Ivory Coast or Cote D'Ivoire?

[Powell]

An interesting comparison is Germany (based on Latin), which is called ``Deutschland'' (roughly ``land of the people'') internally, ``Allemagne'' (''land of the Alemannen'', a german tribe) in France, and ``Saksa'' (refering to the Saxons, another tribe) in Finland.

While we call them 'Niemcy' (roughly 'land of the mute', which refers to the fact they were the only neighbours who spoke an incomprehensible language).

[gh]

Germany is next to Vanuatu?! Who knew?! :-)

[Pego]

An interesting comparison is Germany (based on Latin), which is called ``Deutschland'' (roughly ``land of the people'') internally, ``Allemagne'' (''land of the Alemannen'', a german tribe) in France, and ``Saksa'' (refering to the Saxons, another tribe) in Finland.

While we call them 'Niemcy' (roughly 'land of the mute', which refers to the fact they were the only neighbours who spoke an incomprehensible language).

I've learned something today. It is almost the same in Slovak (Nemecko-Nemci) and save spelling, identical in Czech.
Are you sure, it is indeed nemý-Nemec in its origins?

[scottmitchell74]

I have nothing useful to add to this conversation expect this....I was in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire in 1998 at a nice shopping mall and to this day in my entire life I've never seen a greater amount of attractive women in one place. Each lady that strode by was more amazing than the last. I just sat there stunned and in awe. That day is burned into my memory.

I guess if they officially want to be called Cote d'Ivoire I'll say it. It rolls of the tongue better, anyhow.

[Powell]

Are you sure, it is indeed nemý-Nemec in its origins?

Yup, pretty sure.
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niemcy

[El Toro]

Can someone explain to me how (why) did Hellas become Greece and Suomi Finland? It is so with some modifications in many languages, not just English.

http://www.dolphin-hellas.gr/Greece_Hellas.htm

[Powell]

Germany is next to Vanuatu?! Who knew?! :-)

Not Germany per se, but part of Papua New Guinea and Samoa were German colonies

[Pego]

Can someone explain to me how (why) did Hellas become Greece and Suomi Finland? It is so with some modifications in many languages, not just English.

http://www.dolphin-hellas.gr/Greece_Hellas.htm

Pretty convoluted, LOL.