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flaps
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 39
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 Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 3:54 pm Post subject: a red-indian |
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hi,
he has Oriental complexion means he has a kind of olive skin ( as far as I know).
what about a red-indian man? how can we use the word complexion here?
are there any other specific complexion terms for different races?
for example, can we say 'he has a caucasion complexion'?
ps. merry christmas to everyone  |
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JuanValdez
Joined: 12 Nov 2005
Posts: 70
Location: Somewhere in Middle America
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| Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 9:47 am Post subject: Re: a red-indian |
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| flaps wrote: |
hi,
he has Oriental complexion means he has a kind of olive skin ( as far as I know).
what about a red-indian man? how can we use the word complexion here?
are there any other specific complexion terms for different races?
for example, can we say 'he has a caucasion complexion'?
ps. merry christmas to everyone |
"red-indian man" would be very politically incorrect. I suggest you say "Native American." As for complexion, a Native American would have a red or reddish complexion. Further, Caucausians have varying complexions, so you could be of a dark complexion, a light complexion, or even an olive complexion. Usually North Americans consider Asians more of a yellow complexion. Olive is reserved for Mediterraneans and Arabs. |
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flaps
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 8:23 am Post subject: |
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Thank you for your answer.
I thought caucasian is used only for members of the white race. When I watch forensic detective stories, they ,for example, describe the victim ( who is white) as caucasian, male etc. So I didn't know it could be used for dark coloured people.
Seconly, I didn't know that 'red-indian' is an offensive word. Thank you for enlighting me on this |
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Nef
Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 187
Location: California, USA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
I thought caucasian is used only for members of the white race. When I watch forensic detective stories, they ,for example, describe the victim ( who is white) as caucasian, male etc. So I didn't know it could be used for dark coloured people.
Seconly, I didn't know that 'red-indian' is an offensive word. Thank you for enlighting me on this |
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Hello.
There are many degrees and variations of "light" and "dark," which I think was one of the points being made earlier. You're right about "caucasian" usually being a term for "white" people, but SOME of those "white" people can have dark hair, dark eyes, and relatively dark skin, although not as dark as African Americans tend to have. (For instance, my mother is from a southern German/Italian background, her coloring is relatively dark, and she tans almost instantly.)
This is a complicated area and one that, because of historical and current associations, can arouse a lot of emotion in some people. For that reason, it is smart to be careful with terms. I agree completely with the other poster that "red Indian" is NOT a term to be using! "Native American" is far, far better. |
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flaps
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
Your detailed answer really helped me, thank you.
But there is one thing with the term 'Native American'. I mean those people lived for thousands of years in their homeland before it was invaded by Europeans some 500 years ago. And their homeland was not called America then. So, I can't imagine anyone from that race would like to be a called by the name who refers to the very people who killed them-erased a race. It's even worse than to be called red, I guess.
I wish there was someone from that race (I don't know how to call them anymore) in this forum so that he/she would tell us how they call themselves. |
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