is britain a motherland or fatherland

But hey, that's a good thing guys, at least you're not as ugly. The hindu religion, referring to the mother earth goddess earth or mother earth. In these instances, colonial citizens may be entitled to special treatment from the motherland, such as passports and the right of return. I think of homeland as the equivalent of German Heimat 'homeland'. I have no idea what the UK or Britain is called. Motherland to Fatherland hopes to give voice to an ethnic minority of the UK, that is currently living on the edge, and often only seen as a by-product of Britain’s colonial rule in India. Please read the rules before participating, as we remove all comments which break the rules. Therefore, motherland/fatherland aren't as often applied to countries in the Americas, even if many of us have lived here for a dozen generations or more. This may be due to the political (“domestic, national”) uses of homeland. So, what’s the difference between motherland and others fatherland? Motherland was defined as "the land of one's mother or parents," and fatherland as "the native land of one's fathers or ancestors." And Japan would be some weird uncle who picks a fight with them. Lord Lucan. The Netherlands (Dutch, vaderland), as well as the Scandinavian countries, have similar forms of fatherland. The U. S. of A. Omaha, Nebraska. Thus, I find it difficult to say that Britain is america's motherland. when it’s not deliberately meant to be quaint or playful (e.g., Since living abroad for a decade, I have come to miss some things from my motherland, like free refills of soda). It’s not surprising that fatherland would be the term for one’s native country in any language that has any historical association with the Romans; the Latin word for “fatherland” is patria. “Russia” comes from “Rus”, the name of Nordic sea-faring robbers and traders who settled along fluvial trade routes between the hunting grounds across the Middle-Russian Plains and slave markets in Byzantine and Persia. And the US would be Child Services. The German national anthem features verses that translate to “Unity and justice and freedom / For the German fatherland!” (German, Vaterland). India, in my language anyway, has mostly been considered a motherland. It can mean “one’s native land” or “the home of one’s ancestors.” It’s slightly younger than fatherland and motherland, attested in the early 1600s. Is Britain a Motherland or a Fatherland? In Chapter 14 of Things Fall Apart, we get a different perspective of male and female roles as Othello’s uncle, Uchendu, mentions the difference between “fatherland” and “motherland.” Children generally belong to their father (Achebe 133), representing a patriarchal society, and go to their father when good things happen (134). In fact, it was the last industrialized country to allow women to vote. Even in English in fatherland can convey patriotic connotations. Learn more. Get Dictionary.com tips to keep words straight ... right in your inbox. England would be referred to as the Motherland, and is one of the few that do not use the term Fatherland. “Mother Country” is used sometimes to refer to the UK by emigrants/descendants in colonial situations. Be aware that the cultural differences in India are so huge and varied that others may feel differently. In the OED the expression Mother country has an earlier documentation date than fatherland, but fatherland precedes motherland: Feel free to ask follow up questions if you’d like more historical/linguistic information. Fatherland (отечество) - otechestvo, is also used. People often refer to Mother Russia as a personification of the Russian nation. Motherland on the other hand invokes a narrative of gratitude towards the reproducer. The Philippinesis also considered as a motherland which is deprived from the word "Inang Bayan" which means “Motherl… America is Uncle Sam: Or, as my personal favorite, America is Lady Liberty: Posts: 1,869 Re: Motherland or Fatherland? It is traditionally referred to as the Motherland. According to Google Ngram data, homeland far outnumbers fatherland and motherland. Adolf Hitler made the term Fatherland more commonly known. With Rutger Hauer, Miranda Richardson, Peter Vaughan, Michael Kitchen. Lv 5. If germany is the fatherland, and russia is the motherland, then wwii was just a brutal divorce Mindblowing lguess Poland, France, and Britain? One more explanation: Fatherland was a nationalistic term used in Nazi Germany to unite Germany in … For example, even though Latin has patria, Roma is still a feminine form and the personification of Rome as a female entity also played a role in civic and national identity-discourse. Motherland is a synonym of fatherland. The fact that it’s so complex, and many languages allow one to use fatherland or motherland, probably speaks to our complex relationships with our homelands (isn’t it just so much easier to use that word!). It has some religious connotations as well in Russian iconography. “Vaccinate” vs. “Inoculate” vs. “Immunize”: What Are The Differences? Indeed, languages and cultures have long personified the earth (and creative forces more generally) as female. Italy would be the crackhead aunt who thinks she's helping. 