I used the word "oriental" to describe something the other day and got a weird reaction.What's up?
2007-01-05 13:38:47 · 10 answers · asked by lunachick 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It is rude if talking about a person. A person is not Oriental, they are Asian. If talking about something about the culture, its still wierd. Use Asian instead. When talking about an object, Oriental is acceptable though, just used less often.
2007-01-05 13:42:29 · answer #1 · answered by ~∂Їβ~ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm...maybe the person you were talking to didn't realize that there are a LOT of other countries in Asia that would never be construed as Oriental.
Here'a a list of all the countries in Asia:
Afghanistan | Armenia | Azerbaijan | Bahrain | Bangladesh | Bhutan | Brunei | Cambodia | China | Cyprus | East Timor | Egypt | Gaza Strip | Georgia | India | Indonesia | Iran | Iraq | Israel | Japan | Jordan | Kazakhstan | Kuwait | Kyrgyzstan | Laos | Lebanon | Malaysia | Maldives | Mongolia | Myanmar | Nepal | North Korea | Oman | Pakistan | Philippines | Qatar | Russia | Saudi Arabia | Singapore | South Korea | Sri Lanka | Syria | Taiwan | Tajikistan | Thailand | Turkey | Turkmenistan | United Arab Emirates | Uzbekistan | Vietnam | West Bank | Yemen
Central Asia
Kazakhstan | Kyrgyzstan | Mongolia | Tajikistan | Turkmenistan | Uzbekistan
East Asia
China | Japan | North Korea | South Korea | Taiwan
Southeast Asia
Brunei | Cambodia | East Timor | Indonesia | Laos | Malaysia | Myanmar | Philippines | Singapore | Thailand | Vietnam
South Asia
Bangladesh | Bhutan | India | Maldives | Nepal | Pakistan | Sri Lanka
Southwest Asia
Afghanistan | Armenia | Azerbaijan | Bahrain | Cyprus | Egypt | Gaza Strip | Georgia | Iran | Iraq | Israel | Jordan | Kuwait | Lebanon | Oman | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | Syria | Turkey | United Arab Emirates | West Bank | Yemen
North Asia consists of Siberia (Russia) only.
2007-01-05 13:47:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word Orient was a place named by the Europeans for the far off part of the east that was not explored by the Europeans. The reason Orient or Oriental is not PC is because there is no such thing as the "Orient". It was a far off mystical place named by the Europeans for China and most of the east.
2007-01-05 20:25:54 · answer #3 · answered by strong_intelligent_freedom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had this happen recently, too. Yes, it has become politically incorrect to say Oriental instead of Asian. Perhaps it was once used as a slam.
2007-01-05 14:18:21 · answer #4 · answered by Brigid O' Somebody 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Debra good answer! I'm from Vietnam, and I call the Asians orientals. But all orientals are not from Asia either. So how can one determine political correctness? Philipines are not in Asia. Somehow it seems the non "orientals" have determined what's politically correct, but we don't really care!
2007-01-05 13:52:54 · answer #5 · answered by Shelly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not so much a matter of political correctness, as it is a respect kind of thing. Oriental refers to someone from China or of Chinese descent. Asian or Asian American is the best way to describe someone if you are unsure of their country of origin.
2007-01-05 13:59:52 · answer #6 · answered by cosmichippo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-12-01 21:38:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are talking about a person, yes. Material items (rugs, vases, etc) are Oriental, people are Asian.
2007-01-05 13:46:44 · answer #8 · answered by Mariposa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nothing wrong to use "oriental" to apply to things and "Asian" - to the people.
2007-01-05 13:49:56 · answer #9 · answered by PikC 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't think of a time it would be.
2007-01-05 13:52:51 · answer #10 · answered by ericscribener 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