Response to 'Is the "G"- word Japan's "N" - w o r d ? '

Response to 「外人」って失礼？ Is the "G"- word Japan's "N" - w o r d ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89B3_Arhd70&feature=relmfu

POLITE WARNING: Contains taboo language.
Hi folks, this is my first upload of a commentary to YouTube so please forgive the lack of editing skills and fluffed lines.
I have had second thoughts about posting this video since there have been a lot of comments in Japanese on Gimmeaflakeman's site.
My Japanese is crummy so I can't really comment in light of those. However, since I really wanted to comment on Victor's vid and general arguments for the use of the word gaijin, I thought I might go ahead.
Please note that although I do not casually use the word gaijin and I can see many arguments against it's use, I am still not 100% decided. This is primarily because of the high usage by 'Western' people in Japan.

An obvious point I missed out(My formal description): a lot of non-Japanese seem to think that gaijin is the standard / usual word for foreigner. It is not. It is a slang word which was historically (many would say it is now) pejorative and which is not used outside of casual conversation. Gaikokujin is the standard word that you will find in your documentation.

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• Sarusource
• gaijin
• social
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• taboo
• language
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[Gimmeaflakeman]

Thinking about this some more....You can't really compare it with the N-word. It just doesn't have the history. Yes, it is slang but there are tons of slang words that you can't really say in speeches. You wouldn't say "dude" in a speech either. BTW could you PM me links to anything backing up your statement that it is historically an insult to foreigners? As far as I know it's just a shortening of the formal 外国人。

And it is not near the level of　野蛮人 or 三国人.

Must explore more. Thanks again.

[Sarusource]

@Gimmeaflakeman 1 'Must explore more.' I agree. Damn.

I agree that gaijin does not carry the same weight as the N-word and other Japanese words. I didn't mean to give that impression. However, and also in answer to your second point, it is still regarded as a taboo word (wouldn't you agree?). 'Dude', a neutral word, will be found in speeches (inc political ones) if only for a joke. On the other hand, all racially taboo words (eg J*p, n*g-n*g) are excluded from the public realm.

[Sarusource]

@Gimmeaflakeman 2 My historical point is maybe a bit weak. I have built up my picture of the word and its context from reading a variety books so I can’t direct you to specific websites. I will look though. Many historians have referred to Japanese self-perception as historically being inherently superior and exclusive (e.g. E.O Reishauer, The Japanese Today). So maybe we should avoid exclusory words capable of pejorative use such as 'gaijin'?

[Gimmeaflakeman]

Good points. Damn. Thanks for the video response.

[Sarusource]

@Gimmeaflakeman Ta very much! A compliment from you on this topic is very much appreciated. Bonus points as well for being the first person to ever make a comment on one of my vids too!

[MrJJ1018]

the only way i can find the word gaijin offensive is if a stranger just calls for you by saying ”おい, 外人！(hey, Gaijin!)" but that would be kinda rude or more strange. even if you replace the slang with the official word "gaikokujin" or even in english... "Hey Foreigner!" it's just wierd. Is that what's going on when I hear about people getting offended when they are CALLED A GAIJIN? cuz then I can understand that it may be offensive.

[mrbeanbag]

It annoys me when I am called gaijin by Japanese (Jap?) abroad. It is even in an English text book for JHS (the kid goes abroad and sees so many "gaijins").

[EddieLandsberg]

@Gimmeaflakeman Best approach is to survey Japanese people... What I'm finding out is that its definitely NG in formal Japanese. After that, the meaning varies according to age and educational level if you ask the person, "Do you associate the word as good, negative or neutral?" My personal opinion: Native speakers should determine the meaning of the words in their own language, not be told how to speak it -- *that's* IMHO is racist.

[EddieLandsberg]

Younger Japanese are taught that its politically incorrect... I think we need to distinguish between a "slur" vs. "non PC" (insensitive language). Older Japanese I've interviewed said they don't associate it as having a negative context. The younger & more educated you get, the less likely they're to view it positively. In general, in formal/business relations its generally agreed upon as NG.. Informal is where the debate arises.

[hatsudai69]

it depends how you say it. i can only speak for myself, but the affectionate use of "gaijin" never offended me.

[joatiurf]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject Matt . This is something I'm glad to put more time to thinking about also. My Japanese friends also rarely use this word and my foreign friends - not so much either, it's patchy. I usually have a sense of the negative connotations when I use it or hear it used - however for me at least it is still several notches below the N word.

I also agree with you that the general consensus about it's use is solidifying in the "not a good word" camp.