“Golfer from China.” “Chinese golfer.” “Asian.” Hell, just stick with “14-year-old.”
“Chinaman”?
“Dude, Chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature,” notes Timothy Burke of Deadspin, who pulled the above clip from a newscast in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Apology forthcoming in 3… 2….
Guang Tianlang, by the way, finished his debut Masters tournament at 12-over, alone in 58th place. Of the 61 players who made the cut, he’s the only one who will make no money, due to his amateur status. It’s pretty safe to say he’ll be back, and will take home boatloads of money in the future.
Louisiana TV Station Refers To Guan Tianlang As A “Chinaman” (Deadspin)
…Why is Chinaman regarded as offensive (as opposed to say French/Englishman)? There don’t seem to be many non tortuous alternatives (such forcing ‘Chinese’ to be a noun, or saying a Chinese citizen).
I assume it was a reaction against the conflation of ethnicity and nationality? Now I think about it the japanese are in the same boat so to speak.
A 19th century epithet in America. To the best of my knowledge, it’s not considered offensive in other Western countries. I imagine most people would shrug at hearing it in the US these days, or merely raise an eyebrow, though as always with these things, intent matters.
Well if Laowai (simply meaning guy-from-outside) can be considered an epitaph as some people have told me it constitutes as one, why not china-man. If anything it just sounds old. I mean what if someone called a New Yorker a Yankee, or an Indian and Injun. It might just be it just sounds so weird and wrong you have to wonder how old the speaker is. I mean I think I’d be offended if someone called me a dame but I can’t think of why dame is offensive aside from it’s not the 1920′s. So LINGUISTICS!
“Well if Laowai (simply meaning guy-from-outside) can be considered an epitaph as some people have told me it constitutes as one, why not china-man.”
Amen. What’s good for the Goose is good for the Gander. But don’t forget, it’s not just 老外… it’s, point, stare, 老外.. laugh for 20 minutes.. This is more like.. blah blah blah.. Chinaman, oops! I shouldn’t say that. A little different.
“Coolie” would have been better