Editing 1759: British Map
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==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 | + | |
+ | 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 | + | 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, | + | 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" | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| 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}} | + | || {{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 | ||
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|| 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}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | Eavestrough |
|| A dialectal word for {{w|rain gutter}} | || A dialectal word for {{w|rain gutter}} | ||
|| {{w|Edinburgh}} | || {{w|Edinburgh}} | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| Seasedge | | Seasedge | ||
− | || Procan's realm in ''Dungeons & Dragons'' | + | || Procan's realm in ''Dungeons & Dragons'' |
|| Somewhere near the Scotland-England border | || Somewhere near the Scotland-England border | ||
|| | || | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| 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}} | + | || 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. | ||
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|| 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 | + | || 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 | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| 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. | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| Aidenn | | Aidenn | ||
− | || An apparent pun on the {{w|Scouse}} accent: {{w|h-dropping}} and {{w|th- | + | || 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}} | ||
|| | || | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| 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 | + | || 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| | + | || 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 | ||
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|| {{w|Lionsgate|A film studio}} | || {{w|Lionsgate|A film studio}} | ||
|| {{w|Leicester}} | || {{w|Leicester}} | ||
− | || | + | || |
|- | |- | ||
| Kingsbottom | | Kingsbottom | ||
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|| {{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. | + | || See Cambridge. Surprisingly, Randall made no attempt to troll readers by switching the locations of Cambridge and Oxford. |
|- | |- | ||
| Moorhen | | Moorhen | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| 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 | + | || 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}} | ||
|| | || | ||
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|| 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 | ||
− | || | + | || |
|- | |- | ||
| GMT | | GMT | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| Corbyn | | Corbyn | ||
− | || A reference to | + | || 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. | ||
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[A black-and-white map of Great Britain. The detail on the map is minimal, showing mainly the outlines of the land, | + | : [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 | |
Helcaraxë | Helcaraxë | ||
Blick | Blick | ||
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Glutenfree | Glutenfree | ||
− | + | In England, from north to south | |
Eyemouth | Eyemouth | ||
Earhand | Earhand | ||
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Longbit | Longbit | ||
− | + | In Whales, from north to south | |
Fhqwhgads | Fhqwhgads | ||
Cabinetry | Cabinetry | ||
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Cardigan | Cardigan | ||
− | + | In Northern Ireland | |
Belfast Devoe | Belfast Devoe | ||
− | + | In the Republic of Ireland | |
Dubstep | Dubstep | ||
− | + | </nowiki> | |
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[[Category:Maps]] | [[Category:Maps]] | ||
[[Category:Harry Potter]] | [[Category:Harry Potter]] | ||
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