The term "Jap" - an abbreviation or an insult?

[Martyboy84]

I'm a Scot.... From Scotland? That's no in anyway insulting....

[Xaero]

Japveesix said:

I think it's incredibly insulting in any context. Use the full term Japanese or don't use it at all.

The irony is strong here. Or is that a parrot over my head?

[PZR]

sebhaque said:

I raise this thread as a point of discussion. I have certainly never thought the term "Jap" was offensive - it's just an abbreviation for Japanese. While I am indeed almost synonymous with the Pakistani slang, I believe that is only a faux pas due to its past usage. Is this why the Japanese term is a no-no in the US? I'm very confused as to why that particular term is a no-no when I've not heard a word against it.

Here's a few different (theoretical) scenarios to consider:

My wife is Japanese. We live here in the UK (in London). If you were invited round to our house for dinner, would you refer to your admiration of Japanese cars and engineering by using the word 'Jap'? Would you refer to her as a "Jap" to her face?

Second scenario: You are visiting Japan, and you are invited to my wife's family home for dinner. Her 82 year old uncle - an automotive engineer / engine designer - is present. Would you tell him of your admiration for "Jap" cars and engineering, or would you use the word 'Japanese' instead? Would you call him a "Jap engineer" to his face?

Third scenario: You are visiting the Nissan plant in Sunderland. Would you refer to anyone of Japanese nationality who works there as a "Jap"?



It's alright, it's not a Blade Runner style Voight Kampff test. It's just that I wonder if you would modify your language depending on the situation? Have you ever been in that type of situation? It's one thing discussing it with Americans in your own home, and quite another if you were somewhere else I think...

[Tiggsy]

which was my point - some terms can be used non-formally.....brit, kiwi....but jap isnt one of them unless there are no japs about....which is prob all you need to know about for its suitability.

[Tango13]

PZR said:

Here's a few different (theoretical) scenarios to consider:

My wife is Japanese. We live here in the UK (in London). If you were invited round to our house for dinner, would you refer to your admiration of Japanese cars and engineering by using the word 'Jap'? Would you refer to her as a "Jap" to her face?

Second scenario: You are visiting Japan, and you are invited to my wife's family home for dinner. Her 82 year old uncle - an automotive engineer / engine designer - is present. Would you tell him of your admiration for "Jap" cars and engineering, or would you use the word 'Japanese' instead? Would you call him a "Jap engineer" to his face?

Third scenario: You are visiting the Nissan plant in Sunderland. Would you refer to anyone of Japanese nationality who works there as a "Jap"?



It's alright, it's not a Blade Runner style Voight Kampff test. It's just that I wonder if you would modify your language depending on the situation? Have you ever been in that type of situation? It's one thing discussing it with Americans in your own home, and quite another if you were somewhere else I think...

I would, John Alfred Prestwich Industries built some very fine car and bike engines over the years

[Paul671]

Should this thread be moved to Jap Chat?

[WinstonWolf]

Xaero said:

Japveesix said:

I think it's incredibly insulting in any context. Use the full term Japanese or don't use it at all.

The irony is strong here. Or is that a parrot over my head?

I'm not sure if Mr JapaneseVeeSix is being serious or not. I suspect the latter...

[hifihigh]

Only on Pistonheads Pom is ok;

"jap" is ok
"" is ok
"" is ok

guyse I NEVER GOT OFFENDED WHEN SOMEONE CALLED ME A POMME THEREFORE RACIST LANGUAGE DOESNT EXIST!!!11ONE

TO be serious for a second think what is behind the slur/abbreviation of the language.

[Willy Holloughby]

What about calling them nip cars? Is that offensive? What if I said my Honda was a bit nippy? Is it ok to nip to the shops on my Honda?

[sparkyhx]

I had a similar discussion with a 'merrycan about Oriental + Asian, they said Oriental was an abusive term for Asians.

We of course refer to Indian sub continent as Asians and China, Japan etc as Orientals or far eastern

[Tiggsy]

Willy Holloughby said:

What about calling them nip cars? Is that offensive? What if I said my Honda was a bit nippy? Is it ok to nip to the shops on my Honda?

This is like a 5 year old argument.

You might as well I called my friend a bh......what's her problem, can't I say my new puppy is a bh either?????

[Kiltie]

Willy Holloughby said:

What about calling them nip cars? Is that offensive? What if I said my Honda was a bit nippy? Is it ok to nip to the shops on my Honda?

We're all essentially the same.

We all put our honda pants on one leg at a time.

[Engineer1]

Steve H said:

The abbreviation for Pakistani is dicey over here because of it's historical use as a racist term, that's what makes it different from Brit, Scot, Aussie etc.

We don't have a substantial immigrant Japanese population, unlike some parts of the US so maybe Jap is an abbreviation in one place and an insult in another.

ALso isn't it the case that for most "Istan" countries the first bit is the demonym of the local tribal group, in the case of Pakistan the name is made up wiki says ""Land of the Pure" in Urdu and Persian."

[audidoody]

From the Department of Useless Information:

When the Auckland Harbour Board commissioned from a Japanese company two attachable roads clamped to either side of the Auckland Harbour Bridge - the new lanes were widely referred to throughout the country as "Nippon Clip-Ons".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Harbour_Brid...

I don't believe anybody in New Zealand or Japan was offended.

Edited by audidoody on Monday 14th April 10:50

[PZR]

audidoody said:

When the Auckland Harbour Board commissioned from a Japanese company two attachable roads clamped to either side of the Auckland Harbour Bridge - the new lanes were widely referred to throughout the country as "Nippon Clip-Ons".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Harbour_Brid...

I don't believe anybody in New Zealand or Japan was offended.

Edited by audidoody on Monday 14th April 10:50

But why would they be? 'Nippon' is simply the Romanisation of Japan's own name for itself in Japanese (pronounced 'Nihon'). It doesn't really have any wider connotations, unlike the abbreviation 'Nip' - which has loads of baggage.

[hifihigh]

Engineer1 said:

ALso isn't it the case that for most "Istan" countries the first bit is the demonym of the local tribal group, in the case of Pakistan the name is made up wiki says ""Land of the Pure" in Urdu and Persian."

pistonheads.txt

[hifihigh]

just means black, why do these uppety blacks get offended when I call them a etc...

[LordGrover]

Are you really that crass?

[hifihigh]

LordGrover said:

Are you really that crass?

I guess when I am trying to win an argument on the internet, yes :|

I was trying to illustrate the point that the words you use can be taken in different ways..

Edited by hifihigh on Monday 14th April 12:13

[fido]

I haven't trawled 4 pages of dribble .. but ask yourself this "would you call someone a *whatever* to their face?". If not then it's probably not acceptable terminology. The context is hugely important - also words that are used here don't make sense in the US and vice-versa.