Orangutans scientific name is Pongo.
Ain’t that cute?
Watching “Any which way but loose” on TCM right now.
Clint called Clyde an ape. So I hadda go look.
They are Great Apes.
Color me orange.
I first heard objections to the word “oriental” here on the Dope, and I think I have been here a bit longer than you, @Pardel-Lux. There still aren’t such aversions against that word in Germany, at least I never heard any.
ETA: I just thought that there’s a disputed word where that’s reversed in English/German. The word “Zigeuner” for “gypsy” is mostly frowned upon in polite speech in Germany for at least 20 years in my perception, whereas “gypsy” seems to have been only disfavored in the last few years in the English speaking world.
Golly, I meant its usage ironically, as the post was about bunkum trivia, akin to Asiatic Hordes and Fleshpots of the East and all that Modo-movies silliness. And I despise the use of scare quotes, so often abused by the “how come Blacks get to use the N-word?” crowd.
But I’m also a big believer in the Death of the Author: that any honest interpretation once a written piece is sent out is equally as valid as the writer’s intent. And so here, in contrition, I offer you the death of this author: “Blerk! Gasp - glurble! Ma! Ma! Wheeze, -blup-“
I disagree with that aversion you mention for the word Oriental, but I fear that is a hijack, so I am not going to pursue this argument. Gypsy (Zigeuner) is problematic too in the same sense (just think of the fact that Zigeuner is frowned upon, we are supposed to say Sinti und Roma, but hate of Sinti und Roma is called “Antiziganismus”, where Ziganismus is directly derived from the word Zigeuner. It is a contradiction, absurd!). And in Spanish? There is only the word gitano, a group of people who do not belong to the Sinti or the Rom. I could go on, it is really complicated, but that would be futile. I will accept that rule here now that I know it exists, of course, the board may set rules as it sees fit. Fortunately for me the word Oriental is a word I seldom use, so I am not likely to fall foul of this rule. But I believe this is not well thought through. < /hijack>
But thanks a lot for your explanation which I take as support, I really appreciate it.
Nah, I don’t think that’s much of a hijack, we’re in the interesting random facts thread after all, and aren’t these interesting facts?
I am afraid they are only interesting until you get a warning from the mods. I’d rather not.
And in English, there’s a word that derives from the Romance language words for “black”, that’s completely unacceptable, but there’s another, very similar, word, that’s rather out of style but is still used in the name of a reputable and respected nonprofit.
Shrug. Language isn’t logical.
I think that the unacceptable term is a vernacular version of the acceptable term. And that way too many assholes were asshole when using the unacceptable term
I’m imagining that there is a hell of a lot more history with the Roma in Germany (like the Nazi extermination just to name one) to elicit a political sea change in how they are spoken of, than in the US where they are not well known (although they’ve certainly been here for a long time).
As for Oriental, I don’t think I’ve ever believed that was a correct way to speak of Asians. Just one of those unconscious cultural language mores. Rugs, vases, not people. I think it went out as a descriptor of humans before I was born.
I was first made aware of it a bit over 40 years ago when I was in college
Although born Hiram Ulysses Grant, he changed the way he presented his name as “Ulysses S Grant” on graduating from the academy. The “S” didn’t stand for anything, altthough people thought it might be “Simpson”, his mother’s maiden name. But Grant never used that. Interestingly, it’s suggested that he changed his name precisely to avoid the initials “HUG”. See footnote 4 in his Wikipedia page – Ulysses S. Grant - Wikipedia
although, he could have gone with Hiram Ulysses Grant Esquire
Orang utan in Bahasa Indonesia (the standardised language of the country) literally means “person of the forest”.
Sadly the only one I saw there was in a zoo.
after all, he was working in the adult industry
That’s why Sherman went by William instead of Billy: so he wouldn’t be pestered by K-pop fans
“Washington State prohibits the word “Oriental” in legislation and government documents and prefers the word “Asian” instead.” - Wikipedia.
How about - “We Three Kings of [western, southern, or eastern Asia] are?”
Maybe they were finding their way with map and compass (orienteering)?
In other words, Washingtonians were disoriented.
But not on purpose. it was occidental.
Since that was what the term oriental originally meant, would “eastern” work in at least some contexts?