041_Adjectives_of_Nationality

041_Adjectives_of_Nationality

A person from America is American, that’s easy. However, the adjective forms for other countries can be more difficult. Nichibei student Erika asks instructor Arthur Stanley about the patterns used for forming adjectives of nationality.

Kevin:

Hello everyone and welcome to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting. A great way to review English words and phrases. My name is Kevin Jones. And here with us today is Nichibei student Erika.

Erika:

Hello Kevin.

Kevin:

And also with us is Nichibei instructor Arthur Stanley.

Arthur Stanley:

Hello Kevin.

Kevin:

Erika, you are in the 3S program here at Nichibei. The 3S program is a 3 month intensive, right?

Erika:

Yes, that’s right.

Kevin:

How is it so far.

Erika:

Very well thank you. I feel I’m learning a lot and making some good friends too.

Kevin:

Great Erika, so we’re ready for your question.

Erika:

OK Kevin. What country are you from?

Kevin:

You mean what’s my nationality?

Erika:

Yes, nationality.

Kevin:

I’m American.

Erika:

And how about you?

Arthur Stanley:

I’m also American, and you are?

Erika:

I’m Japanese, of course!

Arthur Stanley:

OK, Erika, what’s is your question anyway?

Erika:

OK, here’s my question. Is there any rule for nationalities?

Arthur Stanley:

You mean, is there any rule for forming the adjective for nationality?

Erika:

Yeah that’s right. How do you make the word for the nationality of people from different countries. Japanese language is easy right? アメリカ for the country and アメリ人 for the person.

Arthur Stanley:

Well, thats true. Japanese is pretty easy and there is no single rule in English for making the adjective. However, there are some patterns which can help us. Let’s talk about the most common one. This first pattern is ‘-an’ nationalities. For many countries which end with ‘-a’ or ‘-y’ , we form the adjective with ‘an’. Such as American.

Erika:

That’s easy.

Arthur Stanley:

Well, OK then. Let’s try some of these. How about the country India. What’s the adjective?

Erika:

Indian! That’s easy.

Arthur Stanley:

OK. How about Cambodia.

Erika:

Cambodian

Arthur Stanley:

Good. Next, Mongolia.

Erika:

Mongolian.

Arthur Stanley:

Germany.

Erika:

German. OK. I think I’ve got it.

Arthur Stanley:

Be careful! Sometimes the spelling and pronunciation will change. For example, Norway?

Erika:

Norwayan?

Arthur Stanley:

No, this one is Norwegian. N-O-R-W-E-G-I-A-N.

Erika:

Norwegian.

Arthur Stanley:

OK, let’s move on to the next pattern, ‘-ese’ which is used mostly for Asian countries.

Erika:

Japanese, Chinese

Arthur Stanley:

That’s right. and how about Nepal?

Erika:

NEPANEESE??

Arthur Stanley:

No.

Erika:

Nepal. Nepalese!

Arthur Stanley:

Good!

Arthur Stanley:

Taiwan?

Erika:

TAIWESE??

Arthur Stanley:

No.

Erika:

Taiwanese.

Arthur Stanley:

Good!

Arthur Stanley:

Burma?

Erika:

Burmese?

Arthur Stanley:

That’s right. Now, the next pattern is for countries that use ‘-i’ to form the adjective. For example people from Bangladesh are Bangladeshi. People from Iraq are …

Erika:

Iraqi.

Arthur Stanley:

Good, and the adjective for Pakistan is…

Erika:

Pakistani.

Arthur Stanley:

Good. Here’s the next pattern.

Erika:

There’s more?

Arthur Stanley:

Oh yes! But let me give you one more which is used for European countries. This one is ‘-ish’ . For example, the adjective for England is…

Erika:

English.

Arthur Stanley:

And for Sweden it’s…

Erika:

Swedish.

Arthur Stanley:

How about Turkey?

Erika:

Turkish?

Arthur Stanley:

and Spain

Erika:

That would be Spanish.

Arthur Stanley:

That’s right. Well Erika, there is so much more I want to cover with you but I’m afraid it’s just to much for this episode.

Erika:

Do you have a list of these adjectives I can study?

Arthur Stanley:

Yes, I sure do. Kevin, can you post it on the web page for this episode?

Kevin:

Sure, that’s no problem. Erika, you can find it at www.nichibei.ac.jp/podcasting.

Erika:

I’ll take a look. Thanks a lot.

Arthur Stanley:

You’re welcome.

END