# México part of N.A.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 3, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247 "2014-04-03T13:41:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247/61 "2014-04-04T14:43:40Z")
Mexico is not culturally and linguistically part of North America? Huh? Have you ever been to any border state? 38 million people in the USA were native Spanish speakers in 2012. The Spanish, and later the Mexicans, ruled California from 1697 to 1846, and Texas from 1690 until 1821. I am stunned that anyone would doubt the impact of Spain, Mexico and Mexicans on America’s history, past and present. [http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS\_12\_1YR\_S1601&prodType=table](http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_12_1YR_S1601&prodType=table) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247/62 "2014-04-04T16:01:17Z")
> [@Batistuta](#): > > Continents are not cultural or linguistic constructs. If they were, Finland would sure as hell not be considered European. If continents were not cultural constructs, the word “European” wouldn’t exist. Europe is not, geographically speaking, a continent at all. As to whether Mexico is part of North America, depends what you mean by “North America.” For most definitions, of course they are. If we just defined continents by the culture and language of their residents, Great Britain would be part of North America, Portugal would be part of South America, Quebec would be the biggest country in Europe, and the Philippines would be everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247/63 "2014-04-04T16:05:29Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > … Great Britain would be part of North America, … Well, it _is_ the 51st state. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247/64 "2014-04-04T16:56:25Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > “Clearly,” eh? Okay - which continent is Turkey “clearly” part of: Asia or Europe? Turkey IS part of THANKSGIVING dinner. ---
**Author:** ![kurtisokc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kurtisokc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurtisokc)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247/65 "2014-04-04T23:38:00Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Ignoring political boundaries, where would anyone sensibly place the dividing line between North America and South America? I would consider the most logical division to be an imaginary line dividing the isthmus at its narrowest point. In real life, that would almost precisely match the route of the Panama Canal. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247/66 "2014-04-05T00:21:26Z")
We already have plenty of designations for culture or linguistic categories (“Latin America”,“Anglo-sphere”,“Franco-sphere”,“Scandinavia”). The OP can use one of those if he wants to talk about language or culture. If we’re talking geography, though, Mexico is part of North America. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247/67 "2014-04-05T00:37:01Z")
As for Turkey, it’s clearly an Asian nation. One little sliver of it is in Europe. Because of Hawaii, one little sliver of the US is in Polynesia, but that does not make the US a Polynesian country. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247/68 "2014-04-05T03:23:29Z")
The first thing to learn about geography is that there are different kinds of geography. Just look at the table of contents in the Wikipedia article, and you see “Physical”, “Human”, and “Integrated”, followed by other approaches. From the standpoint of physical geography, Mexico is clearly in the same continent as Canada and USA. From the standpoint of human geography, it’s a bit more debatable, but many would say it’s in the Central America portion of North America. There is definitely a cultural divide at the US/Mexican border. Anyone who says there isn’t probably hasn’t crossed the border. As with most borders, there are enclaves on each side that resemble the other side more than their own side, as well as mixtures, blends, etc. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a cultural distinction at the border. But does that cultural distinction belong to the “North America vs Whatever” question? Perhaps. > [@Batistuta](#): > > Continents are not cultural or linguistic constructs. If they were, Finland would sure as hell not be considered European. Funny you should pick Europe as your example, the least physical of all the continents. > [@Smeghead](#): > > “North America” is, fundamentally, a geographic descriptor. Therefore, the geography of the places involved is the only relevant fact. Again, there are different meanings to that word, “geography”. You’re making a generalization assuming only one of them, without the benefit of designating which one. > [@njtt](#): > > I do not mean to disagree with the consensus that Mexico is firmly part of North America, but you can’t draw the line on this basis. Culture and language are very much within the purview of the discipline of geography. Right. Not if you’re talking about “Human geography” or “cultural geography”. If you’re talking about “physical geography”, then cultural matters don’t count. So, what’s the subject? “Geography” alone is too broad, and we’d just argue semantics all day long and get nowhere. > [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > All of my realitives do [call themselves North Americans]. Thanks, but don’t many Mexicans use the term “Norteamericano” to refer to those above the borderline? I’m not contradicting you, just pointing out (if I’m correct) that people aren’t particularly consistent about these things. > [@MEBuckner](#): > > There are really no objective right answers to any of this. Continents are defined by human beings for various purposes, and depending on who you ask, there are [as many as seven or as few as four](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Continental_models-Australia.gif) (and multiple different ways for coming up with the numbers 5 or 6). Bingo! > [@RickJay](#): > > If continents were not cultural constructs, the word “European” wouldn’t exist. Europe is not, geographically speaking, a continent at all. Bingo! > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Well, it _is_ the 51st state. No, CANADA is the 51st state! It’s a really nifty one, too. It’s really cute; it has its own government and everything. (ducks) ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247/69 "2014-04-05T14:24:32Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > Thanks, but don’t many Mexicans use the term “Norteamericano” to refer to those above the borderline? > (ducks) You are welcome but you are wrong. It’s commonly called Los Estados Unidos in everyday terminology. In México there is no question that Mexico is part of North America. I was born and raised in the good old USA in the real part of the country; the midwest and was never taught nor knew of anyone who thought that North America didn’t include Mexico. We had these things called globes and these classes called geography that reafirmed this knowledge and students that answered that Mexico was in Central America were told they were wrong. If they continued to give the wrong answer their intelligence was questioned and they may not be passed onto the next grade or would be placed in special education. The OP is basically questioning why we don’t change the definition of what North America is defined as being. That isn’t something that has a definitive answer and is is a point of debate. A poor debate but a debate none the less. This is a place people come to for answers not speculation that possibly we can twist meanings into what we want them to be and be considered smart for doing so. That would be politics. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247/70 "2014-04-05T16:55:23Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > Thanks, but don’t many Mexicans use the term “Norteamericano” to refer to those above the borderline? I’m not contradicting you, just pointing out (if I’m correct) that people aren’t particularly consistent about these things. In my experience that usage is more common further south in Latin America. (The Mexicans do not get much upset because they know what the speaker means.) But “estadounidense” is the common standard-Spanish term. And again in my observation, the average man on the street is not as hung up about the whole Americano/Norteamericano/Estadounidense usage issue as are the pundit/academic/wait-someone’s-wrong-on-the-Internet classes. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247/71 "2014-04-05T17:30:55Z")
In my high school Spanish class textbooks, norteamericano was often used to refer to people from the US or Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247/72 "2014-04-05T18:29:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > In my high school Spanish class textbooks, norteamericano was often used to refer to people from the US or Canada. High school Spanish tends to homogenize a language spoken in many different areas of the world. In my Spanish classes the teacher focused more on Spain and its culture. If you went to Mexico and used your high school spanish there people would think you spoke funny. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-part-of-n-a/685247.md?page=3)