Editing 1759: British Map

Jump to: navigation, search

Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.

The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision Your text
Line 8: Line 8:
  
 
==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
This comic is a joke similar to [https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on#q=how%20americans%20see%20the%20world&safe=active&ssui=on "How Americans see the world"] showing how the average American has opinions on the world, often including jokes such as a lack of {{w|Africa}}, etc. This has been used before in [[850: World According to Americans]]. The map also plays with the joke by noting it has been labeled by [[Randall Munroe|a specific American]] rather than "Americans".
+
 
 +
This comic is a joke similar to [https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on#q=how%20americans%20see%20the%20world&safe=active&ssui=on "How Americans see the world"] showing how the average American has opinions on the world, often including jokes such as a lack of {{w|Africa}}, etc. This has been used before in [[850: World According to Americans]]. The map also plays with the joke by noting it has been labeled by [[Randall Monroe|a specific American]] rather than "Americans".
  
 
Many areas of the UK are most familiar to foreigners thanks to their depiction in various fantasy novels and TV series. This map labels some of these, as well as including many silly names that simply sound like real British towns to an American ear. A protractor is shown off the coast of the {{w|Mull of Kintyre}} in reference to the "{{w|Mull of Kintyre test}}" - according to urban legend, the angle of the Mull defines the maximum allowed erectness for a man on films and home video releases in the UK.
 
Many areas of the UK are most familiar to foreigners thanks to their depiction in various fantasy novels and TV series. This map labels some of these, as well as including many silly names that simply sound like real British towns to an American ear. A protractor is shown off the coast of the {{w|Mull of Kintyre}} in reference to the "{{w|Mull of Kintyre test}}" - according to urban legend, the angle of the Mull defines the maximum allowed erectness for a man on films and home video releases in the UK.
  
Randall previously posted [https://blog.xkcd.com/2015/11/24/a-puzzle-for-the-uk/ a map of Great Britain] on his blog as part of the promotion for his book ''[[What If? (book)|What If?]]''. This map is from a very similar position and appears to have been traced from the same source, although there are some slight differences. Both maps include a sketch of {{w|Lake Windermere}} with boats on it, and both have the locations of London, Oxford and Cambridge labeled (the blog map also shows Edinburgh and Bristol - in this comic, these are labelled Eavestroughs and Minas Tirith). Both also contain references to {{w|Stonehenge}} and {{w|Watership Down}}.
+
Randall previously posted [https://blog.xkcd.com/2015/11/24/a-puzzle-for-the-uk/ a map of the UK] on his blog as part of the promotion for his book ''[[What If?]]''. This map is from a very similar position and appears to have been traced from the same source, although there are some slight differences. Both maps include a sketch of {{w|Lake Windermere}} with boats on it, and both have the locations of London, Oxford and Cambridge labeled (the blog map also shows Edinburgh and Bristol - in this comic, these are labelled Eavestroughs and Minas Tirith). Both also contain references to {{w|Stonehenge}} and {{w|Watership Down}}.
  
 
Note that in British English, the correct spelling of “labeled” is ‘labelled’.
 
Note that in British English, the correct spelling of “labeled” is ‘labelled’.
  
The title text plays around with the concept of the compass directions and how numerous regions (such as South "Sussex" and West "Wessex") incorporate such literal names in their description. Randall is creating similar sounding names which are nonsense-ish ("Norsussex" would be the region of the Northern-Southern Saxons), and placing them in relation to each other in ways which would be geographically implausible, similar to this [http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/92q3/xx19.html old joke about Boston]. However, in Germany there exists the region called ''Westphalia'' (''Westfalen''), and the eastern part of it is often referred to as ''East-Westphalia'' (''{{w|Ostwestfalen}}''), which sounds somewhat ridiculous. Part of the joke in the title text could be the fact that while three of the locations are fictional, {{w|Middlesex}} does actually exist.
+
The title text plays around with the concept of the compass directions and how numerous regions (such as South "Sussex" and West "Wessex") incorporate such literal names in their description. Randall is creating similar sounding names which are nonsense-ish ("Norsussex" would be the region of the Northern-Southern Saxons), and placing them in relation to each other in ways which would be geographically implausible, similar to this [http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/92q3/xx19.html old joke about Boston]. However, in Germany there exists the region called ''Westphalia'' (''Westfalen''), and the eastern part of it is often referred to as ''East-Westphalia'' (''{{w|Ostwestfalen}}''), which sounds somewhat ridiculous. Part of the joke in the title text could be the fact that while three of the locations are fictional, Middlesex does actually exist.
  
