I am 24 yr old Asian American. I want to know how to distingush people from different ethnicities. How do I know if the person I am talking to is French American, German American, Italian American, etc...? What are the characteristics of each ethnicity?
2006-08-13 10:35:06 · 8 answers · asked by nicesinging1 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
You can ask them. As a fellow Asian American, people ask me all the time. I prefer that over them simply guessing I'm Chinese or Japanese.
2006-08-13 10:42:36 · answer #1 · answered by bebop_groove_bonanza 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe 100 years ago you could tell by the language that person was speaking, the clothes they were wearing or the celebrations they attend.
Today it's very hard to tell the ancestry of a person because most have been born in the US and not recently immigrated.
Most American people have adapted to the American culture and traditions and not of their heritage.
For example, my ancestors came from Germany over 150 years ago. My parents knew a few German words they heard around their house when they were children. I know none. We don't celebrate or German heritage at all. It has no bearing on our lives. It's part of our family's past but it's not a present part of our lives.
Also, in this crazy Politically Correct society, it seems taboo to ask about someones ethnicity?
You shouldn't make assumptions and judgments on people based on their ethnic backgrounds because their ethnicity doesn't always reflect their true beliefs. I wouldn't want to assume that an Asian person always likes to eat rice. That type of thinking might even offend you. Especially if I mention the worst sterotypes of people. It's upsetting to that person when you get it wrong. Be carefull making assumptions about people.
In other words, don't ask, don't worry about it when you first meet someone. The more you get to know someone you will surely find out and that will satisfy your curiosity.
I hope this helps...
2006-08-13 10:59:45 · answer #2 · answered by alancl1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
U can't unless you ask. Most people of all ethnicities come in different shades even though people are quick to sterotype them in a group before they find out what the person really is.
2006-08-13 11:01:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm able to, for approximately 70% of the time. on occasion it rather is in simple terms rather complicated. i don't know why human beings save claiming that all and sundry Asians look alike, whilst it rather is an identical factor for all races. For specific human beings will not be able to tell if a White guy or woman is British or French, and human beings would not even attempt to tell if a Black guy or woman is Ethiopian or Ghanaian. while you're perplexed as to what ethnicity we are, in simple terms ask. you do not ought to confer with us as "that chinese language woman". not all Asians are chinese language, in case you have been too ignorant to correctly known.
2016-10-02 01:03:51 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why would you want to? Be civil and treat ech person as a human being, otherwise what an idiot.
2006-08-13 10:42:52 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes u can't distiguish. People always think i'm italian or hispanic- wrong. i'm actually irish,polish, and black.
2006-08-13 10:41:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why would you want to? Treat them all the same.
2006-08-13 10:48:26 · answer #7 · answered by Duncarin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could always ask....
2006-08-13 10:41:09 · answer #8 · answered by nimopiba 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