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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage

Chinese walls and "screens"

It has come to my attention that in the AmE lawyer world there's been a decline in the usage of the term "Chinese wall" in favor of "screen". I wonder whether, if this is true, it reflects concerns (misguided or not) that "Chinese wall" is a racially-insensitive term like, say, "Chinese fire drill". In addition, "screen" seems closer to the Japanese 'paper wall screen' thingie that someone here suggested might be behind the usage of "Chinese wall" (instead of 'Great Wall of China').
  

Top answer

[/nq] I have been required to respect a number of "Chinese walls" over the years. I have never heard the term "Chinese screen" used in this context. I'd be interested to see an actual example of such use.

  • [/nq] I have been required to respect a number of "Chinese walls" over the years.
  • I have never heard the term "Chinese screen" used in this context.
  • I'd be interested to see an actual example of such use.
  • Mike Nitabach
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7 Answers
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[nq:1]It has come to my attention that in the AmE lawyer world there's been a decline in the usage of the term "Chinese wall" in favor of "screen".[/nq]
I have been required to respect a number of "Chinese walls" over the years. I have never heard the term "Chinese screen" used in this context. I'd be interested to see an actual example of such use.

Mike Nitabach
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[nq:2]It has come to my attention that in the AmE ... usage of the term "Chinese wall" in favor of "screen".[/nq]
[nq:1]I have been required to respect a number of "Chinese walls" over the years. I have never heard the term "Chinese screen" used in this context. I'd be interested to see an actual example of such use.[/nq]
Not "Chinese screen", but just plain old "screen".

Clearly,
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[nq:2]I have been required to respect a number of "Chinese ... be interested to see an actual example of such use.[/nq]
[nq:1]Not "Chinese screen", but just plain old "screen".[/nq]
Ah. In that case, I have indeed heard this usage. The memorandum that was circulated in the law firm to detail the "screening protocol" in each instance was entitled "Screening Memorandum".

Mike Nitaba
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[nq:2]I have been required to respect a number of "Chinese ... be interested to see an actual example of such use.[/nq]
[nq:1]Not "Chinese screen", but just plain old "screen". Clearly, if it's a real change (so far the only evidence I ... webpage that contains a discussion that suggests that there *is* some PC pressure against the use of "Chinese Wall":
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[nq:1]More than "some PC pressure" has been applied against the term. In 1988, Judge Harry W. Low, Presiding Justice of ... v. Superior Court (200 Cal.App.3d 272) where he singled out "Chinese Wall" as a "subtle form of linguistic discrimination":[/nq]
[nq:1]It is necessary to raise a clenched cry for jettisoning the outmoded legal jargon of a bygone time. If the image of a wall must be used,
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[nq:2]It is necessary to raise a clenched cry for jettisoning ... wall" is more suitable phraseology. (ObAUE: "raise a clenched cry"?)[/nq]
[nq:1]Judge Low has some interesting bedfellows:[/nq]
Oops. Must have pulled the wrong book out of his briefcase!
Michael West
Melbourne, Australia
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[nq:2]More than "some PC pressure" has been applied against the ... out "Chinese Wall" as a "subtle form of linguistic discrimination":[/nq]
[nq:2]It is necessary to raise a clenched cry for jettisoning ... wall" is more suitable phraseology. (ObAUE: "raise a clenched cry"?)[/nq]
[nq:1]Judge Low has some interesting bedfellows: [/nq]
You weren't kidding when you said 'bedfellows' ...

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