From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english


I'm not sure if this is really off-topic, as it can be related to usage questions,
but it seems best to label it as OT.

I see many answers on Quora to Americans who think that Europe is a country asserting that in reality it is 44 countries. The 44 is quite consistent between
different people, but how do they arrive at 44? If I list all the countries that are unambiguously European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium etc.) I arrive at 40, so which are the other 4?

Russia and Turkey are both partially in Europe, but have large parts that are not: do I count them?

What about Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan? Are they in Europe? All three?

What about Gibraltar? Is it a country? (I've counted the Vatican, but it's
not everyone's idea of a country. Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and San
Marino obviously count.)

What about Kosovo? Is it a country? Come to that, what about Abkhazia and Transnistria?

What about Malta, Cyprus and Iceland? Countries, yes, but are they in Europe? --
athel

Living in Marseilles for 39 years; mainly in England before that,
with long periods in Singapore, California, Chile and Canada
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

Op 2/07/2026 om 17:43 schreef athel.cb@gmail.com:

I'm not sure if this is really off-topic, as it can be related to usage questions,
but it seems best to label it as OT.

I see many answers on Quora to Americans who think that Europe is a country asserting that in reality it is 44 countries. The 44 is quite consistent between
different people, but how do they arrive at 44? If I list all the countries that are unambiguously European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium etc.)
I arrive at 40, so which are the other 4?

Russia and Turkey are both partially in Europe, but have large parts that are not: do I count them?

What about Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan? Are they in Europe? All three?

What about Gibraltar? Is it a country? (I've counted the Vatican, but it's not everyone's idea of a country. Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and San Marino obviously count.)

What about Kosovo? Is it a country? Come to that, what about Abkhazia and Transnistria?

What about Malta, Cyprus and Iceland? Countries, yes, but are they in Europe?

Google AI answers 44 countries and gives a list. Mine was in Dutch.
--
guido wugi
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From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

Op 2/07/2026 om 17:56 schreef wugi:

Op 2/07/2026 om 17:43 schreef athel.cb@gmail.com:

I'm not sure if this is really off-topic, as it can be related to
usage questions,
but it seems best to label it as OT.

I see many answers on Quora to Americans who think that Europe is a
country
asserting that in reality it is 44 countries. The 44 is quite
consistent between
different people, but how do they arrive at 44? If I list all the
countries
that are unambiguously European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain,
Belgium etc.)
I arrive at 40, so which are the other 4?

Google AI answers 44 countries and gives a list. Mine was in Dutch.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependent_territories_in_Europe
--
guido wugi
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english


wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> posted:

Op 2/07/2026 om 17:56 schreef wugi:

Op 2/07/2026 om 17:43 schreef athel.cb@gmail.com:

I'm not sure if this is really off-topic, as it can be related to
usage questions,
but it seems best to label it as OT.

I see many answers on Quora to Americans who think that Europe is a
country
asserting that in reality it is 44 countries. The 44 is quite
consistent between
different people, but how do they arrive at 44? If I list all the
countries
that are unambiguously European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain,
Belgium etc.)
I arrive at 40, so which are the other 4?

Google AI answers 44 countries and gives a list. Mine was in Dutch.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependent_territories_in_Europe

Hmm. Either I can't count or the person who prepared the main table can't count.
There are 50 countries in the table, not 44. To my amazement, it includes Kazakhstan. In my own list, I forgot Montenegro: shame on me.
--
athel

Living in Marseilles for 39 years; mainly in England before that,
with long periods in Singapore, California, Chile and Canada
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

On 02/07/2026 17:24, athel.cb@gmail.com wrote:

wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> posted:

Op 2/07/2026 om 17:56 schreef wugi:

Op 2/07/2026 om 17:43 schreef athel.cb@gmail.com:

I'm not sure if this is really off-topic, as it can be related to
usage questions,
but it seems best to label it as OT.

I see many answers on Quora to Americans who think that Europe is a
country
asserting that in reality it is 44 countries. The 44 is quite
consistent between
different people, but how do they arrive at 44? If I list all the
countries
that are unambiguously European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain,
Belgium etc.)
I arrive at 40, so which are the other 4?

Google AI answers 44 countries and gives a list. Mine was in Dutch.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependent_territories_in_Europe

Hmm. Either I can't count or the person who prepared the main table can't count.
There are 50 countries in the table, not 44. To my amazement, it includes Kazakhstan. In my own list, I forgot Montenegro: shame on me.

