The Orient is a geographical land mass to describe Turkey, Afghanistan, China, Malaysia, Japan and Persia.
The term "Oriental" denotes the style or culture of that particular land mass. There is no such thing as an "Oriental" race or "Oriental" tribe or "Oriental" language.
There are oriental lampshades. Oriental carpet rugs. Oriental spices. But there are no oriental people.
2006-08-15 17:50:49 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Well I have noticed that the preferred term is "Asian" now and I have heard "Oriental" is offensive. However, I think it's just that words change over time. 50 years ago it was acceptable to refer to a black person (or African American) as a ***** or a colored person. You certainly wouldn't say that now.
The word "*****" or "colored" while not a racial slur or outright offensive seems dated and reminds us of a different era where people of that ethnicity were treated differently than they are now. Maybe hearing the word "Oriental" carries the same connotations for Asian people.
Interesting article about "Orientals" and "Asians"
http://www.asianchamber.org/viewArticle.php?articleId=40
See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental
2006-08-15 18:23:28 · answer #1 · answered by BabyRN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some do, and as usual with such offended nature, there isn't a 'specific' reason why that covers ALL of the possible individual reasonings used. Being offended by ANY simplistic terms of separation into race, or creed follows too many elements of shallow ignorance, or perhaps blatant stupidity.
2006-08-15 18:07:24 · answer #2 · answered by friojc 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I didn't know they would get offended. I work with a lot of asians and I'm pretty sure they don't get offended with the word oriental. In what area do you live?
2006-08-15 17:54:53 · answer #3 · answered by Art The Wise 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm from japan and I don't get offended with it. I think its normal.
But what i dont like is that when they come up to me and say are you chinese? I prefer to be asked Where are you from?or something like that, but as long as theres no obvious insult, imokay with pretty much everything.
2006-08-15 17:59:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
im asain and i think that oriental is kinda annoying to me because it makes me think of caucasian people from disney that make stuff that they hear from books. and the books come from the asain people that explain the culture, and the person that explains the culture is normally young and hears the wrong thing or exaggerates and when they hear the right thing they say, "screw it"
2006-08-15 19:00:43 · answer #5 · answered by cs313 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. Its pretty same like saying latinos for mexicans or something.. african-americans for blacks
2006-08-15 17:56:34 · answer #6 · answered by rhkenji 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no well no
2006-08-15 17:58:56 · answer #7 · answered by Eun-eun 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