Use of "JAP" in the UK
Hayashi Masayoshi
I have just a question, especially to those who live in the UK.
I routinely read another NG (r.a.s.f1) and sometimes find that
posts from UK use the word "Jap" when referring to Japanese. As far as I
know, that word is derogatory in the United States. So, I simply thought
that applies to British English. The other day, I read a British
magazine and I found that the word was used there too! That magazine, I
think, is not something which uses derogatory words. So that makes me
wonder whether or not "Jap" is used in a derogatory way in the UK.
Actually, how you people use that word?
Masayoshi Hayashi
P.S. I am a Japanese
Jon Claerbout
I am from US. I notice that British people often refer
to themselves as "Brits" and I think it is simply an
informal abbreviation. I suppose many young British
not knowing of Japanese formality or remembering wartime
hostility make the assumption that "Japs" like "Brits"
is a friendly informal abbreviation. Also must note that
British are famous for irreverent humor.
--
o ~
_-'\_ ~ Jon Claerbout: FREE BOOKS http://sepwww.stanford.edu/sep/prof
(*)<(*) ~ j...@sep.stanford.edu http://sepwww.stanford.edu/sep/jon
Andrew Kobayashi
As far as I can tell, the British do not use Japs in a degrogatory sense.
When they feel like being derogatory, they use "Nips".
Jon Claerbout <j...@hekla.Stanford.EDU> wrote in article
<5db3d5$9...@morrow.stanford.edu>...
Alan Gordon
Hayashi Masayoshi writes
> I have just a question, especially to those who live in the UK.
> I routinely read another NG (r.a.s.f1) and sometimes find that
> posts from UK use the word "Jap" when referring to Japanese. As far as I
> know, that word is derogatory in the United States. So, I simply
thought
> that applies to British English. The other day, I read a British
> magazine and I found that the word was used there too! That magazine, I
> think, is not something which uses derogatory words. So that makes me
> wonder whether or not "Jap" is used in a derogatory way in the UK.
> Actually, how you people use that word?
>
> Masayoshi Hayashi
> P.S. I am a Japanese
I think it is more just an abbreviation, just as we might expect americans
to call us "brits". It is not in itself derogatory, unless it is
obviously meant as such. In any case, very few people in britain hold
any ill feelings towards the japanese.
I would not use the term "Jap" myself though, and neither would most
magazines.
Alan
mike_n...@nortel-nsm.com
After following a thread such as this one, I appreciate and feel the
power of the Internet. This type of content is educational and valuable.
I think it benefits the both sides. Now we know that British people do
not have anything towards Japanese when they use the term "Jap." And
British people know what the term means to Japanese people. Off course,
I'm speaking in general.
Discussions like this one encourages me to browse through this newsgroup
even though there are topics that are filled with resentments and hates.
Netfalcon
Hayashi Masayoshi <4m...@qlink.queensu.ca> wrote in article
<5d5b8f$1...@knot.queensu.ca>...
> I have just a question, especially to those who live in the UK.
> I routinely read another NG (r.a.s.f1) and sometimes find that
> posts from UK use the word "Jap" when referring to Japanese. As far as I
> know, that word is derogatory in the United States. So, I simply thought
> that applies to British English. The other day, I read a British
> magazine and I found that the word was used there too! That magazine, I
> think, is not something which uses derogatory words. So that makes me
> wonder whether or not "Jap" is used in a derogatory way in the UK.
> Actually, how you people use that word?
shorten the word a bit, which doesn't seem too convincing to me.
> Masayoshi Hayashi
> P.S. I am a Japanese
Hayashi ? Do you live in Shizuoka ?
-> netfalcon <-
The Wrights
Alan Gordon wrote:
> In any case, very few people in britain hold
> any ill feelings towards the japanese.
>
> I would not use the term "Jap" myself though, and neither would most
> magazines.
>
> Alan
Upon the death of Emperor Hirohito, I remember one of the British
tabloids having a headline celebrating "The Evil End of The Evil
Emperor". The explanation was that Britain and the British had suffered
much more because of the Empire of Japan, and the British had much more
to be angry about than the Americans did.
Carl
Alan Gordon
Carl <ba...@lafn.org> writes
> Alan Gordon wrote:
> > In any case, very few people in britain hold
> > any ill feelings towards the japanese.
> tabloids having a headline celebrating "The Evil End of The Evil
> Emperor". The explanation was that Britain and the British had suffered
> much more because of the Empire of Japan, and the British had much more
> to be angry about than the Americans did.
And I remember a headline in a US tabloid, the National Enquirer, saying
that they had found Nessie (the Loch Ness monster). To my mind, this is
probably worth more than anything the Sun (british tabloid) says.
I'm sure what I said was correct. Though the English are quite prejudiced
against other countries (as I am Scottish this is easy for me to say :) ),
Japan doesn't suffer at all from this prejudice, it is reserved for
Germany mostly, and other European countries.
