Republic of South Ossetia
- proper noun
- Many countries do not recognize the Republic of South Ossetia as an independent nation.
Examples
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The Republic of South Ossetia declared independence in 1991.
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The international community remains divided over the status of the Republic of South Ossetia.
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Peace talks were held to address the ongoing conflict in the Republic of South Ossetia.
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Many countries do not recognize the Republic of South Ossetia as a sovereign state.
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Many countries do not recognize the Republic of South Ossetia as an independent nation.
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Peace talks were held to address the ongoing conflict in the Republic of South Ossetia.
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The international community remains divided over the status of the Republic of South Ossetia.
Synonyms
A disputed region in the South Caucasus that declared independence from Georgia and is recognized by only a few countries
A region in the South Caucasus that says it is independent but most countries call it part of Georgia
Surface Forms
Morphology
republic + of + South + Ossetia
The phrase is compositionally built from 'republic' + 'of' + a place name, so a learner who knows the constituents will infer it denotes a republic located in South Ossetia. Political nuances about recognition or contested status are not derivable from the words, but the basic locational/political sense is transparent and cross-linguistically regular.
Etymology
Republic of South Ossetia: The name comes from the Ossetian people who live in the southern part of the area, with South showing the part of the land and Ossetia naming the people and their region. Because the people there said they were a separate 'republic', the name now refers to a small state that some countries accept, while most still call it 'part of Georgia'.