Why do Americans mistake Welsh for English?

Question

when i chat with americans and tell them that i live in the UK, they assume that i live in England. Don't they even learn georgraphy in school? I have tried explaining to them that wales, scotland and ireland are not in England but they still don't understand.

I was born welsh and i'm proud of my little country but i wish Americans would learn the countries in the U.K, im 16 but even i can name some states in the USA and know the difference!

Now i know why they say americans are so un-educated! i dont mean to sound heartless but the pollish/french have a better chance of understanding countries than americans.

Answer 1

Yes i agree i'm welsh too. It is like us calling the americans canadians they wouldn't be too impressed with that would they. Now if we were mistaken for irish that would be a different story! lol

Answer 2

Most people don't mistake Welsh for English. When you say that you're from the UK most people will assume that you mean England(Great Briton) simply because England/UK/Great Briton are referred to as same place even though, the UK encopasses more countries than just England. After all, England is the mother country. I've heard news stations around the world call the Great Britian, UK, not just America. I've traveled to Europe several times and I've never heard anyone refer to Wales as the UK, but I've heard people say that Wales is a part of the UK.

Why would you tell people that you're from the UK instead of saying that you're from Wales? Wales is a country. Over time, most people will forget that UK is comprised of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England (which is the mother country). I'll admit that I have been reeducated on this matter. I would say continue to educate people of this fact.

One last thought: Everyone isn't as uneducated as you might think. Some people know more about the world than others but that's because they seek the knowledge or they have learned it by some other way. Stay positve. You'll eventually find people who are more educated. Take care. Peace.

Answer 3

I lived in America for three years. The problem is that most Americans have no desire or even need to know anything at all about other countries. They live in such a large and rich country that there is no incentive to take any interest in other nations or nationalities unless like the Mexicans they are perceived as changing the average Americans day to day existence. Sad, But there it is. Even sadder is you probably know more about America than a lot of Americans do. especially those in the South and the Bible belt. Americans from the North East or New England generally are more knowledgable and open to outside opinion.

Answer 4

Most Americans are of British descent and know a lot about the UK. The problem is that Wales is so small and there aren't many Welsh-Americans here. Not many Americans really think of Wales when we hear about the UK. We always think of England and Scotland. I know the difference between the Welsh and English people and languages and many people do that I know of.

Answer 5

the united kingdom of large Britain and northern eire is the total identify of our u . s . a .. large Britain is the island that Wales, England and Scotland are located. particularly lots everybody who lives on the island of large Britain has British Citizenship that's one type of British Nationality. Northern eire has a definite rule everybody there is permitted British Citizenship however the Republic of eire additionally extends Irish Citizenship to the folk of Northern eire meaning they may well be one or the different or the two. so a procedures as i understand there's no criminal definition for who's Scottish, Irish, Northern Irish, Cornish, Welsh, Scottish, Ulster Scots etc etc. usually notwithstanding human beings evaluate themselves a variety of of of those the two via delivery place, descent, the place they grew up or perhaps what accessory they carry. So a Scottish, Welsh etc person may well be a sort of yet might additionally be legally British.

Answer 6

coz they're Americans

just kidding

c'mon why should it bother you - I understand we all need to feel proud for our national origins but you can't expect people to know about tiny differences. Talking of Americans, I am an asian Indian and I can guarantee you very few people from my place actually understand Wales - they only understand England. You can't change people overnight.

What you can do is whenevr you meet a person always make the effort to explain to him that you are from Wales and it's a different country. Tell him/her about the good, notable achievements of Wales and Welsh culture. Any civilized person is willing to give you a proper audience. As for the ignorant fools, just f*** them they don't deserve your space.

That being said, always "keep your mind open" and you'll love the people for who they are.

Answer 7

Think of it like this... What you know about the states is what ya either figured out for yourself or learned in school. American schools really dont get all that indept with the sub geography of other countries. Its vaguely mentioned that there is wales and ireland and scotland but the way our country is set up and yours is abit different. I think a common misconception with americans is that they think of wales and scotland as a sort of county with in the coutnry if you will. A word to you dear grasshopper...ignorance is the lack of oppuritunity to learn Stupidity is ignoring the oppuritunity to learn. When we try to understand other peoples lack of knowledge we ultimately expand our own. By the way just off the top of your head do know which states are in what regions like for example midwest north east ect ect. We all have a great deal to learn from each other so long as we dont start flinging insults like monkies fling thier Pooo! By the way the term American refers to all peoples on the contient of the Americas...south north and even the canadians (though i know they hate that fact) If you are in fact talking about the North Americans it would do well to state that fact otherwise your talking about people from south america as well. OH and your daddy shags sheep

Answer 8

remember that UK is the same size as some of their counties, they see land mass on a larger scale.

its the same as when you look at Canadians, you might just see Canadians butt look a little closer and you will see Anglophones, Francophones, Inuit, Cree, Mi'kmaq, Nisga'a, Metis.

Im sure you would not class your self as uneducated for not being familiar instantly with all these different peoples.

Its because we are so far away, we know more about what is closer to us than what is further away. Remember also that most americans never leave the states so their world geography knowledge will be a little vaguer.

I wouldnt lose too much sleep over it

Answer 9

Well, Jennifer, for a sixteen year old, you certainly ask some intelligent questions, you really stirred up a hornets nest here!
I think the worst insult is to call a Canadian, an American, My God how they hate that! I know lots of people from USA and I have to admit, their geography is only centred on their own country.
A good question and it deserves a STAR, So from another Welshman, Well Done! *

Answer 10

Honestly? My time in the U.S. public school system was pretty dismal. We really didn't learn much history from other places, much geography from other places, and very little time was spent on foreign languages (all foreign languages were electives and not required for graduation). I'm not surprised so few people from here don't know that Wales isn't England.

Not all of us are that way, I promise! Some of us are even working to make the school system better than it is.

Answer 11

I for one, don't. I've just spent some time reading on the end on Welsh independence in the 13th Century, and love the bit in Henry V when he proclaims himself Welsh (born in Monmouth). I know the meaning of the leek. I have no Welsh ancestry, but respect the character of the region.