an American journey

English translation: qualifies "journey"

06:05 May 10, 2004
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase: an American journey
"bill clinton: an American journey" by nigel hamilton

Does "American" here refer to the person or the country?
Is it "a journey of a man" or "a journey of the USA? "
lilysmiley
Selected answer:qualifies "journey"
Explanation:
Clearly, there are many kinds of journeys that I one can write about. Through the life of Bill Clinton, the author is narrating a journey that is characteristically American. Of course, the journey is being undertaken by an American. But the connotation of the phrase is significantly different from "An American's Journey."

The is a book titled "My American Journey" coauthored by Colin Powell (from an administration that on the other end of the political spectrum) in which he narrates his own journey, which is American as well. The common thread is the notion that there are certain characteristics of life in America which are distinct from the same in a different country.

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Note added at 1 hr 12 mins (2004-05-10 07:17:38 GMT)
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Typo: Please read \"There is a . . \" instead of \"The is a . . \" at the start of the second paragraph. Thanks.

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Note added at 1 hr 38 mins (2004-05-10 07:43:49 GMT)
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It refers to the journey of Bill Clinton. That journey is an American one.
Selected response from:

Java Cafe
Local time: 09:35
Grading comment
Thank you very much!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +11qualifies "journey"
Java Cafe
5Bill Clinton, una transición norteamericana
Herman Vilella
5Bill Clinton
humbird
4It refers to the person
Edith Kelly
4It refers to the person but...
IrinaGM
3The content of the book would tell you
ARTES


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
an american journey
It refers to the person


Explanation:
in this context, it qualifies the person

Edith Kelly
Switzerland
Local time: 15:35
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  RHELLER: then it would read: an American's journey
8 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Bill Clinton, una transición norteamericana


Explanation:
The title implies "a passage from one stage to another", meaning "America passed from one stage to another under Bill Clinton"

Herman Vilella
Local time: 15:35
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  airmailrpl: hide this one and state your correct answer in English
3 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +11
an american journey
qualifies "journey"


Explanation:
Clearly, there are many kinds of journeys that I one can write about. Through the life of Bill Clinton, the author is narrating a journey that is characteristically American. Of course, the journey is being undertaken by an American. But the connotation of the phrase is significantly different from "An American's Journey."

The is a book titled "My American Journey" coauthored by Colin Powell (from an administration that on the other end of the political spectrum) in which he narrates his own journey, which is American as well. The common thread is the notion that there are certain characteristics of life in America which are distinct from the same in a different country.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 12 mins (2004-05-10 07:17:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Typo: Please read \"There is a . . \" instead of \"The is a . . \" at the start of the second paragraph. Thanks.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 38 mins (2004-05-10 07:43:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It refers to the journey of Bill Clinton. That journey is an American one.


    Reference: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345407288/102...
Java Cafe
Local time: 09:35
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in BengaliBengali, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Thank you very much!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Krisztina Lelik
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Krisztina!

agree  Vicky Papaprodromou
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Vicky!

agree  John Wellesly Helliwell
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, John!

agree  DGK T-I: in the title"B C :an American journey",it is the nature of the journey that is being stated to be American(even though BC the person,&the journey are both Americ. in fact)(For interest only,review http://www.mccormack.umb.edu/institute/Clintonbio/book.htm
3 hrs
  -> Precisely! Thank you, Dr. Kvrivishvili

agree  ben baudoin
3 hrs
  -> Thank you, Ben!

agree  mportal
6 hrs
  -> Thank you, mportal!

agree  RHELLER
7 hrs
  -> Thank you, Rita!

agree  Craft.Content
9 hrs
  -> Thank you, nbhairav!

agree  Alfa Trans (X)
11 hrs
  -> Thank you, Marju!

agree  Monika@ProZ
12 hrs
  -> Thank you, Monika!

agree  Rajan Chopra
18 hrs
  -> Thank you, langclinic!
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
an american journey
It refers to the person but...


Explanation:
also to the country.

It is very complex since there is a meaning behind a title. The title itself refers to the person and to make it more understandable to you, I would perephrase it as: A journey taken by an American. But what the author really means is (to put it simply): how America changed over time together with the person that was taking the journey.

Please note that I am not going into too much detail here since it is kudoz question, not an essay about the book. If you read the book, you'll understand more about the title.

IrinaGM
United States
Local time: 10:35
Native speaker of: Georgian
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  RHELLER: then it would read: an American's journey
5 hrs
  -> if you read my response carefully, there was a "but" after I said that it referred to the person. Thank you.
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Bill Clinton


Explanation:
Clearly Bill Clinton is an American (and like most Aericans he thinks he is a typical American -- see the footnot of this answer/comment at the end). Thereby "an American" is no other than he himself, and the journey is his. However given the fact he was the President (the Head-Hocho, the Leader) of the United States, and I assume this book is his autobiography, the journey is both of "Bill Clinton" as well as that of the country called the United States of America which he once lead. Then the journey must involve his public life (that is the history of his time) and his private life. In many autobiographies the latter part is more important than his/her public life. On the other hand because ordinary people don't publish autobiography (because nobody but himself or his family is interested reading), it is almost always by public figures such as Bill Clinton.
Footone: According to a book by Daniel Evan Weiss "100% American" 100% of Americans are, if nothing else, Americans.

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Note added at 2004-05-10 16:20:23 (GMT)
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Woops! This book is not by Bill Clinton, so it is not autobiography, but just biography. Nevertheless my point is same.

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Note added at 2004-05-10 16:27:53 (GMT)
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Footnote, not footnot or footone --- simple typo.

Again, the journey Bill Clinton\'s author is talking about is Bill Clinton\'s journey whose part, as he being the President of the Untied States, is that of America at his time (I assume, as I haven\'t read the book).

humbird
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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1 day 9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
an american journey
The content of the book would tell you


Explanation:
Since I have not read the book, I don't know for sure. When the author chose the title, he may have intended to refer to either or both aspects. Just guessing by the title, however, it appears that the reference is to Bill Clinton's political journey and his insights into American society from his viewpoint.

ARTES
Local time: 07:35
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8
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