Somali Not Somalian
Amina Mire
Now and then I came across Some people who adress themselves as
"Somlian". However, I think the word " Somalian" is a mistake and as
such we must reject it.
The fact others who do not know the difference call us Somalian does
not mean that we must accept this mistake as well.
Sincerely,
AMire
abdul abdi
dear amine,
it might not be such a bad idea to call people of somali
origin from the former somali republic 'somalians' and
the rest of them (such as people of somali origin from
places like kenya and ethiopia) somalis. the former
identifies citizenship, that is to say, a somalian is a
citizen of a place that once called itself somalia; the
latter identifies an ethnic grouping that resides elsewhere.
cheers,
abdul.
faysal diriye
> cheers,
> abdul.
ISKAWARN Abdul?
I have seen many times brothers and sisters not liking to be called Somalians.
I my self never knew the difference between Somali and Somalian, but the
interesting explanation that you have written above compelled me to say thank
you now I know the difference.
NABADGELYO IYO NOOLI KULANTEE.
Mahad M. Abdi
that's right we are not Somalian we are Somalia
you can anly say I'm Somali not Somalian.
I agree with you Amina.
Somaalyeey toosoo
Toosoo iskutiirsada
Hadbakiina taagdaran
Taageera waligiin
Mahad
Amina Mire wrote in message <6f0oob$m...@chass.utoronto.ca>...
Amina Mire
abdul abdi (74653...@CompuServe.COM) wrote:
:" dear amine,
: it might not be such a bad idea to call people of somali
: origin from the former somali republic 'somalians' and
: the rest of them (such as people of somali origin from
: places like kenya and ethiopia) somalis. the former
: identifies citizenship, that is to say, a somalian is a
: citizen of a place that once called itself somalia; the
: latter identifies an ethnic grouping that resides elsewhere"
: cheers,
: abdul.
Abdul Abdi,
first, I want to say that you have evry right to voice your views on
this matter here and elsewhere and I must apologize the way I opposed
your views in the past.
Having said that.
Your distinction of the Somali versus Somalian raises both
epistemological and ontological contradictions. This is why.
By using simple mathematical logic let us agree a prosition
cannot be both is and is not at the sametime and in the same propistion.
Second, if someone is Somali and if the word somali signifies those
who morally, culturally, languistically and ethnically identify
themselves as Somali then, the word, Somalian is null(empty). For that
reason it signifies nothing. In this sense one of these words, Somali
and Somalian signifies the identity so signified. But weshowed that the
word Somalian has no meaning nonwhat so ever.
In other word, someone is either German or not German for various
reasons and afflication. Perhaps those who study German
culture may suitably be called Germanist or such similar words but german
people are always german.
In this sense there are no cagtory of people called Somalian and one
which is called Somali.
For such raises logical, epistemological and Ontological errors.
Sincerely,
AMire
Mohamed A. Omer
On 24 Mar 1998, Amina Mire wrote:
> Second, if someone is Somali and if the word somali signifies those
> who morally, culturally, languistically and ethnically identify
> themselves as Somali then, the word, Somalian is null(empty). For that
> reason it signifies nothing. In this sense one of these words, Somali
> and Somalian signifies the identity so signified. But weshowed that the
> word Somalian has no meaning nonwhat so ever.
Dear Amina,
As you said, every one is entitled to his/her view. However, in this
instance Abdul's definition of Somali vs Somalian is not only correct but
passes all the logic analysis.
The term Somali defines the ethnicity of large group of people who inhabit
in Horn of Africa, where as the "Somalian" delineation pertains to and
ONLY to Somali Republic citizens. In other words, "Somali" is parallel
with " Arab" while "Somalian" is in equal footing with Saudi, Abu Dhabian
Egyptian and so forth. To extrapolate this concept, how can one explain
the fact a person from Djibouti calls himself ethnic Somali, but that of
Djiboutian Nationality.
Regards.
Mesfin Redi
Hallo Amina and others,
to make the facts correct. In German language Deutschland is the country
and Deutscher is the citizen. They also make a differenz between a German
from Germany (they call him: ein Deutscher) and a German forexample Russia
(he is then ein Aussieler-Deutscher).
Moreover, I don't see and understand your problem with you being called a
Somalian. It seems me commen to add -an or -n at the end of a countreis
name to indicate someones nationality.
bye.
yours,
Mesfin
On 24 Mar 1998, Amina Mire wrote:
> Second, if someone is Somali and if the word somali signifies those
Burhan Jama
In article <Pine.A41.3.95b.98032...@homer08.u.washington.edu>,
Mohamed A. Omer <om...@u.washington.edu> wrote:
>
>
>On 24 Mar 1998, Amina Mire wrote:
>
>> Second, if someone is Somali and if the word somali signifies those
Dear Mohamed,
The equal footings of the name Somali like Saudi, Iraqi, yamani, Suri,
Habashi, Emirati, Hindi, Yabani, etc., denote ethnic origin in Arabic language
regardless of Citizenship and place of birth. Because citizenship is a western
concept that is fairly new to the Arabic/Somali/Islamic culture, it is merely
used to identify ethnic origin. In other words, citizenship and ethnic origin
are the same in Arabic, which I believe the word 'Somali' is driven from.
Arabic doesn't have a word for citizenship other than ethnic origin, or ID or
passport. That is why in the Arab world, visiting Somalis are treated as
Somalis/Arabs regardless of the western citizenship they are travelling with.
However, the confusion begins when one tries to translate a unique Arabic
culture word in to an English language logic by 'IAN'zing it, like Abu Dhabian
and Somalilandian. It is not correct always. 'IAN'izing is foreign to the
Somali language as well as to the Arabic language. Setting aside the Arabic
for now, we should use the correct grammatical form of the name 'Somaali'
in the Somali language. Look at these beauty:
Waxaan ahay Somaali ka yimid dalka Soomaaliyeed
oo ku noo aqal Soomaali
I agree with Amina that some people of western languages tend to call us
Somalian by mistake. But WE reserve the right to stick to our 'Somali'
because it grammatically right in Somali language. All we have to do is to
remind them to say it right the same way we are re-pronouncing our names.
Thanks
Burhan
Aloyzas Januskauskas
> 123456789 this is testing