is the word "Oriental" a derogatory word?

[FuzzyDunlop]

as in, I want to describe somebody who is either chinese, korean, japanese, vietnamese, but Im not sure what exactly their nationality is, so I say they are Oriental to cover all the bases. Is this derogatory, and if so, why?

 

[Alone]

No.

 

[frostedflakes]

In the US, it kind of is. In the UK and other parts of the world, I don't think it is. Just a cultural thing.

 

[coxmaster]

Ive generally heard that oriental is not a good choice for words. Asian is much better.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Ive generally heard that oriental is not a good choice for words. Asian is much better.

but asian could also mean, Indian, or even Russian. Its so vague.

 

[thecrecarc]

but asian could also mean, Indian, or even Russian. Its so vague.

I am "asian" and a pet peeve of mine is the term asian. Good job describing the largest land mass in the world with more than 1/2 of the worlds population.

 

[SockHaser]

Why can't you call them in relation to their country? Most don't lump Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans and call them North Americans

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Lol, who thinks of Russia when people say Asian? Russia is more european than it is asian, despite the geography

When I say asian I mean Japan/China/Korea and such, like 99% of people

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Why can't you call them in relation to their country? Most don't lump Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans and call them North Americans

did you read the OP?

 

[mugs]

Like other seemingly-innocuous words (e.g. "colored"), it is considered derogatory partly because of the time period in which it was commonly used. Also, it is Euro-centric (orient literally means "east," because the Orient is east of Europe).

Personally, I think it's unfortunate that we have a perfectly good word to describe a specific subset of Asians, but we settle for the non-specific term instead. I prefer to be specific, so I usually say "southeast Asian" if I don't know which country a person is from (and I'm not ashamed to admit that I have no idea how to tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese and Koreans).

It's pretty silly to suggest that anyone would ever call Russians "Asian" though. Stick with the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding area.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Lol, who thinks of Russia when people say Asian? Russia is more european than it is asian, despite the geography

When I say asian I mean Japan/China/Korea and such, like 99% of people

ok, great. But is "Oriental" derogatory?

 

[SockHaser]

did you read the OP?

I skimmed it...rather badly too it seems :hmm:

Anyway, whenever I hear oriental, I think of furniture...

 

[deanx0r]

It's not derogatory, but if you have to ask, then it is.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

It's not derogatory, but if you have to ask, then it is.

huh, what does that even mean?

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

I skimmed it...rather badly too it seems :hmm:

Anyway, whenever I hear oriental, I think of furniture...

lol! what?

 

[Leros]

For some reason Oriental has become racist. East-Asian means basically the same thing and isn't offensive to anyone.

For those who don't know: East-Asian or Oriential applies to countries like China, Vietnam, etc but not Russia, India, etc which are also in Asia. It describes the "Asian" Asians.

 

[thecrecarc]

I want to call white people occidental. That would be amusing.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Like other seemingly-innocuous words (e.g. "colored"), it is considered derogatory partly because of the time period in which it was commonly used. Also, it is Euro-centric (orient literally means "east," because the Orient is east of Europe).

Personally, I think it's unfortunate that we have a perfectly good word to describe a specific subset of Asians, but we settle for the non-specific term instead. I prefer to be specific, so I usually say "southeast Asian" if I don't know which country a person is from (and I'm not ashamed to admit that I have no idea how to tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese and Koreans).

It's pretty silly to suggest that anyone would ever call Russians "Asian" though. Stick with the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding area.

BUT STILL
there is almost as much Russia in Asia, as there is the rest of Asia!

 

[deanx0r]

huh, what does that even mean?

If you are afraid of offending someone with the words you are using, then you are already putting up labels.

Asians have a skin thick enough so that they are immune to this semantic. The ones bringing up the labels are usually the whiteys.

 

[summit]

ok, great. But is "Oriental" derogatory?

yes. you call objects oriental, such as food or rugs not people.

 

[sandorski]

Is Mr Noodles wacist?

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

For some reason Oriental has become racist. East-Asian means basically the same thing and isn't offensive to anyone.

For those who don't know: East-Asian or Oriential applies to countries like China, Vietnam, etc but not Russia, India, etc which are also in Asia. It describes the "Asian" Asians.

Asian Asians! why dont we just call them that!

yes, I can agree with East-Asian being a good description.
But still, why is the word 'Oriental' derogatory? When did is become demeaning, and who the hell decides that it has become demeaning?

 

[SockHaser]

Asian Asians! why dont we just call them that!

yes, I can agree with East-Asian being a good description.
But still, why is the word 'Oriental' derogatory? When did is become demeaning, and who the hell decides that it has become demeaning?

I think its more context really. The term Oriental was probably used in a less than favorable light in the past so its seen as derogatory.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Asian Asians! why dont we just call them that!

yes, I can agree with East-Asian being a good description.
But still, why is the word 'Oriental' derogatory? When did is become demeaning, and who the hell decides that it has become demeaning?

The Moral Police. Don't mess with them.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

If you are afraid of offending someone with the words you are using, then you are already putting up labels.

Asians have a skin thick enough so that they are immune to this semantic. The ones bringing up the labels are usually the whiteys.

If only we all could just have this trait...
and you are correct about the white people thing, because it was a white person that said "hey hey hey, thats racist!" when I used the word oriental... I was like "whut? since when?".