Identity in the Scottish Diaspora

[neloon]

David,
It seems to me that, if someone in the US says "I am French" that is not to be taken as it would be in other countries. Comprenez vous? (I could understand it in Canada because of the strong French cultural presence.) Or does some kind of context tell you what "I am French" means.

Alan

[davidlpope]

David,
It seems to me that, if someone in the US says "I am French" that is not to be taken as it would be in other countries. Comprenez vous? (I could understand it in Canada because of the strong French cultural presence.) Or does some kind of context tell you what "I am French" means.

Alan

Alan,

Thanks for your post, and I think that the light has just come on!

In the part of the US that I live in, I almost never encounter individuals who are from other countries, except for migrant farm workers who are from Central and South America. So, it's always context that tells us that the people who are talking to me are Americans. If there's any doubt, it's clear from their accents. Even when their accent marks them out as different, it indicates that they are from New Jersey or the Midwest. So, when the statement "I'm Scottish/German/Greek" is made, it's clear that the person isn't a native of Scotland, Germany, or Greece.

When I was growing up, one of my brother's friend's mom was "from Scotland". It was always said that way. And it meant exactly what was said. She was actually "from Scotland". She had been born and grew up there, had met this friend's father while he was in the US military and stationed in Scotland, had married him, moved to NC and become a US citizen.

My wife and I have close friends who live in Greensboro who are "from New Zealand" in the same way. But they very strongly identify as American citizens who are "from New Zealand" but "are [of] Scottish [descent]".

I think this must be a very different reality than that in Scotland.