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I realize India was a British colony, but why does the British census use "Asian" to refer only to Indians, yet the American census uses "Asian" to refer to anyone from Asia, whether Indian or Oriental? Perhaps the "Asian" in the UK census really should be called "immigrants from the former colonies on the Indian Subcontinent" but is kept at "Asian" to be short? Even then, since the UK also ruled Hong Kong and other East Asian societies, I'm surprised "British Asian" can't be used to refer to people from the East Asian colonies.
On another subject, while "Indian" at one time was a perfectly good name for Native Americans, I really think Americans ought to stop using the word "Indian" in that sense. In colonial times there was nothing wrong with this use of the word, but it's become a source of confusion since Indian immigration (yes, from India) to the US and Canada started to happen in large numbers.
OP, the term "Oriental" fell out of favor sometime back in the 1980's, and definitely by the 1990's. Precisely because it has a colonial air to it. It's very Uncool, now. I suggest you get with the times. I say this in friendly admonishment.
Really, you can't go around referring to East Asians as "Orientals" in this day and age. And if you did allow such a designation, where would that leave the Mongols, Tibetans, Uzbeks and other Central Asians (mostly Turkics), not to mention--North Asians (Siberians) and Middle Easterners (Afghans, Persians, etc.)? Or don't people who belong to the Indo-European/Indo-Iranian family count as "Asians"? See how complex and problematic these broad categorizations can become?
OP, the Empire is over. Face it. The world has moved on. We'd be happy to have you join us, though, if you could meet us halfway, as it were.
Edit: Oops! Old thread. OP's last activity was in 2017. Oh well.
Last edited by Ruth4Truth; 12-26-2020 at 11:02 AM..
I had no idea that Indians are referred to as Asians in the UK. Here in Canada, I think many, if not most people, would be confused. I don't know if the average person considers India or Indians to be Asians honestly.
Right. Most of them belong to the Indo-European family.
The term "South Asian" is almost never heard in the USA.
I use the term "South Asian", because I work in Native American affairs. "South Asian" avoids a lot of misunderstandings. And it's accurate. It also isn't a racial term, like "Asian"; it's a geographic one, which includes Pakistanis.
The British do not, and never have only referred to Indians as Asians, I'm British I do not and never have considered 'Asians' to mean 'only Indian', I'm not sure where this particular idea has come from!?
It's the same in Canada. Oriental reflects back to the days when " Orientals " didn't have the right to vote, own property and were charged a head tax to enter Canada.
It's a loaded word historically, for some.
“For some†is the key phrase. For others, not so much. I have Asian friends who prefer the term “Orientalâ€, pointing out that “Asian†is a sterile geographic reference, while “Oriental†has cultural resonance independent of what Occidental revisionist lexicographers would have us think.
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Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth
OP, the term "Oriental" fell out of favor sometime back in the 1980's, and definitely by the 1990's. Precisely because it has a colonial air to it. It's very Uncool, now. I suggest you get with the times. I say this in friendly admonishment.
Really, you can't go around referring to East Asians as "Orientals" in this day and age. And if you did allow such a designation, where would that leave the Mongols, Tibetans, Uzbeks and other Central Asians (mostly Turkics), not to mention--North Asians (Siberians) and Middle Easterners (Afghans, Persians, etc.)? Or don't people who belong to the Indo-European/Indo-Iranian family count as "Asians"? See how complex and problematic these broad categorizations can become?
OP, the Empire is over. Face it. The world has moved on. We'd be happy to have you join us, though, if you could meet us halfway, as it were.
Edit: Oops! Old thread. OP's last activity was in 2017. Oh well.
You're right about Oriental. In fact, I became aware that it was considered an insult in the early 70s.
As a Black American, I prefer the term "Black" as I've never been to Africa and I'm at least 6 generations removed.
Well in America, blacks don't get to decide what they are called. Whites on the left demand that whites on the right use certain terms, under penalty of being cancelled, and everyone else just has to go along with it. On a positive note though, as a black person you do get to use the N word if you want to, especially when rapping.
As far as British use of the term Asian goes, I always thought it was used to refer to people from the middle east and sometimes India, while in the States it is usually used to refer to east Asians. Didn't know Oriental was offensive until my woke sister informed me a few years ago. I think it's another case of a term being more offensive to leftist whites than to the actual people the term refers to though. Some folks seem to have made almost a religion out of being offended.
Well in America, blacks don't get to decide what they are called. Whites on the left demand that whites on the right use certain terms, under penalty of being cancelled, and everyone else just has to go along with it. On a positive note though, as a black person you do get to use the N word if you want to, especially when rapping.
As far as British use of the term Asian goes, I always thought it was used to refer to people from the middle east and sometimes India, while in the States it is usually used to refer to east Asians. Didn't know Oriental was offensive until my woke sister informed me a few years ago. I think it's another case of a term being more offensive to leftist whites than to the actual people the term refers to though. Some folks seem to have made almost a religion out of being offended.
In the UK the term 'Asian' is used to describe anybody
I realize India was a British colony, but why does the British census use "Asian" to refer only to Indians, yet the American census uses "Asian" to refer to anyone from Asia, whether Indian or Oriental? Perhaps the "Asian" in the UK census really should be called "immigrants from the former colonies on the Indian Subcontinent" but is kept at "Asian" to be short? Even then, since the UK also ruled Hong Kong and other East Asian societies, I'm surprised "British Asian" can't be used to refer to people from the East Asian colonies.
On another subject, while "Indian" at one time was a perfectly good name for Native Americans, I really think Americans ought to stop using the word "Indian" in that sense. In colonial times there was nothing wrong with this use of the word, but it's become a source of confusion since Indian immigration (yes, from India) to the US and Canada started to happen in large numbers.
Well first of all, Native Americans themselves like to be called "Indian", so, bring it up with them. Will add to that, throughout history, words have changed, gained and dropped meanings.
As for the classification, any classification is for political purposes only, no more, no less. Asking why one country classifies different than another, well, they have differing political reasons.
Well first of all, Native Americans themselves like to be called "Indian", so, bring it up with them. Will add to that, throughout history, words have changed, gained and dropped meanings.
As for the classification, any classification is for political purposes only, no more, no less. Asking why one country classifies different than another, well, they have differing political reasons.
Many do. My niece is married to a guy who's Maidu (Northern California tribe) and he and his whole extended family refer to themselves as Indian, not Native-American.
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