of ethnic groups.

Hawaiian? :confused: It doesn't help that your eyes are closed. Besides your skin tone, you seem of European descent.
Yeah, my eyes are closed because I blink a lot, especially when I'm taking a picture or someone else is taking a picture.

my eyes are closed because I blink a lot,

Lol

You for sure don't look 100% European. Although obviously you may be hiding blue eyes or somethin'. Can definitely see the Roma...not insulting you for being a gypsy you understand just saying you like a little South Asian.:D
No, my eyes are pretty brown.

You seem to think I'm a lot more exciting than I am.

I'm just a European mutt... on my mom's side I'm irish, scottish, welsh, english, french, german, swedish and norwegian, on my dad's side I'm irish and random eastern European, possibly with some Roma mixed in there somewhere.

your tan would suggest some sort of southern/eastern heritage, but then ethnology(or whatever it's called) is never more than guesswork without genetics. and then maybe you just live somewhere sunny.

Lol
I do... just ask anyone who's tried to take my picture. They usually get pretty frustrated. :P

your tan would suggest some sort of southern/eastern heritage, but then ethnology(or whatever it's called) is never more than guesswork without genetics. and then maybe you just live somewhere sunny.
Haha, not really, I live in Canada.

Though I did take that picture at the end of the summer, but I don't usually get out much during the summer.

Haha, not really, I live in Canada.

Though I did take that picture at the end of the summer, but I don't usually get out much during the summer.

lol, the only time i've ever got a tan was in canada!

or at least as tanned as i get which is a sort of long term sun-burned look :D

lol, the only time i've ever got a tan was in canada!

or at least as tanned as i get which is a sort of long term sun-nurned look :D

What the hell is a sun nurn?


Oh, you fast son of a bitch...

What the hell is a sun nurn?


Oh, you fast son of a bitch...

Ha. Failure of the typo-nazi!

What the hell is a sun nurn?


Oh, you fast son of a bitch...

:p

1/4 Danish, 1/8 Scottish, 1/4 English, among lots of other things including Norwegian, and a very, very small amount of Portugese.
However, if I convert to Judaism (which I am STRONGLY considering), then you can call me 100% Jewish. :eek:

1/4 Danish, 1/8 Scottish, 1/4 English, among lots of other things including Norweigan, and a very, very small amount of Portugese.
However, if I convert to Judaism (which I am STRONGLY considering), then you can call me 100% Jewish. :eek:

*is not going to get involved*

I heard of a cool tombstone idea last week, the word "Nothing" carved in stone.

I heard of a cool tombstone idea last week, the word "Nothing" carved in stone.

wrong thread?

I'm an American. Since on my mother's side, the family has been in this country since 1625 and on my father's side, since 1845, the ethnicity has probably been fairly muddled. When we last looked, our background was Scots, Irish, English, Danish, German, Norwegian, French, possibly Cherokee and bits and snippets of a whole slew of "other" too numerous to mention. So I would say "Heinz 57" pretty much sums it up.

What's the remaining 1.666666666 percent?

I would have too say sarcasm.

German/Lithuanian/Irish/English

Probably a few other things if you look deeper. *shrugs*

...Good thing you werent around during WWII....talk about racial contradiction in that.... =/

I'm an American. Since on my mother's side, the family has been in this country since 1625 and on my father's side, since 1845, the ethnicity has probably been fairly muddled. When we last looked, our background was Scots, Irish, English, Danish, German, Norwegian, French, possibly Cherokee and bits and snippets of a whole slew of "other" too numerous to mention. So I would say "Heinz 57" pretty much sums it up.

what ethnic group of american? we've got several.

what ethnic group of american? we've got several.

As I said, "Heinz 57." Although I look black Irish, my ethnic background is pretty much a mish-mash, although I can say, with some reasonable expectation of accuracy, that the family doesn't have any recent (i.e. in the last 400-500 years) Spanish or Mexican connections.

As I said, "Heinz 57." Although I look black Irish, my ethnic background is pretty much a mish-mash, although I can say, with some reasonable expectation of accuracy, that the family doesn't have any recent (i.e. in the last 400-500 years) Spanish or Mexican connections.

yeah, but which american cultural grouping were you raised in and do you associate yourself with? who do you talk like?

yeah, but which american cultural grouping were you raised in and do you associate yourself with? who do you talk like?

Central California middle-class

Father's side:
Russian (~40%)
Irish (~40%)
some sort of Middle Eastern (~20%)

Mother's side:
German (~50%)
Russian (~25%)
Scottish (~15%)
Cherokee (~10%)

EDIT: Fuck yeah 666th post! :mad:

Ultima Thule, perhaps?

I think I've gone back to being ashamed of being half-German... ughhh.

