Abbreviated National Names

[Janx]

FWIW I'm of the firm belief that if a group of people find a certain name or term offensive then it is offensive, regardless of what outsiders think.

By that reasononing, group offense taking would obliterate our language as each declares offense over trivial matters and exercise their right to force others to submit to censorship.

Offensiveness needs to be measured by the context and intent to injure or insult. Not by a person or group claiming that the phrase offends them.

this is the difference between giving offense, and taking offense.

 

[Morrus]

The same way I and many others in the forum used "Brits," "Yanks," and even "Germs." Oh, and "Sovs" for Soviet Russians. Heck, some folks even used "Limeys," "Krauts," and "Ruskies."

I don't know if it helps, but I'm not keen on being referred to as a "Brit" and I don't like being referred to as a "Limey" at all.

Germans I've met find "Kraut" offensive; but I don't know how representative of Germans as a whole that is. Chinese people definitely find "Chinks" offensive, and those from Pakistan without doubt find their particular abbreviation offensive.

Dunno. Do Americans find "Septics" offensive?

 

[Janx]

I don't know if it helps, but I'm not keen on being referred to as a "Brit" and I don't like being referred to as a "Limey" at all.

Germans I've met find "Kraut" offensive; but I don't know how representative of Germans as a whole that is. Chinese people definitely find "Chinks" offensive, and those from Pakistan without doubt find their particular abbreviation offensive.

Dunno. Do Americans find "Septics" offensive?

In your examples, there's differentiation.

Brit is a shortening of Brittish or Brittain. So is Sov or Jap.

Kraut refers to sauer kraut, alluding to a cultural food.

I'd have to look up what Limey referenced.

I have no clue how Septic would relate to America.

But there's a world of difference in a shortening a nation name and using a typically deragotory slang.

Culturally, americans shorten up names of people and places all the time. Recipients may be offended, but that's just how we speak.

One should be offended by the time we rounded up those people and put them in a camp, or lit their house on fire and drove them out of town, or blamed them for the lack of jobs, or the bad economy. Not by a simple shortening of a name. One is a matter of right and wrong, the other is a matter of wounded pride over an imagined slight.

Choose which one to war over.

 

[Bullgrit]

I don't know if it helps, but I'm not keen on being referred to as a "Brit" and I don't like being referred to as a "Limey" at all.

I've never seen or heard the abbreviated form of "British" meant as anything but simply an abbreviation. Is there something offensive to the British with abbreviating it? Or is it something to do with grouping the English/Welsh/Scottish into one term? Or is there some other connotation with the it?

The citrus reference I can understand that it could be offensive, mostly because I think it was somewhat meant to be offensive when it was originally coined a couple centuries ago. But every time I've heard/read it, it seemed to be used in a good-natured way. Like calling the U.S., "the colonies."

Do Americans find "Septics" offensive?

Never heard that reference. Is that something real? It doesn't even seem relevant.

I've read some misunderstandings of 'mer'can where some thought it was calling Americans the pubic covering rather than just an over-done accent. It's kind of funny when two people hear the term and one thinks it's a funny exaggerated accent and the other thinks it's an offensive insult.

How about the well-known nickname for Australians and New Zealanders? Are they considered offensive? I've never read or heard them used with any apparent offense intended, but they aren't even abbreviations.

Bullgrit

 

[Morrus]

Never heard that reference. Is that something real? It doesn't even seem relevant.

Fairly common bit of cockney rhyming slang which - like many bits - went mainstream. I hear it frequently.

Yank - Septic Tank - Septic.

 

[Relique du Madde]

Fairly common bit of cockney rhyming slang which - like many bits - went mainstream. I hear it frequently.

Yank - Septic Tank - Septic.

Cockney... explains why we don't know of that one.

It is somewhat stupid and appropriate (considering we don't set a high bar on certain issues). Then again, it's ironic a since many of us consider most of the world to be an open sewer.

 

[Jan van Leyden]

Germans I've met find "Kraut" offensive; but I don't know how representative of Germans as a whole that is.

Calling me a "Kraut" wouldn't exactly place you on the good side. Even the term "Krautrock" for German rock music is seen as derogative. You British people should be prepared to be called "Inselaffe" in return.

 

[ahayford]

Culturally, americans shorten up names of people and places all the time. Recipients may be offended, but that's just how we speak.

This is largely, bullcrap. I am American, and do not do this as just a mater of course. And even if we did, it wouldn't excuse the use of a term that some people find offensive or hurtfull.

Just because you do not consciously wish malice with a word you are using, it doesn't obliterate the previous historical use of the word. If the person you are referring to you with a certain slang finds that term offensive or derogatory....you are welcome to continue doing so...but be prepared to be thought of as a douche bag. Its not about censorship. Its about not being jerk to other people. If that meens not using your favorite racial slur, maybe thats ok ya?

 

[Janx]

Fairly common bit of cockney rhyming slang which - like many bits - went mainstream. I hear it frequently.

Yank - Septic Tank - Septic.

So it's like that rhyming guy on Ocean's Elven. Who had a brittish accent.

That's obscure. To which once an american inquired, he'd indignantly exclaim,
"you can't call me that! I'm an American!"

And then be percieved as an a typical american jerk again.

So it can't be helped. We'll keep shortening your countries names, you'll take offense.

Yet we will still send troops to help you, the next time your neighbor starts a full on war with you. Just like we have before.

 

[Morrus]

We will drop the political rhetoric IMMEDIATELY. I hope that is clear.