0
Teo Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
yellow, balck, white (race)
Which of the following expressions are rude or inappropriate?
1. He is yellow.
2. He is a yellow person.
3. He is black.
4. He is a black person.
5. He is white.
6. He is a white person.
1. He is yellow.
2. He is a yellow person.
3. He is black.
4. He is a black person.
5. He is white.
6. He is a white person.
Top answer
This is all a matter of usage. I think that 1 and 2 are out of use these days, thus they may sound inappropriate, although they are similar to the others. Based on the same, 3-6 seem fine to me.
- This is all a matter of usage.
- I think that 1 and 2 are out of use these days, thus they may sound inappropriate, although they are similar to the others.
- Based on the same, 3-6 seem fine to me.
- However, to be politically correct and color-neutral as defined these days, you'd use: Asian African-American Caucasian
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
28 Answers
0
This is all a matter of usage.
I think that 1 and 2 are out of use these days, thus they may sound inappropriate, although they are similar to the others.
Based on the same, 3-6 seem fine to me.
However, to be politically correct and color-neutral as defined these days, you'd use:
Asian
African-American
Caucasian
I think that 1 and 2 are out of use these days, thus they may sound inappropriate, although they are similar to the others.
Based on the same, 3-6 seem fine to me.
However, to be politically correct and color-neutral as defined these days, you'd use:
Asian
African-American
Caucasian
00
Balck people are NOT necessarily American.
Not all Asian people belong to the yellow race.
Not all Asian people belong to the yellow race.
00
TeoWhich of the following expressions are rude or inappropriate?I'd say all are completely inappropriate in the US.
1. He is yellow.
2. He is a yellow person.
3. He is black.
4. He is a black person.
5. He is white.
6. He is a white person.
"yellow" = Asian
"white" = Caucasian
"black"
00
>I'd say all are completely inappropriate in the US.
No, you're not up to date.
Listen to CNN or other American networks.
You'll never hear "yellow policeman, yellow ministers, yellow people, yellow community" but you can hear a lot both "black" and "white" in those circumstances.
No, you're not up to date.
Listen to CNN or other American networks.
You'll never hear "yellow policeman, yellow ministers, yellow people, yellow community" but you can hear a lot both "black" and "white" in those circumstances.
00
Yellow is not used to describe people. Not do we talk about brown people.
He is black/white or a black/white person are currently acceptable in the UK. However, you mustn't use 'He is a black'. Black/white are acceptable when used a adjectives but not as a noun.
However, a word of caution, the words that are 'acceptable' seem to change regularly and it is easy to give offense by
He is black/white or a black/white person are currently acceptable in the UK. However, you mustn't use 'He is a black'. Black/white are acceptable when used a adjectives but not as a noun.
However, a word of caution, the words that are 'acceptable' seem to change regularly and it is easy to give offense by
00
Nona The BritRe: African-American - you should never use this for anyone who isn't actually American! Americans seem to want to call all black people African-American regardless of where they come from and it is really annoying and offensive to people who are not American. It's like saying all Irish people (including those in Ireland) should be called Irish-American.
00
Quite often you are asked to complete a form for 'monitoring' purposes if, for example, you are applying for a job or a public service. It is never part of the actual application though, is not compulsary, and would not include your name or identifying details or be attached to your application in any way. These are used to monitor the proportion of different races applying for/using things.
00
Hi guys,
Americans are obsessed with colour more than people here in Europe.
I don't want to start any kind of debate, but I'd hesitate to say that's clearly true. Immigrants to Canada who have lived in Europe or have relatives who have immigrated there tell me all kinds of stories about problems people encounter there.
Anyway, I'm glad we
Americans are obsessed with colour more than people here in Europe.
I don't want to start any kind of debate, but I'd hesitate to say that's clearly true. Immigrants to Canada who have lived in Europe or have relatives who have immigrated there tell me all kinds of stories about problems people encounter there.
Anyway, I'm glad we
00
Hi Clive,
don't forget that I introduced the sentence with "in my opinion". I also don't want to start any debate (though I do view your comment as a kind of indirect attack on Europeans) but it may all be a question of national stereotypes. Moreover, many people believe that there is such thing as "a national character" (that's why some Canadians wearing flag tags can a
don't forget that I introduced the sentence with "in my opinion". I also don't want to start any debate (though I do view your comment as a kind of indirect attack on Europeans) but it may all be a question of national stereotypes. Moreover, many people believe that there is such thing as "a national character" (that's why some Canadians wearing flag tags can a
00
Hi Pastsimple,
Thanks for the thoughtful response. I apologize if I offended you. It was not my intention.
Best wishes, Clive
Thanks for the thoughtful response. I apologize if I offended you. It was not my intention.
Best wishes, Clive
0
Related Questions