5 ms·

I know the term is in that Pullum essay, but please stop using the term "Eskimo". I know Americans still use it, but it's a racist epithet that really needs to

I know the term is in that Pullum essay, but please stop using the term "Eskimo". I know Americans still use it, but it's a racist epithet that really needs to go away. The people are the Inuit, an individual Inuit person is an Inuk. Those are the terms that should be used.

jcims 5y ago
Not contending your point that there are folks that don't like the word, but Inuit isn't always a good substitute. Turns out it's quite nuanced and complex so a bit of grace seems warranted towards those that aren't intimately familiar with the situation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo#Usage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo#Usage
- fwip 5y ago
  Gotcha, so then, then the appropriate word would be whichever specific group you're talking about (Inuit, Yupik, Aleut, etc), or a less racist umbrella category that describes who you mean, like "indigenous people in the pacific northwest."
  - nextaccountic 5y ago
    Wikipedia sees to imply that Inuinnaq is a more appropriate word, but I can't find mention of it elsewhere on the Web. Google returns only about 2000 results and they are not helpful.
  - jcims 5y ago
    Or do what I would do in this case is generally withdraw from the conversation. I really don't want to needlessly offend folks by using terms out of favor, but upon reading the Wikipedia article it's clear I don't have remotely sufficient understanding of the cultures to successfully address the same population with some substitute that I naively pull out of my ass.
- a-priori 5y ago
  For my own perspective, I am Canadian and that article is absolutely correct that the term is considered "racially charged" here. It's also correct that "Inuit" doesn't encompass all Indigenous peoples of the Arctic... but it doesn't have to? I don't see why you need such a term. If you want to talk about the Yupik people, use that term. If you want an all-encompassing term, use "Indigenous peoples". Even if, for whatever reason, you need a term that includes these ethnic groups, but excludes other indigenous peoples, then why does it have to be "Eskimo"? As a white person, I'm an outsider to the situation so I'm going to take my guidance from Inuit groups themselves, and they object to the term. There's nothing complex about saying that it's a bad idea to call a people by a term that they themselves consider offensive.
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jcims 5y ago

Not contending your point that there are folks that don't like the word, but Inuit isn't always a good substitute. Turns out it's quite nuanced and complex so a bit of grace seems warranted towards those that aren't intimately familiar with the situation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo#Usage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo#Usage

fwip 5y ago
Gotcha, so then, then the appropriate word would be whichever specific group you're talking about (Inuit, Yupik, Aleut, etc), or a less racist umbrella category that describes who you mean, like "indigenous people in the pacific northwest."
- nextaccountic 5y ago
  Wikipedia sees to imply that Inuinnaq is a more appropriate word, but I can't find mention of it elsewhere on the Web. Google returns only about 2000 results and they are not helpful.
- jcims 5y ago
  Or do what I would do in this case is generally withdraw from the conversation. I really don't want to needlessly offend folks by using terms out of favor, but upon reading the Wikipedia article it's clear I don't have remotely sufficient understanding of the cultures to successfully address the same population with some substitute that I naively pull out of my ass.
a-priori 5y ago
For my own perspective, I am Canadian and that article is absolutely correct that the term is considered "racially charged" here. It's also correct that "Inuit" doesn't encompass all Indigenous peoples of the Arctic... but it doesn't have to? I don't see why you need such a term. If you want to talk about the Yupik people, use that term. If you want an all-encompassing term, use "Indigenous peoples". Even if, for whatever reason, you need a term that includes these ethnic groups, but excludes other indigenous peoples, then why does it have to be "Eskimo"? As a white person, I'm an outsider to the situation so I'm going to take my guidance from Inuit groups themselves, and they object to the term. There's nothing complex about saying that it's a bad idea to call a people by a term that they themselves consider offensive.

deleted 5y ago

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