The word "chink" meaning 'vulnerability' is now racist?
Discussion
independant said:
US Army deletes tweet after accusations of racism, only to provoke more anger
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/u...
Someone commenting on the news yesterday morning before the Williams vs Sharapova match mentioned that Sharapova "must find a 
in (Williams') armour". There was a short silence afterwards and I was mildy surprised that such a harmless phrase cast an air of unease over the presenters. I doubt they had any complaints though.
in (Williams') armour". There was a short silence afterwards and I was mildy surprised that such a harmless phrase cast an air of unease over the presenters. I doubt they had any complaints though.I had always wondered about the origin of the word "" and thanks to this thread now I know. It relates to chine, as in The Chines on the south coast and the Isle of Wight.
"a split, crack," 1530s, with parasitic -k + Middle English chine (and replacing this word) "fissure, narrow valley," from Old English cinu, cine "fissure," related to cinan "to crack, split, gape," common Germanic (compare Old Saxon and Old High German kinan, Gothic uskeinan, German keimen "to germinate;" Middle Dutch kene, Old Saxon kin, German Keim "germ;" ), from PIE root *geie- "to sprout, split open." The connection being in the notion of bursting open.
Fascinating... I will continue to use the word in its correct sense.
" and thanks to this thread now I know. It relates to chine, as in The Chines on the south coast and the Isle of Wight. "a split, crack," 1530s, with parasitic -k + Middle English chine (and replacing this word) "fissure, narrow valley," from Old English cinu, cine "fissure," related to cinan "to crack, split, gape," common Germanic (compare Old Saxon and Old High German kinan, Gothic uskeinan, German keimen "to germinate;" Middle Dutch kene, Old Saxon kin, German Keim "germ;" ), from PIE root *geie- "to sprout, split open." The connection being in the notion of bursting open.
Fascinating... I will continue to use the word in its correct sense.
Edited by RichB on Monday 2nd February 08:56
Derek Smith said:
Hoofy said:
That's just the way the language has evolved so you have to use it with care. What is more tricky is when your wife asks you if a dress makes her look fat. It's not only what is said that matters but what isn't said.
the worst thing to do is hesitate.believe me!
Baryonyx said:
Someone commenting on the news yesterday morning before the Williams vs Sharapova match mentioned that Sharapova "must find a in (Williams') armour". There was a short silence afterwards and I was mildy surprised that such a harmless phrase cast an air of unease over the presenters. I doubt they had any complaints though.
Dear God, I did not know it was censored. in (Williams') armour". There was a short silence afterwards and I was mildy surprised that such a harmless phrase cast an air of unease over the presenters. I doubt they had any complaints though.A
is a perfectly ordinary, acceptable term, outside of one context. That is as absurd as banning a word like 'shelf' on the basis someone chooses to use it as a racist term for, well, something.
RichB said:
So why is the word not censored in the thread le?
Not that I want to give any of those politically correct zealots at Haymarket any ideas!
Well there is a "ch not censored in the thread le? Not that I want to give any of those politically correct zealots at Haymarket any ideas!
I do this only because the word is used in a non racist way in this thread. And in the name of
NiceCupOfTea said:
Similar to the word "slope" which sparked controversy recently with top gear. So, to extend the analogy, could you not talk about parking your car on a slope, for example?
Of course you bloody well can. And to answer the thread title. Of course the word "" meaning 'vulnerability' isn't racist. I really do think PHers are the worst for seeking offence while the rest of the world gets on with life.rpguk said:
Of course you bloody well can. And to answer the thread title. Of course the word "" meaning 'vulnerability' isn't racist. I really do think PHers are the worst for seeking offence while the rest of the world gets on with life.
I'm not sure it was PHers who complained about the US Military tweet mentioned in the Independent." meaning 'vulnerability' isn't racist. I really do think PHers are the worst for seeking offence while the rest of the world gets on with life.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff