Re: So it is true...

Jim Heckman wrote:
> On 1-Dec-2005, "Seán O'Leathlóbhair" <jwlawler@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote in message <1133480399.732301.247070@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
>
> > Jim Heckman wrote:
> >
> > > On 1-Dec-2005, "Seán O'Leathlóbhair" <jwlawler@xxxxxxxxx>
> > > wrote in message <1133429997.288238.49370@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
> > >
> > > > rcaetano wrote:
>
> [...]
>
> > > > > But what where Finns doing in a pan-Scandinavian conference?
> > > > >
> > > > > Rafael Caetano, because the thread is unusually calm
> > > >
> > > > Why wouldn't they be there? It wasn't a conference on language.
> > > > Something to do with government.

In hindsight, it may have been a Nordic Union level conference. I
could have misremembered or my friend may have "translated" Nordic
Union to Scandinavia.

> > > > A google for Scandinavia gives this as the first result:
> > > > http://www.goscandinavia.com/
> > >
> > > Notice that that site is targeted towards North Americans.
> >
> > So? If it were created by Americans then it may not be so accurate but
> > it appears to have been created by people from those countries and they
> > have chosen to come together under the name "Scandinavia".
>
> In English for general consumption, yes, apparently. I'm sure you
> and they are right that most English speakers almost certainly
> don't make the fine distinctions that they do in their own
> languages. I'd guess though that they do make those distinctions in
> English among themselves, and I generally try to adapt my own usage
> along those kinds of lines when I'm aware of them. This is perhaps
> somewhat elitist of me, but I like think of it as being polite and
> showing some interest in, and respect for, other cultures.


I also like to take an interest in other cultures and try to respect
them. It is just in the case of Scandinavia, I had seen so many things
such as the tourist web site that I did not suspect that their own use
of the term may differ. For example, I usually say "The Netherlands"
rather than "Holland" when appropriate.

> > The only
> > significance of the site is that it was my first hit when I searched
> > for Scandinavia.
> >
> > > > Finland is a member of the Nordic Union.
> > >
> > > Exactly. In general, people from that part of the world distinguish
> > > between "Nordic", which includes Finland, and "Scandinavian", which
> > > doesn't.
> >
> > Good point, that proves nothing. I have always treated Scandinavia and
> > Nordic Union as pretty much synonymous so it seemed significant to me.
> >
> > > As a USAmerican who grew up thinking of "Scandinavia" as referring
> > > specifically to the Scandinavian peninsula, it took me a while to
> > > realize that for the natives the term also includes Denmark.
> >
> > Growing up here in the UK and Ireland, I tended to think of Scandinavia
> > as being Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and maybe Iceland. The
> > defining feature was the common flag design. They all have a similar
> > cross with the vertical bar offset.
> >
> > I tried some more research and the more I did, the more answers I
> > found. Some supported your interpretation and some mine. Wikipedia
> > sums up the confusion nicely: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavia
> >
> > By the way, have you been to "that part of the world". I have been to
> > Denmark and Sweden many times. I have also been to Finland, Iceland
> > and Estonia. I have not yet been to Norway. I have met many people
> > from that part of the world and see some of them regularly.
>
> Cool. No, I haven't been there yet. But I've given serious
> consideration to retiring there someday, if it remains the most
> civilized part of the world and if the US continues on its path of
> imperialist self-destruction.

It is an attractive part of the world. My sister loves it there and
has no desire to return to England or Ireland for more than a holiday
(vacation). I like to visit the region and would be happy if I was
offered a job there but would not consider it for retirement. My own
retirement plans are in the Philippines. If funds permit, 6 months in
Europe (the warm ones) and 6 months there. If not, then mostly there
with the occasional trip back here.

> > I'll do some different research over the weekend. I will call my
> > sister who has lived in Denmark for the last 25 years. I already
> > expect to meet a Finnish friend who lives here in England near me.
>
> Let us know what they say. We've already had one Dane weigh in on
> the question in this thread, and I know I've heard (well, read)
> Finns who say that they too make the Nordic/Scandinavian
> distinction.
>
> --
> Jim Heckman

Considering the responses from some Danes, the call to my sister seems
not so important. I had expected to meet the Finnish guy today but it
seems that, even at 1pm, he has not got out of bed. I will call him
later if I do not see him. We have not had a Finnish viewpoint on the
question yet.

--
Seán O'Leathlóbhair

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: So it is true...
    ... It wasn't a conference on language. ... > have chosen to come together under the name "Scandinavia". ... >> realize that for the natives the term also includes Denmark. ... Jim Heckman ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: So it is true...
    ... have chosen to come together under the name "Scandinavia". ... > realize that for the natives the term also includes Denmark. ... as being Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and maybe Iceland. ... I have also been to Finland, Iceland ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: I have been waiting my divorcce papers from America since March, 2000 and I have not received t
    ... >> Finland, Denmark, and Iceland. ... But not Finland. ... Scandinavia is Denmark, Norway and Sweden. ...
    (sci.crypt)
  • Re: question
    ... > When did Finland join Scandinavia? ... peninsula N Europe occupied by Norway & Sweden ... Denmark, Norway, Sweden, & sometimes also Iceland, the Faeroe Islands, ...
    (comp.lang.c)