Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 01:11:15 -0500

From: "M. Lynne Murphy" 104LYN[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MUSE.ARTS.WITS.AC.ZA

Subject: Re: Asian



On Tue, 12 Mar 1996, Ron Rabin wrote:



Has the meaning of Asian changed recently in American English?

When Oriental became no longer PC, Asian was substituted. Does Asian

now mean what Oriental used to mean whatever Asian used to mean before

this substitution? Ideas?



well, i don't know if this is an actual _change_ in meaning, but

often in u.s. "asian" means "east asian." so, if you're an indian

person filling out a census or affirmative acation form, there can be

some confusion about whether you're an "asian/pacific islander" or

"caucasian". of course, you're both, except on the reading of

"caucasian" (not to be found in most dictionaries, but to be found

all over in actual use) that really means "white of European descent."



hence, people say things like "he has asian eyes"--meaning he has an

epicanthic (sp?) fold--which, of course, you don't have if you're

from the south asian subcontinent.



lynne



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