I don’t like that countries all over the world call other countries whatever fits their own language. In English we call these nations “Ireland” “Russia” “Palestine”. But these places are “Eire” “Rossiya” “Chungkuo” or “Falesteen”. Which other countries are good names before it gets translated. I do have small acceptions for places where they call it like DPRK or something where the name is just the same but translated but Rossiya makes more sense than Russia.

    • Comrade_Faust@lemmygrad.ml
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      2 years ago

      It’s to do with borrowings and who came into contact with what tribe. For example, the people living in France and Spain came into contact with the Alemannic tribes, hence Allemagne/Alemania. This name comes from an older form meaning ‘all people’ (compare German: alle Männer (all men)).

      Whereas in Italian, another romance language, the word is ‘tedesco’, derived from þeudisk (whence ‘Deutsch’ and ‘Dutch’ derive). There is also an old word in French ‘thiois’ which is cognate.

      • RedSquid@lemmygrad.ml
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        2 years ago

        For extra annoyance, the Italian word for Germany is Germania, so the adjective and noun have no relation at all.

        • frippa
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          2 years ago

          When I was like 6 I thought Tedeschia was germany’s name 😅