LINGUIST List 3.866

Fri 06 Nov 1992

Disc: Objectionable Words

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1. , objectionable words
2. , objectionable words
3. "Lynn S. Messing", Re: 3.855 Objectionable Words
4. benji wald, Re: 3.855 Objectionable Words

At least two people have cited the use by Republicans of "Democrat"
rather than "Democratic" as an adjective (in expressions like
"Democrat proposal," "Democrat congressman," etc.) supposedly in order
to demean the opposition.

I have always assumed that this usage was motivated by a desire to
avoid the unwanted connotations of lower-case "democratic" in a
context where the political party is being referred to. In the spoken
language "Democrat congressman" is unambiguous; "Democratic
congressman" is not.

This more charitable interpretation would however not be available for
"Democrat party" if that is indeed in use; I don't recall having seen
or heard it myself.

-Ken <minerkuhub.cc.ukans.edu>

The different connotations of "Jew" vs. "jewish" are not restricted to
English. In German, especially speakers of the older generation prefer
"juedische Menschen" to "Juden" in some contexts. For me (b. 1963, gentile) this
sounds strange, because I grew up in an environment that totally lacked
jews or antisemitism, but when my mother (b. 1929) uses the word "Jude",
she probably still has the association both of "normal" antisemitism in
Poland of the 1930s (where she grew up) and of Nazi state terrorism against
the Jews.
 I think the hypothesis that the "objectionable" character of "Jew" is a
genteelism explains the German situation very well.

Martin Haspelmath, Free University of Berlin (West)

Message 3: Re: 3.855 Objectionable Words

 I have been reading with interest the discussion concerning "Jew" vs.
"Jewish". Where does "Hebrew," as a synonym for "Jew" fit into the picture?
Just this past weekend, I was asked whether I was "a Hebrew". The person who
asked went on to use this phrase several times during the discussion. He
obviously did not intend it in a derogatory manner; nevertheless, my gut-level
reaction to that phrase was rather negative. As far as I can recall, this
was the first time I have heard the word "Hebrew" being used in this way.
 The person who used the phrase was a man in his eighties who has lived his
entire life in the Philadelphia area and in part of Arizona. Was this use of
"Hebrew" common in his generation or in either of his geographic areas? How
extensive is this usage? What kind of connotations does it have?
 Lynn S. Messing
 CEM11150UDELVM.UDEL.EDU

Message 4: Re: 3.855 Objectionable Words

For Alice Faber. Floored by the euphemism "Israelite". Get ready for
"Hebrew". A Southern Californian woman told me she used to work in
an office with "two Hebrews". I immediately thought of a Black cult in
Florida. "What do you mean Hebrews?" She was hesitant to say "... Jews"
"Why'd you say `Hebrews`"? "I didn't want to say 'Jews'". I didn't pursue
it at the moment. She was complaining about how Hispanic and Asian her
former high school had become...
I've also known people to avoid the word "Black", and not necessarily
because they were consciously bigotted. Seems like African American
is now the noun. I saw an African American frown recently when addressed
by a white (is this pejorative?) who referred to "Afro-Americans", as if
this was a mispronunciation -- more likely a lack of enough sensitivity to
show sustained interest in ethnic labelling malaise of the public society.

"Spaniard", "Frenchman" ... pejorative. I don't know. You really have to
keep in touch with the communities designated to know what was/is/has become
offensive. Hispanic is an "official" term. But on a personal level, it
sounds foolish. Latino/a is certainly more intimate. "Chicano" vs.
"Mexican American" was highly politically charged, within the community
itself. An outsider cd hardly avoid giving offense to somebody without
knowing the political position of the person s/he was talking to.

Lloyd's 2) should be "I am a Chinaman", which is offensive. Also, at
least in California, "Oriental" is offensive, "Asian" is not.

Geoff's observations about Times usage are interesting and important. As I
said, I don't think "Jew" is pejorative in public discourse nowadays -- but,
Geoff -- if you go back to the 50s,was Times usage the same for "Jew/s",
and what kinds of terms did Lippmann use (you know his problem)? I'm
wondering if the period following WWII to the late 1960s was the period
in which "Jew" was avoided, in the way the "Black" and "gay" are now.