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While we're doing scientifically-unsound polls, might as well do this one too!

[Poll #1636721]

Only separated out the major/predominantly English-speaking nations because there are probably way more of even one of those than any of the others combined.

This isn't about politics, it's about geographical, physical location. You don't have to identify as an American to be from the US! Chill!

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_%28continent%29

Australia's not a continent, what?

Huh, I guess as an Australian I should have known better. *shrug* I've just noticed that when it's referred to as "Australia" people just think of the country (understandably) while Oceania is more inclusive. Referring to that entire region as Australia is like referring to North America as the US.

Oceania includes things that are part of the Asian continent though, I think. Oceania isn't really a continent but an area, like the Middle East which is technically part of Asia.

Fair enough. I'm still grumbly about Australia being used to refer to a bunch of other countries as well as the one I live in. But what can you do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceania

Oceania is the continent, Australia is part of it.

Dude, no. Oceania is a region, not a continent.

We are taught it is the continent, honestly: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean%C3%ADa

It says Continente Insular, which in spanish means Continent. It mayhaps has a different definition in English but to us, spanish speakers, is a continent.

Just assume I meant "Australia" in the English sense of the word, then, as the continent.

Alright, I'm surprised at how different we use terms though >>

Yeah, I had no idea it was a continent in Spanish. Weeeeird. English should switch to that to be more inclusive of the whole area...

Australia the continent really doesn't include New Zealand though. NZ is on a microcontinent called Zealandia. Why not use Australasia? It's the part of Oceania you seem to be referring to, and will make the Kiwis a lot happier.

Can't edit the poll once it's posted. ): If I could, I'd change it to Oceania.

As a Spanish speaker, I was taught Oceania is a continent and Australia is one of the countries that are part of it.

DA

That's what I thought, and I'm freaking Australian. It makes more sense and is less offensive towards the other countries in the "continent" of Australia.

Indeed! I'm surprised at this change of usage of the word in English. To me there were 5 continents: America (as a whole), Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania, and you also had Antarctica.

O_o It's odd to see that some might not consider Oceania as a continent (I will check around if in Portuguese and other languages it's a region or a continent for them >>)

In the US we have uuuh...

North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, and Antarctica, so 7!

ETA: meant US, not English lol

Edited 2010-10-26 23:01 (UTC)

You don't have Central America? Wow, terms are surely different. I didn't even know!

We do have Central America, but it's a region, not a continent.

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rabidsamfan.livejournal.com - 2010-10-26 23:14 (UTC) - Expand

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hollyhockyuu.livejournal.com - 2010-10-28 23:59 (UTC) - Expand

We don't split America per se until we get to study the different countries, then we have two possible divisions:

- North America (includes Mexico) and Latin America.
- North America (includes Mexico), Central America and Caribbean) and South America (from Venezuela downwards).

Wow, this proved to be so nice to find out how things are taught outside <3 (How many countries does South America involve in your definition?)

Antarctica, well, it is considered a continent but they don't give it the same value as the other continents.

Re: +1

case - 2010-10-26 23:07 (UTC) - Expand

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(Anonymous) - 2010-10-26 23:17 (UTC) - Expand

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case - 2010-10-26 23:19 (UTC) - Expand

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(Anonymous) - 2010-10-26 23:27 (UTC) - Expand

Yep, American here and that's what I was taught as well.

Same here. And I was raised in Canada. I think it's more of an English-speaker thing.

Weeeeird, I was always taught in school that there's seven continents. Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.

But I'm from the UK, so that's another perspective.

We don't split America per se until we get to study the different countries, then we have two possible divisions:

- North America (includes Mexico) and Latin America.
- North America (includes Mexico), Central America and Caribbean) and South America (from Venezuela downwards).

Wow, this proved to be so nice to find out how things are taught outside <3

Antarctica, well, it is considered a continent but they don't give it the same value as the other continents.

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