I doubt if it helps, but a total of 52 countries have taken part in the Eurovision contest, at one time or another.
--
Sam Plusnet
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

Den 02.07.2026 kl. 20.03 skrev Sam Plusnet:

Hmm. Either I can't count or the person who prepared the main table
can't count.
There are 50 countries in the table, not 44. To my amazement, it includes
Kazakhstan. In my own list, I forgot Montenegro: shame on me.

I doubt if it helps, but a total of 52 countries have taken part in the Eurovision contest, at one time or another.

Among them Israel which is not European.
--
Bertel, Kolt, Danmark

--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english


Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> posted:

Den 02.07.2026 kl. 20.03 skrev Sam Plusnet:

Hmm. Either I can't count or the person who prepared the main table
can't count.
There are 50 countries in the table, not 44. To my amazement, it includes >> Kazakhstan. In my own list, I forgot Montenegro: shame on me.

I doubt if it helps, but a total of 52 countries have taken part in the Eurovision contest, at one time or another.

Among them Israel which is not European.

Culturally it is, a lot more than Kazakhstan.
--
athel

Living in Marseilles for 39 years; mainly in England before that,
with long periods in Singapore, California, Chile and Canada
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

On 02/07/2026 19:55, athel.cb@gmail.com wrote:

Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> posted:

Den 02.07.2026 kl. 20.03 skrev Sam Plusnet:

Hmm. Either I can't count or the person who prepared the main table
can't count.
There are 50 countries in the table, not 44. To my amazement, it includes >>>> Kazakhstan. In my own list, I forgot Montenegro: shame on me.

I doubt if it helps, but a total of 52 countries have taken part in the
Eurovision contest, at one time or another.

Among them Israel which is not European.

Culturally it is, a lot more than Kazakhstan.

In which case, Canada is European.
--
Sam Plusnet
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

Op 2/07/2026 om 23:14 schreef Sam Plusnet:

On 02/07/2026 19:55, athel.cb@gmail.com wrote:

Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> posted:

Den 02.07.2026 kl. 20.03 skrev Sam Plusnet:

Hmm. Either I can't count or the person who prepared the main table
can't count.
There are 50 countries in the table, not 44. To my amazement, it
includes
Kazakhstan. In my own list, I forgot Montenegro: shame on me.

I doubt if it helps, but a total of 52 countries have taken part in the >>>> Eurovision contest, at one time or another.

Among them Israel which is not European.

Culturally it is, a lot more than Kazakhstan.

In which case, Canada is European.

And Australia, I heard today.
Anyway, since a decade or two-three the acts have become too spectacular
and the music itself unpalatable for sensitive melomaniac ears (what a
form, compared with our "melomaan"):
Kettle noise would be an appropriate description, and is what we use in
"my" circles when referring to Eurovision, or to most contemporaneous,
eh, music, for that matter.
--
guido wugi

--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

"Sam":

I doubt if it helps, but a total of 52 countries have taken part in the >>> Eurovision contest, at one time or another.

Bertel Lund Hansen:

Among them Israel which is not European.

Athel Cornish-Bowden:

Culturally it is, a lot more than Kazakhstan.

"Sam":

In which case, Canada is European.

Canada will enter the Eurovision contest next year.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "Canada resembles Chile a lot more than Chile does" msb@vex.net | --Athel Cornish-Bowden
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

On 02/07/2026 17:43, athel.cb@gmail.com wrote:

What about Malta, Cyprus and Iceland? Countries, yes, but are they in Europe?

Whoa! Of course Cyprus and Malta are European countries. Not only are
they European, but also Member states of the EU. After Brexit, my Cyprus passport was the only reason I could continue to live in Luxembourg.

(Iceland is not an EU country, yet. If it was, Donald Duck would not
dare invade it.)
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

On 02/07/2026 20:03, Sam Plusnet wrote:

On 02/07/2026 17:24, athel.cb@gmail.com wrote:

wugi <wugi@brol.invalid> posted:

Op 2/07/2026 om 17:56 schreef wugi:

Op 2/07/2026 om 17:43 schreef athel.cb@gmail.com:

I'm not sure if this is really off-topic, as it can be related to
usage questions,
but it seems best to label it as OT.

