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The Chechnyans don't make the official law of Russia. Regardless of what they think about their autonomous status, this doesn't affect whether or not Russia is officially known by her subunits.

I would submit that "The Gambia" is known as such because it began as a group of settlements around the Gambia River, or the fact that it was at one time both a Portuguese trading post/colony and an English protectorate. As we know, it was common for colonies, protectorates, and other countries under European imperialism.

Logos Teen

Dear Friends:

This brouhaha about Ukraine could be much ado about nothing, but . . .

Let's allow and accept the preference of our Ukrainian confreres. To many, national identity IS sacrosanct.

By the way, I think Canada is officially known as "THE Dominion of Canada," signifying a conglomeration of semi-independent provinces and Russia is officially known as "The Russian Federation," likewise encompassing "autonomous" (?) or "semi-autonomous" (?) regions.

"THE Philippines" is known as such, not because of the more than 70 provinces forming as a single republic but more so because it is composed of more than 7,000 islands (and perhaps because it was named after King Philip II of Spain by Ferdinand Magellan, its "discoverer," in the 16th century! ).

But Indonesia is known simply as such without the "THE," although the republic is an archipelago like THE Philippines.

AmdG

Well done , Amado,

You carried on from where I left off !![ for me 'twas fairly early in the morning and my brain processes were not yet really fired up into activity.]

Taa muchly - and it was a brilliant exposition too

Anhelyna

I would submit that "The Gambia" is known as such because it began as a group of settlements around the Gambia River, or the fact that it was at one time both a Portuguese trading post/colony and an English protectorate. As we know, it was common for colonies, protectorates, and other countries under European imperialism.

Logos Teen [/QB][/QUOTE]

Actually, the official name of the nation is "Republic of The Gambia", that's the reason, plain and simple.

Many years,

Neil

"Today, when referring to a nation that continues to observes the British Monarch as its head of state the term Commonwealth Realm is usually used instead of "Dominion" to differentiate the Commonwealth nations that continue to recognize the crown (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, etc) from those who do not (India, Pakistan, South Africa, etc.). The term "Dominion" is now mostly used in a historical sense, nonetheless it remains a correct term for independent countries where the British Sovereign is represented by a Governor-General. The term is still to be found in, or at least has not been removed from, the Canadian constitution; however, the Canadian government does not use it. Present-day usage prefers the term "realm" because it includes the United Kingdom as well, emphasising that they are equal to and not subordinate to the United Kingdom."

"Within Canada, “Dominion” is still attached to corporation and organization names to indicate a national scope for their activities."

On-Line Encyclopedia - Dominion [en.wikipedia.org]

Amado,

Sorry for not including your native land when I first posted - thought of it just after I got off-line and figured I would add it to the mix when I next went on - unless you beat me to it.

Many years,

Neil