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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Why is "Oriental" politically incorrect?
A friend admonished me a few weeks ago when I totally innocently referred to her sister in law as "Oriental". She, with impeccable politeness, corrected me and pointed out that the current acceptable term to refer to folk from Asian countries is "Asian". Don't know in what cocoon I was in, but I missed that trend.
Just wondering why it is incorrect or offensive to refer to folk from Asia as "Oriental". And while we are at it, when did this become the politically correct usage?
Just wondering why it is incorrect or offensive to refer to folk from Asia as "Oriental". And while we are at it, when did this become the politically correct usage?
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Top answer
Because carpets are oriental, not people. That's what I was told about 15 years ago. I don't even use Oriental to describe food or art anymore.
- Because carpets are oriental, not people.
- That's what I was told about 15 years ago.
- I don't even use Oriental to describe food or art anymore.
- It pretty much sounds like "negro" to my ears now.
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54 Answers
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Because carpets are oriental, not people. That's what I was told about 15 years ago. I don't even use Oriental to describe food or art anymore. It pretty much sounds like "negro" to my ears now.
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Leo Bueno typed thus:
[nq:1]A friend admonished me a few weeks ago when I totally innocently referred to her sister in law as "Oriental". She, with ... to folk from Asia as "Oriental". And while we are at it, when did this become the politically correct usage?[/nq]
"Oriental" (literally meaning, of course, "Eastern") is unexceptional in the UK, where in any case "Asian" means Indian, Pakis
[nq:1]A friend admonished me a few weeks ago when I totally innocently referred to her sister in law as "Oriental". She, with ... to folk from Asia as "Oriental". And while we are at it, when did this become the politically correct usage?[/nq]
"Oriental" (literally meaning, of course, "Eastern") is unexceptional in the UK, where in any case "Asian" means Indian, Pakis
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[nq:1]A friend admonished me a few weeks ago when I totally innocently referred to her sister in law as "Oriental". She, with ... to folk from Asia as "Oriental". And while we are at it, when did this become the politically correct usage?[/nq]
What? No way, Senor Feliciano. Oriental, as I understand it, is usually reserved for those from the Far East - and is completely acceptable as an adject
What? No way, Senor Feliciano. Oriental, as I understand it, is usually reserved for those from the Far East - and is completely acceptable as an adject
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[nq:1]"Oriental" (literally meaning, of course, "Eastern") is unexceptional in the UK, where in any case "Asian" means Indian, Pakistani, etc, and definitely not Chinese.[/nq]
Which seems odd to me, because China seems no less, and possibly more in Asia than Pakistan and India from my point of view.
In any event, the rationale (?) behind the political incorrectness of "oriental" is as
Which seems odd to me, because China seems no less, and possibly more in Asia than Pakistan and India from my point of view.
In any event, the rationale (?) behind the political incorrectness of "oriental" is as
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[nq:2]"Oriental" (literally meaning, of course, "Eastern") is unexceptional in the UK, where in any case "Asian" means Indian, Pakistani, etc, and definitely not Chinese.[/nq]
[nq:1]Which seems odd to me, because China seems no less, and possibly more in Asia than Pakistan and India from ... is as reported, I believe. It applies to inanimate objects such as rugs and is therefore deemed insulti
[nq:1]Which seems odd to me, because China seems no less, and possibly more in Asia than Pakistan and India from ... is as reported, I believe. It applies to inanimate objects such as rugs and is therefore deemed insulti
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Professor Redwine typed thus:
[nq:2]A friend admonished me a few weeks ago when I totally ... at it, when did this become the politically correct usage?[/nq]
[nq:1]What? No way, Senor Feliciano. Oriental, as I understand it, is usually reserved for those from the Far East - ... it would depend to a large extent on the way in which it was used. I hope you are right.[/nq]
US English spea
[nq:2]A friend admonished me a few weeks ago when I totally ... at it, when did this become the politically correct usage?[/nq]
[nq:1]What? No way, Senor Feliciano. Oriental, as I understand it, is usually reserved for those from the Far East - ... it would depend to a large extent on the way in which it was used. I hope you are right.[/nq]
US English spea
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[nq:1]US English speakers do indeed use "Asian" for "Chinese" - it's a bit disconcerting when you first encounter it.[/nq]
I'll take your word for it, but China is surely indisputably in Asia.
I'll take your word for it, but China is surely indisputably in Asia.
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[nq:2]"Oriental" (literally meaning, of course, "Eastern") is unexceptional in the UK, where in any case "Asian" means Indian, Pakistani, etc, and definitely not Chinese.[/nq]
[nq:1]Which seems odd to me, because China seems no less, and possibly more in Asia than Pakistan and India from my point of view.[/nq]
That might be so in terms of geography.
When India became independent it spl
[nq:1]Which seems odd to me, because China seems no less, and possibly more in Asia than Pakistan and India from my point of view.[/nq]
That might be so in terms of geography.
When India became independent it spl
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[nq:1]A friend admonished me a few weeks ago when I totally innocently referred to her sister in law as "Oriental". She, with ... to folk from Asia as "Oriental". And while we are at it, when did this become the politically correct usage?[/nq]
I asked probably in '97 about this on some Asian newsgroup (a newsgroup with asian in its name. Here it is,
soc.culture.asian.american) and I got ab
I asked probably in '97 about this on some Asian newsgroup (a newsgroup with asian in its name. Here it is,
soc.culture.asian.american) and I got ab
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[nq:1]a need to fit another non-offensive single term to refer to them as a group.[/nq]
"fit" is a typo for "find".
Peter Duncanson
UK
(posting from a.e.u)
"fit" is a typo for "find".
Peter Duncanson
UK
(posting from a.e.u)
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