Klarinet Archive - Posting 000391.txt from 2002/12

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Language (OT, was: [kl] Reed strength)
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2002 11:23:13 -0500

P. Wagner wrote,
>In the german speaking part of Europe it's political correct
>to mention the color of the skin of a man.
>Not correct is to say Negro.
>
>Or should one say colored man?

Karl Krelove wrote,
>I think the objection was to the stereotypic reference to blacks
>as having large lips -

and Bill Wright wrote,
>>I'm sure that everyone on the list has made an extra effort not
>>to emphasize this point. Enough said, okay?

Bill, normally I'd agree, but I think P. Wagner's native language is not Eng
lish, and therefore I think that someone should address his other question.
My English as a Second Language students often ask me the same question P.
Wagner asked this list, about the acceptability of "black" vs. other words.
They've shown me textbooks that fail to differentiate between British and
American English usage. Some of these texts are confusingly written and many
are out of date. Usage in the USA has changed several times in the last
century.

"Black" and "African American" are both common, polite language in the USA
today. "Colored" and "Negro" are obsolete. Some younger black people have
started using "colored" again in a defiant way, but it sounds old-fashioned
for a white person to use it. It's reminiscent of the now-illegal practice
of labelling public buildings and accomodations with door signs that
restricted entry to "White" or "Colored."

"Negro" (which Africans or African Americans had never chosen to describe
themselves) went from obsolete to distasteful, in part because it was the
word of choice in 19th century and early 20th century pseudo-scientific
medical studies, purporting to "prove" that white people were genetically
superior. Another problem with "Negro" is that, in American English,
particularly in Southern accents, it's easy to pronounce it sloppily, as
"nigruh."

When someone says, "nigruh," it's difficult to tell whether a person really
means to say "Negro" or "nigger," a grossly offensive gutter slang term
that's a corruption of "Negro." (IMHO, there are only two marginally
acceptable ways to use "nigger" -- to quote someone who used the word, in
order to expose that person as a bigot; or to warn people never to use it.)
It used to be common for racists in the USA to use deliberately vague
pronunciation of "Negro" to insult black people. If someone accused a racist
of using the gutter slang, he or she would fake complete innocence, and
claim, "All I said was 'Negro,'" but pronounce it "nigruh," with a mocking
smile that implied, "Ha, ha, there's nothing you can do to stop me." This
usage tainted the word "Negro" beyond redemption.

The term "politically correct" is also insulting in the USA, incidentally.
Social and political conservatives (mostly Republicans) use that term to
belittle social and political liberals (mostly Democrats). Although it can
mean different things to different people in different contexts, calling
someone or some idea "politically correct" implies a disagreement or a
criticism. I've never heard an American use "politically correct" as a
simple synonym for "polite" or "civil."

Lelia

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