Asians Find The Word Oriental Offensive?

so today i was asked a question and i answered with "well, the style is oriental". then i was told that asians find being called oriental offensive? i was curious to know why. is it the same as calling us americans a hick or something of that nature

Well that doesn't make sense - anything from the Orient is Oriental; it's not an offensive term...

It makes plenty of sense. People from asia never called themselves oriental. It's a term coined by europeans.

The word Oriental I guess means roughly: East. The word was used to describe people in the MIDDLE East way back when and was continually pushed back father "East" as Western societies discovered more and more cultures/nations like China and Japan.

It is too general to be used with any one culture as it now means "anything from Persia to Japan". It's more accurate to say Asian now to refer to a group of nations that share similar food/language and cultures. Oriental still applies to objects like food and rugs, but not to people.

Doesn't "oriental" mean something like "Oriented?" Like, "he's oriented towards jogging rather than sleeping." If that's how that word's used it's "like people from Asia are "Oriental." Oriental in what way? Kinda weird, if you ask me.BranKetra

I don't find it offensive at all. I'm what westerners would call oriental. That rug salesman needs to calm down. It's a rug, not a person.

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]Doesn't "oriental" mean something like "Oriented?" Like, "he's oriented towards jogging rather than sleeping." If that's how that word's used it's "like people from Asia are "Oriental." Oriental in what way? Kinda weird, if you ask me.Engrish_Major

I've never heard that before.

[QUOTE="Engrish_Major"][QUOTE="BranKetra"]Doesn't "oriental" mean something like "Oriented?" Like, "he's oriented towards jogging rather than sleeping." If that's how that word's used it's "like people from Asia are "Oriental." Oriental in what way? Kinda weird, if you ask me.BranKetra

Orient means east... You are thinking the wrong way.

[QUOTE="BranKetra"][QUOTE="Engrish_Major"] Oriental towards the east, obviously.phillo99

Orient means east... You are thinking the wrong way.

[QUOTE="phillo99"]

[QUOTE="BranKetra"] Uh..what?BranKetra

Orient means east... You are thinking the wrong way.

Occident means west. I think Borealis is north and Australis is south.

Was it an Asian person that told you that? If not tell them to bug off. Some people are way too pc these days even when it doesn't affect them.

I've only encountered one person who didn't like the word oriental. His wife is Japanese and he's extremely sensitive to anything regarding any race. Even he didn't say it was offensive, just that it was weird and old fashioned. Traditionally, oriental has been used to bring a mystical and almost stereotypically traditional "far-east" feel to what you are describing, kind of like the Asian perception of Hollywood in the 50s.. In the modern world, traditional isn't a complement to some people, thus they think Asian is a more exact descriptor.

Personally, I think that's silly and will describe someone in the way that best fits with the situation and person.

[QUOTE="BranKetra"][QUOTE="phillo99"]

Orient means east... You are thinking the wrong way.

Occident means west. I think Borealis is north and Australis is south.

[QUOTE="phillo99"]

[QUOTE="BranKetra"] Uh..what?BranKetra

Orient means east... You are thinking the wrong way.

Occidental.

Its not offensive, the N word is offensive, and the F word is offensive. Oriental is not offensive. In grade school I had a teacher that told me that calling jew's a jew was offensive. And to call them something weird like Jewish Americans. I went on until about the age of thirteen thinking that Jew was some sort of racsit word.

I know the "J" word is offensive to the Japanese and the "C" word is offensive to the Chinese...

It is offensive to some Asians, but I don't really mind it. I'm an American born Chinese though, so it might have something more to do with Asians who were born and raised in Asia, but I don't know lol. I remembered talking about this with my Japanese teacher back in high school, who was born and raised there, and she didn't mind the phrase either. I do prefer the term "Asian" instead though. "Oriental" is hardly ever used anymore where I live and it's used more to described food or objects lol.

To some people maybe, but just explain yourself and if they still want to fuss ignore them.

I don't but then again I don't really associate with many other asians so I've never understood this myself.

