Comments on: Oops! “Chinaman,” Says Lousiana Sportscaster In Reference To Guan Tianlang

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:35:44 +0000

“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.

By: Chinese Netizen

Chinese Netizen — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 06:54:20 +0000

“Coolie” would have been better

By: SeaHorse

SeaHorse — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:16:40 +0000

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!

By: Anthony Tao

Anthony Tao — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:05:24 +0000

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.

By: ick

ick — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:49:12 +0000

…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.