 
{| border =1 width=100% cellpadding=5 class="wikitable sortable"
 
{| border =1 width=100% cellpadding=5 class="wikitable sortable"
Line 52: Line 53:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Fjordham
 
| Fjordham
|| {{w|Fjords}} are glacial valleys. "-ham" is a common English placename suffix from Old English, related to the modern {{w|Hamlet (place)|hamlet}} ''or'' another root, such as that relating to river meadows, but [http://keithbriggs.info/EPN_maps/ham.pdf not so common] in the more obviously glacier-carved areas such as this area in Scotland. There are several villages (in England) named {{w|Fordham}}
+
|| {{w|Fjords}} are glacial valleys. "-ham" is a common English placename suffix from Old English, related to the modern {{w|Hamlet (place)|hamlet}}. There are several villages in England named {{w|Fordham}}.
 
|| Near {{w|Oban}} on the {{w|Firth of Lorn}}
 
|| Near {{w|Oban}} on the {{w|Firth of Lorn}}
 
|| The Scottish word "Firth" is related to "Fjord", although Lorn is not a fjord in the strict scientific sense - it was formed along the {{w|Great Glen Fault}} by tectonics, rather than glaciers
 
|| The Scottish word "Firth" is related to "Fjord", although Lorn is not a fjord in the strict scientific sense - it was formed along the {{w|Great Glen Fault}} by tectonics, rather than glaciers
Line 61: Line 62:
 
|| Although it's shown near Stirling, the reference seems to be to {{w|Glasgow}}
 
|| Although it's shown near Stirling, the reference seems to be to {{w|Glasgow}}
 
|-
 
|-
| Eavestroughs
+
| Eavestrough
 
|| A dialectal word for {{w|rain gutter}}
 
|| A dialectal word for {{w|rain gutter}}
 
|| {{w|Edinburgh}}
 
|| {{w|Edinburgh}}
Line 67: Line 68:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Seasedge
 
| Seasedge
|| Procan's realm in ''Dungeons & Dragons''.  "Sea sedge" is also one of many common names used for ''{{w|Acorus calamus}}'', the calamus or sweet flag.
+
|| Procan's realm in ''Dungeons & Dragons''
 
|| Somewhere near the Scotland-England border
 
|| Somewhere near the Scotland-England border
 
||  
 
||  
Line 82: Line 83:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Glutenfree
 
| Glutenfree
|| {{w|Gluten-free}} food lacks the protein {{w|gluten}}. This allows {{w|coeliac disease}} sufferers to enjoy it, but has also become a dietary fad in itself.
+
|| {{w|Gluten-free}} food lacks the protein {{w|gluten}}. This allows {{w|coeliac disease}} sufferers to enjoy it, but has also become a dietary fad in itself. -free Is a common suffix to add to cities.
 
|| {{w|Cairnryan}}, {{w|Dumfries and Galloway}}
 
|| {{w|Cairnryan}}, {{w|Dumfries and Galloway}}
 
||  
 
||  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Blighton
 
| Blighton
|| A mashup of {{w|Brighton}} and {{w|Blighty}} Or a reference to {{w|Enid Blyton}}, a noted UK children’s author.
+
|| A mashup of {{w|Brighton}} and {{w|Blighty}}
 
|| The {{w|Scottish Borders}}
 
|| The {{w|Scottish Borders}}
 
|| The real Brighton is much further south, on the south coast.
 
|| The real Brighton is much further south, on the south coast.
Line 119: Line 120:
 
|| The {{w|Lake District}}. "-bottom" is a common placename across Northern England, and refers to a town in a valley.
 
|| The {{w|Lake District}}. "-bottom" is a common placename across Northern England, and refers to a town in a valley.
 
