France even seemed more like Germany (again, I was only in the northern part of France).
in what places have you been ?
What make you feel a similarity between France and Germany ? I am curious. I guess you have been to Alsace. I personally feel to be like in Germany if I am in Alsace - a region which was still German only 60 years ago.
I have a tendency to associate languages with the places they're spoken, the people who speak them, and the culture they represent. And due to my geographic location, I will often primarily associate a language like English with the United States, and Spanish with Mexico, whereas most Europeans would probably associate English with England, and Spanish with Spain.
I also associate English with the United States (and Canada).
Quote:
So to me, when I think of the English language, my mind sees sunny skies, sandy beaches, and palm trees of California and Florida, whereas for most Europeans, typical northern European things come to mind.
I see overcast skies, frequent rainfall, rocky beaches, and green trees.
Quote:
When I think of Dutch and German, I think of the northern European climate and landscape, a Nordic-type people, bland culture, northern European cuisine, beer, pubs, etc.
So do I.
Quote:
In my mind I also see all of the tanned skin, bikin-clad, vibrant peoples of southern California, Miami, Florida, and Hawaii, and Australia, and the warm, sub-tropical and or mediterranean climates associated with such places, and the multitudes of people in these places that are not of northern European descent, but primarily Latin-American and Pacific Islander.
I see all the sunlight-deprived, coat-wearing vibrant peoples of Washington state, and the cool, rainy, climate associated with such places, and the multitudes of people in these places that were born and raised in here, and the people that are from Norway, Sweden, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Quote:
Much of those things are not things which we would normally associate with Spain or Latin Europe, but most Europeans probably think of Spain in association with Spanish because of their close proximity to the country. As a Californian, a very different image comes to mind.
As a Washingtonian, I also associate Spanish with Mexico. Both seem very distant geographically.
Quote:
I have two sorts of images when I think of the English language. One is of urban US, because of where I grew up (and the beaches are foggy, not sunny)
The beaches are cloudy, foggy, cold and overcast.
Quote:
England is no less foreign to me as an American, than the Netherlands or Germany. Language is the only thing we share in common. Aside from that, England's culture is much more like the Netherlands or Germany than it is like the U.S.
Hmm. I've been to England. To tell you the truth, it didn't seem any more foreign than the East coast of the US. I felt perfectly at home there. It's hard to understand how you think it is a "foreign" country. Even the landscape and scenery are very similar. It's interesting. I guess it just has to do with where you're from. I've been to California, and it's just like being in another country--San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The climate, and landscape of those two cities were very different from what I'm used to. Also the sheer number of immigrants especially from Mexico--for example, all the hotel staff at several hotels that I stayed at were all Spanish speaking, presumably from Mexico. Where I live, most of the hotel staff are monolingual English speakers, born and raised in the US. Also, the fact that the second language in California would be Spanish. Where I live, the second language(s) would be Norwegian and Chinese and Korean.
Quote:
I think of English I think of America, and there is very little "Germanicness" attached to America, whereas England has a "Germanic", or "northwestern European" climate, cuisine, culture, architecture, etc.
Well, it's true the architecture sure is different. But some of the architecture is very similar to Victoria, BC just across the water. Parts of the East coast actually have similar buildings. As for the climate, London has about the same climate as Western Washington--about the same temperatures and about the same amount of rain and snowfall.
Quote:
the following imigration waves of the 19 had integrated in that cultural entity; even if they kept some etnic pride in their nation of origin and some superficial idealized characteristics.
Exactly. My grandparents were born in Scandinavia, but moved to North America soon after. They quickly assimilated into the new English American culture, and have culturally many more things in common with Britain.
Quote:
The British Isles would have a somewhat unique ambience due to the fact that they're ... foggy, damp, green, cold, English speaking, beer-binge-drinking
I see all the sunlight-deprived, coat-wearing vibrant peoples of Washington state, and the cool, rainy, climate associated with such places, and the multitudes of people in these places that were born and raised in here, and the people that are from Norway, Sweden, Hong Kong, and Japan.
There are that many people from Norway and Sweden where you live?
Samwise wrote:
Where I live, the second language(s) would be Norwegian and Chinese and Korean.
I guess there are many Norwegians where you live... they must be many.
Samwise wrote:
Exactly. My grandparents were born in Scandinavia, but moved to North America soon after. They quickly assimilated into the new English American culture, and have culturally many more things in common with Britain.
I see all the sunlight-deprived, coat-wearing vibrant peoples of Washington state, and the cool, rainy, climate associated with such places, and the multitudes of people in these places that were born and raised in here, and the people that are from Norway, Sweden, Hong Kong, and Japan.
There are that many people from Norway and Sweden where you live?
Samwise wrote:
Where I live, the second language(s) would be Norwegian and Chinese and Korean.
I guess there are many Norwegians where you live... they must be many.
Samwise wrote:
Exactly. My grandparents were born in Scandinavia, but moved to North America soon after. They quickly assimilated into the new English American culture, and have culturally many more things in common with Britain.
Location: El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles del Río de Porciúncula
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:09 pm Post subject:
Walker wrote:
Samwise wrote:
I see all the sunlight-deprived, coat-wearing vibrant peoples of Washington state, and the cool, rainy, climate associated with such places, and the multitudes of people in these places that were born and raised in here, and the people that are from Norway, Sweden, Hong Kong, and Japan.
There are that many people from Norway and Sweden where you live?
Very interesting. I never knew Washington was such a Scandinavian-heavy place. Minnesota, yes, but Washington, no.
Some interesting stats I pulled up:
Quote:
As of the 2000 census, the state population was approximately 5.9 million and the state work force numbered about 3.1 million.
As of 2004, Washington's population included 631,500 foreign-born (10.3% of the state population), and an estimated 100,000 illegal aliens (1.6% of state population).
The six largest reported ancestries in Washington are: German (18.7%), English (12%), Irish (11.4%), Norwegian (6.2%), Mexican (5.6%) and Filipino (3.7%).
There are many migrant Mexican farm workers living in the southeast-central part of the state, though the population is also increasing as laborers in Western Washington. Wahkiakum County, as well as most counties in the state, has many residents of Scandinavian origin.
Washington has the fifth largest Asian population of any state. The Filipino community is the largest Asian American subgroup in the state.
All times are GMT + 2 Hours Page Previous1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Page 5 of 5
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Join! (free) 
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
