Talk:British West Indies
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Silverdream1119 16:12, 31 January 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Is the term really used?
It may be used in some of the islands themselves, and in North America, but certainly isn't used in the UK. As for "Royal West Indies"? I've never heard that term before - indeed, as all but three former British colonies in the region still have the Queen as head of state, they could be described as 'Royal' too.
Quiensabe 17 February 2006 20;16 UTC
The people in the Turks and Caicos islands, made that name up and have been throwing that name around. Try to google "Royal West Indies" and "Turks and Caicos" you can still get a lot of hits. CaribDigita 20:31, 17 February 2006 (UTC)
- In my opinion yes it is used - I live in the UK, albeit with Caribbean relatives. B.W.I is even put on the address.
[edit] Indies = Island?
What is this supposed to mean?
- Although the word "Indies" was a reference to the word island ...
I have never before seen it said that "Indies" refers specifically to islands. Acsenray 16:38, 9 June 2006 (UTC)
- Good point. Fixed. Guettarda 16:43, 9 June 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Which is more common?
The way this article is currently structured, it gives the impression that the term "British West Indies" refers to the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean, which excludes most of the English-speaking Caribbean today. But what's the source for this? A search at dictionary.com gives two meanings:
- a term formerly used for the possessions of Great Britain in the West Indies. Compare West Indies (def. 2).
and
- The islands of the West Indies that were formerly under British control, including Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad, Grenada, Antigua, St. Lucia, and the Bahamas.
(Askoxford.com gives nothing.)
Firstly, neither of these supports what is currently said. Secondly, the two aren't incompatible (despite appearances of such). The first definition doesn't say what it is used for now, but the second is quite clear (although they bizarrely exclude St. Vincent and the Grenadines >_>). The use I'm used to is a mixture of these two, namely that it's the name for the countries in the West Indies that speak English, both those that are still controlled by Britain and those that were controlled for long enough for it to be the primary language there.
Any thoughts? ~ Hairouna 20:39, 11 November 2006 (UTC)
Just a thought but usually a country upon independence is no longer refered to as "British"... e.g. Canada is no longer called "British North America". One of the only spots that is independent of the UK today and still calls itself "British" is "British Colombia". CaribDigita 23:34, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