|| {{w|Lake District}}
 
|| {{w|Lake District}}
|| Below Lakebottom is a sketch of a lake with yachts on it. This is illustrative and doesn't correspond to any of the actual lakes which would be barely visible on this map. There are 16 'lakes' in the Lake District, but only one ({{w|Bassenthwaite Lake}}) actually has 'lake' in its name.
+
|| Below Lakebottom is a sketch of a lake with yachts on it. This is illustrative and doesn't correspond to any of the actual lakes which would be barely visible on this map.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Braintree
 
| Braintree
Line 137: Line 138:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Weedle
 
| Weedle
|| {{w|Weedle}} is a Pokémon
+
|| {{w|Weedle}} is a Pokémon, and also a word meaning "to obtain by trickery or persuasion"
 
|| {{w|Forest of Bowland}}
 
|| {{w|Forest of Bowland}}
 
|| In the original Pokémon Red and Blue games Weedle is most notably found in '{{w|Viridian Forest}}' which - like the real-life Forest of Bowland - is known for its diverse wildlife.
 
|| In the original Pokémon Red and Blue games Weedle is most notably found in '{{w|Viridian Forest}}' which - like the real-life Forest of Bowland - is known for its diverse wildlife.
Line 162: Line 163:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Aidenn
 
| Aidenn
|| An apparent pun on the {{w|Scouse}} accent: {{w|h-dropping}} and {{w|th-stopping}} mean the common "hey, then" would be pronounced "ai denn".
+
|| An apparent pun on the {{w|Scouse}} accent: {{w|h-dropping}} and {{w|th-fronting}} mean the common "hey, then" would be pronounced "ai denn".
 
|| {{w|Merseyside}}
 
|| {{w|Merseyside}}
 
||  
 
||  
Line 218: Line 219:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Hamwich
 
| Hamwich
|| A ham sandwich. Both "-ham" and "-wich" are common generic placenames.  The village called simply "Ham" and the other called "Sandwich" are fairly close to each other, with a famous roadsign that points to "Ham Sandwich" between them.  The bread-slices-and-filling foodstuff is named for the 4th Earl of Sandwich, and hence ultimately from the town of the same name.
+
|| A ham sandwich. Both "-ham" and "-wich" are common generic placenames.  The village called simply "Ham" and the other called "Sandwich" are fairly close to each other, with a famous roadsign that points to "Ham Sandwich" between them.
 
|| {{w|Norwich}}
 
|| {{w|Norwich}}
|| Likely to be coincidence but the "Cheese Hamwich" is a breaded cheese and turkey food product sold by {{w|Bernard Matthews Ltd}} whose food processing facility is based not far from this map location.
+
|| Likely to be coincidence but the "Cheese Hamwich" is a breaded cheese and turkey food product sold by {{w|Bernard_Matthews_Ltd}} whose food processing facility is based not far from this map location.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| West Norsussex
 
| West Norsussex
Line 245: Line 246:
 
|| {{w|Lionsgate|A film studio}}
 
|| {{w|Lionsgate|A film studio}}
 
|| {{w|Leicester}}
 
|| {{w|Leicester}}
|| The word/suffix "-gate" in placenames often refer to {{w|Harrogate|ancient streets or roads}}, or possibly such a way through a gap that is natural (e.g. {{w|Ramsgate}}'s cliffs) or in a city wall (which can thus be sealed, or 'gated'). There are no obvious inspirations for Lionsgate in that part of the country &emdash; ''Ram''sgate, in particular, is at the extreme eastern end of the southern edge of the UK.
+
||
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Kingsbottom
 
| Kingsbottom
Line 325: Line 326:
 
|| {{w|Oxford|No joke}}
 
|| {{w|Oxford|No joke}}
 
|| {{w|Oxford}}
 
|| {{w|Oxford}}
|| See Cambridge. Surprisingly, Randall made no attempt to troll readers by switching the locations of Cambridge and Oxford. Or he did, but ironically from the wrong 'correct' assumption!
+
|| See Cambridge. Surprisingly, Randall made no attempt to troll readers by switching the locations of Cambridge and Oxford.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Moorhen
 
| Moorhen
Line 338: Line 339:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| BBC Channel 4
 
| BBC Channel 4
|| A composite of {{w|Channel 4}} and the {{w|BBC}} (UK TV operators) confusing the meaning of TV channel with a geographic channel. There ''is'' a {{w|BBC Four}} (digital TV channel) ''and'' a {{w|BBC Radio 4}} (FM and digital radio) with an {{w|BBC Radio 4 Extra|adoptive daughter-station}} (digital only, originally called BBC7), but none of these are ever really called "BBC Channel 4" by locals, and it is hard to say what detail 'an American' might ''think'' he knows.
+
|| A composite of {{w|Channel 4}} and the {{w|BBC}} (UK TV operators) confusing the meaning of TV channel with a geographic channel.
 
