The term "Mong"

[WinstonWolf]

Captain Muppet said:

onyx39 said:

I was about to post this, how many people these days would actually know who Joey Deacon was? Unless of course they are of a similar age to me (mid 40's) who watched Blue Peter when he was featured.

I suppose they might think that "joey" referred to the moron/imbecile/idiot from Friends. The character has a low IQ, and without the number I'm not sure which word applies.

If you use it you *know* where it came from

[Riff Raff]

BrabusMog said:

Riff Raff said:

BrabusMog said:

This is a wild guess, but I'd say they call themselves "Mongolians"

Mongols? Google the Golden Horde.

I'm pretty sure the Chinese guy in South Park calls them, "God damn Mongolians!"

OK, but they are "Merkins. Ask them to say 'Aluminium'.

[Eric Mc]

Nearly all derogatory expressions have a historical connection with some abused group. Obviously, that is not good - but the English language would be very much reduced if every single derogatory term was expunged because it might upset someone.

The problem is trying to work out which derogatory terms to retain and which to ditch.

I mean, think about the Neanderthals.

[thetapeworm]

wildcat45 said:

To clear things up, I find the term offensive.

It may be an age thing. A mate of mine - early 40s like me - heard two of his staff describing someone as a Joey. He questioned them about it. They thought it was as inoffensive as Wally. They knew nothing of Joey Deacon, who most kids of a certain age (me included) mocked.

I think it must be ignorance. I still hate the term Mong.

I bet they know who Joey Essex is though - the insult is valid regardless of your previous Joey experience.

[mrmr96]

BrabusMog said:

Riff Raff said:

BrabusMog said:

This is a wild guess, but I'd say they call themselves "Mongolians"

Mongols? Google the Golden Horde.

I'm pretty sure the Chinese guy in South Park calls them, "God damn Mongolians!"

Yes but since he works at "shcity wok" I wouldn't trust him as an oracle of pronouciation.

[onyx39]

Eric Mc said:

Nearly all derogatory expressions have a historical connection with some abused group. Obviously, that is not good - but the English language would be very much reduced if every single derogatory term was expunged because it might upset someone.

The problem is trying to work out which derogatory terms to retain and which to ditch.

I mean, think about the Neanderthals.

Indeed, I was really rather shocked when I found out what a "berk" was...

[Centurion07]

These kind of sum it up for me (NSFW):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcja4WFFzDw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we-zND9Ihes

[otolith]

Down used the word "mongoloid" - meaning like those of the Mongolian race - to describe the characteristic facial features of Down's syndrome patients. The term was dropped in the 60's.

[Snowboy]

Riff Raff said:

OK, but they are "Merkins. Ask them to say 'Aluminium'.

Americans would say aluminium the same as a Brit.
Just as a Brit would say aluminum the same as an American.

[Asterix]

'Mong' has virtually no link to Downs in language now as far as I can work out.

I'd argue that there's a generation that don't even make the link at all.

[Captain Muppet]

Snowboy said:

Riff Raff said:

OK, but they are "Merkins. Ask them to say 'Aluminium'.

Americans would say aluminium the same as a Brit.
Just as a Brit would say aluminum the same as an American.

I worked in the US on an engineering project and how that particular metal was pronounced depended entirely on the nationality of the person rather than on the nationality of the spelling.

[catso]

Eric Mc said:

The big question is, who was "Wally"?

Or indeed, where?

[GOG440]

Captain Muppet said:

onyx39 said:

I was about to post this, how many people these days would actually know who Joey Deacon was? Unless of course they are of a similar age to me (mid 40's) who watched Blue Peter when he was featured.

I suppose they might think that "joey" referred to the moron/imbecile/idiot from Friends. The character has a low IQ, and without the number I'm not sure which word applies.

To me a Joey will always be someone a bit special like Joey Deacon.
It was used as an insult for anyone who did something a bit "special" when I started senior school in 1981.
Doesnt mean I would use it as an adult though.

[Pothole]

Captain Muppet said:

Snowboy said:

Riff Raff said:

OK, but they are "Merkins. Ask them to say 'Aluminium'.

Americans would say aluminium the same as a Brit.
Just as a Brit would say aluminum the same as an American.

I worked in the US on an engineering project and how that particular metal was pronounced depended entirely on the nationality of the person rather than on the nationality of the spelling.

whoosh.

[GOG440]

onyx39 said:

Indeed, I was really rather shocked when I found out what a "berk" was...

Never knew that.

[Captain Muppet]

Pothole said:

Captain Muppet said:

Snowboy said:

Riff Raff said:

OK, but they are "Merkins. Ask them to say 'Aluminium'.

Americans would say aluminium the same as a Brit.
Just as a Brit would say aluminum the same as an American.

I worked in the US on an engineering project and how that particular metal was pronounced depended entirely on the nationality of the person rather than on the nationality of the spelling.

whoosh.

You'll have to explain what I missed because I'm still missing it.

[Yertis]

Riff Raff said:

OK, but they are "Merkins. Ask them to say 'Aluminium'.

he said "merkin"




or is that now also a proscribed word?

[clonmult]

Yertis said:

Riff Raff said:

OK, but they are "Merkins. Ask them to say 'Aluminium'.

he said "merkin"




or is that now also a proscribed word?

"merkin" "merkin"

[Morningside]

GOG440 said:

onyx39 said:

Indeed, I was really rather shocked when I found out what a "berk" was...

Never knew that.

And shockingly it was used on Only Fools and Horses. As was the word 'Div'.

Div. Thats an odd one. Wonder where that came from.

[silverthorn2151]

Mong wasn't really used so much in my yoof.

We tended to use Biff in it's stead, with, for example a wheelchair being a biffmobile.

I recall that we just thought it was funny, not offensive but would never have referred to a sufferer directly as such.

I have grown out of that now.