Somali vs. Somalian

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They seem to be interchangeable terms, so I am trying to find out which is more lexicographically correct. Google has 618,000 hits for Somalian and 19,000,000 for Somali. I guess "Somali" wins for popular usage, but lets see what the dictionary has to say about this!

From The Free Dictionary:

Somalian - a member of a tall dark (mostly Muslim) people inhabiting Somalia

Somali - a member of a tall dark (mostly Muslim) people inhabiting Somalia

No wonder these pirates are so successful! They are tall, dark, and (mostly Muslim)!

PS: As for Somaliland, it seems they use the term "people of Somaliland." Seems a bit cumbersome to me...

Viceroy, Tuesday, 14 April 2009 01:43 (seventeen years ago)

Er, to my way of thinking the first is noun, the second an adjective. When the adjectival form is used to denote a person, the object of the adjective is implied. The first is preferable.

Aimless, Tuesday, 14 April 2009 02:50 (seventeen years ago)

Thank you for clearing that up!!
Just to make sure I understand, sample sentences would be as such:

"A Somali bauxite factory exploded today." and "That Somalian sped off with my boat!"

correct?

Viceroy, Tuesday, 14 April 2009 02:58 (seventeen years ago)

Other way around?

invitation to rabies (╓abies), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:01 (seventeen years ago)

BAUXITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fillibustar superstar! (Abbott), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:02 (seventeen years ago)

i c u like rocks

invitation to rabies (╓abies), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:04 (seventeen years ago)

Bauxite is my favorite export of all time.

fillibustar superstar! (Abbott), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:13 (seventeen years ago)

I wrote a piano piece in 4th grade entitled "Hope for Somalia"

I think no pants is sexy. (Matt P), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:16 (seventeen years ago)

Were you born in the early '80s?

fillibustar superstar! (Abbott), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:17 (seventeen years ago)

yes

I think no pants is sexy. (Matt P), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:18 (seventeen years ago)

it won first place in the PTA "Reflections" contest.

I think no pants is sexy. (Matt P), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:19 (seventeen years ago)

Did you ever have to sing "Heal the World" in school? I did.

fillibustar superstar! (Abbott), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:21 (seventeen years ago)

nope! had an epic NIGHTMARE about "Heal the World" once though. or i guess it wasn't totally about "Heal the World," the whole thing was pretty complicated. it ended with a performance of "Heal the World," on a rotting wood stage in an abandoned/haunted house. michael jackson was wearing like a robe or a coat of many colors or something. the performance was incredible and really long, pretty cathartic considering all the events that led up to it.

I think no pants is sexy. (Matt P), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:30 (seventeen years ago)

How about that song that went 'peanuuuuut! peanut butter! (and jelly!)'

invitation to rabies (╓abies), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:35 (seventeen years ago)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

fillibustar superstar! (Abbott), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:39 (seventeen years ago)

FIRST YA DIG EM

We even had a little accompanying dance we had to do in front of parents and god and everyone.

invitation to rabies (╓abies), Tuesday, 14 April 2009 03:59 (seventeen years ago)

Puntland is such an awesome name for pirate country :)

Ludo, Tuesday, 14 April 2009 09:08 (seventeen years ago)

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=puntland+oil

Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 14 April 2009 09:56 (seventeen years ago)


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