> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Trinadtsat Tomitsu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: (OT) ethnic slurs - RE: [gundam] Q on Gundam: the Origin US 
> relea se
> Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 14:09:53 -0400
> 
> 
> On 23/05/06, Reynolds, Jason M. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > >>>>>>>>>>
> > First, before asking a question, do not use derogatory language against the
> > Japanese. Although I'm not Japanese, I do take offense to the term 'jap'.
> > >>>>>>>>>>>>
> 
> Jap is merely an abbreviation for Japanese. It was only considered a
> racial slur back in WWII days because it was used excessively by
> soldiers and propaganda, and they would often say the word in a
> hateful (or mildly hateful) tone. It's like calling someone named
> James "Jim".
> 

It's also not the most offensive shortened word for the Japanese that came out 
of WW2.  That honor goes to another three letter abbreviation loosely based on 
the Japanese pronunciation of their homeland (and presumeably the misreading by 
the uneducated of the attempts of linguists to spell that pronunciation in a 
fashion similar to the way that screwed up Chinese place-names in the West).

I have run into people who objected to the term 'Jap' for it's Japanese 
connotations, and even been called on it once.  So yes, it's something to keep 
in mind and be aware of.  I've never actually run into the anti-semitic variant 
of it in real life, although I have heard of it being used occasionally.


junior


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