The opposite of an ethnic slur
March 16, 2011 9:53 AM Subscribe
We're all familiar with ethnic slurs, but the ethnic name "Sherpa" has acquired the generic meaning of "guide" or "special assistant," particularly in diplomatic parlance as related to summit conferences such as the G8 and G20, where heads of state bring along "sherpas" as personal envoys and advisors (examples: 1 2 3). What other ethnic terms have acquired positive, politically correct secondary meanings?
Guru
posted by k8t at 9:58 AM on March 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by k8t at 9:58 AM on March 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
A mandarin has come to mean any high ranking official.
posted by bonobothegreat at 9:59 AM on March 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by bonobothegreat at 9:59 AM on March 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
That's tricky territory, because these terms having acquired "positive, politically correct secondary meanings" is in the eye of the beholder.
Positive, for one thing. Diplomats may use the term "sherpa" in a positive sense, but for many people the term connotes what is essentially a human beast of burden. I wouldn't be thrilled to have a boss refer to me as "my sherpa."
Politically correct, for another. These terms may be appropriated by the culture at large, but that doesn't mean they're politically correct. One person's "politically correct" is another person's "ignorant of the underlying history."
For example a lot of people are unaware that the term "Indian Summer" leverages the phrase "Indian giver." Or that the term "gyp" refers to the Romany people (a.k.a. gypsies).
posted by ErikaB at 10:01 AM on March 16, 2011 [6 favorites]
Positive, for one thing. Diplomats may use the term "sherpa" in a positive sense, but for many people the term connotes what is essentially a human beast of burden. I wouldn't be thrilled to have a boss refer to me as "my sherpa."
Politically correct, for another. These terms may be appropriated by the culture at large, but that doesn't mean they're politically correct. One person's "politically correct" is another person's "ignorant of the underlying history."
For example a lot of people are unaware that the term "Indian Summer" leverages the phrase "Indian giver." Or that the term "gyp" refers to the Romany people (a.k.a. gypsies).
posted by ErikaB at 10:01 AM on March 16, 2011 [6 favorites]
Diplomats may use the term "sherpa" in a positive sense, but for many people the term connotes what is essentially a human beast of burden.
The people who lug the stuff are just called porters. Sherpas are highly skilled guides and mountaineers. It would make sense, linguistically, for a guide at a summit to be called a Sherpa.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:12 AM on March 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
The people who lug the stuff are just called porters. Sherpas are highly skilled guides and mountaineers. It would make sense, linguistically, for a guide at a summit to be called a Sherpa.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:12 AM on March 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
While it's true that offensiveness is subjective, ErikaB, that doesn't mean there aren't consensuses about what is and isn't likely to be meant and heard in good faith.
How about "Yankee," as in "Yankee ingenuity?"
In case it's also interesting, "Brother" or "Sister" is sort of an example of the reverse -- originally a positive non-ethnic term, now with non-derogatory ethnic associations.
posted by foursentences at 10:14 AM on March 16, 2011
How about "Yankee," as in "Yankee ingenuity?"
In case it's also interesting, "Brother" or "Sister" is sort of an example of the reverse -- originally a positive non-ethnic term, now with non-derogatory ethnic associations.
posted by foursentences at 10:14 AM on March 16, 2011
I think "mandarin" is similar to several other terms denoting someone with high status, wealth and (primarily) power. See nabob or czar/tsar, along with the definition of mandarin.
Interestingly, all of these have come to mean "high ranking official" in some way or another, but they certainly carry particular connotations (which I wouldn't necessarily say are positive). "Nabob" is often heard as part of "nattering nabob," and it seems similar to the use of "mandarin" as not just an official but a bureaucrat. "Czar" implies all-encompassing power, but also a certain degree of ruthlessness. In all cases, however, the connotation of power seems to usurp the other implications.
posted by Madamina at 10:14 AM on March 16, 2011
Interestingly, all of these have come to mean "high ranking official" in some way or another, but they certainly carry particular connotations (which I wouldn't necessarily say are positive). "Nabob" is often heard as part of "nattering nabob," and it seems similar to the use of "mandarin" as not just an official but a bureaucrat. "Czar" implies all-encompassing power, but also a certain degree of ruthlessness. In all cases, however, the connotation of power seems to usurp the other implications.
posted by Madamina at 10:14 AM on March 16, 2011
Tsar/czar? It's usually a pretty neutral term though, not specifically positive, but not negative either as far as I can tell.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 10:15 AM on March 16, 2011
posted by EndsOfInvention at 10:15 AM on March 16, 2011
"Brahmin" is an ethnically-correlated Indian caste that now connotes intelligence and power.
posted by foursentences at 10:17 AM on March 16, 2011
posted by foursentences at 10:17 AM on March 16, 2011
"Bohemian," now meaning "hip, young, countercultural, and artsy."
