In article >,
Ian Hoare > wrote:
>
[snip!]
>
>No arrogance to say that "Venice" unqualified implies Italy, just as
>"Washington" unqualified implies the capital of the USA and not a town in
>the UK _even_ if the UK one is by far older.


Washington unqualified is probably more likely to mean the state of
Washington rather than D.C. in the United States. See how different
people can have different ideas of things that might seem so obvious?


If you asked for a wine shop in Washington my first inclination would be
to think you are asking about Washington state, when obviously you would think
you were asking about shops in Washington, D.C. A resident in Virginia or
Maryland might have a different idea, of course.


Just as Venice unqualified is confusing, so is Washington unqualified. I
am glad you brought up this example, because the fact that you see no
ambiguity in the place name "Washington" illustrates my point well.


>Sorry, but there's world of difference between Venice and Newcastle, as
>anyone who likes music, art, sculpture, literature or knows any history can
>tell you.


That may be true. No one was comparing the cities. Unfortunately, there is
more than one city named Venice that springs to mind when the name is
mentioned. Venice, Italy is probably the most commonly thought of, but not the
only, option. Asking for clarification does no harm, except apparently to
the egos of Europeans who are aghast that their great city might be mistaken
for any other by name. Well, it can be.


Dimitri