Australia is not a country???

It appears that one learned academic still has a lot to learn.

I heard this on the local news yesterday **LINK**

It's just as bad when I sometime hear Britain referred to as a country, usually by people from the U.S of A.

* Danny M *

OTOH I imagine that Americans feel equally as bad when they see such statements as (appearing in these forums):

"We have x inches to a foot, which is OK if you are familiar with inches and feet. But such folk are dying out, and only ever existed in the Empire"

No harm, no foul?

But Britain is a country, innit?

But what would I know, living in a continent and all.

Not surprised by the news item from the US of A. Many people there are almost universally unaware of anything outside their own borders. In the ten years I lived their, I simply gave up telling people that no, as an Australian, I was not from the same country as Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Well, as a Southern African, and a Namibian, I thought Britain, or rather, Great Britain, is actually an Island and contains three Countries..England, Wales and Northern Ireland - But what do I know, being from the deep South..

Joe

I think we'd better wait for the Poms to get out of bed and set us straight. Pretty sure Nth. Ireland is not part of Great Britain but Scotland is. But what do I know, coming from an upside down continent that apparently is not always a country.

Anyhow, the Prime Minister of Australia telephones the Queen and asks: "Can you make Australia an independent kingdom and make me the king?"

The Queen replies "No."

So Prime Minister says, "Well can you make Australia an independent principality and make me the prince?"

The Queen replies "No."

"Well," the PM says, "Can you make Australia an independent dukedom and make the the duke?"

"No," replies Her Majesty, "Australia may remain a country and you may be the. . . "

Edited By Hopper on 12/02/2018 08:48:16

Edited By Hopper on 12/02/2018 08:48:45

Not to mention how Mexicans, Canadians, Argentinians, Chileans and many others feel about being lumped in with citizens of the USA. As far as "in the Empire" is concerned, it depends on the Empire in question. Portugal adopted the metric system before the founding of the Empire of Brazil, whilst the German, Austrian and Ottoman Empires all adopted the metric system in the 19th Century.

Brian

G'day Joe. Anticipate a bit of inbound flak from irate Scots and people who insist that Ireland is an island just a bit west of the mainland

* Danny M *

As a Scot I should point out that Britain is made up of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. I get fed up when people use the name England to mean all of Britain. That's the morning moan over and the sun is shining so must go out for my morning walk, even if the temperature is 0 degrees Celsius.

Doug

I'd always thought that;

Great Britain comprises of England, Scotland, and Wales. i.e. the mainland.

The UK, i.e. "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland", by definition and name, obviously follows on and includes NI.

The British Isles, is more of a geographic than sovereign/political description, and includes all of the above, plus Eire, The Isle of Man, The Channel islands etc.

Bill

Edited By peak4 on 12/02/2018 10:04:41

That works for me!

Note: 'England, Scotland and Wales' - in alphabetic order, diplomatically avoiding implications of alleged merit!

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Edited By Swarf, Mostly! on 12/02/2018 10:39:48

You must also remember that "America" is not a country either.

You can hardly blame them, the name doesn't mean anything anymore.

And then we have the Six Nations Rugby championship, which is played by England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. The UK province of Northern Ireland/Ulster is part of Ireland/Eire for these purposes...

My head hurts. ​

And Wales

Mike

Flanders and Swann have it all summed up in this song **LINK**

Mike

As far as most internet searches are concerned, none of England, Scotland, Wales or N Ireland are included as countries. We seem to have no choice other than the UK. I am English, nothing else. I may be a citizen of the UK but my nationality is English.

Oh!, I thought we were an autonomous collective!

I think them in charge and us what live in these hallowed isles of consisting Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England have not yet sorted out whether we are a United Kingdom (without a King) or 4 countries separate or together with Cornwall and Shetland claiming to be separate areas to be considered independent entities.

So what chance has an American knowing our status.

Douglas!

Ireland and Great Britain, plus numerous smaller islands are the 'British Isles'.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland comprise the United Kingdom.

Ireland is split between the republic of Ireland (Eire) and Northern Ireland (part of the UK).

Great Britain is the big island with Wales, Scotland and the other bit, but also used for the big island + all the little ones that are part of England Wales and Scotland.

England annexed Wales in the 16th century but it always kept its identity and over the twentieth century it was gradually and more consistently identified as a separate country rather than 'the principality'.

Don't forget the isle of Man and the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) which are three separate countries not in the United Kingdom but UK dependencies.

Neil