Some probably consider it like Americans consider the term "yanks" or Canadians "canucks", it depends on the person and how sensitive they are I guess.Setsa

the word "Canuck" comes from a fictional soldier Canadians made up during WW1 or WW2. full name was Johnny Canuck, and he was meant to show that the canadian war effort was successful and to get people to enlist. can't be offensive since we made it up. besides, no one is complaining about the Vancouver Canucks

so today i was asked a question and i answered with "well, the style is oriental". then i was told that asians find being called oriental offensive? i was curious to know why. is it the same as calling us americans a hick or something of that nature

LeGoofyGoober

The word Oriental I guess means roughly: East. The word was used to describe people in the MIDDLE East way back when and was continually pushed back father "East" as Western societies discovered more and more cultures/nations like China and Japan.

It is too general to be used with any one culture as it now means "anything from Persia to Japan". It's more accurate to say Asian now to refer to a group of nations that share similar food/language and cultures. Oriental still applies to objects like food and rugs, but not to people.

my_mortal_coil

I don't mind and I'm from Hong Kong, just rarely heard the phrase though.

It gives me the impression that when someone would call me oriental I would be like :o and they would be like :o and we'll be both like :shock: then we would shake hands and be like 8) and go get a beer and be like :lol:

The word Oriental I guess means roughly: East. The word was used to describe people in the MIDDLE East way back when and was continually pushed back father "East" as Western societies discovered more and more cultures/nations like China and Japan.

It is too general to be used with any one culture as it now means "anything from Persia to Japan". It's more accurate to say Asian now to refer to a group of nations that share similar food/language and cultures. Oriental still applies to objects like food and rugs, but not to people.

my_mortal_coil

How is Asian any less ambiguous? Wouldn't it similarly be offensive to restrict the term Asian only to East Asians? Are Indians, Siberians, or Filipinos any less Asian than Chinese, Japanese or Koreans? To me the conventional usage of the term Asian to refer specifically to East Asians seems at least as insensitive as Oriental.

And don't tell me that "Asians" share similar cultures. I don't see a lot of similarity between Tajiks and Japanese.

It was a European term to collectively sum up Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the Asiatic part of Russia I believe. It hasn't gotten much better since referring to someone who is Chinese as Asian is odd since there are many people who can be called Asian since Asia is the most populous continent and has a very diverse range of ethnic groups.

[QUOTE="my_mortal_coil"]

The word Oriental I guess means roughly: East. The word was used to describe people in the MIDDLE East way back when and was continually pushed back father "East" as Western societies discovered more and more cultures/nations like China and Japan.

It is too general to be used with any one culture as it now means "anything from Persia to Japan". It's more accurate to say Asian now to refer to a group of nations that share similar food/language and cultures. Oriental still applies to objects like food and rugs, but not to people.

D_Battery

How is Asian any less ambiguous? Wouldn't it similarly be offensive to restrict the term Asian only to East Asians? Are Indians, Siberians, or Filipinos any less Asian than Chinese, Japanese or Koreans? To me the conventional usage of the term Asian to refer specifically to East Asians seems at least as insensitive as Oriental.

And don't tell me that "Asians" share similar cultures. I don't see a lot of similarity between Tajiks and Japanese.

Its not offensive, the N word is offensive, and the F word is offensive. Oriental is not offensive. In grade school I had a teacher that told me that calling jew's a jew was offensive. And to call them something weird like Jewish Americans. I went on until about the age of thirteen thinking that Jew was some sort of racsit word.

magnax1

jew got to be kidding me.

Some probably consider it like Americans consider the term "yanks" or Canadians "canucks", it depends on the person and how sensitive they are I guess.Setsa

I've never heard an American or Canadian take offense to those words... but then again, I've never heard someone from east Asia take offense to the word "oriental", either. :P

Don't know why it would be offensive .. I'm Asian and I think "Oriental" sounds more professional or I'd just think you're smart.

