The word 'Asian'
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Asian = a person from Asia.
Though generally the word "Asia," and by extent "Asian," at least here in the US, calls to mind China, Japan, Thiland, Nepal, Singapore, etc. If you're referring to the Middle-East, most people aren't going to think that unless you specifically refer to is as the "Middle-East" (which in the public mind also includes Egypt, Libya, and arguably India).
Though generally the word "Asia," and by extent "Asian," at least here in the US, calls to mind China, Japan, Thiland, Nepal, Singapore, etc. If you're referring to the Middle-East, most people aren't going to think that unless you specifically refer to is as the "Middle-East" (which in the public mind also includes Egypt, Libya, and arguably India).
My impression has always been that (at least in the Midwestern US) Asian meant East/Southeast Asian, Indians and Pakistanis were just Indians, and West Asians were Middle Easterners. And Central Asia didn't exist, of course. Honestly, country of origin seems like a better way to do such categorizations, but it's a bit much to expect Americans to know where (and what) Myanmar is.
Side note: To everyone referring to East Asians as "Oriental," you realize that's 1) Incorrect: the term originally referred to the Middle East, and 2) Highly Offensive: At least in America, it's considered an archaic vestige of colonialism and its use is frowned upon.
Side note: To everyone referring to East Asians as "Oriental," you realize that's 1) Incorrect: the term originally referred to the Middle East, and 2) Highly Offensive: At least in America, it's considered an archaic vestige of colonialism and its use is frowned upon.
Japanese first, then China. South and North Korea sometimes pop into my head, but those two are very rare occasions. I've never heard of people from those nations you listed being referred to as Asian. 'Arab' and 'Middle-East' come to mind for those countries. Yes, I know that's incorrect for many of those nations.
When I say or hear Asian it is usually referring to the peoples of eastern Asia not those of western Asia or the Middle East.
I usually just say brown when I have nothing more to go on, and reserve Asian for East Asians. For instance, I have a friend who's Filipino, Indian, and Spanish and he was born and raised for the most part in the United States. I just call him brown.
Keeping track of ethnicities and national origins is a pain in the ass, and I don't feel like asking every person I meet what country they're from when it's none of my business. I have another friend from New York with Jamaican parents and hates being called either Jamaican or African-American because she was born in the US, while still another gets pissed off at being called African-American because he's from Jamaica.
Keeping track of ethnicities and national origins is a pain in the ass, and I don't feel like asking every person I meet what country they're from when it's none of my business. I have another friend from New York with Jamaican parents and hates being called either Jamaican or African-American because she was born in the US, while still another gets pissed off at being called African-American because he's from Jamaica.
You know, dusky doesn't sound half bad. I may start spreading that around.Flatfrog said:I've recently been thinking about the word 'Asian' which, at least in the UK, is used mostly to refer to people from West Asia (India/Pakistan/Bangladesh), and not to Chinese or other East Asian countries. But in this article it seems to be being used to refer also to people from Arabic countries, and to me this is just getting a bit weird. What seems to be happening is that it's becoming a racial term that is just a euphemism for 'brown-skinned', and that just seems misleading - especially given that the vast majority of actual Asians are Chinese!
I think we need an unambiguous, non-racist word to refer to the mostly Muslim and Hindu brown-skinned population that inhabits West Asia and the Middle East. 'Brown' would work (and before you say it's racist, 'black' appears to be fine), but in the US, it seems to be mostly used to refer to Hispanics (I noticed it particularly in The West Wing). So is there any other word we can use?
I'm tempted to suggest we should revive the good old-fashioned 'dusky'
It may nor be PC, but it is compared to lumping them together under the same term, I call people from the middle-east arabs, those from the far east oriental asians or east asians and those from india, pakistan, afghanistan and sri lanka jusr plain old asians.
I mean, they're too diverse to call them all the same thing, I just don't know the proper terms.
I mean, they're too diverse to call them all the same thing, I just don't know the proper terms.
Behind the times compared to what? Everything is relative. On race relations and gender/gay issues, for example, I'd say we're decades "ahead" of the U.S.misterprickly said:
It's also rather arrogant to assume that your own beliefs are the most modern. It's only really with the benefit of hindsight that beliefs can be said to be ahead of or behind their times.
I see from your profile that you're Canadian. That figures - Canada is the most insanely PC country I've ever visited - but I don't know if you guys are "ahead". Last time I was in Canada (a few years ago) a Canadian woman corrected me for using the term "black" instead of "African American", which was odd because every black American I've spoken to about it said they hate the term "African American". I'm sure she thought she was "ahead" of the times when actually she was behind. Like I said, these things are relative and can only be judged with hindsight.
Oh and BTW, I'm a 34 year old Brit and I've never, ever heard anyone refer to Canada as "the colonies", though I can imagine someone saying that to a Canadian as a joke - that would be a typically British sort of joke to make.
Oh, and on-topic: here in Britain I use "Asian" for brown asians and "East Asian" for yellow asians, but when I'm abroad (I spend a lot of time in the U.S.) I try to use whatever terms are considered PC by the people I'm with.
Just be thankful that they are called Asians, and not something that is actually offensive. it's better than nothing. Although here in Canada the Asia is referred to smart high school students who already are accepted into universities, have their whole life planned, and still have enough time to drink bubble tea. So it's a good insult in Canada.Flatfrog said:I've recently been thinking about the word 'Asian' which, at least in the UK, is used mostly to refer to people from West Asia (India/Pakistan/Bangladesh), and not to Chinese or other East Asian countries. But in this article it seems to be being used to refer also to people from Arabic countries, and to me this is just getting a bit weird. What seems to be happening is that it's becoming a racial term that is just a euphemism for 'brown-skinned', and that just seems misleading - especially given that the vast majority of actual Asians are Chinese!
I think we need an unambiguous, non-racist word to refer to the mostly Muslim and Hindu brown-skinned population that inhabits West Asia and the Middle East. 'Brown' would work (and before you say it's racist, 'black' appears to be fine), but in the US, it seems to be mostly used to refer to Hispanics (I noticed it particularly in The West Wing). So is there any other word we can use?
I'm tempted to suggest we should revive the good old-fashioned 'dusky'
PS. why do you seem to be only defending the Chinese?
Epicanthal folds. Talk about epicanthal folds and everyone will cotton right on.Anjel said:I'd just like to add that I am in no way racist, I just wanted to use simple language and despise the use of the word 'slitty' to describe the eye shape of people from some Asian countries. I use it here to explain this, not to describe aforementioned girl
Anyway, here in the UK 'Asian' used to be generally used to mean South-Asian. Folks rocking epicanthal folds would probably be 'oriental', and I have no idea about the Middle East. Now though, I think 'Asian' is used for pretty much anyone in Asia, probably due to American influence referring to oriental people as Asian.
Same, but English.Toasty Virus said:
No we aren't, isn't used that often, no we don't.misterprickly said:
So err... well done you?
OT: I usually say Arab/Arabic/Middle Eastern. Asian is not a way of banding together all the "non-white shades", its people who are from Asia.