the question of the morning

[buhrger]

why is it that the african nation called the gambia is called "the gambia" instead of just "gambia"? i recognize that articles on country names are common in other languages. auf franzözisch, zum beispiel, man sagt "le canada", aber auf englisch man sagt nicht "the canada". i remember that we used to call ukraine "the ukraine", but that stopped

Comments

[therealjae]

I have no answers, but further confusion: in German, several countries are "the" countries that aren't in English (like Switzerland and Iran).

-J

[buhrger]

fascinating! if only i knew a linguist i could sic on this

[therealjae]

:P

[buhrger]

P-:

[xugou]

also - 'the Yukon', 'the NWT', 'the USA'

'The Ukraine' was mentioned on a Seinfeld episode - involving a game of Risk.

[buhrger]

'the NWT' and 'the USA" both refer to pluralities: territories and states, respectively. somehow that seems to make a difference, at least in my language.

good catch on 'the Yukon', though.