"Goth," now meaning "inclined to anachronistic black clothing."
posted by foursentences at 10:27 AM on March 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
"Goth," now meaning "inclined to anachronistic black clothing."
posted by foursentences at 10:27 AM on March 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
Bohemian's been meaning artsy and young for over a century. La Boheme.
posted by Ideefixe at 10:37 AM on March 16, 2011
posted by Ideefixe at 10:37 AM on March 16, 2011
A little different spin -- Solon was a person, and a "solon" is a older term for a legislator or bureaucrat. The word even gets used as a sports team nickname.
Similarly, Don is an honorific title that was also used as a sports team nickname. But of course, it has both positive and negative connotations, depending on your viewpoint.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:40 AM on March 16, 2011
Similarly, Don is an honorific title that was also used as a sports team nickname. But of course, it has both positive and negative connotations, depending on your viewpoint.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:40 AM on March 16, 2011
Samaritan is a funny one, because the story of the Good Samaritan is not premised on the essential goodness of the Samaritans, but rather on the exceptionalness of finding a Samaritan who is Good. Many Jews did not get along with the Samaritans at the time, so there was extra punch in a story about a Samaritan who would treat the audience better than the audience might treat him.
Imagine a parable about "the Good Republican" on MeFi, for example.
posted by Sticherbeast at 10:53 AM on March 16, 2011 [5 favorites]
Imagine a parable about "the Good Republican" on MeFi, for example.
posted by Sticherbeast at 10:53 AM on March 16, 2011 [5 favorites]
Scotch (e.g. scotch tape)
posted by bottlebrushtree at 11:54 AM on March 16, 2011
posted by bottlebrushtree at 11:54 AM on March 16, 2011
Response by poster: Great suggestions — to clarify "ethnic terms", I'm referring to words describing groups of people — nationalities, tribes, races, clans. Lots of the suggestions meet that definition, but things like chief, rabbi, sultan and czar are titles of rank or profession, not ethnic groups.
posted by beagle at 12:01 PM on March 16, 2011
posted by beagle at 12:01 PM on March 16, 2011
the term "mormon" was originally an insult. the church of jesus christ of latter day saints still struggles with its relationship with the word, but they aren't as opposed to it as they once were (going so far to call one of their newer PR campaigns "what's a mormon?"). now it's just the word that describes the people, like baptists or catholics.
posted by nadawi at 12:17 PM on March 16, 2011
posted by nadawi at 12:17 PM on March 16, 2011
Given that a "yenta" is a gossip or a nag, I'm gonna have to say that it's not exactly a positive term.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 3:49 PM on March 16, 2011
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 3:49 PM on March 16, 2011
Response by poster: So far (eliminating suggestions which are not ethnic groups as such, correct me if I've missed one), we've got:
Magi (Zoroastrians, has come to mean "wise men")
Mandarin (speakers of Chinese dialect, has come to mean high-ranking officials)
Yankee (New Englanders, has come to mean thrifty or ingenious people)
Brahmin (members of Indian caste, has come to mean wielders of power or intelligence)
Bohemian (residents of Bohemia, has come to mean hip, countercultural, artsy)
Goth (Germanic tribe, now means adherent to post-punk subculture given to particular aesthetic including dark clothing etc.)
Samaritan (Middle Eastern tribe, has come to mean person who stops to help the injured regardless of status)
Gurkha (Nepali tribe known for bravery an strength — although I'm not sure this has another generic meaning)
posted by beagle at 5:11 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Magi (Zoroastrians, has come to mean "wise men")
Mandarin (speakers of Chinese dialect, has come to mean high-ranking officials)
Yankee (New Englanders, has come to mean thrifty or ingenious people)
Brahmin (members of Indian caste, has come to mean wielders of power or intelligence)
Bohemian (residents of Bohemia, has come to mean hip, countercultural, artsy)
Goth (Germanic tribe, now means adherent to post-punk subculture given to particular aesthetic including dark clothing etc.)
Samaritan (Middle Eastern tribe, has come to mean person who stops to help the injured regardless of status)
Gurkha (Nepali tribe known for bravery an strength — although I'm not sure this has another generic meaning)
posted by beagle at 5:11 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Trojans, regarded as hard-working or industrious - as in the (slightly old-fashioned phrased) "work like a Trojan".
posted by Electric Dragon at 5:49 PM on March 16, 2011
posted by Electric Dragon at 5:49 PM on March 16, 2011
My friends describe people with highly developed technical skills as 'ninjas':
'Man, that drummer is a total ninja'.
'Ask Leon abou that lease, he's a property law ninja'.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 7:38 PM on March 16, 2011
'Man, that drummer is a total ninja'.
'Ask Leon abou that lease, he's a property law ninja'.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 7:38 PM on March 16, 2011
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posted by k8t at 9:58 AM on March 16, 2011