h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This statement is only true in the English language, and with modifications.

Europe = Yes
Asia = Yes
Africa = Yes
Australia = Yes (but I remember something that the continent itself is called Oceania. Could be a misunderstanding, though)
North America = Only if you remove the 'North' part of the name
South America = Only if you remove the 'South' part of the name
Antarctica = Yes

It's not counting the "north" and "south". And the only Oceania I know about is in "1984."

i beleive its called Australasia... so yes too

So, why is the continent you call Australia called Oceania on the front page of the Guide? Check under the heading "The Universe" and see what continents are listed... Africa, North America, Europe, OCEANIA, Asia, South America...

Well, you know what they say about the Guide: "While much of what it contains is apocryphal, or at least wildly inaccurate ..."

French for Australia is "Oceanie", if that's any help.

We're talking about the English language here. Nobody knows why.

Yeah but non of them are based on a English base thay all come Latin. Which explains why they all end vowels or else you would have had.

Europe - Overthere
Asia - Slightlyfurther
Africa - Toohot
America - Dontmentionthetea
Australia - Huh? Where?

Um, whatever.

not only are the continents called differently in different languages, but their number also varies. well, i mean obviously landmasses do not appear and disappear, but different educational systems have varying interpretations. for example, in russia children are taught in school that there are six continents. (europe and asia, being really only one landmass, are known as 'eurasia')

Whatever.

you contributions to this conversation are truly mind-boggling. i just want to thank you for sharing your staggeringly insightful comments. wait- dont speak- no hush dont speak (anyone else like Woody Allen's "Love and Death"?)... i know what you're going to say...

Hypothenuse.

what is the air-speed velocity of an un-laden swallow?

Would that be an African or an European swallow ?

And does its name start and end with the same letter?

You know, my theory as to why Oceana is listed as a "continent" on the guide page is not because that's the name of Australia. Rather, it is simply an attempt at grouping a large number of people who would otherwise be excluded. I mean, the Philippines, Indionesia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and all of those little islands out in the middle of nowhere have stuff of interest on them, and yet they're not part of a continent. So Australia fits in there nicely, and we screw up the whole universe section. Ah well.

From what I was told in school, Oceania is the name used for Australia and all the island countries around that part of the world. And saying that New Zealand and Papua New Guinea doesn't belong to a continent would be pretty much the same as saying that Breat Britain is not part of Europe.

I wonder if any antipodean people have been around to see this forum. It would be cool to get their view on the subject.

Quiet, we're trying to talk nonsense here!!

papau new guinea... that's where rockefeller jr. got eaten... long story... anyhoo,
what else floats besides wood? (hint: WRONG answers include churches and very small rocks)