|| {{w|Bristol Channel}}
 
|| {{w|Bristol Channel}}
 
||  
 
||  
Line 345: Line 346:
 
|| By virtue of being the capital and largest city, as well as a famous {{w|world city}}, London is one of the few cities in Britain that anyone, no matter how ignorant of British geography, can manage to name correctly.
 
|| By virtue of being the capital and largest city, as well as a famous {{w|world city}}, London is one of the few cities in Britain that anyone, no matter how ignorant of British geography, can manage to name correctly.
 
|| London
 
|| London
|| It is not unknown for foreigners ''and'' British alike (even some residents of London) to assume that London has a more central location in England (such as {{w|Midlands|'The Midlands'}}) or {{w|Britannia Inferior|even further towards the north}}. Randall seems to be more knowledgable than this.
+
||  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| GMT
 
| GMT
Line 353: Line 354:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Corbyn
 
| Corbyn
|| A reference to the leader (at the time of publication) of the UK {{w|Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party}} {{w|Jeremy Corbyn}}.
+
|| A reference to leader of the UK {{w|Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party}} {{w|Jeremy Corbyn}}.
 
|| {{w|The Cotswolds}}
 
|| {{w|The Cotswolds}}
 
|| May be a confusion with the town of {{w|Corby}} although it is not near the location shown.
 
|| May be a confusion with the town of {{w|Corby}} although it is not near the location shown.
Line 445: Line 446:
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
  
:[A black-and-white map of Great Britain. The detail on the map is minimal, showing mainly the outlines of the land, chevrons representing otherwise sparse areas of high hills or mountains, and points representing cities. The only other features are a small drawing of a protractor south of one peninsula, and a lake with two small sailboats on the west side of the largest landmass. The caption in the upper-right states in large letters "A BRITISH MAP," then in smaller letters underneath, "LABELED BY AN AMERICAN." Most of the map's area is covered by labels for various features, which are listed below.]
+
: [A black-and-white map of Great Britain. The detail on the map is minimal, showing mainly the outlines of the land, upward-pointing angles<!-- is there a better way to describe these? --> representing mountains, and points representing cities. The only other features are a small drawing of a protractor south of one peninsula, and a lake with two small sailboats on the west side of the largest landmass. The caption in the upper-right states in large letters "A BRITISH MAP," then in smaller letters underneath, "LABELED BY AN AMERICAN." Most of the map's area is covered by labels for various features, which are listed below.]
  
 
  <nowiki>
 
  <nowiki>
[In Scotland, from north to south:]
+
In Scotland, from north to south
 
   Helcaraxë
 
   Helcaraxë
 
   Blick
 
   Blick
Line 464: Line 465:
 
   Glutenfree
 
   Glutenfree
  
[In England, from north to south:]
+
In England, from north to south
 
   Eyemouth
 
   Eyemouth
 
   Earhand
 
   Earhand
Line 521: Line 522:
 
   Longbit
 
   Longbit
  
[In Wales, from north to south:]
+
In Whales, from north to south
 
   Fhqwhgads
 
   Fhqwhgads
 
   Cabinetry
 
   Cabinetry
Line 534: Line 535:
 
   Cardigan
 
   Cardigan
  
[In Northern Ireland:]
+
In Northern Ireland
 
   Belfast Devoe
 
   Belfast Devoe
  
[In the Republic of Ireland:]
+
In the Republic of Ireland
 
   Dubstep
 
   Dubstep
</nowiki>
+
</nowiki>
  
  
Line 546: Line 547:
 
[[Category:Maps]]
 
[[Category:Maps]]
 
[[Category:Harry Potter]]
 
[[Category:Harry Potter]]
[[Category:Chronicles of Narnia]]
 
[[Category:Fiction]]
 

Please note that all contributions to explain xkcd may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see explain xkcd:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

To protect the wiki against automated edit spam, we kindly ask you to solve the following CAPTCHA:

Cancel | Editing help (opens in new window)