The term "Jap" - an abbreviation or an insult?
Discussion
Having a social with some visitors from the US, the chat moved onto cars. I mentioned that I drove a Japanese car and "have great respect for the Jap approach to building cars." Said American visitors were taken aback by this comment, saying that the term was as offensive as the derogatory term to describe Pakistanis.
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.
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.
Hooli said:
I prefer the phrase 'An English gentleman is never unintentionally rude'.
I like that. But I've always found this a bit silly. If a load of people from another country started using 'Brit' in a slightly pejorative way (oh they all smell of marmite) would it really be worth the effort to get worked up over it when other people are simply into brevity?
vsonix said:
I like that.
But I've always found this a bit silly. If a load of people from another country started using 'Brit' in a slightly pejorative way (oh they all smell of marmite) would it really be worth the effort to get worked up over it when other people are simply into brevity?
Ros bif.But I've always found this a bit silly. If a load of people from another country started using 'Brit' in a slightly pejorative way (oh they all smell of marmite) would it really be worth the effort to get worked up over it when other people are simply into brevity?
WinstonWolf said:
Kiltie said:
sebhaque said:
I have certainly never thought the term "Jap" was offensive - it's just an abbreviation for Japanese.
Well, you need to nip it in the bud.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.
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.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff