UK people generally use 'Asian' to refer to Indians and Pakistanis.
The Americans mean people from Korea, etc etc.
It makes no odds to me where anyone comes from, but why the difference in meaning?
2007-02-28 06:04:02 · 8 answers · asked by O Kay Sojaden 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Sorry rowdy, you're wong. I agree that the term SHOULD refer to anyone Asian. The FACT is that Americans rarely refer to someone from India or Pakistan as 'Asian', where as the British do not usually call someone from Korea 'Asian'. I've lived 10 years in the US and 22 in the UK, and am of Asian descent, so I know this to be a fact, in terms of general usage.
2007-02-28 06:37:00 · update #1
nurgle69, I am British too. You may well do so but this doesn't account for the majority of the public.
2007-02-28 06:37:57 · update #2
Maybe it's because in the U.K. there is a large population of Indian and Pakistinis and not as many Koreans, Japanese etc. Wheras in the U.S.A it seems to be the opposite way round so people just use the term Asian for a race of people they most identify with.
2007-02-28 06:09:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
we are saying: excursion bus you're saying: Charabanc (can not spell it) Ballpoint pen Birol bathing room, john lavatory Trunk (vehicle) Boot Sausage Bangers German Shepherd Alsatian plenty extra yet my mind is too fuzzy. Plus, you've a Queen and PM; we've a dictator. P.S. what's Toad-in-the-hollow?
2016-12-05 01:47:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really Asian isn't a great word to use. It is such a massive continent with so many people i n it just one simple word is not enough. I always try to refer to the individuals particular country of origin if I can.
2007-02-28 06:52:31 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tutu has a point. I've lived in both countries as well and she is, generally speaking, right in her observation of the use of the word. I agree with the first answer.
2007-02-28 06:40:17 · answer #4 · answered by Wildamberhoney 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I never knew that, but anyways I think both of them are "asian"
2007-02-28 06:09:55 · answer #5 · answered by 21questions 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Because British people think highly of them selves and anyone who is not British are either considered American or Asian to them. The British don't care where the other race is from. They figure since they have dark skin and dark features then they must be Asian, because to them, they are not dark enough, and their hair is not thick enough to be African.
2007-02-28 06:11:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 7⤋
There isn't - to everyone it means someone from Asia. It's all down to whom you have the most dealings with.
2007-02-28 06:09:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
I personally refer to japs and korens as asians and I am myself british
2007-02-28 06:10:05 · answer #8 · answered by nurgle69 7 · 0⤊ 6⤋