2007-01-21 13:58:24 · 17 answers · asked by James 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I don't think it should be - to me it's like saying European. They are from the orient so they are oriental. I have heard folks say "rugs are oriental, people are asian" but I always think "good chocolates are european and so are the people who come from there".
I wonder what other's will say. It would be nice to hear it from the mouth of a person from Japan or China, wouldn't it? It always seems like white people speculating upon what another might find offensive.
Peace!
2007-01-21 14:02:55 · answer #1 · answered by carole 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course it is NOT discriminatory to call someone Oriental. It is a bit old fashion, but if they take offense this is a good sign that you need to have nothing more to do with them.
Israelis and Turkish are Asians, but they are NOT Orientals. I suppose that Indians and Pakistanis are Orientals, but I would always refer to them as Asians. If you are from the Orient then why are you not oriental?
I think of Orientals as being of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean descent.
2007-01-21 22:12:19 · answer #2 · answered by plezurgui 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Asia encompasses a large area and similarly, large groups of people who are neither oriental or such. For me, oriental means things or cultures that originate from North East Asia. But I don't think calling people oriental is wrong. It's just seldom used.
2007-01-21 22:08:14 · answer #3 · answered by Wookiee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Just stupid. There is NO SUCH THING AS ORIENTAL PEOPLE.
The Orient is a geographical land mass that stretches out from Turkey to Mongolia - 'oriental' does not denote a tribe of people.
There is an 'oriental' style. We have oriental lampshades, oriental rugs and oriental elephants - but no oriental people.
Asian people are ASIATIC - not 'oriental'.
It's like me calling an American an "Americana" or me as an Australian as being an "Oceanic". Oceania is a geographical body of water, not a country, nationality or a people.
I am Australian - not Australasian or Oceanic or Pacifica.
Get me?
2007-01-21 22:02:52 · answer #4 · answered by Ashley 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sort of because oriental is the art style from asia EX oriental plates, rugs, ect. oriental is used to describe the thing part of noun not the people. the people are asian or better yet PEOPLE u asshole
2007-01-21 22:01:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I went to college we were told that saying "oriental" was not acceptable. Asian-American is better. Ask someone that is Asian and get the right answer.
2007-01-21 22:04:58 · answer #6 · answered by Ms. T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They reside in the orient..Europeans live in Europe. Americans are westerners.
I see no possible problem.
2007-01-21 22:05:05 · answer #7 · answered by bonsai bobby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that it is "discriminatory", but I believe that they prefer the term "Asian".
Have a nice day.
.
2007-01-21 22:01:38 · answer #8 · answered by Weird Darryl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not discriminatory, just REALLY old fashioned!
The modern term is Asian.
2007-01-21 22:02:07 · answer #9 · answered by tropical 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only british call asians oriental
the word asian in england refers to Hindu people
2007-01-21 22:18:27 · answer #10 · answered by OK guy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