Oriental was used as a slang insult during the days of the old west and the railroad. And I have Asian friends who say it doesnt greatly offend them, but it's not appreciated. Asian is the way to go :3

This has been a Jaggy public announcement =3

Edit: It's kinda offensive as a chair can be an oriental chair. Oriental refers to objects.

i dont find that offensive at all.... but im caucasian

[QUOTE="D_Battery"]

[QUOTE="my_mortal_coil"]

How is Asian any less ambiguous? Wouldn't it similarly be offensive to restrict the term Asian only to East Asians? Are Indians, Siberians, or Filipinos any less Asian than Chinese, Japanese or Koreans? To me the conventional usage of the term Asian to refer specifically to East Asians seems at least as insensitive as Oriental.

And don't tell me that "Asians" share similar cultures. I don't see a lot of similarity between Tajiks and Japanese.

Tiefster

Yes you're right. That is the problem with painting with broad brushes. I realize that there may be cultural or ethnic differences even within a nation's borders. And no two nations are an exact copy. We all feel the need to label people. In the abstract there is nothing wrong with this. It helps us identify and understand. In reality what happens are labels become either too broad OR too specific, the rules in usage become mottled and confusion sets in. We may use color, race or nationality interchangably, or use them in the wrong way.

No easy answer.

Really..I thought that was a more formal way to address Asians, like calling white people Caucasian. cheetah_TM

Caucasian means little. It's like saying Latin. You would think I am a Latino if you looked at me (or hispanic), but I don't hail from Latin America or Spain/Portugal. I am merely brownish. I don't look part Jewsih, but I am. I don't look part Italian, but I am. Caucasian meant "to come from Europe" (and parts of the Mediterranean that Europeans conquered way back when), but now it simply means "white person", which is inaccurate.

There are three basic human races: caucasoid, mongoloid, and negroid (I think this was expanded, though). When you go to certain homogeneous countries from different parts of the world you see mostly one of the three. However, humans being fairly nomadic and horny over time these three "sub-races" have mixed over and over. You can find people who have parts of all three in varying degrees.

So I guess you can call "Asians" mongoloids, but, somehow, that just seems inappropriate.

I think using Nationality is the way to go. People take pride in where they were born; where they come from. Calling a Japanese person Japanese instead of Asian just makes sense. Moreover, here in America (and in other culturally diverse nations such as England) it can create more inclusion and help us live peacefully. If your black, white or otherwise, if you were born (or naturalized) here in America you are simply: American.

Makes the most sense to me.

Funny. Something similar happend to me today. I said, " You Catholic." On some website. And then on the same one said, "You Jew." On a different time and I got muted. Funny how the world works sometimes. ...:?

You know, I really don't find derogatory terms offensive, well towards me anyways.

I don't mind being called any one of the derogatory terms that they use for mexicans. As long as I know they are joking, I don't really give a darn about what they say. If they say it purposely to put me down, then it's on. But if they just say something as a joke, or even with a serious tone, I don't mind.

If I were asian I'd rather be called oriental than have somebody get my country wrong.XilePrincess

I get so confused when it comes to the asian countries and where everyone is from. Same with the Middle East Countries and European countries. I'm pretty good with the Latin countries though. They, in my mind, seem more obvious.

The adjective and noun Oriental, with reference to people from East Asia, is now regarded as am offensive relic of Western colonialism and should be avoided. The preferred substitute is Asian.

^ found that on a customs web site. The fact that it is considered taboo is sufficient for me to never use it as a reference to Asian people, but you can still say Oriental Rugs, etc.

Never heard that before, interesting as it is such a widely used word.

i was told that asians find being called oriental offensive?

LeGoofyGoober

asian means many countries.. india..middle east..china.. orientals are those from the orient. it would be like someone from the middle east getting offended for being called middle easternweezyfb

Or someone from America being offended at being called a Westerner.

Anyway, yeah, it can be offensive - while 'Orient' simply means 'East' in Latin, it could be seen as a European/American way of subordinating and homogenising that entire continent...although I really can't be bothered writing much about it (I'm on uni holidays - I should be avoiding this stuff like the plague :P).
Google Edward Said if you're interested^.