Alan
Mike Moriarty
4m...@qlink.queensu.ca (Hayashi Masayoshi) wrote:
>I have just a question, especially to those who live in the UK.
>I routinely read another NG (r.a.s.f1) and sometimes find that
>posts from UK use the word "Jap" when referring to Japanese. As far as I
>know, that word is derogatory in the United States. So, I simply thought
>that applies to British English. The other day, I read a British
>magazine and I found that the word was used there too! That magazine, I
>think, is not something which uses derogatory words. So that makes me
>wonder whether or not "Jap" is used in a derogatory way in the UK.
>Actually, how you people use that word?
>Masayoshi Hayashi
>P.S. I am a Japanese
Konbanwa Hayashi-san,
The Oxford-English dictionary says:
Jap: noun & adjective colloquial often offensive = Japanese (abbreviation)
I live in the UK but don't hear the term used very much at all - but where
it is I'd say it was used in a derogatory way. Although possibly not highly
offensive, it certainly isn't too respectful.
It's true to say that British people do refer to themselves as Brits - and
make a similar kind of contraction - but unlike with every other nationality
abbreviation I can think of which are used here, the word "Brit" has
positive, approaching nationalistic, overtones.
One thing though, and not having read the r.a.s.f1 group, the usage there
may be more indicative of the habit of abbreviation many people on the net
have, rather than anything else. The magazine is another matter - I'd be
interested to know which one it was.
Certain tabloid newspapers here are often downright offensive to non-British
people and I suspect would use this kind of language I'm afraid. However, I
read a research paper recently which suggested that coverage of Japanese
stories in them was extremely small indeed.
Mike Moriarty
--
mi...@ronin.u-net.com
http://www.personal.u-net.com/~ronin/
The Wrights
as I would like to believe in the old dear, I don't. On the other hand,
when publications like the Enquirer mention real life people, they risk
being sued over what they say. Perhaps this is different in Britain. I
would like to inquire of the readership of the group if they have any
knowledge of British attitudes towards Japan and Japanese, especially as
a result of WWII. Not that I don't believe you, but I am just
interested in what other people might have to say.
Carl
Jamie Packer
I would say (as a native speaker of British English) that "Jap" would be
derogatory if used about a Japanese person. Although, maybe not deliberately
so as there are a lot of people who use terms which aren't really acceptable
anymore, like "Jap" and "nigger", just out of habit rather than bad feeling.
(But then there is probably no real *good* feeling either, otherwise they
would change their habits).
If used about other things (cars, etc) then it would probably just be a
reasonable abbreviation. (Rightly or wrongly, I think we are less concerned
about avoiding non-PC terms in all contexts).
Of course, the tabloid newspapers would probably use it, claiming it was just
an abbreviation but really because it's derogatory.
I can imagine that it *could* also be used more like a nickname or friendly
term for someone (or something) who was admired/respected. But maybe not.
Jamie
And then there is "jap" which is the "correct" name for a type of fine silk.
David Book
>Masayoshi Hayashi wrote:
<snip>
>>[I]..wonder whether or not "Jap" is used in a derogatory way in =
>>the UK. Actually, how you people use that word?
>>
>>Masayoshi Hayashi =
>>P.S. I am a Japanese
Jamie Packer wrote:
> =
> I would say (as a native speaker of British English) that "Jap" would b=
e
> derogatory if used about a Japanese person.
<snip>
> If used about other things (cars, etc) then it would probably just be a=
> reasonable abbreviation. (Rightly or wrongly, I think we are less conce=
rned
> about avoiding non-PC terms in all contexts).
I agree. Searching Eudora I see that I've received E-mail from a number
of British, 2 European and 1 Japanese friends in which "Jap" was used. =
It appeared in such phrases as "Jap-Oz", "Jap-Euro", "Jap-UK", "Jap
exec", "Jap system" and "Jap Government". I wouldn't say any offence
was intended, especially as E-mail and Usenet are teeming with
abbreviations.
However, when spoken directly to, or in front of, a Japanese person it
sounds a bit rude to me.
<snip>
> I can imagine that it *could* also be used more like a nickname or frie=
ndly
> term for someone (or something) who was admired/respected. But maybe no=
t.
I remember a European friend talking about his "Jap friend" in a
friendly, and indeed tired and emotional ("yopparatta" no yu-fyuizuma (
=C5h=EA=E5=C7=A1=EF=95=C7=A1=C7*=C5h=C7=C3=C9=DC=C5[=C9t=C9=D6=C9C=C9Y=C9=
})??) way, causing an American to look
rather startled.
