links for 2009-07-11
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"Leaving the legal world for a moment, we offer a link to a very strange defense of the use of the word “squaw” by the Oxford Etymologist Anatoly Liberman (here). We could be wrong, but this article seems to be a classic case of an academic wearing blinders, or worse, an etymological ideologue.
In short, Liberman concludes that the etymology of “squaw” is that the word simply means “woman,” and so therefore cannot possibly be an epithet. He mocks advocates for changing place names to eliminate the use of the word."
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
Scott wrote:
From http://www.etymonline.com
squaw
“American Indian woman,” 1634, from Massachuset (Algonquian) squa “woman” (cf. also Narraganset squaws “woman”). “Over the years it has come to have a derogatory sense and is now considered offensive by many Native Americans” [Bright]. Widespread in U.S. place names, sometimes involving a translation of local American Indian words for “woman.”
Posted 11 Jul 2009 at 10:30 pm ¶
Scott wrote:
Posted the previous message before saying that how words are preceived matters. “Squaw” may have started out as just meaning “woman,” but that isn’t how it’s accepted now. The original meaning is “woman,” okay, sure, and probably not offensive, but I’m not calling Jill my squaw, or any other woman, for that matter. Hey, professor, you don’t realize the liquid nature of words and how their power changes communication through the years?
Posted 11 Jul 2009 at 10:38 pm ¶
Rob Schmidt wrote:
Good posting. Be sure to read the comments, including mine.
Posted 12 Jul 2009 at 7:36 am ¶
bne wrote:
Added all of my friend’s links back up to Static-Romance. Shazaam.
Posted 12 Jul 2009 at 9:21 am ¶
Jessica wrote:
Seems pretty obvious that etymology isn’t the only issue when determining whether a word is offensive. Bitches are just female dogs, right?
Posted 12 Jul 2009 at 12:17 pm ¶
Evan Carden wrote:
Maybe I’m misreading the etymologists point, but his argument seems to be: yes, it’s an ethnic slur, but it has become a slur because it refers to a devalued group, not because of the etymology. In other words, by all means fight the good fight, but don’t use really bad arguments from his field of expertise.
Posted 12 Jul 2009 at 12:43 pm ¶
Msday wrote:
Hmmm, squa….with all of the many different languages spoken by various Nations of Native America, it is amazing how this “one word” would be considered, “Native American” for woman. The only time, I have ever noticed it being used, is when one would like to objectify a woman of Native American heritage, thus pointing out her differences from everyone else and placing all of the baggage that goes along with stereotypes on her head.
O.K… So I live in Italy, and a bimba/bimbo is a term that means baby boy or girl. So is it ok, to walk up to any European and call their child a Bimbo? No….Sometimes, the so called “educated” are really not so educated, after all.
Posted 12 Jul 2009 at 12:58 pm ¶