Talk:North America/Archive 3: Difference between revisions

::::::::Yes, iterated above. [[Special:Contributions/69.158.148.214|69.158.148.214]] ([[User talk:69.158.148.214|talk]]) 09:51, 14 May 2009 (UTC)

:::::::::69.158, if you agree that no national variety of language is more correct than another, then why do you insist that only the British variety of English be considered, and the American one be excluded or dismissed as less common? Why do you insist that Fowler's is the only correct source for usage of the entire english language, to the exclusion of any other variety of that language? [[User:Walterego|Walterego]] ([[User talk:Walterego|talk]]) 16:38, 14 May 2009 (UTC)

::::::::The issue in the "usage section" is not what is "correct", but how the phrase is used in popular vernacular. Prior to my editing this article last fall, the article gave the impression that virtually nobody considered Mexico part of N America and distinct from Central America, whereas if one were to ask North Americans (both english and spanish speakers) the overwhelming majority would say the opposite, that there are 3 main nations in NA, (and they are the USA, Canada, & Mexico) not only 2. That is why the UN reference below is not really relevant to the topic of the usage subsection, let alone more authoritative. Fowler's, on the other hand, is definitely relevant, but more to usage in British English rather than North American usage. The problem I originally confronted when I first started editing this article was that a couple editors from Canada were adamant that only the British English usage is commonly used even in North America, when in fact the opposite is true. [[User:Walterego|Walterego]] ([[User talk:Walterego|talk]]) 13:43, 13 May 2009 (UTC)

:::::::::Yes, and will have to do a much better job of proving your case through sourcing. The text is currently sufficient, as it indicates 'North America' is ''often'' (not always or mostly) used in reference to the United States and Canada and that Mexico ''may'' be included in North America without added qualification. Your edits give the impression that it is always or mostly included, where in fact many North Americans (at least from an ethno-cultural perspective) do not include it -- e.g., [[North American English]]. As pointed out by another above, Fowler's covers all variants of English, with emphasis on British English. [[Special:Contributions/69.158.148.214|69.158.148.214]] ([[User talk:69.158.148.214|talk]]) 09:51, 14 May 2009 (UTC)