Jap

[Jonathan Lighter]

"Brit," however, has never been a recognized slur in this country.

In parts of Ireland, it undoubtedly is.

Q. Why does the sun never set on the British Empire?  A. Because God doesn't trust the Brits in the dark.  [Irish musician in Knoxville, ca.1982].

JL

"Mullins, Bill" <Bill.Mullins at US.ARMY.MIL> wrote:
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Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: "Mullins, Bill"
Subject: Re: Jap
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The OED definition: "Colloquial abbreviation of Japanese" with a
statement that the word has strong derogatory connotations. Like you, I
don't find an explicit slur in the cites below. However, I was in the
process of searching for information on Japanese magicians of the era,
and many descriptions of the Japanese are paternalistic, if not
insulting, and there is no doubt that it was acceptable to be racist in
print. Slurs abound explicitly. My definition, using "slur", was a
quick-and-dirty attempt to make clear the word I was antedating, and was
also meant to encode the fact that I am aware this is now a taboo word.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society
> [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Mark A. Mandel
> Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 4:04 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: Jap
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: "Mark A. Mandel"
> Subject: Re: Jap
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------
>
> "Mullins, Bill" sez:
> >>>
> Jap -- slur for Japanese -- OED has ca. 1880
>
> (used in article title only) "The Japanese Embassy. From
> the Japanese on their way home. News of the Niagra. What
> the Japs think of their visit to America." New York Times;
> Aug 20, 1860; pg. 1 col 1.
>
>
> "Little "All Right" " New York Times; Aug 12, 1867; pg. 8 col 2.
>
> "It was the second troupe that arrived in Jersey City on
> Saturday, and with them the two much coveted Japs."
> <<<
>
> Was it intended as a slur in these cites? It isn't evident
> (to me at least).
>
>
> mark by hand
>


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