9 years ago. ( i know the UK isn't Britain because i live here so don't comment that). I do know that France is known for being chauvanistic. In the US, asking someone where they are from can be a sensitive topic and be considered a microaggression, especially if it’s asked in way that assumes an American citizen isn’t one because they are perceived to “look foreign” or have a “foreign-sounding name, e.g. That dictionary defined motherland as "The land of one's mother or parents," and fatherland as "The native land of one's fathers or ancestors." Motherland is the national personification of the concept of indonesia. I could be wrong though. If you sum up the cultural and genetical influence from Africa, Latin America and other european countries (France, Germany, Italy, Sweeden, etc.) We think of as stereotypically maternal: as providing for us, and caring for us. Why are some countries known as motherland, while others are fatherland? I don't consider it either, I am not emotionally attached to a piece of rock. Redefine your inbox with Dictionary.com updates. Let’s revisit Latin patria. Fatherland is a synonym of motherland. Neither motherland, fatherland, nor homeland strike the same chords with me that Vaterland, la patrie, or rodina strike, and I'm a non-native speaker of German, French, and Russian (respectively). The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. You younger members dont know up to roughly the 1st world war countries were called a Motherland or Fatherland. A homeland may also be referred to as a fatherland, a motherland, or a mother country, ... many natives in the colonies came to think of Britain as the mother country of one, large nation. To them, their home country is (in translation) the motherland. Britain was always a Motherland and Germany a Fatherland. Favorite Answer. I think it has to do with whether the country has *traditionally * been considered a Motherland or Fatherland. During the movement for Indian independence of the late 1800s, the concept of Bharat Mata (or Mother India) emerged. Rather a colorless term. Anyway, ‘Fatherland’ is not really a common English term, and for many English speakers its associations are caught up in the emergence of the term Vaterland in propaganda associated with Nazi Germany. The Latin word for fatherland is "patria." America is neither father, nor mother. Several other countries and languages prefer to use feminine language/language forms, for their nation, most notably Russia, and the term Россия-Матушка, or ‘Mother Russia’. To come back to English, neither of these is ‘more’ correct or appropriate, there does not seem to exist a longstanding tradition of embedding one of these concepts into the language more firmly than the other. 1 0. Motherland definition: The motherland is the country in which you or your ancestors were born and to which you... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Location: Glate Blitan. 02-11-2013, 04:48 PM #2: DontPanic. Account Inactive . This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. This sense of homeland survives today in phrases like homeland security. I always thought Germany was the fatherland. 8 Answers. The people of some countries have historically personified their country in feminine ways. (More on this in a second). Mother goddesses abound in world culture. Bet You Can’t Guess Where The Word “Glamour” Comes From, A Smack Of Jellyfish, A Zeal of Zebras, And Other Fun Animal Group Names, The Forgotten Verses Of “The Star-Spangled Banner”. Britain is the Motherland and France is the fatherland? But, this point is important. Some cultures personify their lands as masculine. Relevance. Whether a particular group uses (their language’s equivalent of, if they have one) motherland or fatherland is a Unlike Motherland, which was more common during the days of the USSR, Fatherland was more politicized during the days of the Russian empire, when the term Motherland was more neutral. “Hallowmas” vs. “All Saints’ Day”: What’s The Day After Halloween Actually Called? I hope this has been at least mildly informative and answered your question. As nouns the difference between fatherland and motherland is that fatherland is the country of one's ancestors while motherland is the country of one's ancestors. In contrast, the terms motherland and fatherland have appeared in Webster's dictionaries since the American Dictionary of the English Language of 1847. As in, I moved from Ghana to attend Harvard or My grandparents were born in Armenia. 1776 and the Constitution created the United States as our own motherland. English has Mother Earth (recorded since the 1500s), with antecedents in the Latin Mater Terra and German Mutter Erde. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The department specifically deals with threats of terrorism, whereas national security encompasses a broader range of issues. Wales (part of the UK) might use Fatherland, but in their own language: Y Wlad Fy Nhadau, so in Welsh English it might be “Land of My Fathers” Not exactly the same, but closer. Russia is one of the only countries that refers to their own country as a motherland rather than a fatherland. I have no idea what the UK or Britain is called. Does The Month of March Have Anything To Do With “Marching”? This is more a linguistics question in the field of contemporary and historical usage, but in the interests of fulfilling your question, let me talk about these terms for awhile. Homeland maybe, but not Mother or Fatherland. I'm not sure songs are written for one's Heimat. Forum Member . Both of these personifications have been linked to ancient mother goddesses. Early uses of homeland have the sense of “domestic,” as opposed to “foreign,” e.g., homeland business. From Suffrage To Sisterhood: What Does Feminism Actually Mean? Which do you refer to it as? … Motherland is a term that may refer to a mother country, the origin of a colonial power or an ethnic group or immigrant. “Torturous” vs. “Tortuous”: What Is The Difference? We have yet another option in English: homeland. Answers must be in-depth and comprehensive, or they will be removed. America. My dear boy, you are most mistaken. If France is the fatherland then he must be one of those fathers who is never around to provide for his family and runs away at the earliest opportunity. Among many others, people of the Slavic (e.g., Czech, otčina) and Baltic nations (e.g., Estonian, isamaa) also tend to refer to their homeland as the fatherland. That word comes from the Latin for “father,” pater, which is related to the English word … patriot. I wouldn't really call a country a him or her/male or female. Kalamazoo, Michigan. Is the UK/ island of Britain a fatherland or a motherland? “But where are you from, really?” The response may be something very different than any fatherland, motherland, or homeland. Meg Sutton Benseman, Auckland, New Zealand • Post your answers – and new questions – … For example, a common personification of Russia is Mother Russia (Matushka Rosa).