Maybe this is more a "beigo-eigo" (=EF=83=E5=CD=E2p=E5=CD=C5jproblem? ;-)=
David Book
Dept. Materials Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
<dave...@material.tohoku.ac.jp>
<http://ceram.material.tohoku.ac.jp/~davebook/>
akiko haga
Mike Moriarty <mi...@ronin.u-net.com> san ha kakimashita
>The Oxford-English dictionary says:
>
> Jap: noun & adjective colloquial often offensive = Japanese (abbreviation)
>
>I live in the UK but don't hear the term used very much at all - but where
>it is I'd say it was used in a derogatory way. Although possibly not highly
>offensive, it certainly isn't too respectful.
>
>It's true to say that British people do refer to themselves as Brits - and
>make a similar kind of contraction - but unlike with every other nationality
>abbreviation I can think of which are used here, the word "Brit" has
>positive, approaching nationalistic, overtones.
In Scotland however the phrase "Brit" takes on a negative derogatory
meaning for much the same reasons as those South of the border perceive
it as being positive!
The usage of the word "Jap" in my understanding, is derived more from a
term of abuse associated with WWII, than being used as a term of
abbreviation. However, the latter may also be true, especially if used
by Japanese people. But the mere fact that it is not used within "polite
conversation" or when talking to Japanese people does give the
impression that the use of "Jap" has ambigious meanings.
Akiko
posting from Sukottorando not Igirisu!
--
akiko haga
Ross Klate
I believe the term "Jap" is somewhat passe, as well.
The more common term that I heard was "Jay."
Mike Moriarty <mi...@ronin.u-net.com> wrote in article
<5dqndm$sv8$1...@despair.u-net.com>...
> 4m...@qlink.queensu.ca (Hayashi Masayoshi) wrote:
>
> >I have just a question, especially to those who live in the UK.
> >I routinely read another NG (r.a.s.f1) and sometimes find that
> >posts from UK use the word "Jap" when referring to Japanese. As far as I
> >know, that word is derogatory in the United States. So, I simply
thought
> >that applies to British English. The other day, I read a British
> >magazine and I found that the word was used there too! That magazine, I
> >think, is not something which uses derogatory words. So that makes me
> >wonder whether or not "Jap" is used in a derogatory way in the UK.
> >Actually, how you people use that word?
>
> >Masayoshi Hayashi
> >P.S. I am a Japanese
>
> Konbanwa Hayashi-san,
>
> The Oxford-English dictionary says:
>
> Jap: noun & adjective colloquial often offensive = Japanese
(abbreviation)
>
> I live in the UK but don't hear the term used very much at all - but
where
> it is I'd say it was used in a derogatory way. Although possibly not
highly
> offensive, it certainly isn't too respectful.
>
> It's true to say that British people do refer to themselves as Brits -
and
> make a similar kind of contraction - but unlike with every other
nationality
> abbreviation I can think of which are used here, the word "Brit" has
> positive, approaching nationalistic, overtones.
>
Bernadette
In message <Lp5MwCA4...@pictish.demon.co.uk>
akiko haga <ah...@pictish.demon.co.uk> writes:
I agree. I work for Mitsubishi Electric UK Ltd and have several
Japanese colleagues. I have never referred to any of my colleagues
referred to as a "Jap", besides in a derogatory or offensive way by
production workers (who do not know any better).
I use the word "chap" to describe someone whose name I have
forgotten. Sometimes I feel self-conscious about this because of the
similarity in pronounciation to the aforementioned!!
Best regards
R.W. Fairbairn.
my...@aol.com
In article <3302DE...@material.tohoku.ac.jp>, David Book
<dave...@material.tohoku.ac.jp> writes:
>I agree. Searching Eudora I see that I've received E-mail from a number
>of British, 2 European and 1 Japanese friends in which "Jap" was used. =
>
>It appeared in such phrases as "Jap-Oz", "Jap-Euro", "Jap-UK", "Jap
>exec", "Jap system" and "Jap Government". I wouldn't say any offence
>was intended, especially as E-mail and Usenet are teeming with
>abbreviations.
>However, when spoken directly to, or in front of, a Japanese person it
>sounds a bit rude to me.
Everyone with a good command of English recognises that Jap is a
defamatory word. Therefore if you want to use the abbreviated form
of Japanese, then I recommend "Jpn". "Jpn Gov" is better than "Jap
Goverment". Why are you not substituting "Gov" for "Government"?
At least I think that using "Jap" in internet correspondence may not
be offence but insensitivity.
-YOSHIDA Masayuki-
Falco Javazi (Netfalcon)
akiko haga <ah...@pictish.demon.co.uk> wrote in article
<Lp5MwCA4...@pictish.demon.co.uk>...
> meaning for much the same reasons as those South of the border perceive
> it as being positive!
I've just been to Edinburgh !
--
-> netfalcon <-
fa...@tecs.de
"Wir wollen keine Indoktrination, denn durch das Band aktiver
Menschlichkeit wird eine Verbundenheit fuer das gemeinsame Ziel geweckt
werden." - Kurt Hahn