UK v US Geography

[Celeste Stewart]

Use them all. When referring to a continent, we don't capitalize it ie, "Australia is an island continent." So if "the Continent" is a term you use in other ways, I don't recognize it. Down Under, the Far East, and the MIddle East are all common here.

[CharlotteAndrews]

Hi. I'll try to help. I'm in New Jersey and I can tell you how I would read each term. "Down Under" would mean Australia here. I don't know if New Zealand would be included in the term elsewhere, but I think it would be lumped in, too (or else completely forgotton, I'm afraid). "Far East" is clear, but for some reason, sounds dated to me, as I would use "Asia," although I think the entire continent of Asia is more than what you are referring to with "Far East." I think both those are clear, though.

The term "continent" might be trickier. Do you really intend to exclude all of Britain and Ireland? That's how I read the term, anyway. I hesitate to feed the idea that much of America is somehow less cultured than the rest of the world (we seem to get that reputation sometimes . . . ). However, I think many American readers might not care about the distinction British people like to make between themselves and the continent sometimes. I'm oversimplifying, but I would say "Europe" is "Europe" to most Americans, unless you are talking about one country in particular.

Finally, I would advise caution in using the term "Middle East" casually. Depending on you audience, the localized term "Middle East" may make a reader here think of anything from all Arab countries, to all Islamic countries, or just Israel and its immediate neighbors. I'm not sure I know what region the term refers to anymore here, or where the borders are. Any way I look at it, I have to say, the term is more political than geographical. It refers mostly to the Israel/Palistine region. As for alternatives, I'm afraid I'm not sure what to suggest. I think you could use it very broadly without a problem. ("X is a traditional dish throughout the Middle East and in parts of Europe.") However, if you know specifically which countries you are referencing, you may just want to list them.

Yikes -- this topic is much more involved than I thought! I think I've rambled a bit, but I hope there is something helpful in here. Please, someone else (from another part of the country, maybe) chime in.

Charlotte

[jadedragon]

To someone in the UK "the Continent" would refer to the part of Europe not on the islands of the UK - more specifically France, Italy, Germany etc. In the US most people would not understand the term although we have the term "continental breakfast" which implies a certain type of light breakfast originating in Europe.

The Far East to me is a dated term referring to China/Japan/Korea. Now I'm more specific - Northern Asia, Southeast Asia, Indian subcontinent etc.

Downunder we know means Australia thanks to Mic on Crocodile Dundee.

Middle East means... what CharlotteAndrews said.

And for a little inspiration:

`When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, `it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'

`The question is,' said Alice, `whether you can make words mean so many different things.'

`The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, `which is to be master -- that's all.'

Alice was too much puzzled to say anything; so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again. `They've a temper, some of them -- particularly verbs: they're the proudest -- adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs -- however, I can manage the whole lot of them! Impenetrability! That's what I say!'

`Would you tell me please,' said Alice, `what that means?'

`Now you talk like a reasonable child,' said Humpty Dumpty, looking very much pleased. `I meant by "impenetrability" that we've had enough of that subject, and it would be just as well if you'd mention what you mean to do next, as I suppose you don't mean to stop here all the rest of your life.'

`That's a great deal to make one word mean,' Alice said in a thoughtful tone.

`When I make a word do a lot of work like that,' said Humpty Dumpty, `I always pay it extra.'

`Oh!' said Alice. She was too much puzzled to make any other remark.

[CharlotteAndrews]

Middle East means... what CharlotteAndrews said.

Thank you jd -- I've been cited!

And thanks for the reminder of one of my favorite passages. It's been ages since I looked at it. I don't have a blog, but if I ever do start one about writing I think I've found my mission statement:

`When I make a word do a lot of work like that,' said Humpty Dumpty, `I always pay it extra.'

[jak]

Many thanks everyone. That was quite illuminating.