Shortening names

[LeedsRhinos]

This is a genuine question and is not intented to offend or stir things up. I have been listening to various media over the past few weeks and noticed people were referred to by shortened names of their country of origin e.g. Brits, Swedes , Danes, Ozzies Fins etc and then it dawned on me that if you did the same to someone from Pakistan you could be prosecuted. Why is this?

[Quizmonster]

'Stan' means 'land'. So, Afghanistan = Land of the Afghans, Baluchistan = Land of the Baluchis and so on. 'Pakistan' is an exception, though the 'stan' part still means 'land'. This name was created by Choudhary Rehmat Ali, a Muslim intellectual, as long ago as 1933. He used the initial letters of the regions that finally went to make up the country at its foundation in the late 1940s. It could, in theory, have been called 'Kapistan', 'Apkistan' etc. As luck would have it, however, Pakistan meant 'Land of the Pure', so that is the combination that he chose.

It does not, in other words, mean 'Land of the P's'! That is, it is not an abbreviation in the same way as 'Brit' from 'Britain/Briton' is. (Obviously, I have not spelt the last word out, as AnswerBank does not permit it, as I understand it.)

[Booldawg]

It is natural, in any language, to shorten words. I'm not quite sure why 'the P word' is seen as derogoraty towards the people of Pakistan as it follows the same convention as Brit, Scot, Dane and all the others you mentioned. Possibly because the term is generally associated with the extreme right and regarded as a racist taunt, but then again I don't see why the shortening of Pakistani can't be used in a non-racist context.

[jno]

for the same reason as nagger can't be used in a non-racist context (or appear on AB, so I've changed the vowel), I guess: it's been used so long and so offensively that you can't just say it and add 'No offence, of course!' because it does cause offence.

[maxximus]

p=pushtan, a=afghan, k=kazat, i=indian

[WaldoMcFroog]

Quizmonster's answer is fascinating!

In addition to that, I would add that it's an issue of cultural resonance. In the US, I believe the term 'Pa_ki' ('scuse Bowdlerisation!) is used without any offence either meant or taken. In the UK, where the term was used as one of abuse, it has completely different connotations.

[sp1814]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - Quizmonster is the cleverest person on the Answerbank.

He may deny it, but it's true.

[anotheoldgit]

It is so certain minority groups can have a little more control over our once free speech. They openly admit that it perfectly alright to use the N word between themselves. Can anyone think of anything that is banned in case it causes offence to the indigenous population?

[Gromit]

The term 'P@ki shop' appears to be in gerenal usage (I don't use it) and is usually uttered without any racist slur intended. Yet certain 'Only fools and Horses' episodes are no longer shown because they use the term.

[Gromit]

The term 'P@ki shop' appears to be in gerenal usage (I don't use it) and is usually uttered without any racist slur intended. Yet certain 'Only fools and Horses' episodes are no longer shown because they use the term.

[Dizzieblonde]

Following on from anotheoldgit's post, does anyone know if the words 'pak*' and 'n**ger/a' banned, or illegal in some way, just out of interest? Or are they just a bit of a social faux pas?

[jno]

I believe saying nagger is thought offensive by most of the indigenous population, oldgit - including the black ones.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Dear Reactionary Old Git of Tunbridge Wells,

Who is this homogenous group 'they' to which you refer?

There is a lot of debate in the black community over the acceptability of using the 'N' word, and any notions that their could conceivably be a plot by 'them' to restrict 'your' free speech are both laughable and paranoid. In any case, the use of the word in some sections of the black community occured as a (so-called) reclamation of the term. The following link has more about the issue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/******#Revisionis t_usage

[sp1814]

anotheoldgit

The word 'P*ki' has always, always, always been offensive. Can you ever remember a time when you could reasonably shout out in the street, "Excuse me...you over there...you P*ki?'

Seriously. It was always offensive wasn't it?

[sp1814]

anotheoldgit,

"hey openly admit that it perfectly alright to use the N word between themselves"

That is simply not true.

In this country, that word is NEVER, EVER used amongst black people. I'm a black man, and I know this as a fact. We do not use that term. It may be used amongst young black men in America, but not in the UK.

Ever.

Please comment, but try not to spread untruths, because it sullies the debate and confuses the issue.

[Dom Tuk]

Sorry to be a little bit pernickity but 'stan' pronounced as 'sthan' could also mean place and not land (although you could argue that they refer to the same thing). So rajasthan in India is a place of Rajhas (kings). It depends on whether you are a sanskrit or a persian speaker.

a brief wikipedia entry

The suffix -stan or -sthan is Persian for "land of" and Sanskrit for "place".

It appears in the names of many countries and regions, especially in central Asia and the Indian subcontinent which are the areas where ancient Indo-Iranian people were first established. Persian and related languages have been cited as having significant influence. "-Sthan" is the equivalent to the Latin ending -ia and the Germanic -land.

[Booldawg]

to be honest I'm tired of being refered to as an 'infidel' but that word gets put in print everyday.

[neenynanu]

Infidel just means 'one without faith'. I don't mind being called one cos I am an Atheist. I am without faith!

Sorry, completely off topic.

Anyway.

[admarlow]

Source:Wikipedia

In Islam, the Arabic word kafir (كافر) refers to non-Muslims, frequently with a derogatory sense [2], and is usually translated into English as "infidel" or "unbeliever". The Turkish equivalent of "kafir" is giaour.

[claireyfairy]

Maybe not black men sp1814 but there were two young black women on a TV (oka chat show!) a few months ago and they referred to each other as 'nagger' (as we are saying).

Although, black people in music are not actually allowed to say 'the N word' themselves (the song 'golddigger' is edited on the radio.)

[Quizmonster]

Thanks for your comment, Sp 1814...you really are too kind.