Can somebody tell me who made the decisions on what the "countrymen" of the world's countries would be called? My curiosity has the best of me.
For instance, who decided that England's citizens would be referred to as the "English"? Why not "Englanders"? Why not Americish instead of Americans? If Canada's citizens are Canadians why aren't we, here in the U.S., referred to as Americanians? Italy = Italians = Italish? Cuba = Cubans = Cubish or Cubanians?
Does "it" have anything to do with geography? Why is it that most Asian countries have their citizenry ending with "ese"? Vietnam = Vietnamese. Why not Vietnamians? China = Chinese. Why not Chinaians? Japan = Japanese. Why wasn't it Japanicans? There is the Middle East where there is no rhyme or reason to suffixes. India = Indians. Iran = Iranians. Iraq = Iraqis. Pakistan = Pakistanis. Napal = Napalese.
Who made these decisions? Who decided who would decide? Is there a book somewhere that designates what the citizenry shall be referred to? Does anyone else ever wonder about stuff like this?
Germany = Germans. What was wrong with Germanese? Or Germanch is to Germany like France is to French.
There must be a key that is kept deep in a room hidden in some ancient monastery. A key that is ensconced in a small, red velvet box, a box which can only be opened by a matching key worn around the neck of an obscure prelate that spends twenty-three hours a day in meditative contemplation about why the countries of the world have so many differing suffixes.
He, too, wonders just like me. Do you?
I think I must have too much time on my hands. Time to greet shoppers at a big box store.
Ancora imparo
