With regard to the sometimes derogatory nature of the term, the word “gyp” might also be mentioned:
From Merriam-Webster
There is no term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by some.
[QUOTE=Colibri]
With regard to the sometimes derogatory nature of the term, the word “gyp” might also be mentioned:
From Merriam-Webster
[/QUOTE]
and see,
[QUOTE=DrDeth]
There is no term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by some.
[/QUOTE]
Are you sure? Do the people of Britain take offense to being called a Brit by Americans? Do Yanks mine being called Yanks by a Brit?
I am sure there are many other exceptions, but these come to mind very quickly.
Great thread. It sounds like overall it is OK to refer to a group of Roma as gypsies but it would be insulting to a Roma to hear someone that moves around a lot called a gypsy. Is this generally correct?
Jim
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
Do Yanks mine being called Yanks by a Brit?
[/QUOTE]
Are you callin’ me a Yankee, boy? Are you implying that I would have anything to do with Yankees in any way, shape or form? Because if you are, I’m goning to have to ask you to step outside!
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
Are you sure? Do the people of Britain take offense to being called a Brit by Americans? Do Yanks mine being called Yanks by a Brit?
[/QUOTE]
You are limiting the usage here. I said “There is no term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by some.” not “There is no term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by* everyone.”* Black dudes can call *each other *“Nigger” at times, do note.
I don’t know about the people of Britain take offense to being called a Brit by Americans- but one Irish poster in a recent PIT thread (about “Japs”) made it very clear that when he used Brit it was a racial slur. So, Brit can be offensive. It isn’t always, of course.
And fuck yeah- you call someone from the South a “Yank” and they will let you know just how deeply you have fucked up. So, Yank *can *be offensive, but it isn’t always.
[QUOTE=DrDeth]
You are limiting the usage here. I said “There is no term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by some.” not “There is no term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by* everyone.”* Black dudes can call *each other *“Nigger” at times, do note.
I don’t know about the people of Britain take offense to being called a Brit by Americans- but one Irish poster in a recent PIT thread (about “Japs”) made it very clear that when he used Brit it was a racial slur. So, Brit can be offensive. It isn’t always, of course.
And fuck yeah- you call someone from the South a “Yank” and they will let you know just how deeply you have fucked up. So, Yank *can *be offensive, but it isn’t always.
[/QUOTE]
Based on **Silenus’ ** half joke and your reply, I will withdraw my objection.
Jim
[QUOTE=DrDeth]
There is no term for any racial/ethic group which is not considered “offensive” by some.
[/QUOTE]
Rubbish. Who, exactly, considers “Swedish” offensive?
[QUOTE=Colibri]
Rubbish. Who, exactly, considers “Swedish” offensive?
[/QUOTE]
Swiss people, when called it by mistake.
[QUOTE=Colibri]
Rubbish. Who, exactly, considers “Swedish” offensive?
[/QUOTE]
Norwegians?
[QUOTE=Colibri]
With regard to the sometimes derogatory nature of the term, the word “gyp” might also be mentioned:
From Merriam-Webster…
[/QUOTE]
I’m very surprised that the Cambridge dictionary doesn’t have the derogatory definition:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=35099&dict=CALD
Isn’t the “pain or trouble” definition pronounced “gip?” Different derivation.
Ethnic rivalries die slowly.
My father (full-blooded Magyar) absolutely, positively considered “gypsy” or any derivation of it to be an ethnic slur, an insult or a full-fledged racist term.
He actually chewed out my sister when she once jokingly referred to our “gypsy blood.”
[QUOTE=silenus]
Isn’t the “pain or trouble” definition pronounced “gip?” Different derivation.
[/QUOTE]
I’ve no idea how ‘gip’ is supposed to be pronounced 
I’d say it sounded like the first syllable of ‘gypsy’, certainly.
[QUOTE=silenus]
Isn’t the “pain or trouble” definition pronounced “gip?” Different derivation.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=GorillaMan]
I’ve no idea how ‘gip’ is supposed to be pronounced
I’d say it sounded like the first syllable of ‘gypsy’, certainly.
[/QUOTE]
The Cambridge definition shows “d3ip” and d3=jump http://dictionary.cambridge.org/help/phonetics.htm
gip would begin with a hard ‘g’ as in give. Id.
[QUOTE=Gfactor]
The Cambridge definition shows “d3ip” and d3=jump http://dictionary.cambridge.org/help/phonetics.htm
gip would begin with a hard ‘g’ as in give. Id.
[/QUOTE]
OK, sorry…I’m certainly not fluent with phonetic systems. In relation to the Cambridge quote, I’ve never heard it anything other then “d3ip”.
(On preview - that 3 was put there by Windows as I copied it, and I’m not searching through Charmap to replace it 
)
[QUOTE=GorillaMan]
I’m very surprised that the Cambridge dictionary doesn’t have the derogatory definition
[/QUOTE]
It does in the Cambridge Dictionary of American English:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=gyp*1+0&dict=A
The Compact OED gives both pronunciations for the second meaning:
[QUOTE=GorillaMan]
OK, sorry…I’m certainly not fluent with phonetic systems.
(On preview - that 3 was put there by Windows as I copied it, and I’m not searching through Charmap to replace it )
[/QUOTE]
Nor am I. I was equally lazy, so I just put a three in there tagged as size 1. 
[QUOTE=Gfactor]
Nor am I. I was equally lazy, so I just put a three in there tagged as size 1.
[/QUOTE]
Brownie points for honesty!