The word "Oriental" is being banned from the English language ?

Larry_OHF · 07-02-2002, 01:17 PM

I heard on the radio today, but missed the reference of veracity that the words Oriental and the Orient are to be removed from the English language. I do not know if he meant all of English, like the U.K., or just the American English...but that it was being compared to the "N" word used to make reference to blacks, when it was used in slavery-days.

In my experience, the Orient was the land East of London...the Asian Nations. I did not know that it was a crude slang that made the Asian Nations feel lowered.

Can anybody back me up on this rumor, and let me know if it is really a new law?

Also, does anyone on here that may be of Asian decent feel bad when a person says that you are from the Orient? Do you feel bad when referred to as Asian?

Can you please teach all of us the correct way to refer to your land and heritage?

[ 07-02-2002, 01:37 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

07-02-2002, 01:22 PM

News to me!

I wonder what they will do with 'Oriental Noodles' hehe

Seems a little over the top, but I'm not Asian so I don't know how offensive the statement could be.

Yorick · 07-02-2002, 01:25 PM

Orient is such a cool poetic word.

You can't ban a word. Any attempt is like trying to hold back the tide. Language is an unchainable beast.

WillowIX · 07-02-2002, 01:28 PM

I always thought that the orient was a geographical description for the eastern asian countries. The people from it would the be called orientals. Is that discriminating? Does that mean you can´t call people from Scandinavia Scandinavians?

[ 07-02-2002, 01:29 PM: Message edited by: WillowIX ]

Epona · 07-02-2002, 01:35 PM

That's crazy, I haven't heard anything about it.

Orient just means East surely? As in 'the orientalising influence in ancient Greek art' - just refers to Persian influence (Persia/Iran being East of Greece)

WillowIX · 07-02-2002, 01:46 PM

Exactly right Epona! Oriental from the latin word "oriens" which means ascending, the suns movement. And that of course is east! So to follow this reasoning the words sunrise, dawn, east and eastern will have to be banned as well lol...

Sir Goulum · 07-02-2002, 01:49 PM

Could you explain that a bit better for me, WillowIX ? I don't understand

Dundee Slaytern · 07-02-2002, 01:50 PM

Eh? I have never seen 'Oriental' as an offensive word, or used as such, and truth be told, I find the term kinda spunky.

The Orient Express,
Come see the sights of the Orient,
etc... ...

In fact, the word invokes imagery of exotic locations. I see it as a positive word.

WillowIX · 07-02-2002, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Posted by: Sir Goulum
Could you explain that a bit better for me, WillowIX ? I don't understand

Lol, I´ll try. The Orient was named from the latin oriens. Oriens means the suns upward movement and of course the sun rises in the east. So oriental is synonymous to the english word "east"... So if the word oriental is discriminating so is the word east...

Talthyr Malkaviel · 07-02-2002, 02:00 PM

Ban the word Orient?? [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img]
Please tell me this is a little joke going round at the moment, it is neither offensive or racist.
I would have gone on, but WillowIX said why it's not already.

07-02-2002, 01:17 PM	#1
Larry_OHF Ironworks Moderator Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Midlands, South Carolina Age: 48 Posts: 14,759	I heard on the radio today, but missed the reference of veracity that the words Oriental and the Orient are to be removed from the English language. I do not know if he meant all of English, like the U.K., or just the American English...but that it was being compared to the "N" word used to make reference to blacks, when it was used in slavery-days. In my experience, the Orient was the land East of London...the Asian Nations. I did not know that it was a crude slang that made the Asian Nations feel lowered. Can anybody back me up on this rumor, and let me know if it is really a new law? Also, does anyone on here that may be of Asian decent feel bad when a person says that you are from the Orient? Do you feel bad when referred to as Asian? Can you please teach all of us the correct way to refer to your land and heritage? [ 07-02-2002, 01:37 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ] __________________

07-02-2002, 01:25 PM	#3
Yorick Very Mad Bird Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Breukelen (over the river from New Amsterdam) Age: 52 Posts: 9,246	Orient is such a cool poetic word. You can't ban a word. Any attempt is like trying to hold back the tide. Language is an unchainable beast. __________________ http://www.hughwilson.com

07-02-2002, 01:28 PM	#4
WillowIX Apophis Join Date: July 10, 2001 Location: By a big blue lake, Canada Age: 49 Posts: 4,628	I always thought that the orient was a geographical description for the eastern asian countries. The people from it would the be called orientals. Is that discriminating? Does that mean you can´t call people from Scandinavia Scandinavians? [ 07-02-2002, 01:29 PM: Message edited by: WillowIX ] __________________ Confuzzled by nature.

07-02-2002, 01:35 PM	#5
Epona Zartan Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: London, England Age: 53 Posts: 5,164	That's crazy, I haven't heard anything about it. Orient just means East surely? As in 'the orientalising influence in ancient Greek art' - just refers to Persian influence (Persia/Iran being East of Greece) __________________ [img]\"http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/epona.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

07-02-2002, 01:46 PM	#6
WillowIX Apophis Join Date: July 10, 2001 Location: By a big blue lake, Canada Age: 49 Posts: 4,628	Exactly right Epona! Oriental from the latin word "oriens" which means ascending, the suns movement. And that of course is east! So to follow this reasoning the words sunrise, dawn, east and eastern will have to be banned as well lol... __________________ Confuzzled by nature.

07-02-2002, 01:22 PM	#2
Deathbringer Guest Posts: n/a	News to me! I wonder what they will do with 'Oriental Noodles' hehe Seems a little over the top, but I'm not Asian so I don't know how offensive the statement could be.

07-02-2002, 01:49 PM	#7
Sir Goulum John Locke Join Date: February 7, 2002 Location: Edmonton, Canada Age: 35 Posts: 8,985	Could you explain that a bit better for me, WillowIX ? I don't understand

07-02-2002, 01:50 PM	#8
Dundee Slaytern Ironworks Moderator Join Date: June 10, 2001 Location: Pasir Ris, Singapore Age: 41 Posts: 11,063	Eh? I have never seen 'Oriental' as an offensive word, or used as such, and truth be told, I find the term kinda spunky. The Orient Express, Come see the sights of the Orient, etc... ... In fact, the word invokes imagery of exotic locations. I see it as a positive word.

07-02-2002, 02:00 PM	#10
Talthyr Malkaviel Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: August 31, 2001 Location: Land of the Britons Age: 37 Posts: 3,224	Ban the word Orient?? [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img] Please tell me this is a little joke going round at the moment, it is neither offensive or racist. I would have gone on, but WillowIX said why it's not already. __________________ Resident cantankerous sorcerer of the Clan HADB<br />and Sorcerous Nuttella salesman of the O.R.T<br /> <br /><br />Say NO to the Trouser Tyranny! Can I drill you about this?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Deaf & Mute man uses sign language, thug takes it as a "diss" -- rumble ensues	Klorox	General Discussion	1	07-18-2007 04:20 PM
The word "Fail" now being banned in classrooms	Larry_OHF	General Discussion	15	07-22-2005 10:45 PM
Can you help me? I need "oriental" names	Zoltan	General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005)	22	08-13-2003 02:07 PM
The Longest Word in the English Language	Psychedelic Buttafly	General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005)	6	07-02-2001 08:28 PM