Biff, I agree, but I’m not expressing my view or understanding, only explaining chicken’s usage and HIS explanation a while back for why he describes himself as “Oriental”.
I just Googled and got this more detailed answer from Yahoo Answers:
“Oriental” refers to THINGS from the Orient – such as food, rugs, souvenirs, etc…material THINGS. Therefore, when you call a human being “oriental” you are referring to them as an object with no soul or substance. This is why “Oriental” is offensive and LEGALLY a racist term (at least here in the USA).
Asian can be used for people or things, it is not an offensive word at all. Asian refers to anyone or anything that comes from or is related to any country in Asia – from China to India to Vietnam, including the Philippines and Japan, and in some cases that large rural part of Russia.
I am unsure why “Oriental” is widely used in the UK, UK English is actually considered a different dialect of English from American English and Australian English, so words have different meanings there.
In the USA it’s probably safer to not play with the word “Oriental” unless you are talking about food or rugs…but keep in mind you can call it “Asian” as well with no debate. If the term “oriental” is used in the wrong way at a workplace it could get the person who said it in trouble for discrimination nowadays so be super careful.
Pete – And the Times also had a piece on Italian meatballs!
Ditto – Chinese call them ’round eyes’.
Biff, I learned all that from Pam – season 2 of the Real World.
I’m occidental.
Japanese call all foreigners “gaijin.”
Biff, I agree, but I’m not expressing my view or understanding, only explaining chicken’s usage and HIS explanation a while back for why he describes himself as “Oriental”.
And what a coincidence that I suddenly pop up for the first time today during a discussion on Asians and the Orient (re-write?)
I just Googled and got this more detailed answer from Yahoo Answers:
“Oriental” refers to THINGS from the Orient – such as food, rugs, souvenirs, etc…material THINGS. Therefore, when you call a human being “oriental” you are referring to them as an object with no soul or substance. This is why “Oriental” is offensive and LEGALLY a racist term (at least here in the USA).
Asian can be used for people or things, it is not an offensive word at all. Asian refers to anyone or anything that comes from or is related to any country in Asia – from China to India to Vietnam, including the Philippines and Japan, and in some cases that large rural part of Russia.
I am unsure why “Oriental” is widely used in the UK, UK English is actually considered a different dialect of English from American English and Australian English, so words have different meanings there.
In the USA it’s probably safer to not play with the word “Oriental” unless you are talking about food or rugs…but keep in mind you can call it “Asian” as well with no debate. If the term “oriental” is used in the wrong way at a workplace it could get the person who said it in trouble for discrimination nowadays so be super careful.
Oh, and Maddox is cleverer than everyone else, and he rules.
“The term african american is total hooey and I refuse to use it.”
Why?