definition of Scandinavia

Originally posted by zeeblebot
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=definition+of+scandinavia&aq=f&aqi=g1&oq=&fp=df82d86320cf60e9

google: definition of scandinavia

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http://www.answers.com/topic/scandinavia

A region of northern Europe consisting of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Finland, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands are often included in the region.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavia

Scandinavia[1] is a region in northern Europe that includes Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Finland is often considered a Scandinavian country in common English usage, and Iceland and the Faroe Islands are sometimes also included.[2]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Scandinavia [ˌskændɪˈneɪvɪə]
n
1. (Placename) Also called the Scandinavian Peninsula the peninsula of N Europe occupied by Norway and Sweden
2. (Placename) the countries of N Europe, esp considered as a cultural unit and including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and often Finland, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/SCANDINAVIA

1 peninsula N Europe occupied by Norway & Sweden
2 Denmark, Norway, Sweden —sometimes also considered to include Iceland, the Faeroe Islands, & Finland.

http://www.yourdictionary.com/scandinavia

Scan·di·na·via (skan′də nā′vē ə, -nāv′y&#601😉

1.
region in N Europe, including Norway, Sweden, & Denmark and, sometimes, Iceland & the Faeroe Islands
2.
Scandinavian Peninsula


http://dictionary.reverso.net/english-definition/Scandinavia

Scandinavia
n
1 (Also called) the Scandinavian Peninsula the peninsula of N Europe occupied by Norway and Sweden
2 the countries of N Europe, esp. considered as a cultural unit and including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and often Finland, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands.

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/Scandinavia

the countries of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland considered as a group

[/b]

The clearest example of the use of the term "Scandinavia" as a political and cultural construct is the unique position of Finland, based largely on it having been part of Sweden, thus to much of the world properly associating Finland with all of Scandinavia. But the creation of a Finnish identity is unique in the region in that it was formed in relation to two different imperial models, the Swedish[13] and the Russian,[14][15] as described by the University of Jyväskylä based editorial board of the Finnish journal Yearbook of Political Thought and Conceptual History;[16][dubious – discuss]

“ The construction of a specific Finnish polity is the result of successful decolonization. The politico-cultural location of Finland is a moving one. It has shifted from being a province in the Swedish Empire to an autonomous unit in 'Eastern' Europe, then to an independent state in 'Northern' Europe or 'Scandinavia'. After joining the European Union, Finland has recently been included in 'Western Europe'.[14] ”

The term is, therefore, often defined according to the conventions of the cultures that lay claim to the term in their own usage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavia

--

So, use the term according to the convention of your culture and be happy.

Originally posted by zeeblebot
http://www.answers.com/topic/scandinavia

A region of northern Europe consisting of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark...

a similar situation involves America. It's often seen as being the same thing as the USA. But technically, Canadians are Americans, as are Mexicans, or anyone else living in the Western Hemisphere. The USA is the United States OF America. It isn't ALL of America.

But the term "American" has been used so often as a reference only to people from the USA, that it's now become the "correct" form. I suspect a similar dynamic applies to the term "Scandinavian"

Originally posted by Melanerpes
or anyone else living in the Western Hemisphere.

There is another area, called the Nordic Countries (In Swedish: Norden). We shouldn't confuse Scandinavia with this. (Another group of countries is the Baltic Countries, the countries around the Baltic Sea.)

But the definition of Scandinavia isn't that important, not over here anyway. What unifies the Nordic countries is our common culture and the likeness of languages. The Swedish people, the Danish and the Norweigan and some of the people in Finland can freely talk to eachother without much of a problem.

Originally posted by Palynka
I'm an American? 😲

Originally posted by Palynka
I'm an American? 😲

Originally posted by Melanerpes
But the term "American" has been used so often as a reference only to people from the USA, that it's now become the "correct" form. I suspect a similar dynamic applies to the term "Scandinavian"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_(word)

Use of the term American for U.S. nationals is common in United Nations. The Secretary General refers to people from the United States as Americans, as has the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.[15][16] The UN has referred to financial markets in the United States as "American financial markets."[17]

time to toe the line, y'all.

edit: bcoz i KNOW how much y'all respect the UN.

http://stason.org/TULARC/travel/nordic-scandinavia/2-1-3-What-is-Scandinavia.html

This article is from the Nordic countries FAQ, by Antti Lahelma and Johan Olofsson, with numerous contributions by others.

2.1.3 What is "Scandinavia"?

The word "Scandinavia" presents a bit more difficulty. In Nordic
languages, the meaning is quite clear:

Skandinavien:
Sweden, Denmark, Norway (and sometimes Iceland)
-- the ancient lands of the Norsemen.

The Scandinavian peninsula, on the other hand, is usually simply
understood as comprising Norway and Sweden, despite the unclear border
to the Kola peninsula. The northernmost part of Finland is of course
also situated on the Scandinavian peninsula.

But in English, alas, there seems to be no standard usage. This is
mainly due to the fact that English lacks a simple and clear term for
the five countries, and the word "Scandinavia" tends to be used for
that purpose instead. The term "Nordic countries", in its current
definition, is a rather recent invention, its meaning is still a bit
obscure especially to non-Europeans, it's awkward to use and to some
people it carries unpleasant connotations of the Aryan "Nordic race".
Therefore, you will find that it's quite common to define the word
"Scandinavia" in English like this:

[Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English]
SCANDINAVIAN
1. of the countries Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland
in northern Europe, or their people or languages.

On the other hand, it is not uncommon to use the word "Scandinavia" in
its more limited definition. An example:

[The Concise Oxford Dictionary]
SCANDINAVIAN
1. a native or inhabitant of Scandinavia
(Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland).

And some encyclopaedias put it like this:

[The Random House Encyclopaedia]
SCANDINAVIA
1. region of northern Europe consisting of
the kingdoms of Sweden, Norway and Denmark;
culturally and historically Finland and Iceland
are often considered part of this area.

Despite the term being rather clear for the Scandinavians themselves,
disputes remain about how the term would be understood and derived in
English. If the word is understood as a geographic term, how can then
Denmark be included - as most do. If instead it's deduced from the
area where the languages are quite similar North-Germanians, should
Iceland logically be excluded?

At the risk of disturbing some people's sleep, we will use "Nordic"
and "Scandinavian" interchangeably throughout this FAQ, for practical
reasons. You have been warned. :->

But, let me ask, zeeb: Why is it so important for you?

I mean, it's outside the U.S. so it's, like, so unimportant.

Or is it that someone mentioned the word "Scandinavia"
in American Idol and now you're curious?

Originally posted by FabianFnas
When I say that USA is one of the few nations in the world lacking a proper name, only a desciptive one (as even the nations of Canada, Mexico and Brazil to take a few has their states united, and is within the continent of America) it's somewhat right.

An American friend of mine told me in a educative manner that the proper name of USA is America!
Then, I answered, you are a South American (he is a Texan).

Originally posted by FabianFnas
An American friend of mine told me in a educative manner that the proper name of USA is America!
Then, I answered, you are a South American (he is a Texan).