I think I've gone back to being ashamed of being half-German... ughhh.
Why even care?

Why even care?

Because it gets brought up once every month when my grandparents call. They expect me to speak that shit.

Because it gets brought up once every month when my grandparents call. They expect me to speak that shit.
So humour them, and then get over it.

With regards to my own ethnicity I sometimes get pissed off about the situation in modern ZA, and put the blame on the Dutch colonists for even venturing out there in the first place, but ultimately it is an exercise in futility. I feel absolutely no guilt for what others than myself have done, nor does it define my personality. In fact, I am happy to be half Afrikaans, regardless of whether others think this is 'acceptable'.

I honestly have no idea in the least. All I know is that my family is white Australian and that one distant grandfather may have been Japanese. It doesn't matter IMO.

Irish, Scottish, English, Swiss-German, and Norweigen. I'm mostly Irish, but the Norweigen shows the most in my appearence. I don't really identify myself too much with my European past; I'm a Canadian, through and through. I love Timmy Ho's, eat my Kraft Dinner with smoked salmon, can swear in Carrier, find 25 degrees hot (and 0 cold, since I'm a west-coaster), speak both official languages, and am completely over-the-moon for a native american guy, and don't get why there is still an unwritten taboo about it.

I'm a mutt. Let's leave it at that.

I'm a mutt. Let's leave it at that.

you're a downstater. that makes you approximately a southerner, which is also one of the american ethnicities.

you're a downstater. that makes you approximately a southerner, which is also one of the american ethnicities.

alright! ....I think?

alright! ....I think?

well, we can both agree that downstaters and chicagoans are not of the same cultural grouping, yeah?

well, we can both agree that downstaters and chicagoans are not of the same cultural grouping, yeah?

haha, thats the understatement of the year. I get what you were saying now. I didn't really sit here and pick up that you were from Chicago. (yuck)

haha, thats the understatement of the year. I get what you were saying now. I didn't really sit here and pick up that you were from Chicago. (yuck)

yeah. i've got this idea of treating at least a few of the significant cultural and linguistic groupings of the country as our real ethnicities, rather than our endlessly hyphenated ancestral ethnicities. i'm not entirely sure how many i'd break it up into, but some of the divides seem pretty clear to me.

yeah. i've got this idea of treating at least a few of the significant cultural and linguistic groupings of the country as our real ethnicities, rather than our endlessly hyphenated ancestral ethnicities. i'm not entirely sure how many i'd break it up into, but some of the divides seem pretty clear to me.

You know what? I agree. Its like you can clasify people as Chicagoians(sp?) or southerns or new yorkers or what ever. That makes more since in this nation as opposed to saying "im irish or german" as people are obviously not really from ireland or german when they say that, but point to ancestral locations. I like the way you think. You are ok for being from chicago. ;)

You know what? I agree. Its like you can clasify people as Chicagoians(sp?) or southerns or new yorkers or what ever. That makes more since in this nation as opposed to saying "im irish or german" as people are obviously not really from ireland or german when they say that, but point to ancestral locations.

precisely

i think that chicagoan is probably a sub-group of a larger great lakes (well, maybe excluding those yoopers up nort, eh?) ethnic group - we talk the same as michiganders or the non-nyc population of new york.

southerners are another definite group, as is african-american (which is not geographically centralized, because they are only a couple generations out from their post ww2 diaspora). i don't know what to do with the great plains and western populations, and i have no idea how they see themselves - though i do know that idahoes hate californians and are openly talking about damning up their rivers to prevent other people from getting 'their' water.

i strongly suspect the groupings would get more compact as we head east, and i'd like to hear what some people from over that way think.

I like the way you think. You are ok for being from chicago. ;)

thanks. now excuse me as we dominate you guys completely.

25% German
25% Scottish
50% Italian
100% American :D

Give or take a few here and there.

English
Irish
Maori
Scottish
Danish
Frankish
German
New Zealander.

well my mother's ancestors were polish and other eastern european jews who escaped to the u.s. after the kaiser's pogroms and before hitler's holocaust.

my father's father's people were mercinaries from the principality of hess in what is now north rhine westphalia, who came over to fight for the british against the french and native north americans before the revolution and before there was a u.s.

his mother's father's people were from scottland, and his mother's mother's people were the onondogwa, indiginous to upstate new york.

=^^=
.../\...

Can you speak Persian? Just kidding :p

I hate it when people ask me if I can speak Indian. I generally politely explain to them the fact that there are more than a dozen different languages spoken in India, and that Hindi is the national language.

Every now and then I get a "ok, ok, but can you speak Indian??" :headbang:

Yeah, people do that a lot. I also get people who confuse different languages for dialects. It gets my mom mad as hell, but I ignore it. I don't speak any Indian language, but I'm Bengali on my mom's side.