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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/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.

Central America is usually used to mean a region including the Caribbean islands, Mexico, and the countries on the isthmus of Panama. (In the US anyway.) I recently got maps for the tables at my library and the one for North America went all the way down to Panama, but I still had to get another map to get the islands of the Caribbean!

It's kind of fascinating that different languages teach a different number of continents, actually. I expect the only way you could avoid banging toes is to divide the world by longitude lines and the equator.

Re: +1

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.

How many countries, like a hard NUMBER, I have no idea. I don't even know how many countries there are in North America HAHA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America

Re: +1

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

Re: +1

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

Re: +1

(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.

Huh that really is different!

And the thing about Antarctica is different for me, too! We were just always taught it was a continent, even though it's a lot less inhabited than others.

Haha I love learning about this stuff.

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(Anonymous) - 2010-10-26 23:35 (UTC) - Expand

I guess it's normal that there are difference. In school who were taught about: Asia, Africa, North America, Central America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Oceania. Small variations, I think.

I never knew Central America was considered a continent!

I love learning about things like this.

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(Anonymous) - 2010-10-26 23:21 (UTC) - Expand

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redsnoipah.livejournal.com - 2010-10-26 23:25 (UTC) - Expand

I'm from the US and it's been awhile since I was in school, but I was also taught there were only 7 continents. I've never even heard of Oceania O_o

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