[WikiEN-l] [Foundation-l] Trouble in Ireland

[Michael Everson]

On 28 Nov 2008, at 18:12, Ray Saintonge wrote:

>> I don't understand. "Georgia (country)" and "Georgia (state)" would  
>> both = Sakartvelo and both contrast with "Georgia (U.S. State)".  
>> And the U.S. States are sovereign in a sense (California is more  
>> sovereign than County Mayo in Ireland is), though they also are  
>> part of a federal structure which is the top-level subdivision in  
>> terms of UN recognition.
>>
> [[Georgia (state)]] is currently a disambiguation page.

I ought to have looked first. *blushes* Of course in the context of  
Georgia, "Georgia (state)" is indeed ambiguous.

> California does indeed have greater autonomy than County Mayo;  
> perhaps even Orange County, has more autonomy.  I understand that  
> "state" is a technically correct term for an independent country,  
> but in English speaking countries like the United *States* or  
> Australia the more popular notion of political subdivision would  
> tend to prevail.

Well, in English-speaking countries like Ireland, Canada, or the  
United Kingdom the proper term is "state". The United Kingdom is a  
State. Scotland. England, Wales and Northernn Ireland are constituent  
"countries" within the UK. (See the article on the UK: "The United  
Kingdom is a unitary state consisting of four countries: England,  
Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.[18]".)

>>> Would [[Ireland (Republic)]] be sufficient to emphasize that the  
>>> term "republic" is merely descriptive.
>>>
>> I don't believe it would be preferable. to changee [[Republic of  
>> Ireland]] to [[Ireland (republic)]] or to [[Ireland (Republic)]] --  
>> I think you'd get push-back on that. I could ask, but just at the  
>> moment that might be poking the hornet's nest.
>>
>
> Whether it's "(Republic)" or "(republic)" should not be a big issue.

The point I was trying to make would be that "Ireland (state)" is more  
likely to be a winning compromise.

Michael Everson * http://www.evertype.com