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Kumambachi Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary
Foreign/foreigner
The word "foreign" used as an adjective seems innocent enough. There are foreign languages and foreign objects. However, when applied to a person it seems to have negative connotations.
In English, is the word "foreigner" derogatory? What are your opinions?
Are there better words to use when you do not know someone's nationality or name?
In English, is the word "foreigner" derogatory? What are your opinions?
Are there better words to use when you do not know someone's nationality or name?
Top answer
Hi Kumanbachi, I don't think tourists who've been in a country for a few weeks are offended when they're called foreigners. ' But there's a good chance that an immigrant who's settled in a country might be offended when he or she is called 'a foreigner', because this would imply non-acceptance within the society. '
- Hi Kumanbachi, I don't think tourists who've been in a country for a few weeks are offended when they're called foreigners.
- ' But there's a good chance that an immigrant who's settled in a country might be offended when he or she is called 'a foreigner', because this would imply non-acceptance within the society.
- '
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3 Answers
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Hi Kumanbachi,
I don't think tourists who've been in a country for a few weeks are offended when they're called foreigners. If someone's holding up a guide book or carrying lot's of luggage with airport stickers, I suppose it would be fair to say, 'That person's a foreigner.' But there's a good chance that an immigrant who's settled in a country might be offended when he or she is calle
I don't think tourists who've been in a country for a few weeks are offended when they're called foreigners. If someone's holding up a guide book or carrying lot's of luggage with airport stickers, I suppose it would be fair to say, 'That person's a foreigner.' But there's a good chance that an immigrant who's settled in a country might be offended when he or she is calle
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Thanks for the responses!
So if the person is a tourist it may be "fair" to call this person a foreigner, yet if the person has lived in a country for a long time then they might become offended. From just a glance, to tell how long someone has been in a foreign country is sometimes a hard thing to do. I rather like Matthewg's examples. I have even had people become offended when I ca
So if the person is a tourist it may be "fair" to call this person a foreigner, yet if the person has lived in a country for a long time then they might become offended. From just a glance, to tell how long someone has been in a foreign country is sometimes a hard thing to do. I rather like Matthewg's examples. I have even had people become offended when I ca
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