Cote d'Ivoire

[paulg]

I've finally got round to asking this, as I always mean to.

Anyone know why the Ivory Coast are shown as Cote d'Ivoire, on the TV score and on any wall charts (i.e. CIV)? It's not like we show any other country names spelled in their native language.

Just something that always makes me wonder. Yes, I should get a hobby.

[Mostar]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B4te_d'Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire (English pronunciation: /ˌkoʊt diˈvwɑr/; French: [kot diˈvwaʁ]) (officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire) is a country in West Africa. Although it is commonly known in English as Ivory Coast, the Ivorian government officially discourages this usage, preferring the French name Côte d'Ivoire to be used in all languages. It has an area of 322,462 km2, and borders the countries of Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population which was 15,366,672 in 1998,[5] is estimated to be 20,617,068 in 2009.[2]

Prior to its occupation by Europeans, Côte d'Ivoire was home to several important states, including Gyaaman, the Kong Empire, and Baoulé. There were also two Anyi kingdoms, Indénié and Sanwi, which attempted to retain their separate identity through the French colonial period and even after Côte d'Ivoire's independence.[6] An 1843–1844 treaty made Côte d'Ivoire a "protectorate" of France and in 1893, it became a French colony as part of the European scramble for Africa.

Côte d'Ivoire became independent on 7 August 1960. From 1960 to 1993, the country was led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny. It maintained close political and economic association with its West African neighbours, while at the same time maintaining close ties to the West, especially to France. However, since the end of Houphouët-Boigny's rule, Côte d'Ivoire has experienced two coups d’état (1999 and 2001) and a civil war,[7] although recent elections[8] and a political agreement between the new government and the rebels have brought a return to peace.[9]

Côte d'Ivoire is a republic with a strong executive power personified in the President. Its de jure capital is Yamoussoukro, the biggest city is the port city of Abidjan, and the official language is French. The country is divided into 19 regions and 81 departments.

The country, through its production of coffee and cocoa, was an economic powerhouse during the 1960s and 1970s in West Africa. However, Côte d'Ivoire went through an economic crisis in the 1980s, leading to the country's period of political and social turmoil. The 21st century Ivorian economy is largely market-based and relies heavily on agriculture, with smallholder cash crop production being dominant.[2] About a quarter of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.[10]

[ronanm]

Population growth of 25% in 11 years - productive

[paulg]

Fair enough. Thank you.

[Mostar]

[Fernandinho]

just a little bit anal, very french for them to ask that we say it in their native tounge

[paulg]

Especially as it's not their native tongue, it's a colonial tongue.

[Mattshark]

Especially as it's not their native tongue, it's a colonial tongue.

I don't think they have just one native tongue, they'll have a few hundred. French will just the one everyone can speak.

[paulg]

That's ridiculous. No-one wants to speak French

[BrooklynRed]

I wonder what the people of Suomi and Nippon have to say about this...

[MrShawnMichaels]

All this chat about colonial tongues. I bet none of you complain when you are getting French kissed.

[Redspin]

just a little bit anal, very french for them to ask that we say it in their native tounge

And a complete waste of time too, as all English speakers rightly call it by its English name