I see many answers on Quora to Americans who think that Europe is a
country
asserting that in reality it is 44 countries. The 44 is quite
consistent between
different people, but how do they arrive at 44? If I list all the
countries
that are unambiguously European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain,
Belgium etc.)
I arrive at 40, so which are the other 4?

Google AI answers 44 countries and gives a list. Mine was in Dutch.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependent_territories_in_Europe

Hmm. Either I can't count or the person who prepared the main table
can't count.
There are 50 countries in the table, not 44. To my amazement, it includes
Kazakhstan. In my own list, I forgot Montenegro: shame on me.

I doubt if it helps, but a total of 52 countries have taken part in the Eurovision contest, at one time or another.

Yeah. That includes Israel and Canada, IIRC. The Eurovision contest is
hardly a reference point for anything rational, including tunes.

--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

On 02/07/2026 17:56, wugi wrote:

Op 2/07/2026 om 17:43 schreef athel.cb@gmail.com:

I'm not sure if this is really off-topic, as it can be related to
usage questions,
but it seems best to label it as OT.

I see many answers on Quora to Americans who think that Europe is a
country
asserting that in reality it is 44 countries. The 44 is quite
consistent between
different people, but how do they arrive at 44? If I list all the
countries
that are unambiguously European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain,
Belgium etc.)
I arrive at 40, so which are the other 4?

Russia and Turkey are both partially in Europe, but have large parts
that are
not: do I count them?

What about Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan? Are they in Europe? All
three?

What about Gibraltar? Is it a country? (I've counted the Vatican, but
it's
not everyone's idea of a country. Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and San
Marino obviously count.)

What about Kosovo? Is it a country? Come to that, what about Abkhazia and
Transnistria?

What about Malta, Cyprus and Iceland? Countries, yes, but are they in
Europe?

Google AI answers 44 countries and gives a list. Mine was in Dutch.

Careful Wugi. Last time Google AI was involved in geographic decision
making, Nicaraguan soldiers invaded Costa Rica.
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

On Thu, 02 Jul 2026 15:43:51 GMT, athel.cb@gmail.com <user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:

I'm not sure if this is really off-topic, as it can be related to usage questions,
but it seems best to label it as OT.

I see many answers on Quora to Americans who think that Europe is a country >asserting that in reality it is 44 countries. The 44 is quite consistent between
different people, but how do they arrive at 44? If I list all the countries >that are unambiguously European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium etc.)
I arrive at 40, so which are the other 4?

Russia and Turkey are both partially in Europe, but have large parts that are >not: do I count them?

What about Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan? Are they in Europe? All three?

What about Gibraltar? Is it a country? (I've counted the Vatican, but it's >not everyone's idea of a country. Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and San >Marino obviously count.)

What about Kosovo? Is it a country? Come to that, what about Abkhazia and >Transnistria?

What about Malta, Cyprus and Iceland? Countries, yes, but are they in Europe?

England, Scotland, ?Ireland and wales? Man? Jersey, Guernsey?
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

Le 03/07/2026 |a 07:28, occam a |-crit :

Yeah. That includes Israel and Canada, IIRC. The Eurovision contest is
hardly a reference point for anything rational, including tunes.

Hmm. Is it related to Looney Tunes?

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From Newsgroup: alt.usage.english

Le 03/07/2026 |a 08:09, Steve Hayes a |-crit :

athel.cb@gmail.com wrote:

I'm not sure if this is really off-topic, as it can be related to usage questions,
but it seems best to label it as OT.

I see many answers on Quora to Americans who think that Europe is a country >> asserting that in reality it is 44 countries. The 44 is quite consistent between
different people, but how do they arrive at 44? If I list all the countries >> that are unambiguously European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium etc.)
I arrive at 40, so which are the other 4?

Russia and Turkey are both partially in Europe, but have large parts that are
not: do I count them?

What about Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan? Are they in Europe? All three? >>
What about Gibraltar? Is it a country? (I've counted the Vatican, but it's >> not everyone's idea of a country. Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and San
Marino obviously count.)

What about Kosovo? Is it a country? Come to that, what about Abkhazia and
Transnistria?

What about Malta, Cyprus and Iceland? Countries, yes, but are they in Europe?

England, Scotland, ?Ireland and wales? Man? Jersey, Guernsey?

Yes, what is a country? The UK is a country, and so are Scotland,
England, Wales, and Ireland. Does that make five?

It might make more sense to talk about sovereign states ('sovereign'
poses a problem if they're members of the EU, though).

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