[Tomte]

I really, really hate, when people try to force other people to speak in the specific manner they are speaking.

You have no right to demand that.

Additionally, you have no idea about the connotations. You may find it offensive, but it is not. Not at all.

[k-mcgrady]

It's not offensive. Of course it's not. It's just blatantly incorrect. Your taking a group of 4 countries + some islands and referring to them by one of the 4 countries names. It'll confuse people. They now have to think: when he says 'England' does he actually mean England - which would be the obvious meaning - or is he one of those people that has no understanding of geography and is actually referring to a group of several countries? If you refuse to use the correct terminology, even when you are very obviously wrong, you're just confusing people unnecessarily.

[Tomte]

It doesn't confuse people.

This distinction has traditionally never been very important in Germany, so people didn't habitually make the distinction.

That's exactly the point: you have no idea about usage and connotations in German, but still consider yourself an expert who should have the power to prescribe a foreign language.

As an aside: we're also lumping together (dancing) balls and (foot)balls. And lots of other things.

And how do we survive that? Context.

[k-mcgrady]

This is the first Germany has been brought up in the conversation. At no point was I discussing use in languages other than English and at no point did I argue that. It seems you argument has fallen apart and you have resorted to changing it.

[Tomte]

That's wrong.

I was clearly replying to "Although entire languages get it wrong - in German [...]".

The poster I was replying to was claiming that other languages are wrong.

And I resent your accusations.

[nicksellen]

The political country I have citizenship in has a name, it's written on my passport - it is not "England".

Maybe you can see the problem if I explain it in this way: you can become British (meaning "UK-ish"), but you cannot become English.

Not only is it technically wrong, but it also contributes to perpetuating the dominance of England over the other parts of the UK.

I try to clear midconceptions/misunderstands of other countries when I know better, I would invite you to do the same now you know more :)

Hopefully I can soothe some your resentment of my accusation too - I have been learning about Germany and the forms it existed in before the unification of the states in 1871 - the culture goes back a lot further than this, I am currently learning German and planning an extended tour by bicycle (when I have learnt enough) so I can get more deeply into this topic.

[grey-area]

It's not particularly offensive, but it does betray a certain ignorance about the geographic extent of England the country.

[Tomte]

And why does German need to perfectly capture the geographic idiosyncracies of other countries? In colloquial usage?

When the distinction is important we can express it, no problem. But when it isn't?

[mynameismonkey]

Because for Swiss people like you, Welsh people like us don't like doing business with Bavarians who call us English. Maybe if you weren't Austrian, you'd understand.