Why do people answer like this when asked their nationality?

Question

Why do American citizens, when asked their nationality, answer Mexican, Polish, Irish, Italian, Japanese..etc.? Their nationality is AMERICAN!

If you are an American citizen your nationality is American.

Why are so many people confused?

John B----technically that's right......but you mention American to anyone in the world and they think you're talking about the U.S.

vjaxxon---"do you deny that you are probably one of those "americans" who will look at an asian or hispanic person and automatically think illegal?"

yes I do deny it because it's incorrect......you've got issues sweetie.

You're an American...any adjective you put before that is simply divisive.

vjax---what are you talking about? You've taken a simple question, added imagination and hostility to create an outlet for your anger at some of society.....again, you are incorrect in judging me....isn't it ironic that your position towards me is based fully on me judging others while you have done the same and I haven't.

Your wild guess about me is wrong my fellow American.

vjax--I even included my own genetic heritage, which is Polish.

balls on chin-----if you weren't preaching about context you'd understand the obvious context in which the question is asked.

Redneck? Born and raised city boy actually.

Annnd...you didn't answer the question asked so I'll call you.....preachy....since we're attaching monikers.

balls on chin-----I noticed your Q & A's in your profile are set on private so you can talk down to people and then run and hide.

You're a coward...that is SO weak!

Answer 1

Cause Americans are pretentous and always trying to be something they're not

Answer 2

Whenever someone asks what nationality I am, I say I'm an American. Very few people let it go at that. Then I launch into I'm Irish French English Scotch and I married a fella whose parents came from Poland and Russia. If-as some of the other members in here seem to feel America is not a nation (news to me)-I'll have to say "What is your need to know?"

Answer 3

There is no confusion. In fact they are telling the truth. Basically America was and is still being popullated by people from diffeent nationalities The roots of this go back to those days when European, Asians and others made thier way to newly discovered West.

Answer 4

During the years I grew up in New York City, we identified ourselves by the nationalities from which we descended::

Irish
Italian
German
Swedish
French
Spanish (Spain)
English
Polish
Jewish (from anywhere)

or by combinations:
'I'm 1/2 Greek and 1/2 Norwegian'...
'I'm 1/4 Russian, 1/4 Danish, 1/4 French, 1/4 Spanish'

Answer 5

Then why do you even ask it? If you know the answer.

The question doesn't always literally ask 'what is your citizenship status?' In many cases it really is asking what country are you originally from? Or your family? This is kind of common sense to most. Apparently not for some.

I think some are confused. Oh yea.


Ever bother to look at dictionary?
Nationality------------
1. The status of belonging to a particular nation by origin, birth, or naturalization.
2. A people having common origins or traditions and often constituting a nation.
3. Existence as a politically autonomous entity; national independence.
4. National character.
5. Nationalism.

Lot of definitions there aren't there? I like #2. And other definitions too.

MORE dictionary stuff...

nationality
noun
1. people having common origins or traditions and often comprising a nation; "immigrants of the same nationality often seek each other out"; "such images define their sense of nationality"
2. the status of belonging to a particular nation by birth or naturalization

COMMON ORIGINS or TRADITIONS

Many of us are naturalized citizens. I hope you know what that means. And many of us like to identify ourselves as country of our origin. People shouldn't have to wipe away their traditions and heritage just because they move to the US. This doesn't mean people are wacky separatists. It means people of various origins are united under one flag. That's American. We're Americans.

Americans don't try to erase its citizens' history or origin. That's why people come here. They can keep their ethnic identity and be American. They're not forced to wipe away their traditions or sense of belonging to certain religion, traditions..etc.


So you suggesting when someone comes here to the US 1st lesson is to never identify himself/herself with his or her country of origin?

I kind of find that hard to take. You shouldn't be living in America if you don't like the diversity. Because it is probably the most diverse nation on the planet.

I also think you kind of missed the whole context of which the question is asked in. If I'm out in African or Europe and someone ask me what nationality, I would say American. Now, if I'm walking on streets in a town in the US and someone ask me that I would say Polish America, Italian American, Spanish American...etc or whatever. The context is key. And common sense. Not just blind redneck patriotism.


OK I let you see my answers. Have fun. Enjoy. Be my fan. Stalk me. Follow me. You big baby. You're still wrong. Want to see my panties too? May be you'll learn from my crazy & wacky answers.

But nationality still can mean your country of origin. Not strictly citizenship status.

You did specifically respond to this answer. I don't see how that is me running and hide.

Answer 6

I never heard Americans say that to a foreigner. They might explain their family origins to another American. Why not? America is made up of all these cultures mixed together which makes it an interesting place, though it has its issues and challenges too.

Answer 7

why would a fellow american ask another fellow american their nationality? because maybe they aren't white? so then you get the answer that tells you, "you may not consider me to be an american, so let me break it down to you, i am american."

do you deny that you are probably one of those "americans" who will look at an asian or hispanic person and automatically think illegal?

we are all ice cream but we come in many flavors...

Answer 8

Because not everyone's nationality is "American" ... America is a region, not a nation ... so just saying you are "American" is VERY confusing ... What and which America do you belong to?
Did you know people who live in Brazil and Argentina are also Americans? South Americans! ... and people in Honduras and El Salvador are also Americans? Central Americans!

Answer 9

I'll ask sometimes because I'm interested in their heritage and culture even though they are American citizens. It would be kind of boring if we all just answered American don't you think?

Answer 10

If you ask someone from the UK what their nationality is they will say English, Welsh, Scottish etc. instead of British. We all have our hangups although I suspect that you are talking about relative newcomers to the US. None of the Americans that I know refer to themselves as anything other than Americans.

Answer 11

People are proud of their heritage. Most people likely interpret the question to mean where are their ancestors from, what is their ethnic background. It's great to be proud of your country, in fact, you should do all you can to make it a better place. That doesn't mean forgetting who you are and where you (or your ancestors) came from.